Clonduff residents say consultation event over Irish language school ‘just the first step’

Residents of an east Belfast estate have said a consultation event in response to what it calls a lack of engagement over approved plans for an Irish language school nearby is just the ‘first step’ in its opposition to the school.

Around 100 people attended the event at Clonduff Community Centre on Thursday night organised by ‘Clonduff Concerned Residents’ in response to plans for the temporary building on the Montgomery Road for Scoil na Seolta.

The plans were passed by Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee last month.

The group claims there was an ‘inexcusable and unjustifiable’ lack of community engagement as part of the planning process.

Those attending the event on Thursday were asked to fill in a form with a number of questions attached, including whether they support the Irish language school, and to state whether they agreed there was a ‘political agenda to force Irish language into areas and communities that neither want nor need it’.

The Irish News attended Thursday’s consultation event and asked to speak to a representative from the residents group. We were told they would be unwilling to do so unless the paper “apologised” for previous coverage relating to the Clonduff area.

This paper was also told no photography or filming was allowed so that those contributing to the event could express their views freely.

Photographs and videos taken during the event were later posted on social media by loyalist activists Jamie Bryson and Moore Holmes.

Concerns raised by some of the speakers at the meeting included a perceived lack of need for the school in the area, the site being designated as ‘employment land’ and recent school closures in east Belfast.

“No-one in the room this evening was against education and if people want to learn or speak Irish then they are entitled to do so,” a statement issued by Clonduff Concerned Residents after the event said.

“The concerns of people this evening were mostly about the lack of local community need or desire for an Irish Language School on the proposed site, which is meant to be preserved for business purposes that will materially benefit the local area.

“This is just the first step in a process of speaking out for the material needs of our community and challenging the unfair prioritisation of political projects over local community needs and services.”

Thirty-six children have been enrolled to start P1 this September in Scoil na Seolta, run by Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine.

Speaking on the BBC on Friday, Ms Ervine said it was “unfortunate and sad” that a row had developed over the school’s plans.

“We have went about our business like any other organisation. We went through a public consultation at Belfast City Council and the votes were 11 to 5 so legally we are doing everything right,” Ms Ervine said.

“We’re not imposing ourselves on anybody, we are like any other organisation. We want to be good neighbours.

“I understand that some people have issues around the Irish language, I respect that but we are not political.”