Busy weekend for Irish language activists

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Monday June 11, 2007 10:43

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin

ciaranobrolchain at hotmail dot com

It was a busy weekend for Irish language activists in Belfast as a number of actions took place around Saturday's march to demand and Irish Language Act for the Six Counties.

Getting to work

It was a busy weekend for Irish language activists in Belfast as a number of actions took place around Saturday's march to demand and Irish Language Act for the Six Counties.

On Thursday a large portion of the wall on the Whiterock Road was taken over and long sections covered by Irish language proverbs and slogans and an advertisement for the rally.

This was followed on Friday evening as a group of language activists took to the Black Mountain to leave a message in support of the Irish Language Act, a message that would be visible to a large part of the city.

Saturday was the rally in support of the Act with thousands, both young and old, native Irish speakers, learners and supporters, taking to the streets for a rally from Cúlturlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich on the Falls Road into Belfast city centre and Writers' Square. The very colourful and festive rally was attended by around 3,000 people.

So Irish speakers have made their voices clear - they want a comprehensive, rights-based Irish Language Act. All that remains now is the response of Edwin Poots, the Assembly's Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure.

That's a big wall

Labhair cibé Gaeilge atá agat

Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste

Rally

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Friday

Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:48

The long trek up the Black Mountain

No turning back now

It's not upside down, is it?

Nailing it down

Almost done - almost left at 'ach'

The result - Acht!

Saturday [Part One]

Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:54

The big day. Time for voting with our feet.

Ryan, Barry and Breandán provide the music

Kicking off from An Chultúrlann

Acht

Acht Gaeilge á éileamh

On the one road

Saturday [Part Two]

Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:02

The rally makes its way down the Falls Road.

More musical entertainment

Does he know it's there?

Friends from Cymru

Scoil na Fuiseoige ar son Acht Gaeilge

Still on the one road

Saturday [Part Three]

Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:07

The rally makes its way into the city centre and to Writers' Square where Irish dancers, musicians like Fiach and Bréag, and street performers entertained the crowd.

At the International Wall