Protesters call for Irish language act

HUNDREDS of protesters gathered in Newry on Saturday to call for an Irish language act for the north.

Organised by Irish language group An Dream Dearg, campaigners converged on Newry Town Hall.

A similar rally was also held in Derry City, organised by the Irish Language society Cumann Gaelach.

The former first minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster has previously dismissed the introduction of an Irish language act, saying she would ‘never’ agree to the proposal.

Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, from An Dream Dearg, said:

“Our rights cannot be held hostage to ‘political consensus’ and we call on all political parties who support us to affirm their commitment that they will not be part of any future arrangement that facilitates the active discrimination of Irish speakers.”

Sinn Féin’s Megan Fearon said: "The large crowd at this demonstration in Newry and similar events in Derry show the level of public anger at the DUP’s total lack of respect for the Irish language and identity.

“No one has anything to fear from the Irish language or an Irish language act.”