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

Another step forward was taken today in the promotion of the role of Irish in the business life of Belfast when Forbairt Feirste’s Irish language Business Officer, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh met with local businesses interested in promoting role of the Irish language in their businesses.

The first in a series of workshops organised by Forbairt Feirste was held in Cultúrlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, Falls Road on Monday 1st March 2010.

The workshops will be organised under the stewardship of Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh in various local venues throughout Belfast between now and Easter.

Further Information:

feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

Local businessman, Joe McGivern, one of the main players in the West Belfast Traders’ Forum celebrated the opening of his new ‘Siopa’ on the Springfield Road today as it officially opened for business. The front of the ‘Siopa’ was refurbished with help from Belfast City Council under the innovative ‘Renewing the Routes’ scheme, in partnership with Irish language development agency Forbairt Feirste who provide advice and translation services for the project.

Joe McGivern’s native  ‘Siopa’ brand was recognised in Forbairt Feirste’s annual awards ceremony, Gaelghradam Loch Lao in December 2009 when he won the Belfast award for the city’s most Gaelic small business.

Forbairt Feirste Director delivers talks on placenames

Forbairt Feirste director, Jake MacSiacais has given a series of presentations on the theme of placenames of the Upper Springfield. The talks were held as part of the Spring Festival which ran from Thursday 4th until Sunday 7th February.

There were two lectures in total over the weekend on the theme of placenames which formed part of Forbairt Feirste’s ongoing scheme, The Nansen Project.

The first talk took place in Gaelscoil na Móna on Friday 5/2/2010 and was attended by the school’s primary six and seven pupils along with their counterparts from Saint Aidan’s Christian Brothers’ School.

The second presentation took place in Caulfield’s Bar at the top of the Whiterock Road on Sunday 7/2/2010. Both sessions were lively with the audience asking lots of questions of the guest speaker.

Upper Springfield Irish Language Awards

Jolly Good Balloon Factory scoops Best Irish business award

Forbairt Feirste, Upper Springfield Development Trust and  Glór na Móna have hosted the Presentation ceremony for the inaugural Upper Springfield Irish language awards. A scheme that gives recognition to businesses in the Upper Springfield area that promote and support the Irish language. Awards were given out in two categories; The Best Irish business and the best Irish community business.

The 2010 winners were the Jolly Good balloon factory for the best Irish business and the Ardmonagh Family Centre for the best Irish community business. The awards ceremony was held, on Saturday 6/2/2010 as part of the Heart of Féile an Earraigh.

Spring Lecture

Basque architect shares opinions with Gaeltacht Quarter audience

A well-packed audience was in attendance last Friday 4/2/2010, at Coláiste Feirste when Basque architect Alona Martinez-Perec gave an interesting and engaging talk on the development of cultural quarters.

Ms Martinez-Perec from Bilbao in Euskal Herria (the Basque Country) was able to bring her experience in both Bilbao and Barcelona to bear on the talk which she gave to those in attendance.

St Brigid’s Crosses workshop kicks off Creative Legacies

Forbairt Feirste, Upper Springfield Development Trust and  Glór na Móna held a workshop on the making of St Brigid’s crosses in Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh on Friday January 29th as part of the Creative Legacies Project.

The workshop was the beginning of a series of events which will be held throughout 2010 celebrating the heritage, culture and arts in the areas adjacent to the Black Mountain and Divis.

Putting Irish at the heart of the market

Forbairt Feirste’s Irish Means Business officer, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, is working alongside local elected representatives in the Colin area to ensure that the Irish language is at the heart of the new £25m development which has just been announced for the Colin Area.

Further information

feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

As part of Féile an Earraigh 2010, Belfast Gaels have organised a series of events under the title of ‘Heart of the Festival Irish Events’

Forbairt Feirste, Cultúrlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, Raidió Fáilte, Glór na Móna and Coláiste Feirste are working together to ensure that Féile an Earrigh has a Gaelic heart full of fun and diversity.

Croí Féile an Earraigh runs from Friday  Feb 5th until Sunday Feb 7th.

Further information

feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

proinsias@culturlann.ie

Forbairt Feirste director Jake Mac Siacais, gave a presentation on the Saint Gallen and Loch Lao Heritage at Fealtys bar Bangor on Saint Brigid’s Day.

The Saint Gallen Loch Lao heritage project grew out of a Forbairt Feirste visit to the Saint Gallen Monastery and Archive in Sankt Gallen Switzerland. 

Mac Siacais was the first guest speaker invited to give a talk to the Auld Bangor Historical Society, a local heritage and history group.

The talk has whetted the appetite of the Historical Society to learn more of Sankt Gallen, the Swiss Canton and City which grew from the Monastic settlement established by Bangor monk Saint Gall in 612AD

The Saint Gall and Loch Lao Heritage project grew from a visit to the Monastery of Sankt Gallen by Forbairt Feirste and from an understanding that great opportunities existed to use the example of the Irish monks as a public platform for exploring the cultural wealth which they have left us as our heritage.

Mac Siacais said:

“In the Golden Age of Irish Monasticism Irish monks lit a spiritual flame which illuminated the darkness and ignited a living fire in the hearts of people across Europe. Those same monks, by dint of their own diligence, ardour and art, left a rich written heritage, whose echo still sounds clearly across more than 1000 years until the present day.

“The St Gallen/Loch Lao Heritage Project focuses on the echo of that cultural richness elevating it anew and giving full modern voice to this shared heritage for the Irish speaking community, for those who value Irish Culture and also for the wider community of Belfast Lough in all their diversity.”

Further information

jake@forbairtfeirste.com

Laochra Loch Lao on the big screen

Laochra Loch Lao, the Gaelic speaking football team based in Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter will be the subject of two upcoming television programmes commissioned by the BBC. The programmes will follow the Laochra as they prepare for their fourth consecutive year of  participation in the Gaeltacht Football Competition in County Mayo at the end of May 2010.

Laochra Loch Lao were established in 2006.

Further information

jake@forbairtfeirste.com

nó feargal@forbairtfeirste.com

Innovative Irish language scheme for Belfast businesses

Forbairt Feirste in partnership with the West Belfast Traders’ Forum have recently launched an innovative Irish Language scheme in Belfast.

‘Blas ar an Bheagán- A Little goes a long way’ promotes the Irish language amongst businesses in the Gaeltacht Quarter and throughout the city.

‘Blas ar an Bheagán- A Little goes a long way’, the first scheme of its kind in Ireland, sees  simple and useful Irish phrases made available to customers in restaurants and bars.

Under the scheme, eight businesses in the Gaeltacht Quarter and across the city have had an audio system installed in the washrooms/toilets of their businesses which will play a series of simple and practical Irish phrases for use by customers in the social setting of a bar/restaurant.

According to chairperson of the West Belfast Trader’s Forum, Patrick McDonald, ‘This scheme is groundbreaking and provides local businesses not only with a fantastic business and marketing tool but also an exceptional resource in customer service as well as practical, cultural, and educational benefits for the communities they live and work in’.

These practical benefits were echoed by Forbairt Feirste’s, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, who says, ‘We believe that this innovative scheme will take off with businesses throughout the island and  beyond amongst the Irish diaspora!

‘We have drawn up and recorded an extensive list of practical Irish phrases that can be used by people while socialising in bars and restaurants as well as in their everyday lives.

‘Eight businesses have been chosen to avail of the audio system under the Pilot Scheme, but we have also produced 500 copies of the CD that has been recorded in conjunction with Belfast Irish Language radio station, Raidió Fáilte. These will be made available to interested businesses throughout the city. We would like to thank Foras na Gaeilge for funding this initiative and Mitchell and Kane Associates for their wonderful design of the CD cover and attendant printed materials.’

The launch took place in Madden’s Bar on Wednesday, 11 November 2009.