Pupils from Irish language schools demonstrated on February 1st at
Stormont ahead of a meeting between campaigners and the Northern Ireland
Secretary.
The colourful and noisy protest saw primary and secondary school children call for legislation to protect Gaelic speakers in the region.
An impasse over Sinn Fein’s demand for an Irish Language Act is at the heart of the powersharing crisis at Stormont, with the Democratic Unionists standing firm in their opposition to a stand-alone piece of legislation that does not incorporate other cultures, such as Ulster Scots.
Irish language activists will meet Secretary of State Karen Bradley at Stormont House on Thursday afternoon. It is their first such meeting with the UK Government in the year-long political stand-off.
Irish language act campaigners, including pupils from Irish-medium schools across Northern Ireland, take part in a protest at Stormont parliament buildings in Belfast, ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley.
Katy-Rose Meade, an A-level student from Colaiste Feirste secondary school in Belfast, addressed the rally on the steps of Parliament Buildings.
“The community has organised and mobilised for over 12 months, and will continue to do so until our rights are delivered, as was promised more than 12 years ago (in the St Andrews Agreement),” she said
“I was six when that promise was made and during my lifetime I have witnessed obstacle after obstacle placed before the growth of our community-led revival.
Source
The colourful and noisy protest saw primary and secondary school children call for legislation to protect Gaelic speakers in the region.
An impasse over Sinn Fein’s demand for an Irish Language Act is at the heart of the powersharing crisis at Stormont, with the Democratic Unionists standing firm in their opposition to a stand-alone piece of legislation that does not incorporate other cultures, such as Ulster Scots.
Irish language activists will meet Secretary of State Karen Bradley at Stormont House on Thursday afternoon. It is their first such meeting with the UK Government in the year-long political stand-off.
Irish language act campaigners, including pupils from Irish-medium schools across Northern Ireland, take part in a protest at Stormont parliament buildings in Belfast, ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley.
Katy-Rose Meade, an A-level student from Colaiste Feirste secondary school in Belfast, addressed the rally on the steps of Parliament Buildings.
“The community has organised and mobilised for over 12 months, and will continue to do so until our rights are delivered, as was promised more than 12 years ago (in the St Andrews Agreement),” she said
“I was six when that promise was made and during my lifetime I have witnessed obstacle after obstacle placed before the growth of our community-led revival.
Source
