An Lá Dearg march draws big crowd for march through Belfast demanding Irish Language rights

There was a sea of red in Belfast today as thousands of people took to the streets demanding an official Irish language act.

Organisers of ‘An Lá Dearg’ which translates to The Red Day, say 12,000 people joined the march between Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich and Belfast City Hall.

Organisations including youth groups, schools and political representatives from right across Ireland all took part in the songs and chants calling for a new law to protect the use of the language.

Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, spokesman for the campaign group, said the crowd had one clear message.

He added: "All those who believe in diversity, language rights and human rights have come together as we demand that this state acts now and implements an Irish language act that was promised over ten years ago in the St Andrews Agreement.

“There is no doubt that the Irish language is now at the very centre of the current political crisis and An Dream Dearg are stating clearly that no political institutions or future political arrangement are tenable in the absence of a rights based Irish language act.”

An Irish Language act is proving to be one of the main stumbling blocks for restoring power-sharing at Stormont.

Earlier this year DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party would never agree to legislation protecting the language claiming more people spoke Polish than Irish in Northern Ireland

She also compared striking a deal with Sinn Fein on the issue as feeding a crocodile and said “It will keep coming back for more”.

However the MLA for Fermangh and South Tyrone appears to have softened her views and has since met up with Irish Language speaking groups that do not have any political party ties.

A sister in law of the former loyalist leader David Ervine was among the crowd today calling for official recognition of the language.

Linda Ervine from East Belfast said: “It’s important for me to be here today because I support an Irish Language Act and I am always constantly saying about the diversity of the Irish Language community which there is. I am part of that diversity so I have to be here.”

“I don’t see it that it needs to be de-politicised, I think it needs to be multi-politicised. I would like to see all parties embracing the language and saying Irish belongs to it all, because it does.”

A mother who is raising her child through Irish told Belfast Live: "Gaeilge is the language we speak together at home, from morning to night, but we can avail of very few public services from the state through Irish.

"The fact my children see very little visible official Irish in public places also reinforces the isolation and marginalisation of our community of speakers.

"It angers me that my children and other children are at a disadvantage because of their language of choice. Despite the significant cultural and social changes that have taken place in recent decades, the system and the state in the north remains unchanged.

“The time for change is long overdue and we can no longer be made to feel invisible or treated as second class citizens in our own country.”

North Belfast Sinn Féin candidate John Finucane said today’s Lá Dearg march to Belfast City Hall was a clear sign of the increasing support for an Irish Language Act.

He added: “There were representatives from a range of political parties and the march was led by thousands of young Irish speakers and children attending Irish language schools.

“The denial of equal rights to these children and young people and the wider Irish language community has to end.

“The Irish language is a rich part of our culture and it belongs to all.

“Today’s march sent a clear message to the British government and the DUP to honour and to implement the agreement to bring forward an Irish Language Act. That is a reasonable demand.

“The turnout at today’s march also debunked the myth being peddled by the DUP that there is only a small number of political activists demanding an Irish Language Act."

Many of those taking part in today’s rally wore red T-shirts with the movement’s white circle on a red background logo.