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BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Belfast: Exhibition celebrates Irish language's unsung community heroes
Lesser-known key figures and unsung heroes behind the decades-long preservation of the Irish language in west Belfast have been spotlighted in a new old drying rooms in historic Conway Mill, off the Falls Road, hosts the A Life in Irish - A Life Without Poverty exhibition, which looks at a diverse range of people who promoted and preserved the language since the the people and groups highlighted are activist Clára Ní Ghiolla and trade unions, whose role in language preservation is considered less well Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was the keynote speaker at the exhibition's opening on Thursday, and he highlighted the important role the Presbyterian Church played in keeping Irish alive. "It's not a Catholic thing. The Irish language belongs to every single person who lives there," he went on to mention the connection between Culturlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, the language's cultural centre in west Belfast which is based in an old Presbyterian Church, and is partly named after Robert McAdam, a Presbyterian who collected Irish phrases and commissioned the recording of Irish music."Douglas Hyde – the first president of the Gaelic League was a Protestant," he of the exhibition, which features long posters draping the drying rooms' walls, features reproduction of artefacts, including letters, diaries and pictures, unearthed from the attics of Shaw's Road in west Belfast – the first urban Gaeltacht on the island, which was founded in 1969. Seán Mistéil, the chair of Colaiste na Féirste and member of Spórtlann na hÉireann, the exhibition's organising group, said the event was about socializing the archive and showing how far Irish language has said the idea that "the language in some way belongs to one person or one political belief or one religions background is just nonsense"."That's the thing about the archive and the truth that exists within the archive - it challenges that from the get-go. "The Irish language movement has always been pluralist in its ambition."Mr Mistéil was attending with his son Aodán and mother Kathleen, who was the co-founder of the Shaw's Road urban gaeltacht - a living example of the recent history being spotlighted by the exhibition. Róisín Nic Liam, a PhD student at Queen's University who is studying the language reformation movement in Belfast, said it was "fantastic" to see history being brought to the public in an accessible way."It's great to see the amount of commitment and the amount of activism throughout the years to the Irish language."I think the most important thing that we can learn from them is that the language cannot function in its own little silo or by itself. "We need to make those connections with other people, other communities, I suppose, who are marginalized or disenfranchised." Among the other attendees in the packed room was Maggie Keane, who said she travels to west Belfast from County Kerry every year to take in events at Féile an Phobail. "I go to a number of the events and I love the variety," she said.
BreakingNews.ie
05-08-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man arrested after suspected stolen car damages taxi and police vehicles in Belfast
A man has been arrested in west Belfast after a suspected stolen car damaged a taxi and two police vehicles. Officers on patrol in the Falls Road area on Monday saw a red Citroen C4 which they believed had been reported stolen the previous day. Advertisement It collided with a taxi carrying passengers before making off 'at speed' and being abandoned in the Donegal Quay area. A man aged in his 30s has been arrested on a number of offences including dangerous driving and theft of a vehicle. Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said no serious injuries were reported. 'The vehicle, a red Citroen C4, was being driven erratically and collided with a taxi, which was carrying passengers, near the junction of Royal Avenue and Donegal Street, before making off at speed and being abandoned in the area of Donegal Quay,' he said. Advertisement 'Our enquiries remain ongoing but thankfully there have been no reports of any serious injuries at this time. 'Damage was, however, caused to the vehicles involved in the collision, along with two police vehicles. 'One man, aged in his 30s, was arrested a short distance away on suspicion of a number of offences including dangerous driving, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, theft of a vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, using a motor vehicle without insurance and no driving licence. 'He remains in custody at this time, assisting with enquiries. Advertisement He added: 'Our officers dedicate themselves to the communities they serve, often at great risk to themselves. 'While any injury to our officers or members of the public is completely unacceptable, thankfully, on this occasion, we are not dealing with more serious consequences as a result of this reckless behaviour. 'Damage to police vehicles often requires them to be off the road for repairs, and this impacts on service delivery to the public.'
