Irish Language Protesters March in Belfast - "We Ask Only For The Legal Protection of Our Rights"

Saturday 12 April saw an estimated 5,000  to 10,000 protesters march though the streets of Belfast to demand increased protection for the ancient tongue of Ireland.  The Belfast march is a continuation of the Irish Language protests that started in Dublin on Saturday 15th February when an estimated 10,000 people marched to protect the rights of the Irish speaking community.  The Dublin march attracted people from all over Ireland. The Dublin protests (Lá Mór na Gaeilge) was seen as both a celebration of the Irish language and a protest over the failure by the Dublin Government to implement legislation protecting the rights of Irish speakers.

The Belfast protesters demanded increased protection and promotion of the Irish language. The Belfast organisers are quoted in an article on the web site “thejournal.ie” under the headline “March Planned in Belfast Over Failure to Protect the Irish Language”, that the impetus for the march is the failure of the Northern Ireland Executive to implement provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement committed the Northern Ireland government to “promote respect, tolerance and understanding of the language.”  Organisers have cited the absence of legislation implemented by the Northern Ireland Assembly to carry through on this requirement of the Good Friday Accords.

The demonstration was organised by Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League), a voluntary organisation that campaigns for the rights of Irish speakers. A campaign Committee member, Caoimhe Ní Chathail, is quoted outlining the demands that Irish speakers in Ulster have put forward:

• The long promised Irish Language Act
• A properly respected Irish medium education system from pre-school through post-primary to third level
• Adequate resources for the Irish language community , which is particularly pertinent in the present time when established Irish language organisations are having their funding slashed by government cuts.

The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaelige) is the main voluntary community organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and abroad, The Gaelic League’s main aim is to reinstate the Irish language as the common tongue of Ireland.  Since its founding in 1893, members have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland, from legal and educational affairs to the development of media and services through Irish.  Members of the Gaelic League are in the forefront of campaigns to strengthen the rights of the Irish speaking community.

http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-language-march-belfast-1411637-Apr2014/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-26997500