Another (street) sign that Irish is winning battle for inclusion in Northern Ireland

IRISH LANGUAGE CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating another victory at the High Court in Belfast after the  resolution of a case of a Portadown resident seeking case bilingual signage on their street.

Iris Hagan from Woodside Hill near the Garvaghy Road in the County Armagh town was among more than two-thirds (66%) of residents on that street who had petitioned for a bilingual Irish and English street sign.

According to the procedures of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Council, one-third or 33% of street residents are required to approve the installation of a bilingual sign.  More than 66% of the residents expressed their support for the measure in a survey.

However, the council rejected the request, leading to a judicial review case being initiated.Since the council decided in February to approve the bilingual signage, the legal case has now been concluded. It is understood the new signs will be erected soon on Woodside Hill.

Hagan said she was ‘overjoyed’ that this ‘long process’ had come to an end.

“Nearly four years after we applied for the bilingual sign for our street, our native language will now be proudly displayed on Woodside Hil,” she said.”As a grandmother of Irish-medium educated students, this sign will clearly convey to them that they are welcome, that their native language is welcomed, and that no amount of delay or refusal will diminish their rights.”

She also thanked the legal team, Phoenix Law, and her barristers for their support.

This case is just one of many successful cases taken by Conradh na Gaeilge on issues related to bilingual signage and language strategy that the Executive has yet to resolve.

Conradh na Gaeilge is currently fighting a high-profile case demanding bilingual signage at the Grand Central Station  in the heart of Belfast.

Today is also the final day of the voting being conducted by the Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union, demanding bilingual signage on the campus.

Unionists are opposing the proposal, claiming it creates a chill factor, but the campaign’s supporters say there are many unionist symbols and ornamentation on campus already, and that Irish language signage would be inclusive and not detract from the English on the signs.

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme