Here comes the new Belfast

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

Forbairt Feirste and Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta are geared up and ready along with their fellow Belfast Gaels for the big kick-off for  RITH 2010.  RITH 2010 the Belfast to Galway Irish language charity fundraiser, kicks off in Belfast on Tuesday March 9th.

The craic for the day begins in Cultúrlann between 3pm and 5pm on Tuesday with Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí broadcasting live on Raidió na Gaeltachta as well as with traditional music and entertainment of the highest standard with everyone welcome.

There are three Belfast routes for the run – one in the west of  the city leaving Twinbrook from Scoil na Fuiseoige at 6.30pm, one from the north of the city leaving Scoil Éanna ag 6.45pm and one from the south and east of the city leaving from Carryduff GAC at 6.45. All the three routes will meet at City Hall at 8.00pm, where a short ceremony will be hosted by the Mayor before the run heads westward to Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich where music and craic will commence from 9pm onwatrds.

Forbairt Feirste and Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta have purchased a kilometer in the heart of the Gaeltacht Quarter to show support for this ambitious initiative which seeks to reinvigorate the Irish Language community. Forbairt Feirste director Jake Mac Siacais said:, “I congratulate the organisers of  RITH for all their sterling work to date and want to show our support for fundraising efforts which raise the profile and status of the Irish language at the same time as raising much needed project money which will help drive forward the revival. We have a great day ahead of us and I for one am really looking forward to it.

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

A sizeable crowd gathered when Micheál Ó Máirtin, St Mary’s University College and President of Campa Chormaic launched a new giant billboard in the heart of the Gaeltacht Quarter on Thursday March 4th. Two young Laochra  and Coláiste Feirste pupils, Patrice NÍ Cheallaigh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin are on the billboard that was designed by local graphic designer Gerd Curley.

Mr Ó Máirtín praised the acheivements of Laochra Loch Lao to date and encouraged people to support the Gaeltacht Quarter team as they prepare for this year’s National Gaeltachta football competition. He stated that the Laochra were a thriving example of energetic action in practice on the ground that can build communities through the Irish language revival.

Laochra Loch Lao CLG is a Forbairt Feirste priority and the Irish-speaking team has been sponsored for the second year running by An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta Teo. Special praise was given to Micheal Flannigan who kindly gave use if the wall to An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta Teo free of charge. BBC were also present to film for the two part television series that they will be doing about the Laochra this year.

This billboard launch was the first of a series of publicity events on the horizon in the forthcoming months

The Belfast team will travel, together with other teams from Gaeltacht regions across the country to Béal Átha Mhuirthead in the Mayo Gaeltacht for the national Galeltacht competition on Friday 4^th June 2010. A 50 seat supporters bus will leave the Cultúrlann on the same day for Beflast Gaels courtesy of kind funding for the Ultach Trust.

Anyone interested in booking a seat on this bus, should contact us on

feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

or

jake@forbairtfeirste.com

Two of Belfast’s energetic Gaels, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh and Colma McKee, have been recognised for their achievements at the Belfast Media Group’s Top 40 under 4o awards ceremony held in Belfast City Hall on 4/3/10. The Top 40 awards go to those entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs who have achieved excellence in the fields of Business, Community, Sport, Education and other fields of endeavour.  Special recognition was given to Colma McKee the co-ordinator of  Forbairt Feirste’s Towards Employment project for her role in underpinning the achievements of the young Irish speakers who attend the course.

Forbairt Feirste were at the heart of the fair again in South Derry putting forward the case for Irish as an additional skill in the jobs marke. Forbairt were guests at a Careers Fair organised by The Magherafelt Learning Partnership.  Hundreds of pupils from schools across Mid-Ulster were showing a massive interest in the Irish language and in the job opportunities being created by the language revival in the 21st century.

Further Information:

feargal@forbairtfeirste.com