An Dream Dearg: Thousands to take to the streets for Irish Language rights

Thousands of men, women and children are expected on the streets of Belfast this weekend to campaign for Irish language legislation.

An Dream Dearg are organising the march on Saturday, which will begin at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich at 1pm and travel to Belfast City Hall.

“We have a very direct message for the British Government and indeed for the DUP and others who continue to veto and block language rights - that is we will continue to take to the streets, advocate and organise for our rights.

Gaels are echoing calls for the British government and NI Executive to deliver on commitments made in New Decade, New Approach.

Padaí Ó Tiarnaigh, Irish language activist with campaign group An Dream Dearg, said their message is clear.

He told Belfast Live: "“We are expecting thousands of people to descend upon Belfast on Saturday from all corners of Ireland.

“There is over 25 buses coming from Galway, Dublin, Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Newry. We are expecting a huge crowd and our message is very clear - that Irish Language rights have been promised to us since the Good Friday Agreement, St Andrews and in New Decade New Approach.

“The British Government themselves have committed time and time again to implementing these language rights and have called short.

“They have denied those rights to a community of speakers that is growing right across Ireland.

“We have a very direct message for the British Government and indeed for the DUP and others who continue to veto and block language rights - that is we will continue to take to the streets, advocate and organise for our rights.

“Our community is no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens in our own country. It’s time our native and indigenous language was protected in law.

“We are going to keep on campaigning and organising, until our vision of a more inclusive and tolerant future and a rights based society that respects all, is finally achieved.

“We hope for a great day on Saturday. There’ll be music and a bit of a street party, a festival atmosphere. There’ll be face painting and family events.

“When we get to Belfast City Centre we’ll have young people especially, from our schools and youth clubs, speaking about the importance of language rights and services to them.

“There’ll be music and events at around 2:30pm at City Hall so we are hoping for a brilliant day and we are asking everyone to wear red, the colour of our campaign.

“We have been absolutely blown away by the support and solidarity from all sections of our society, from other rights based groups, other Irish Language organisations, GAA clubs, actors to big personalities.”

Motorists are being advised of possible traffic disruption in Belfast City Centre on Saturday, May 21, due to the parade.

The parade will assemble at Falls Road from 1pm, and at 1.15pm, it will proceed along Falls Road, Divis Street, Millfield, Smithfield Square North, Winetavern Street, North Street, Royal Avenue, Donegal Place, and conclude at Belfast City Hall.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "A rally will then take place at City Hall, and it is expected that the event will conclude at approximately 3.30pm.

“Road closures will be in place along the parade route, with some congestion expected on the roads in the immediate area.”

SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty said the march was “an opportunity to send a clear message that language rights were long-overdue and must be introduced as soon as possible”.

“There can be no further delays, the Irish language community just want to be treated with equality and respect and they cannot be denied any longer.”

He said: "I’m looking forward to joining with thousands of Irish language activists from right across the North and further afield on Saturday to send a clear message that we must see Irish language legislation introduced as soon as possible.

"A cultural package for language rights was agreed over two years ago as part of New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) and we have waited far too long already to see this become a reality.

"I have been continually inspired by the strength and determination of our Irish language community and their crusade to see rights delivered, the SDLP has always stood with them despite a number of unfair roadblocks being placed in their way. The Irish language poses no threat to anybody and it’s deeply regrettable that others have tried to weaponise it or use it to score cheap political points.

"It’s fitting that this march is starting in West Belfast, a community where the Irish language thrives and plays a huge part in our everyday lives. From our Irish-language medium schools, the local GAA and sports clubs, our language classes for people of all ages and abilities and our Irish language community groups, West Belfast is one of the heartlands of the language in the North.

"The DUP signed up to this legislation at NDNA, and when they failed to live up to their agreement the British government promised to introduce it at Westminster.

“There can be no further delays, the Irish language community just want to be treated with equality and respect and they cannot be denied any longer.”

Plans to legislate for the Irish language were announced in the Queen’s Speech.

There had been an expectation that the Westminster Government would introduce the legislation before the Stormont election. It fell to the Northern Ireland Office after the Stormont parties were unable to agree to introduce cultural and language legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly which was part of the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal.

The plans include an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression to promote respect for diversity as well as an Irish Language Commissioner and a commissioner to develop language, arts and literature associated with the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition.

Delays in bringing forward the measures had been criticised by Irish language campaigners.