Close to 100 dual Irish-English signs to be placed in ‘settlements’ across Newry and Armagh

Dual language signs in Irish and English will be placed in close to 100 towns, villages and other settlements across counties Armagh and Down.

Councillors in Newry Mourne and Down (NMD) approved the ‘gateway’ signage for the 89 communities in the face of opposition from unionists, with one arguing it was “radical and illogical”.

A DUP councillor, arguing against the move, also took issue with remarks by SDLP MLA Cara Hunter on objections to the Irish language and culture being based on a “coloniser mindset” running deep.

Councillor Henry Reilly said: “This from a woman who’s name, ‘Hunter’, is an Anglo-Norman name, who calls me, ‘Reilly’, whose ancestry goes back into the midst of Irish history, a colonial.

“I find that very offensive, and the SDLP should call her in and reprimand her for what she said.”

The committee decision, expected to be ratified by the full council, is the latest development after six years of attempting to reach consensus on a review of the local authority’s dual signage policy.

It was approved following a vote, with 10 in favour and three against.

Rowallane DUP Councillor Callum Bowsie, who said he regularly gives talks and writes articles on Irish place names, said he “would be willing to sit down and having a civilised conversation”.

Mr Bowsie added: “But what we will not support is an illogical and radical campaign by a local authority to go into every town and force that community to have their place name entrance signage leading in a language that the vast majority in that community do not identify with.”

Downpatrick Sinn Fein councillor Oonagh Hanlon said: “I just want to remind the UUP and the DUP, that there is council policy here already, we are just moving it into the gateway signage.

“It’s not rocket science, it’s not changing the world or putting it on an axis.”