Irish language signage to feature at Belfast Grand Central Station

Irish language signage is to be introduced at Belfast’s Grand Central Station, it has been confirmed.

Stormont infrastructure minister, Sinn Féin’s Liz Kimmins, said Irish will feature on physical signage and also on ticket machines placed throughout the £340m travel hub, which opened its doors last September and replaced the former Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street rail station.

The move follows a campaign for Irish to be visible at the station last year ahead of its opening.

Campaign group An Dream Dearg had met with former infrastructure minister John O’Dowd last year to press for Irish language signage at the station, while a Belfast City Council motion also passed a motion supporting bilingual signs both inside and outside the hub.

The new signage will be implemented “as part of the works to complete the new station”, the Department for Infrastructure has said.

• Announcing the move, Ms Kimmins said: “Grand Central Station is the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland. The Irish language is a living and thriving language used daily by many people across the north.

“It is fitting that the Irish language will be visible at the station for Irish language commuters but also for the many visitors to the city. This is a positive development to promote wider awareness and support for the Irish language.”