Steady rise in Irish speakers in east Belfast as new school approaches opening date

The percentage of people in east Belfast that can speak, read and write in Irish is on the rise with a growing number also claiming they have “some ability” in the language.

An analysis of Census figures by The Irish News reveals that the numbers are higher than those quoted by opponents of a proposed new Irish language school.

Scoil na Seolta is set to welcome 36 pupils this September. Approval for a temporary site at Montgomery Road has been granted but some in the community have raised concerns.

Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine is behind the school project

A recent public meeting heard that there was an “inexcusable and unjustifiable” lack of community engagement as part of the planning process.

It was also claimed ahead of that meeting, in a leaflet, that less that 1% of the local population spoke Irish.

Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson also claimed on X that just 0.2% of people in east Belfast speak it.

He posted that: “It is this ‘demand’ that purportedly justifies the imposition of a politically divisive and wanted Irish, meanwhile children with special needs cannot get an educational place and schools in Protestant areas are being closed all over the place.”

However, Census figures which have been publicly available since 2021 show that the numbers in east Belfast that can speak, read and write in Irish, while relatively low, is 2%.

In addition, the number of those claiming ‘some ability’ in Irish is 6.9%.

That is up from 1.35% and 3% respectively in the 2001 Census.

It is understood that the figures quoted by Mr Bryson are for those speaking Irish as a ‘main language’ according to the 2021 Census, as opposed to all those who can speak it.

Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh from Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge said the new school would “undoubtedly enrich the lives of all those who wish to avail of it, and have no impact on those people who do not”.

“The work of Linda Ervine and the Turas project in east Belfast is exceptional. Having taught Irish in the Skainos centre myself, I know first hand how the language is received and respected by everyone who crosses the door,” he added.

“People have nothing to fear from bilingualism, or from the Irish language. The language, quite simply, belongs to everyone. It surrounds us everyday in our placenames and townland names.

“It is disappointing that those who seek to derail these efforts with hand-picked data seem to be misrepresenting the reality of the growing number of people in east Belfast who are learning and using Irish.”