Letter: Let Irish language signs go up at Belfast’s Grand Central Station and let the DUP rage all they want

The DUP’s latest outcry over bilingual signage at Belfast’s new Grand Central Station is nothing more than a tired extension of the party’s long-standing hostility towards the Irish language. It will only stir division rather than reflect the modern, inclusive society Northern Ireland aspires to be.

For those of us with long memories, this is just the latest chapter in a saga. Who could forget Gregory Campbell’s infamous “curry my yoghurt” mockery of the Irish language in the Assembly chamber back in 2014? It was a disgraceful moment that rightly drew widespread condemnation, yet here we are, a decade later, with the DUP still beating the same drum.

Their latest grievance? That Grand Central Station – a flagship transport hub for the whole of Northern Ireland – will have signage in both English and Irish. It’s hardly a radical idea. Across these islands and beyond, bilingual signage is commonplace – from Welsh in Cardiff to Gaelic in Glasgow, it’s a simple, practical recognition of linguistic diversity. But in Northern Ireland, thanks to the DUP, such an ordinary move is framed as an existential threat.

The absurdity of their position is clear. They claim bilingual signs are divisive, yet their opposition to them is what fuels division. They argue it’s unnecessary, yet the Irish Language Act – finally passed after years of DUP obstruction – guarantees language rights for Irish speakers. They protest about costs, yet never seem to raise such concerns when it comes to funding for other cultural or community projects. At a recent meeting I attended, I was astounded to hear from our Fire and Rescue Service that no less than eight fire crews attended a bonfire in Larne on July 11 last year.

This is not about practicalities; it’s about politics. The DUP has spent years portraying the Irish language as a weapon rather than a part of our shared heritage. Their latest tantrum over train station signs is not just an attack on the Irish language, but an attempt to appease the most reactionary elements of their base. It’s a desperate effort to maintain relevance in a shifting political landscape where younger voters – unionist and nationalist alike – are increasingly rejecting outdated sectarianism

Northern Ireland is changing. The demographic and political shifts in recent elections show that the old, tribal certainties are breaking down. Many young people see no issue with bilingual signage. In fact, they welcome it as a sign of progress, a symbol of a more modern and outward-looking society. The DUP, however, remains stuck in the past, rehashing old battles rather than offering a vision for the future.

If the party’s leadership truly wants to restore faith in Stormont and make devolution work, they need to stop picking petty fights over language and focus on the real issues – our crumbling health service, a struggling economy and the cost-of-living crisis. But that would require genuine leadership, not just performative outrage.

The two most depressing things about the whole escapade are the performative rhetoric and the predictability of the entire affair.

So, let the signs go up. Let Belfast’s Grand Central Station be a space that reflects the diversity of our people.

And let the DUP rage all they want – because, in the end, history will move on without them, predictable as they continue to be.