DUP councillor: Mention of anything Irish triggers bad memories in unionist communities and bilingual proposals are like a hand grenade for good relations

The council-run gathering was “hot and heavy” at times she said, with the 60-strong crowd appearing “unanimous” in opposition to the bilingual signs.

She told the News Letter that the bilingual signs would be dotted throughout the centre, giving directions to different halls and rooms, and would come with a price tag of £5,000.

But cost was not the sole source of objection.

“The point of it is, it is triggering hurt and pain the community suffered,” she said.

"That’s what’s at the heart of it. You mention anything Irish to some people still in unionist communities, and it doesn’t sit well.

"We’re just too soon for all this to be forced onto people. There’s still a lot of people there who can’t accept it, and they do see it as political point-scoring.”

The leisure centre was recently re-built, and stands in the shadow of the National Stadium, Windsor Park (and also has a statue of George Best outside).

It is on Boucher Road – a commercial / industrial district of the city, in the south-west.

The nearest residential area is The Village, which is a loyalist-dominated area.

Councillor Kelly grew up in The Village and at 46, still lives there.

When it comes to people’s objections, she told the News Letter: “I’m trying to get this across to people: it’s not because they don’t like the Irish language.

"It’s the ‘Irishness’ that was associated with the Troubles. In the name of Ireland these people were blown up, bombed, and shot, maimed and killed, whatever.

"That still hurts in unionist communities, and anything to do with Ireland, Irish, is like a trigger-point and that’s more what’s behind the push-back on it.”

She said the meeting at the Olympia had been at times rather “hot and heavy”, with “members of the public talking about the Troubles”.

But the meeting also heard that “everyone in the Olympia just gets on – there’s teams from west Belfast play there, three teams from the local area play there, everyone’s in using the gym, no-one is batting an eyelid when there’s Celtic tracksuits, when there’s Rangers tracksuits: they’re all in the same building and nobody cares”.

Councillor Kelly added: “What they were trying to get across last night was that this community is very welcoming. We’ve all started to get on together.

"Why are these things being thrown in like a blinking hand-grenade, and poking people, and starting up trouble which is making it divisive? That came across very strongly last night from residents.

"If it’s not wanted, why is it being forced? We are gradually moving on to a better place, and things like this being forced on to communities is just not what they need.”

She concluded: “We’re not being asked what they want to do in Andersonstown. My culture isn’t being taken into consideration in Andersonstown if I were to go to that swimming pool.

"The people of The Village are saying the same thing.”

Councillor Kelly, who represents the Botanic district of the council for the DUP (into which the centre falls) said that the venue is just one of four that Sinn Fein had initially decided to install bilingual signs in.

The others were Brook in republican-dominated west Belfast and two in east Belfast: Templemore (which has just been opened) and Lisnasharragh.

She said soundings from the community around Lisnasharragh had revealed feelings were so strongly against bilingual signs that the idea was abandoned.

A report is believed to be in the works right now, setting out the situation both for Lisnasharragh and Templemore, and is due to be presented to the council later.

The consultation will run until Sunday, September 17, after which councillors will consider the results.

Full details are here: yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/olympia-signage-eqia

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