The Irish Department supports 'Lá Dearg' Belfast 12 April @2pm

An Lá Dearg in Belfast

Following on from Lá Mór na Gaeilge in Dublin and the ‘Slán le Seán’ march in Conamara, ‘An Lá Dearg’ will take place on Saturday, 12 April, in Belfast.

Up to 10,000 people from all over the country, north and south, marched in Dublin recently to demand language rights and equality for the Irish language.  ‘Lá Mór na Gaeilge’ was described as the beginning of a strong campaign and it seems as if that campaign is now in full swing with the march held in An Spidéallast week, and the march in Belfast taking place in April.

The organisers of An Lá Dearg say that the protest has been organised “to demand Equality, Rights and Fairness for the language and those who speak it”.

In January of this year, a report from the European Council Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages found that hostile attitudes persisted towards the Irish language in Stormont and, despite the Committee’s recommendation to implement comprehensive language policy in 2009, no steps have been taken towards any policy. The Committee also noted that the promotion of Irish in the six counties remained a contentious subject.

The demands of the campaign are:

• A comprehensive rights-based Irish Language Act for the North.
• That the State in the North fulfil their obligations to develop a comprehensive Irish-medium Education system.
• That adequate resources be provided for the Irish speaking Community.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign’s working group, Caoimhe Ní Chathail, “We strongly believe that people who choose Irish as their language should have the opportunity and right to use it.   There will be public meetings throughout Ireland to attract support for this march and we wish to deliver a definitive, strong message to the authorities on this issue”.  

“We ask the people of Ireland, both local people and those further afield, to stand with us for “Lá Dearg”.

The march will leave Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach Saturday, 12 April, at 2pm and will finish in Custom House Square in Belfast City Centre.

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