Irish language Christmas banner replacement caused disappointment in Co Tyrone, council told

The replacement of an Irish language festive greeting banner in Co Tyrone with an English language one left a community disappointed, it has been claimed.

The ‘Nollaig shona duit’ banner was previously hung in Dungannon’s William Street, but was replaced with a banner in English ahead for the 2025 Christmas season.

Independent councillor Barry Monteith raised the issue at a meeting of Mid Ulster District Council’s Development committee.

Christmas greetings in Irish were projected over Ranfurly House, but the Dungannon DEA councillor claims the text was hard to make out.

“The Christmas event in Dungannon was excellent. By all accounts, they were excellent all round,” he said.

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“But [an issue] has been raised with me by the Irish-language community in Dungannon. There were Christmas decorations in William Street with ‘Happy Christmas’ in Irish.

“When the council bought the new decorations last year, nobody as far as I was aware was under the impression that the Irish would get lost in it.

“There is some sort of projection or something on Ranfurly House. Now, it is highly ineffective and virtually impossible to see, unless you are about 20 yards away from it.

“[The projection] should have been as well as the signage, rather than instead of.

“The traders have raised it with me, the public has raised it with me, and the Irish-language community has raised it with me in Dungannon.”

He added: “I’m proposing that there is a new Irish language Christmas greeting garland purchased, to be placed up next year.”

The council’s strategic director of communities and place, Ryan Black, said: “We can certainly bring back a report next month.

“[Regarding] Christmas decorations, we will need to consider the Environment committee’s role and responsibility around the purchase of that.”

Councillor Monteith’s proposal was seconded, and committee chair, Sinn Féin’s John McNamee, said: “If you’re looking at Dungannon, you have to look at the rest of the towns as well.”