Here comes the new Belfast

Belfast Gaels were delighted to extend the warmest of Irish welcomes to the heart of the Gaeltacht Quarter to President elect of the Ulster Council of the GAA, Aogán Ó Fearghail. A native of Cavan, Mr Ó Fearghail has hit the ground running in his new Ulster rolemoving to ensure the centrality and future of the Irish Language at the heart of GAA in Ulster during his tenure of office.

The president was in Belfast on Tuesday, 30/03/10, to get an update on progress and developments in Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter and to share his plans in relation to the current and future role of Irish in GAA affairs.

This was a hugely positive meeting and all participants agreed to further explore the huge development opportunities which exist for Belfast Gaels working in partnership with the Ulster Council.

The preseident indicated that he was more than delighted to give his wholehearted blessing to the efforts of Laochra Loch Lao, the Gaeltacht Quarter footbal squad as they prepare for the forthcoming challenge of  Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in County Mayo at the beginning of June.

The president was also updated on plans for the forthcoming Gaeltacht Quarter Conference on May 14th as well as details of  The Liam Murray Cup, Young Laochra Competitionand The Oliver Kelly Cup Competition, Comórtas na Laochra which will happen on April 29th and May 15th.

“In unity lies strength,” said Forbairt Director Jake MacSiacais after the meeting.

Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil déan teagmháil linn ar jake@forbairtfeirste.com

Forbairt Feirste dirtector Jake MacSiacais was given an invitation to give a cultural awareness talk on the Irish Language to a packed hall in Ardoyne on Tuesday evening 23/3/10. The event was organised by Ardoyne Youth Club in partnership with the organisation Global Exchange.

Mr MacSiacais gave a twenty minute presentation on the history and background of the Irish Language and on the importance of placenames as a valuable storehouse which connects local people and visitors alike with the rich culture which is the joint heritage of everyone in Ireland.

There was good attendance at the event both from the local Ardoyne community and from visitors from coutries like Sierra Leone, South Africa and many others.

For further information contact us at  jake@forbairtfeirste.com

Laochra Loch Lao CLG, the Gaeltacht Quarter Gaelic Football Team took another significant step recently when they decided to organise the Laochra Football Festival on thursday 29 April. The competition is directed Belfast’s Irish Medium Primary Schools and  all ten schools will be taking part. Three football pitches will be in use on the day, namely, Rossa Park, St Pauls Park and Sarsfields park and will last between 10 and three. This will raise the profile of the club amongst the young Gaels in our Irish primary schools and make a valuable contribution to the language revival in the city.

The competition’s main cup, the ‘Liam Ó Muirí Cup’, which will be opresented to the winners on the day is named in honour of well known Belfast Gael Liam Ó Múirí , who died tragically and prematurely in January 2010 after losing his long battle against illness. Liam a former Bunscoil Phobal Feirste pupil, played for St Paul’s CLG and worked full-time for The Council for Irish Medium Education.

Seán Fennell, one of the competition’s main organisers, said:  “We are greatly honoured to have been given permission by Liam’s family to name our trophy after him. He was a committed, brave and diligent Gael who stood for the all values the we expect from members of Laochra Loch Lao CLG.

Laochra Loch Lao succeeded in gaining generous funding from the Ultach Trust which helped us purchase the trophy, the shield and the medals, that every young player that takes part, will be awarded. Each participant on the day will also receive a beautiful and authentic Laochra Loch Lao certificate thanks to Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, who have funded the design and print of the certificates. We aim to plant the Laochra Loch Lao footballing seed as well as the vision of the Gaeltacht Quarter with the young footballers from our Irish medium schools. Thanks are also due O’Donovan Rossa CLG, St Paul’s CLG and Sarsfield’s CLG for allowing the use of their pitches on the day.

For further information contact:  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

During Fleadh Feirste, the Gaeltacht Quarter Festival, in November 2009, Forbairt Feirste, with assistance from Foras na Gaeilge, republished an updated version of their 2006 booklet Belfast Heritage/Oidhreacht Feirste. The republished version includes three new chapters.

You can download your copy here: Oidhreacht Feirste / Belfast Heritage or listen to sections from the book recited here live online: Listen

Forbairt Feirste”s, Irish in Business project worker,  Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh has congratulated An tSnáthaid Mhór publishers for their innovation and energy. He was speaking as An tSnáthaid recited sections from their newest work, An Gréasaí Bróg agus na Sióga as part of the Seachtan na Gaeilge celebrations. The readings were carried out by Sean Mac Seáin in An Cheathrú Póilí bookstore in the heart of Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter on Monday 15/3/10. The event was organised by Leabhar Power in conjunction with An Ceathrú Póilí books.
Feargal said:  “Six years ago a spark was lit in the minds of Belfast couple, Andrew Whitson and Caitríona Nic Sheáin, when they discovered some inspirational stories from the Irish Folk Tradition. Thus began a journey to bring the poetical beauty of the Irish Language along with living images to a new generation. Forbairt Feirste recognises and applauds this approach and as such presented copies of their work to the recipients of the Loch Lao Business Awards this year.”

For further information on this inspirational work connect to:  www.antsnathaidmhor.com

For further information on the work of Forbairt Feirste contact:  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

Forbairt Feirste are again leading the field in relation to promoting Irish in the business life of Belfast. Forbairt along with hundreds of Irish speakers throughout Ireland and throughout the world are hoping to have the biggest online Irish Language presence ever on St Patrick’s day as part of  Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Forbairt Feirste’s, Irish Means Business project worker, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh said: ‘We are trying our best to ensure that we influence as many businesses as possible to use some Irish in their online presence and everywhere else during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010. We congratulate all of those various groups and individuals throughout Ireland and further afield who are involved in these efforts. If you have a business remember Irish means Business.

Further information jake@forbairtfeirste.com nó  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

Forbairt Feirste is leading the way again with Irish language signage in the Gaeltacht Quarter. Through the innovative Belfast City Council  ’Renewing the Routes Scheme’, the Irish language development Agency provides a top class translation service for local businesses such as Macy’s Coffee shop on the Falls Road.

Shop owner Seán Devlin said: “We are very happy to provide bilingual signage and stationary to the Gaeltacht Quarter community and the wider community.  Coláiste Feirste pupils are among our best customers on a daily basis and there was clearly a big demand for such a service. We understand the importance of the language as a tool for business promotion and we have begun learning Irish through the fantastic ‘Blás ar an Bheagán’ CD provided by Forbairt Feirste. the staff and myself are learning day by day.”.

Forbairt Feirste Project Worker Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh stated:  “We are delighted to facilitate language promotion amongst businesses working on the ground. We are also delighted to announce that Foras na Gaeilge’s national ‘Irish means business’ scheme has just reopened again which allows small and medium sized businesses and community groups to get 50/50 match funding aid with external signage and stationary. We facilitate businesses and groups interested in appling for this scheme and provide free translation services in the process. This scheme works on a first come, first served basis and anyone looking to avail of it, should contact  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com or call us on 02890 438597 or on 07841101630.”

For further information on Irish signage, contact us on  feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

Last year Forbairt Feirste published the booklet  ‘From Ashes to Aisling Belfast Gaels and the Rebuilding of Bombay Street’. The booklet, based on the role of the Belfast Irish speaking community in the rebuilding of Bombay Street, was published to mark the remembrance of the  terrible events of August 1969.

The booklet proved so popular that all copies were snapped up within days. Forbairt Feirste is currently planning to republish the booklet in hard book version, but in light of the continuing high level of interest in the publication we have now made a copy available in downloadable format.

To download your copy click here:  ‘Ón Luaith go dtí an Aisling Ról Ghaeil Feirste in Atógáil Sráid Bombay‘

Representatives of  Forbairt Feirste Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta and TACA joined hundered of Belfast Gaels for the big kick off for RITH 2010 in Belfast on Tuesday March 9th.

There was an enthusiastic, energetic start to the event which has laid down a high standard to be followed by those other Gaelic champions who will now carry the RITH baton on its onward trek across the coutry to Galway.

Fionnuala Nic Thom (see picture above) who ran for Irish Schools Charity Taca said: ” It was inspirational to see such a mix of people take to the streets of Belfast with common purpose. They were all there men and women, old and young. A good start is half the work.”

For further information on RITH 2010, go to  www.rith.ie

The West Belfast Taxi Association have again announced fantastic support for the Irish language revival by playing a central role in RITH 2010. There will be three Belfast routes, in West, North and South Belfast that will launch tonight. The largest public co-operative on the British Isles have agreed to provide three fluent Irish speaking drivers to cater for the three routes.  Forbairt Feirste’s project worker and West Belfast RITH organiser Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, stated, ‘We are very grateful for the West Belfast Taxi Association for their support for this inspiring initiative that raises funds for the language and raises the profile of the language revival throughout the country. Not only will three fluent speakers be there on the night but their costs will also be kindly covered by the association.’

In relation to this support, West Belfast Association manager, Stiofán Long stated, ‘We are very happy to be able to support this pioneering initiative that raises much-needed funds for the language revival and our community in general. We work on behalf of the community and are very proud to sport the first fully-bilingual public transport building on the island, that we succeeded in getting through close co-operation with Forbairt Feirste. Even still, we took the decision to provide bilingual signage on our taxi’s, a step which proved hugely popular with the thousands of customers and tourists that use our services on a daily basis.  Therefore, we are very excited about RITH and greatly looking forward to supporting it.’

For further information on RITH 2010, go to  www.rith.ie