What’s next for the Irish language at Grand Central Station?

The addition of Irish to signage at Belfast Grand Central Station has been discussed ever since the new £340m transport hub opened its doors to the public last October.

A political rift recently emerged at the heart of the Executive between the DUP and Sinn Féin following Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins’ decision to provide an estimated £150,000 for dual language signs at the new station.

On Monday, protestors from the Sandy Row area gathered to oppose the addition of Irish to signs at the station.

Here’s a look back at the developments so far and what could happen next.

What has happened so far?

Irish language activists criticised the lack of dual signage in the new transport hub when it opened in September 2024.

An Dream Dearg staged a protest inside the station just days following its opening, highlighting that they had been engaging with Translink to add Irish to signage for a number of years.

At the time, Translink noted that it would be added as the station’s development progresses.

Calls for dual language signage continued until Ms Kimmins announced that her department was going to provide the funding for the signage to be updated, costing an estimated £150,000.

However, this resulted in a rift as the DUP criticised the minister for “bad process” and not having brought the decision before the Executive table.

Language activists have said that the issue is one of equality and highlighted that the cost of adding the signs amounts to just 0.05% of the station’s total cost.

They have also argued that the lack of Irish at the station has excluded the nearby Gaeltacht community.

On Monday evening, residents from the Sandy Row protested against the signs and having Irish “rammed down [their] throats”.

What’s next for the issue of signage at the station?

Two weeks ago, Translink announced that work on adding the signs had been paused.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson announced that he had lodged a legal challenge over the move to add the signs, stating that the decision was taken “without Executive approval”.

Any advancement on adding dual language signs to the station will await the outcome of the legal challenge.

Ms Kimmins has said she stands by her decision to provide funds for the signs.

“I stand firm in my decision, we followed the process,” she said.

Stormont rules state that issues which are deemed ‘significant or controversial’ should be considered by the Executive and not by a sole minister, however it is for the First and Deputy First Ministers to jointly decide when an issue requires a wider vote.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has backed Ms Kimmins’ decision, while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly had criticised it- it is therefore unlikely both would agree on the issue requiring any wider vote.