Gaeltacht Quarter, Belfast

The Gaeltacht Quarter (Irish: An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta [ənˠ ˌçahɾˠuː ˈɣeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠə]) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom is an area surrounding the Falls Road in the west of the city. A Gaeltacht is an area where the Irish language is spoken. The Quarter aims to promote Irish language and Irish culture in the area and to develop associated tourist attractions.[1]

This article is about Belfast's Irish-speaking quarter. For other urban Gaeltacht areas, see Neo-Gaeltacht.

According to Innti poet and scholar of Modern literature in Irish Louis de Paor, Belfast Irish, "a new urban dialect", of Ulster Irish, was "forged in the heat of Belfast during The Troubles" and is the main language spoken in the Gaeltacht Quarter. The same dialect, according to De Paor, has been used in the poetry of Gearóid Mac Lochlainn and other radically innovative writers like him.[2]

Throughout the Quarter many Irish-medium institutions are located: Gaelscoil an Lonnáin, Gaelscoil na bhFál, Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh and Coláiste Feirste. A third-level institution in the area is Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire.[3]

Proposals for a Gaeltacht Quarter began in 2002 as a recommendation of the Joint West Belfast/Greater Shankill Task Force. The plan was then adopted by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Belfast City Council.[4]

Key sites and events in the Gaeltacht quarter include Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, An Ceathrú Póilí, Conway Mill and Féile an Phobail.[5] Most businesses in the Gaeltacht Quarter have Irish language or bilingual signage.[6] There is also an Irish language radio station Raidió Fáilte.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Gaeltacht Quarter and Irish language Broadcast Fund". Department for Communities.An Roinn Pobal.Department fur Commonities. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  2. Louis de Paor (2016), Leabhar na hAthghabhála: Poems of Repossession: Irish-English Bilingual Edition, Bloodaxe Books. Page 27.
  3. "An Ghaeilge agus Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire". St. Mary's University College. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. DCAL report on the quarter Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Féile an Phobail - Events". Féile an Phobail - Festival of the People. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. An Cheathru Ghaeltachta - Gaeltacht Quarter (PDF). Belfast: Visit West Belfast. 2017. p. 32. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. "About". Raidió Fáilte. Retrieved 1 September 2021.


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