Irish language activists stage protest in Belfast

Irish language activists have turned out in strength to march through Belfast, calling for a new law that would protect its use in a range of official settings.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2017, 20:13 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 22:03 BST
PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/05/2017 Irish Language activists hold a protest march organised by An Dream Dearg, from An Culturlann on the Falls Road in West Belfast to Belfast City Hall on Saturday. Thousands of People attended the (Lá Mór Dearg) event to campaign for an Irish-language Act. Gerry Adams with Paul Maskey. Picture by Daren McMullan/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER BELFAST 20/05/2017 Irish Language activists hold a protest march organised by An Dream Dearg, from An Culturlann on the Falls Road in West Belfast to Belfast City Hall on Saturday. Thousands of People attended the (Lá Mór Dearg) event to campaign for an Irish-language Act. Gerry Adams with Paul Maskey. Picture by Daren McMullan/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/05/2017 Irish Language activists hold a protest march organised by An Dream Dearg, from An Culturlann on the Falls Road in West Belfast to Belfast City Hall on Saturday. Thousands of People attended the (Lá Mór Dearg) event to campaign for an Irish-language Act. Gerry Adams with Paul Maskey. Picture by Daren McMullan/Pacemaker Press

The law is currently one of the stumbling blocks in the Stormont talks aimed at restoring a powersharing government

In 2015, Sinn Fein launched a consultation on a law including the use of Irish by public bodies, in the courts and in the Stormont assembly.

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The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has previously shown little signs of softening its traditional hostility to the language.

Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.
Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.

In February, DUP leader Arlene Foster said more people spoke Polish than Irish in Northern Ireland and declared the party would never agree to an Act protecting the language.

She likened concessions to Sinn Fein, the chief political proponents of a law, feeding a crocodile.

But last week, Mrs Foster appeared to soften, insisting she had not ruled out the possible introduction of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland.

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Speaking at the party’s General Election campaign launch at Castlereagh Hills Golf Club in Belfast, Mrs Foster indicated it could be a possibility, as long as there is also respect for the Ulster Scots, the Orange and the British cultures.

Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.
Press Eye - Irish Language Protest March - 20th May 2017 Photograph By Declan Roughan A large number of campaigners were on the streets of West Belfast today for a protest march in support of an Irish Language Act. The parade is started at the CultSrlann Irish language centre on the Falls Road at 12pm before making its way to City Hall. North Belfast Sinn Fein election candidate John Finucane has called on people throughout Belfast to "show their support" for an Irish Language Act by attending the La Dearg march.

When asked if she had changed her mind about an Irish Language Act, she said: “I said there wouldn’t be, in terms of nothing else happening, in terms of culture and language. We have been in negotiations for some time and we have been putting forward that we need to respect all cultures, including the Ulster Scots, the Orange, the British culture.

“If there are to be moves forward in terms of cultural tolerance and respect, then it has to be in the context of doing that and we are very clear in relation to that.”

Related topics:Arlene FosterBelfastNorthern IrelandSinn Fein