10/01/2019

Belfast City Hall To Light Up Red For Irish Language Protest

Belfast City Hall is to be illuminated with red light in support of an Irish Language Act, according to a Sinn Fein councillor.

Órla Nic Biorna said it will be lit up at 4.30pm on Saturday 12 January.

The Belfast City Council website describes the event as a "special illuminate in red, Human Rights colour, to mark the anniversary of the first public protest in support of the Irish Language Act Organised by An Dream Dearg".

Councillor Nic Biorna said: "Two years on from the courageous move by the late Martin McGuinness to call time on the denial of rights to significant sections of the community, Irish language speakers are still being denied rights and legal protections. 

"The Irish language threatens no one and enriches our society and the Irish language community are entitled to protection with an act."

The Northern Ireland institutions of government collapsed in January 2017, when Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy First Minister. The RHI scandal, along with equality issues such as same-sex marriage and Irish language rights have all been at the forefront of the political stalemate.

The Sinn Fein councillor urged all supporters of the Irish language to attend the event in Belfast on Saturday and demand legislative change.



(JG/CM)

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