The streets in the west of the city will feature their Irish translation after the request was approved by Council officials on February 6.
Séanna Walsh, a Sinn Fein councillor in the West Belfast , says there has been a “surge” of interest in the issue over recent months.
He added: “There’s a lot of young people getting involved in the issue, some who’ve been exercised about the language since the ‘crocodile’ remark and the denial of Acht Na Gaeilge, the way unionism reacted to demands for Irish language recognistion.”
Cllr Walsh said that over the past year more than 50 streets have adopted dual language signs, compared to around 200 since legislation allowing the practice was introduced in the late 1990s.
He added: “It can be quite an arduous process, but the people involved in this, the more they do it the more proficient they become. But people have to fill out the forms, they have to make the effort otherwise it won’t happen. Some people will say ‘sure there’s more important things than the Irish language’, but to many, many people it’s about identity, it’s about their culture.
“The important thing is, it’s dual-language. We have to be very, very careful about that. It’s not excluding anything, it’s about inclusivity.”
Under rules employed by the Council two thirds of people on the electoral register on a street must agree to the change before it can happen. The Irish translation must then be checked by a senior academic at Queen’s.
Details of the surveys conducted in each street ahead of the new signs going up are on the Belfast City Council website with most ranging from 65% to 75% with a few were 100% voted in favour.
Council minutes show that there is a “cost of approximately £2,000 to cover the cost of the manufacturing and erection of the dual language street signs”.
Among the streets affected are Hawthorn Hill, off the Hannahstown Hill, which will have ‘Cnoc na Sceiche’ added to its street sign.
Shanlieve Road, in Andersonstown, will have Bóthar Sheanshléibhe added while Brooke Manor, off the Blacks Road, will have Mainéar an tSrutháin added.
Some unofficial Irish street signs already exist, with one at Benraw Terrace or Ardán Bheann Ratha.
Séanna Walsh, a Sinn Fein councillor in the West Belfast , says there has been a “surge” of interest in the issue over recent months.
He added: “There’s a lot of young people getting involved in the issue, some who’ve been exercised about the language since the ‘crocodile’ remark and the denial of Acht Na Gaeilge, the way unionism reacted to demands for Irish language recognistion.”
Cllr Walsh said that over the past year more than 50 streets have adopted dual language signs, compared to around 200 since legislation allowing the practice was introduced in the late 1990s.
He added: “It can be quite an arduous process, but the people involved in this, the more they do it the more proficient they become. But people have to fill out the forms, they have to make the effort otherwise it won’t happen. Some people will say ‘sure there’s more important things than the Irish language’, but to many, many people it’s about identity, it’s about their culture.
“The important thing is, it’s dual-language. We have to be very, very careful about that. It’s not excluding anything, it’s about inclusivity.”
Under rules employed by the Council two thirds of people on the electoral register on a street must agree to the change before it can happen. The Irish translation must then be checked by a senior academic at Queen’s.
Details of the surveys conducted in each street ahead of the new signs going up are on the Belfast City Council website with most ranging from 65% to 75% with a few were 100% voted in favour.
Council minutes show that there is a “cost of approximately £2,000 to cover the cost of the manufacturing and erection of the dual language street signs”.
Among the streets affected are Hawthorn Hill, off the Hannahstown Hill, which will have ‘Cnoc na Sceiche’ added to its street sign.
Shanlieve Road, in Andersonstown, will have Bóthar Sheanshléibhe added while Brooke Manor, off the Blacks Road, will have Mainéar an tSrutháin added.
Some unofficial Irish street signs already exist, with one at Benraw Terrace or Ardán Bheann Ratha.
