Belfast Council programme for Irish Language Week "half hearted", City Hall hears

Belfast City Council has been told its plans for Irish Language Week are “half-hearted”.

At the council ’s recent meeting of its Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie asked council officers to go back to the drawing board and speak to Irish language groups in the city in preparing events for Seachtain na Gaeilge, which is marked every year from March 1 to 17

Councillor Ciaran Beattie said: “I would ask this to be taken back to next month. After consultation with some Irish language groups, they feel this is a bit of a half hearted attempt to celebrate the Irish language in March.

“There are some brilliant ideas out there as to what we could be doing. So I ask it to go back just for some consultation with the Irish language groups, and to see if we can get to an area where we are all happy.”

The committee was being asked to approve the planned events to mark the week in 2023. The council report states: “Prior to Covid 19, the council marked this by hosting events for schools in the City Hall. Covid 19 necessitated online events and content in 2021 and 2022. These events were always well attended and the feedback from participants was always excellent.

“It is proposed to host two events in the City Hall in March 2023. One aimed at secondary school pupils discussing career prospects for students of Irish and an event aimed at primary school children facilitated by an external performer. It is also proposed that attendees at the primary schools’ event will be given a book based on the performance.

“In line with commitments in the Language Strategy Action Plan, these events will be highlighted in the Irish language media and through local media outlets.”

A council officer agreed to Councillor Beattie’s request, and the matter will return at the next meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in December.