Irish street signs to be erected beside loyalist estate in South Belfast

Irish dual language street signs are to be erected beside the Taughmonagh estate in South Belfast, despite more residents in the street in question saying they were against the move than were in favour.

At the October meeting of the Belfast Council People and Communities Committee at City Hall, elected representatives approved the erection of dual language street signs for 49 streets within the city, 48 of which were for Irish and English dual language signs, and one of which was for Ulster Scots and English.

All the streets passed the 15 percent threshold to have dual language street signage, but only one had more residents against the new signage than in favour.

The survey for Sicily Park, beside the Taughmonagh Estate off Upper Lisburn Road, BT10, went to 357 residents. They were asked if they were for or against dual language street signs displaying the English, and the Irish, which is Páirc na Sicile.

A total of 96 occupiers, that is 27 percent, were in favour of the erection of a second street name plate, while 120 occupiers, or 34 percent, were not in favour. Eight occupiers, or two percent, had no preference.

The council committee’s officer report on the street signs states: “One resident pointed out that Sicily Park is a main access road to Taughmonagh Estate which is a majority Loyalist area.

"They believe the erection of signs in Irish would lead to vandalism and civil unrest in an area of mixed religious and political beliefs, which is a normally peaceful and friendly community.

“One resident commented that they are keen on Irish street signs but do not wish to cause tension with Taughmonagh/Benmore. They believe the signage may cause tensions in a quiet street.

“One other resident commented whilst they would like an Irish translation on the street nameplate, due to the proximity to a loyalist estate they chose the no preference option in order to support good relations.”

The decision to erect Irish dual language signs at Sicily Park went to a vote. On an Alliance proposal to erect 48 signs, but not at Sicily Park, nine voted in support, from the DUP, Alliance and the UUP, with 10 against from Sinn Féin and the SDLP. The 49 streets were then agreed.

The decision will go to the full council meeting at the start of November for ratification, where it could go to another vote.

Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie said at the meeting: “Sicily Park has 96 respondents in support of this. It is well within the threshold, and well within the policy of 15 percent.”

SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown said: “It is disappointing to see people are saying the erection of signs will lead to vandalism and civil unrest. It is important people respect the fact they have been installed and we have followed due process.

"Whether you are a resident of the street or otherwise, I don’t think that vandalism or the threat of vandalism should inform anybody’s opinion around this.”

DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: “They are taking into consideration the relationships that have been built up. It is a very mixed community in Sicily Park, and there are really good relationships there. But I absolutely 100 percent agree that everybody should abide by the rule of law.”

The Ulster Scots and English dual language streets signs agreed at the committee are the first in Ulster Scots since the new policy for dual language signs was agreed four years ago.

They will be erected at Ravenscroft Avenue, off Upper Newtownards Road and Beersbridge Road in East Belfast. The street signs will have “Corbiescroft Evvenye” as well as the regular English.

In 2022 councillors agreed a new policy on dual language street signs would finally be implemented – 18 months after the policy was originally given the go-ahead in the chamber. Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and People Before Profit all supported the new street sign policy, while the three unionist parties, the DUP, UUP and PUP, were against it.

The current policy means at least one resident of any Belfast street, or a councillor, is all that is required to trigger a consultation on a second nameplate.

If 15 per cent or more of all occupants surveyed in a street want to have a dual language sign in the language requested, this will be sufficient to erect the sign. Non-responses will no longer be counted as “against” votes, and there will be an equality assessment for each application.

Before that, the policy required 33.3 percent of the eligible electorate in any Belfast street to sign a petition to begin the process, and 66.6 percent to agree to the new dual language sign on the street.

The policy has drawn controversy, with some unionist politicians saying the 15 percent threshold is too low, despite it being common practice for minority languages across the world. Others say that nationalist parties have “changed the goalposts” by pushing for Irish language street signs in streets which did not meet the 15 percent threshold.

Irish-language advocates view the signs as a long-overdue right and a celebration of identity, while some unionist politicians argue they are being used to mark territory and stoke division.