Focal Point: A big year for reclaiming the Irish language in Belfast and across the north

As Gaeilge, teanga=language. It also translates to tongue.

This year has been mór (big) for the Irish language, and arguably ollmhór (extra big…huge) for the teanga i mBéal Feirste.

To cast an eye to this time anuraidh (last year), the city was preparing for Oireachtas na Samhna 2025, for the first time in 29 years.

Then the city received official recognition of its Gaeltacht Quarter

Follows is the erection of bilingual road signs.

Soon after, was Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Oireachtas, Fleadh, Gaeltacht: Such are words for which no English language equivalents exist, which in itself stands to reason with those who fought against the festivals and the said signs erected. It stands as a fact in itself to debate with those who question the validity and value of the teanga.

Although, debate we shan’t. Fág acu é. (Leave them to it.)

Gaeilge is so often used as a political bargaining chip, a petty attempt to polarise those susceptible. On issues ranging from abortion to assisted dying, Irish polarised voters unlike no other in the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey results released last month.

Although there are parties that kick the language as though it were a political football, not small is the feat of the fianna (warriors) who fought that feachtas (campaign) against them.

But Irish is not a political football, it is simply ár dteanga, our language.

Alas, ná bac leo sin (don’t mind them) giving out about our lovely tongue. Mar in ainneoin sin (because in spite of this), thanks to pobal na Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste, tá an teanga beo beathach, the language is alive and kicking in the city.

The gap that once was, closes - people are coming together through the language, through music, through festivals, through the pobal na Gaeilge (Irish-language community) - and through the simple act of using it.

On the signs, in our souls - ár dteanga, ar ár dteangacha, our language on our tongues. Tá sí faoi bhlath, tá sí ag fás, the grá (love) is growing.

Bláth = Flower, Tá sí faoi bhláth = She/it is blossoming

A form of protest is úsáid na Gaeilge (using Irish), just not the polarising protest it once was, as for those imithe romhainn (gone before us). So reclaim your tongue by saying slán, instead of goodbye, go raibh maith agat instead of thank you, and Béal Feirste, instead of Belfast. Not as a political football, not as a provocation - but simply because it is ár dteanga. Our language.

Cúpla Focal

teanga (tan-ga) - language/tongue

mór (more) - big

ollmhór (ullwore) - huge

anuraidh (anuree) - last year

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ár dteanga (ahr janga) - our language

pobal na Gaeilge (puball na gwaylga) -Irish-language community

tá an teanga beo beathach (taa an tanga byaw baha) - the language is alive and kicking

fianna (feeana)- warriors

feachtas (fakhtas) - campaign

ná bac leo sin (na bac law shin) - don’t mind them

mar in ainneoin sin (mar in annyeowin shin)- because in spite of this

bláth (blahh) - flower

tá sí faoi bhláth (taa she fwee blahh) - she/it is blossoming

úsáid na Gaeilge (oosaj na gwaylga) - using Irish

imithe romhainn (imeeha roween) - gone before us

slán (slaan) - goodbye

go raibh maith agat (guh row myh hugat) - thank you

Béal Feirste (beyl fairshtuh) - Belfast