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Oidhreacht Feirste An Ghaeilge i mBéal Feirste

Belfast Heritage Irish in Belfast

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San am i láthair, tá stair agus íomhá idirnáisiúnta Bhéal Feirste á n-athshamhlú agus á n-athmhúnlú leis an chathair a dhéanamh inaitheanta agus indíolta ag Réamhrá margaí an domhain. Is tráthúil, mar sin, oidhreacht Ghaelach Bhéal Feirste a fhógairt agus a cheiliúradh go neamhbhalbh nó ní féidir stair na cathrach seo cois cuain a aithris go beacht gan stair na Gaeilge a lua. Tá pearsana agus imeachtaí na staire greanta in ainmneacha Gaeilge na mbailte fearainn, agus tá lorg na Gaeilge ar chanúint Bhéarla na cathrach. Le corradh le dhá chéad bhliain tá an teanga Ghaeilge á hathshealbhú agus á hathbheochan agus is i mBéal Feirste a rinneadh an chéad irisleabhar Gaeilge, Bolg an tSolair, sa bhliain 1795. Bhí macasamhail Robert MacAdam (1808-95), an tionsclaí Preispitéireach, chomh tiomanta céanna don athbheochan chultúrtha agus a bhí sé do shaothrú na tionsclaíochta. Ar a gcostas féin a bhunaigh an chosmhuintir Cumann Chluain Ard i mblianta ocracha na 1930í agus ba é an toradh a bhí ar an obair cheannródaíoch sin gur gineadh an iliomad tionscnamh ina diaidh: Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoigh, gaelscoileanna, Cultúrlann MacAdam- Ó Fiaich, an Cheathrú Gaeltachta agus go leor eile. Is mithid an stair shaibhir sin a insint.

At the present time, the history and international image of Belfast are being reimagined and reworked so that the city can be presented to the markets of the world. There is no better time, therefore, to proclaim and celebrate Belfast’s rich Irish language heritage, without which any history of the city is incomplete. The people and events of the city’s history are encoded in the many names of its old townlands and the Irish language permeates the type of English spoken there. For over two hundred years Belfast has been at the hub of the Irish language revival and it was in the city that the first ‘magazine’ in Irish, Bolg an tSolair, was published in 1795. The likes of Robert MacAdam (1808-95), the Presbyterian industrialist, devoted equal energy to the preservation and revival of Irish as he did to the cause of industry. In the hard years of the 1930s the unemployed and working-class of the Falls Road founded Cumann Chluain Ard on their own money, and in so doing generated a wealth of cultural activity for many years to come - Shaws Road urban Gaeltacht, Irish-medium schools, Cultúrlann MacAdam-Ó Fiaich, the Gaeltacht Quarter and many other projects. This history deserves to be told. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 3

Gaeil Bhéal Feirste ag ceiliúradh na Gaeilge sa Chathair

Int én bec ro léic feit do rinn guip glanbuidi: fo-ceird faíd ós Loch Laíg, lon do chraíb charnbuidi.

Belfast Irish speakers Celebrating Irish in the city

the little bird that whistled shrill from the nib of its yellow bill:

a note let go o'er Belfast Lough - a blackbird from a yellow whin

Anonymous (ninth century) ( Translated by Ciaran Carson) broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 4

An Ghaeilge i Irish in Belfast mBéal Feirste ón from the earliest luathstair go dtí times until the an 17ú haois 1700’s

Is dócha nach raibh am ar bith gan an It is most probable that there was never a Ghaeilge a bheith á labhairt i mBéal Feirste. time when Irish wasn't spoken in Belfast. It is Is i nGaeilge atá ainm an bhaile, Béal in Irish that the town was named Béal Feirste/Béal na Fearsaide. Tá an fhearsaid ar Feirste/The mouth of the sandbank ford. The Abhainn an Lagáin san áit ar bunaíodh an Farset is at the Lagan where the town was baile ina dhiaidh sin. established.

Ba í an Ghaeilge an lingua franca, nó an Irish was the Lingua Franca, the common teanga choiteann, a bhí idir na Gaeil agus na language, between the Native Irish and the hAngla-Normannaigh a bhí ag cur fúthu idir Anglo-Normans who were settling in the cnoic Aontroma agus cnoic an Chaisleáin area between the Antrim and the Castlereagh Riabhaigh anuas go dtí Plandáil Uladh, tráth Hills up until the Plantation of Ulster, when a bunaíodh baile Bhéal Feirste i 1610. Is the Town of Belfast was established in 1610. iomaí ionad eaglasta a bhí ann, roimh an There were many ecclesiastical sites here Phlandáil, sa dúiche sin ina bhfuil cathair before the Plantation in the area in which Bhéal Feirste anois inti. Ba í an tSeanchill Belfast city is now situated. The Shankill (Shankill) an t-ionad ba mhó orthu uile agus (literally Old Church) was one of the most baisteadh ‘an tseanchill’ ar an pharóiste important of these centres and Shankill was shibhialta (civil parish) níos faide anonn. the name given to the later Civil Parish. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 5

Is i gcoillte dlútha na Cromóige (Cromac In the thick glades of Cromac Wood at Wood), ag an Sruthán Milis, a bhí Cill Stranmillis stood the church of Patrick where Phádraig, mar a bhfuil Reilig Bhaile na Friars' Bush Cemetery now stands. There was mBráthar (Friars’ Bush Graveyard) anois ann. also another church there in medieval times Bhí séipéil eile ann sa Mhéanaois mar a where High Street now stands the Capella De bhfuil an tSráid Mhór (High Street): capella Vado or the Chapel of Ford and as well as de Vado nó Séipéal na Fearsaide agus, lena these there was the church at Knockbreda, chois sin, bhí séipéil ag Cnoc na Bréadaí one at Knock and the one at Mallusk. (Knockbreda), ag Cnoc Cholm Cille (Knock) agus ag Maigh Bhloisce (Mallusk).

Albanaigh den chuid is mó a bhí i lucht na Most of the planters in this area were Scots Plandála agus choinnigh siad ainmneacha na and they retained the names of the mbailte fearainn mar a bhí siad. Is mar sin a townlands as they were. Thus did Belfast's mhair oidhreacht Ghaelach Bhéal Feirste sna heritage of placenames survive: logainmneacha:

Ard Eoghain - Ardoyne Ardoyne - Eoghan’s Heights

Baile na Saileán - Ballysillan Ballysillan (Literally Town of the Willow Groves)

Baile Dhún Fionn – Ballydownfine Ballydownfine (Literally Town of the White Fort)

Baile Mhic Airt - Ballymacarrett Ballymacarrett (Literally Town of the son of (ba dhuine de mhuintir Uí Néill, Clann Aodha Art) (Art was one of the O'Neill Clan of Buí é Art) Clandeboye).

An Chromóg - Cromac - Cromac (Literally the little bend) (The place (áit a bhfuil casadh in Abhainn an Lagáin). where there is a turn in the Lagan River)

Cnoc na gCoiníní – Knocknagoney Knocknagoney (Literally hill of the rabbits)

Lios na Searrach - Lisnasharragh Lisnasharragh (Literally Town of the steeds)

Tuath na bhFál - Falls Falls (Literally district of the enclosures)

An Cnoc – Knock Knock (Literally the hill)

Sceitheog an Iarla - Skegoneill Skegoneill (Literally Earl’s thornbush)

An Sruthán Milis - Stranmillis Stranmillis (Literally the sweet or pleasant stream) broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 6

An Ghaeilge i mBéal Feirste i Irish in Belfast after the Plantation ndiaidh na Plandála The plantation put an end to the rule of the Chuir an Phlandáil deireadh le réimeas Uí O'Neills but even if it did we are left with Néill ach, má chuir, fágadh fianaise bhuan ample testimony of the O'Neills in the Book againn ar na Niallaigh i Leabhar Cloinne of Cladeboye. The book was compiled around Aodha Buidhe. I dtrátha 1680 a tionscnaíodh 1680 and it contains the genealogy of the an leabhar agus is ann atá ginealach Uí Néill O'Neills as well as praise poetry composed by chomh maith le dánta molta a scríobh filí de their hereditary poets of the Ó Gnímh and Ó mhuintir Uí Ghnímh agus Uí Eachagáin, go hEachagáin families, particularly about their háirithe, dá gcuid pátrún. Foinse staire patrons. The book is an exceptionally ríthábhachtach é Leabhar Cloinne Aodha important historical text which gives us an Buidhe a thugann léargas dúinn ar shochaí insight into Gaelic society before the na nGael roimh aimsir na Plandála. plantation.

Seanmóireacht i nGaeilge Preaching in Irish

Ba é mian Shasana an Ghaeilge a úsáid leis It was England's desire that Irish be used to an phobal Chaitliceach a iompú ina convert the Catholic community to bProtastúnaigh. I measc na cléire a thugadh Protestantism. Amongst the clerics who seanmóirí i nGaeilge i lár na 1600í bhí an preached in Irish in the mid 1600s was the tUrramach Jeremiah O’Quinn (Ó Coinn), Reverand Jeremiah O'Quinn, a native speaker cainteoir dúchais a d’iompaigh ina who had converted to Presbyterianism. The Phreispitéireach. Ba mhór an crann taca ag publication of the bible in Irish was a great lucht an iompúcháin é foilsiú an Bhíobla boon to the proselytisers. The new testament Gaeilge. Foilsíodh an Nua-Thiomna i 1602 was published in 1602 and a translation of agus foilsíodh aistriúchán ar an Sean-Tiomna the old testament was made by the English- le hEaspag agus scoláire Gaeilge de bhunadh born Gaelic schola, Bishop William Bedell in Shasana, William Bedell, sa bhliain 1685. the year 1685. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 7

An Ghaeilge i Irish in Belfast mBéal Feirste i after 1700 ndiaidh 1700

Tá go leor fianaise ann go mbíodh an There is plenty of evidence for the use of Ghaeilge á labhairt ar imeall Bhéal Feirste go Irish on the outskirts of Belfast up until dtí an 18ú haois. the 18th Century.

I 1724, le linn aimsir na bPéindlithe, gabhadh In 1724 during the Penal Laws six men, seisear fear, a raibh ainmneacha Gaeilge with Irish surnames, were arrested when a orthu, nuair a rinneadh ruathar míleata ar Catholic ceremony (which was at that time shearmanas Caitliceach (tionól illegal) was raided by the military at Friars’ neamhdhleathach san am) ag Baile na Bush. Besides that, many of the mBráthar. Lena chois sin, bhí an Ghaeilge á Presbyterian community on the outskirts of labhairt i measc cuid de na pobail Belfast also spoke Irish. Phreispitéireacha a bhí taobh amuigh de Bhéal Feirste.

I 1784 féin, de réir Arthur Johnston, tiarna Even in 1748, according to the County talaimh de chuid Chontae an Dúin, bhí Down landlord Arthur Johnston, the Gaeilge líofa ag an mhinistir Phreispitéireach Presbyterian Minister in Saintfield was a bhí i dTamhnach Naomh (Saintfield) agus affluent Irish speaker and Irish was the dar leis gurb í ‘an teanga sin (an Ghaeilge) a majority language spoken amongst labhraíodh Preispitéirigh agus Caitlicigh na Presbyterians and Catholics in the area. háite den chuid is mó’. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 8

Ré órga Bhéal Feirste Belfast's Golden Age agus athbheochan na and the revival of Irish Gaeilge The 1780s and 1790s were Is sna 1780í agus na 1790í a Belfast's Golden Age, when bhí ré órga Bhéal Feirste ann, radical politics and the tráth a bhí an pholaitíocht cultural revival blossomed. radacach agus an athbheochan The French and American chultúrtha faoi bhláth. Bhí an- revolutionaries had a great tionchar ag na réabhlóidí a bhí impact on the Presbyterian i Meiriceá agus sa Fhrainc ar middle class of the city, mheánaicme Phreispitéireach the largest class among an bhaile, an aicme ba thréine the 20,000 who then ar an 20,000 a bhí ag cur fúthu inhabited Belfast. It was in i mBéal Feirste san am. Is san this period that the Irish am seo a bunaíodh Óglaigh na Volunteers were hÉireann agus ina dhiaidh sin established and after them na hÉireannaigh Aontaithe. Bhí the United Irishmen. muintir Bhéal Feirste ag cur Belfast citizens were also suim faoi leith sa Ghaeilge agus displaying a great interest sa cheol Ghaelach i rith na in Irish language and tréimhse sin. music at that time. Is é The Northern Star, The Northern Star, the nuachtán na nÉireannach newspaper of the United Aontaithe, ba thúisce a thug Irishmen, was the first to tús áite don Ghaeilge nuair a give prominence to Irish d’fhoilsigh siad an chéad when they produced the irisleabhar Gaeilge, Bolg an first ever Irish magazine tSolair, i 1795. Ábhar ar called Bolg an tSolair in ghramadach agus ar fhilíocht 1795. Irish grammar and na Gaeilge a bhí san irisleabhar poetry were the main agus ba é cuspóir lucht a features of the magazine fhoilsithe é, ‘to prevent in some and its aim was 'to prevent measure the total neglect and in some measure the total to diffuse the beauties of this neglect and to diffuse the ancient and much-acclaimed beauties of this ancient language’. and much-acclaimed language'. I mí Iúil 1792 tionóladh Féile na gCláirseoirí i mBéal Feirste In July 1792 the Belfast ionas go ndéanfaí iarracht, ‘to Harpers Festival was held revive and perpetuate the so as 'to revive and ancient music and poetry of perpetuate the ancient Ireland.’ Deichniúr cláirseoirí a muisc and poetry of bhí páirteach san Fhéile agus Ireland'. Ten Harpers Gaeilge ó dhúchas acu uilig. participated in the festival broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 9

Bhí baint lárnach ag clann and all were native Irish Mhic Reachtain (McCracken) speakers. The McCracken agus ag Edward Bunting, as family played a prominent Ard Mhacha, leis an role in the cultural revival athbheochan chultúrtha seo along with Edward Bunting agus is é Bunting a chuaigh of Armagh and it was thart ar Ghaeltachtaí na Bunting himself who went hÉireann ag bailiú ceol round the Irish Gaeltacht tradisiúnta. areas collecting traditional music. An Ghaeilge san Acadamh Irish in the Belfast Sna 1790í bhí go leor de Academy mhuintir Bhéal Feirste ag In the 1790s many iarraidh an Ghaeilge a inhabitants of Belfast were fhoghlaim agus is chuige sin seeking to learn Irish and a bhí ranganna ag Pádraig Ó with this in mind Pádraig Loingsigh as Loch an Oileáin, Ó Loingsigh, from Contae an Dúin, san acadamh Loughinisland in County mórluachach sin, Acadamh Down, held classes in the Bhéal Feirste. I measc na mac illustrious Belfast Academy. léinn a bhí ag an Loingseach Among O'Loingsigh's bhí Tomás Ruiséil (‘The Man students was Tomas from God Knows Where’) a Russell (The man from God cuireadh chun báis ina knows where) who was dhiaidh sin mar gheall ar an hanged for his part in the pháirt a bhí aige i ngnóthaí activities of the United na nÉireannach Aontaithe. Tá Irishmen. The following an fógra seo a leanas in The advertisement appeared in Northern Star, 16 Aibreán the Northern Star on April 1795, faoi ranganna Uí 16th 1795 about Ó Loingsigh: Loingsigh‘s classes:

‘The merchant and artist 'The merchant and artist would reap great benefit would reap great benefit from the knowledge of it. from the knowledge of it They would then be qualified (Irish). They would then be for carrying on Trade and qualified for carrying on Manufactures in every part of Trade and Manufactures in their native country …’ every part of their native country...' broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 10 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 11

An Ghaeilge i Irish in Belfast in mBéal Feirste sa the Nineteenth 19ú haois Century

An Ghaeilge agus Béal Feirste i ré na tionsclaíochta Irish and Belfast in the industrial age Bhí cathair Bhéal Feirste ar sheála bheith ina cathair thionsclaíoch faoi na 1820í agus Belfast was a city on the cusp of mheall sí lucht oibre ar bheagán tuarastail ó industrialisation by the1820s and was na ceantair máguaird. Thosaigh an mhuintir attracting low wage workers from the sin a phlódú isteach sa chathair i ndiaidh an surrounding areas. These people began Ghorta Mhóir (1845-51) agus ba í an flooding into the city after the Great Hunger Ghaeilge an teanga a bhí ag go leor acu. (1845-1851) and Irish was the first language of many of them. Cuideacht Gaedhilge Uladh (1828) Ba í ‘Cuideacht Gaedhilge Uladh’, faoi The Ulster Gaelic Society (1828) phátrúnacht the Marquis of Downshire, ba After the Act of Union (1801) the Ulster mhó a bhí ag obair ar son na Gaeilge sa Gaelic Society under the patronship of the tréimhse a lean Acht an Aontais. Marquis of Downshire was the most Preispitéirigh a bhí i dtromlach na mball a important body working on behalf of the bhí gníomhach sa chumann, ina measc sin, Irish Language. Presbyterians made up the An Dr Séamas Mac Domhnaill majority of the society's members, among (cathaoirleach), an Dr Reuben Bryce agus them were Dr Séamus MacDomhnaill (chair), Robert Shipboy MacAdam. Ba é obair an Dr Reuben Bryce and Robert Shipboy chumainn ranganna Gaeilge a reáchtáil, MacAdam. The society's work included leabhair Ghaeilge a fhoilsiú, sean- running Irish classes, publishing books in lámhscríbhinní a bhailiú agus coimisiúin a Irish, collecting manuscripts and thabhairt do scríobhaithe Gaeilge chun commissioning the collection of oral history béaloideas a bhailiú sna ceantair from around the Gaeltacht areas. They also Ghaeltachta. Bhí rún acu fosta scoileanna a had the aim of opening schools in the bhunú sa Ghaeltacht cé gur fhógair siad go Gaeltacht areas although they publicly poiblí nach gcuirfeadh siad a ladar isteach ar proclaimed their intention to stay away from dhóigh ar bith i gcúrsaí creidimh. Bhí an religious instruction or affairs. Irish was in Ghaeilge ag titim siar san Acadamh go dtí decline in the Belfast Academy until classes gur tosaíodh ranganna arís i 1833 nuair a were begun again in 1833 when Tomás Ó ceapadh Tomás Ó Fiannachta ina mhúinteoir Fiannachta was appointed teacher to the ag na hábhair ministrí Preispitéireacha. trainee Presbyterian ministers.

Robert Shipboy MacAdam (1808-95) Sa tréimhse sin idir bunú Cuidheacht Robert Shipboy MacAdam (1808-95) Ghaeilge Uladh agus dara leath an 19ú haois In the period between the founding of the ní raibh aon duine a chuir athbheochan na Ulster Gaelic Society and the second half of Gaeilge chun tosaigh a oiread le Robert the nineteenth Century no other individual MacAdam, Preispitéireach saibhir a raibh did as much for the Irish language as Robert Teilgcheárta Soho aige féin agus a MacAdam, a wealthy Presbyterian who, along dheartháir, James, i Sráid Townsend. Is le linn with his brother John, owned the Soho dó bheith ag dul thart ar Iarthar na hÉireann, Foundry in Townsend Street. It was while broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 12

ar ghnó crua-earraí a athar, a fuair Robert travelling in the west of Ireland for his máistreacht ar an Ghaeilge. father's business that Robert gained his mastery of the Irish language. Cainteoirí Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste ag tús an 19ú haois Some prominent Irish speakers in Belfast at the beginning of the 19th Century An Dr Séamas Mac Domhnaill (1763-1845), cainteoir dúchais as Cois Abhann Dalla, bhí Dr Séamus Mac Domhnaill (1763-1845) a sé ar dhuine de na dochtúirí ba chlúití sa native speaker from Cushendall, was one of bhaile agus bhí páirt mhór aige i gcúrsaí the most famous doctors in the city and cultúrtha chomh maith. Cara de chuid Henry played a huge part in cultural life as well. A Joy McCracken agus Wolfe Tone a bhí ann cé friend of Henry Joy McCracken and Wolfe go raibh sé dílis do Rí Shasana. Scríobh Aodh Tone, he was also loyal to the British Mac Domhnaill, file, dán molta ar ócáid a Mmonarch. Aodh Mac Domhnaill, the poet, bháis. composed a eulogy on the occasion of his death. Dr Samuel Bryson (1771-1853), poitigéir a raibh cónaí air ar an tSráid Mhór. Ministir Dr Samuel Bryson (1771-1853) a chemist Preispitéireach, a raibh Gaeilge aige, a bhí from High street. His father, a Presbyterian ina athair. Bhí an Dr Samuel Bryson eolach minister, was an Irish speaker. Dr Samuel go maith ar an Ghaeilge agus rinne sé Bryson had a great knowledge of Irish and taighde ar logainmneacha chomh maith le conducted research in Irish townland names hobair thábhachtach ar lámhscríbhinní as well as conducting important work on Gaeilge. Bhí cnuasach maith lámhscríbhinní Irish manuscripts. He possessed a fine aige atá anois i Leabharlann Láir Bhéal collection of such manuscripts which are Feirste. Ghabh Aodh Mac Domhnaill a now housed in Belfast Central Library. Aodh bhuíochas leis as tinneas uchta a leigheas dó Mac Domhnaill, the poet, thanked him in sa dán ‘Moladh an Dochtúir Bríse’. verse for curing a chest complaint in the Poem 'Praise for the Doctor Bryson.'

Rev William Neilson (1774-1821) Rugadh i Ráth Éamainn (Rademon), Contae Rev William Neilson (1774-1821) born in an Dúin, bhí sé ina mhinistir Phreispitéireach Rademon County Down, was a Presbyterian i nDún Dealgan agus ina dhiaidh sin ina minister in Dundalk and afterwards professor ollamh le teangacha ag Institiúid Acadúil of languages at the Belfast Academical Bhéal Feirste (Inst) i 1818. Scoláire maith Institution (Inst) in 1818. He was an Gaeilge a bhí ann agus tuairiscítear gur thug accomplished Irish scholar and it is reported sé seanmóir Ghaeilge ‘in the Donegall Street that he gave an Irish sermon 'in the Donegall Meeting House…to a numerous respectable Street Meeting House... to a numerous audience’ ar an 11 Iúil 1805. Tá clú air fosta respectable audience.' on the 11 July 1805. as a leabhar iomráiteach An Introduction to He is also renowned for his famous book An the Irish Language (1808), foinse Introduction to the Irish Language (1808), an ríthábhachtach ar Ghaeilge Chontae an Dúin. extremely important source for County Down Irish. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 13 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 14

San am sin (1820í) bhí 141,000 cainteoir At that time (1820s) there were 141,000 dúchais i dTír Eoghain agus bhí Gaeltachtaí native Irish speakers in Tyrone and there were láidre i gContae an Dúin, i gContae Dhoire, i strong Gaeltacht areas in County Down, in gContae Aontroma agus i nDeisceart Ard County Derry, in County Antrim and in South Mhacha. Thosaigh MacAdam a bhailiú Armagh. MacAdam started collecting lámhscríbhinní agus seanchais i ndúichí nach manuscripts and folklore in those districts raibh Béarla ar bith iontu go fóill. Murabh which still had no English. Unlike the first ionann, b’fhéidir, agus Seán Ó Donnabháin professor of Celtic Studies in Queen's College, (an chéad Ollamh le Léann Ceilteach i John O’ Donovan, MacAdam took a strong gColáiste na Banríona), thóg MacAdam le interest in the living language of the people. caint bheo na ndaoine nó mar a dúradh faoi It was said of him that '(he was) excited by ‘[He was] excited by the living, spoken and the living, spoken and written tradition on written tradition on his doorstep’. Ba é a his doorstep'. His greatest work was his shaothar mór é an Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge a English-Irish dictionary which he completed chríochnaigh sé sa bhliain 1850. in 1850.

Scríobhaithe Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste Irish writers in Belfast in the 19th sa 19ú haois Century

D’fhostaigh MacAdam roinnt scríobhaithe MacAdam employed a number of Irish writers Gaeilge chun cuidiú le hobair an tiomsaithe. to help in the work of compiling manuscripts. Bhí Aodh Mac Domhnaill, file as Contae na One of the most famous of these was Aodh Mí, ar dhuine de na daoine ab iomráití acu MacDomhnaill, a county Meath poet. He sin. Bhí sé ag obair ag an Presbyterian Home worked at the Presbyterian Home Mission, a Mission, tionscadal a bhí conspóideach go controversial enterprise, before he went to leor, sular thosaigh sé ag obair ag MacAdam work for MacAdam, and was to be his 'guide nó gurbh é a ‘threoraí agus a ghníomhaí’ é. and his agent'. Aodh had great respect for his Bhí ardmheas ag Aodh ar a phátrún, rud a patron, which he declared in this poem of mhaígh sé i ndán molta leis: praise for him:

‘Is fear fearúil an Mac Ádhaimh sin a thug 'He is a manly man that MacÁdaimh who has grá mór don Ghaeilge, a great love of Irish A bhíos cumannach dáimhiúil le bard agus who provides amiable, generous company for éigse.’ bard and learned.'

Lena shúile féin a chonaic MacDomhnaill an MacDomhnaill witnessed at first hand the slua daoine a tháinig isteach go Béal Feirste i throng of people who flooded into Belfast in 1847 ag lorg faoisimh ón ocras agus cháin sé 1847 seeking respite from hunger and he an dóigh bhrúidiúil ar chaith údaráis an criticised the way the authorities in the city bhaile leo sa dán ‘Ceol na mBacach’. Fuair treated them in his poem 'Ceol na mBacach'. 800 de na daoine seo bás leis an fhiabhras 800 of these people, most of them native agus cuireadh in uaigh mhór amháin iad ag Irish speakers, died of fever and were buried Baile na mBráthar taobh amuigh de limistéar in a communal grave in Friars' Bush cemetery an bhaile - ba chainteoirí Gaeilge a mbunús. beyond the city limits. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 15

Na ‘Pháidithe’ The Fadgies

Thiar i lár an 19ú haois, i ndiaidh an Ghorta Back in the middle of the 19th century, after Mhóir, tháinig díoltóirí éisc agus torthaí as the Great Hunger, fish and fruit merchants Gaeltacht Oméith a chónaí i gceantar from the Omeath Gaeltacht came to live in Smithfield. Bhí tithe acu sna sráideanna the Smithfield area. They lived in the same céanna agus bhíodh an obair chéanna acu streets and plied the same trade. The people uilig. Bhaist muintir Bhéal Feirste na of Belfast christened them the ‘Fadgies’ most ‘Fadgies’ (‘Pháidithe’) orthu as siocair iad likely because of their habit of calling each bheith ag tabhairt ‘a Pháidí’ ar a chéile, is other by the Irish version of Paddy ‘A Pháidí cosúil. Is mar seo a chuir Cathal O’Byrne (pronounced Fadgie). This is how the author údar, síos orthu: Cathal Ó Byrne spoke of them.

D’fhoghlaim Seán Mac Maoláin, scríbhneoir Seán Mac Maoláin a renowned writer and agus Gaeilgeoir clúiteach, cuid mhór dá Irish speaker learned much of his Irish from chuid Gaeilge ó na Pháidithe. Gach Satharn, the Fadgies. Every Saturday Mac Maoláin ba ghnách le Mac Maoláin dul go Margadh would go to St George’s Market to learn Irish Naomh Seoirse le hamhráin a fhoghlaim ó songs from a Fadgie woman Ailí Uí bhean de na Pháidithe, Ailí Uí Mhuireagáin. Mhuireagáin from Omeath. One Saturday as Satharn amháin, agus Mac Maoláin ina shuí Mac Maoláin sat listening to Ailí singing in ag éisteacht le hAilí ag ceol amhrán Gaeilge, Irish he noticed that some of those in the mhothaigh sé go raibh cuid de na daoine a market were looking contemptuously at Ailí. bhí sa mhargadh ag amharc go When he told her this she was unperturbed. drochmheasúil ar Ailí. Nuair a dúirt sé sin le She turned to him and said in English “I’m hAilí ba chuma léi. Thiontaigh sí chuige agus not in a bother about them. I could thatch dúirt i mBéarla ‘I’m not in a bother about George’s Market with five pound notes”. them. I could thatch St George’s Market with five-pound notes!’ broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 16

De réir a chéile, ag deireadh an 19ú haois, Gradually as the 19th century drew to a close nuair a cartadh cuid mhór de na sráideanna and the small streets around Smithfield were beaga bhí i gceantar Smithfield ar shiúl, swept away the Fadgies moved to other bhog na Pháidithe amach chuig ceantair eile, areas, for example, Carrick Hill, the Falls mar shampla, Cnoc Charraig Fhearghusa Road and Short Strand. They all had fish and (Carrick Hill), Bóthar na bhFál agus Baile fruit shops and, at one time, it was said that Mhic Airt. Bhí siopaí torthaí agus éisc acu there was hardly a person in Belfast selling uilig agus, ag am amháin, deirtear gur beag fish or fruit that wasn’t connected to duine a bhí ag díol torthaí agus éisc i mBéal Omeath. Feirste nár de bhunadh Oméith iad.

Nan O’Hara Nan O’Hara Pháidithe a bhí in athair mór agus máthair Nan O’Hara, who owned Meleady’s fruit shop mhór Nan O’Hara, bean a raibh siopa torthaí on the Falls Road, until her death in March aici ar Bhóthar na bhFál (Meleady’s) go dtí 2006, was the granddaughter of Fadgies. Nan go bhfuair sí bás i Márta 2006. Dúirt Nan said that she spent every summer in Omeath gur chaith sí gach samhradh in Oméith nuair when she was young. Although Nan wasn’t a bhí sí óg. Cé nach raibh Gaeilge ar bith ag an Irish speaker she said that she had enough Nan d’fhoghlaim sí go leor le brothladh a Irish to ask the children, who used to come chur ar pháistí Ghaelscoil na bhFál a thagadh into her shop from Gaelscoil na bhFál, to isteach chuici i ndiaidh na scoile! mind their manners. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 17 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 18

An Ardscoil The Ulster high Ultach school

An Ardscoil Ultach agus ‘Cogadh na The Ulster high school and the ‘war of gCanúintí’ the Dialects’ Le linn athbheochan mhór na Gaeilge sna During the great Irish revival of the 1890s 1890í ba as Cúige Mumhan bunús na most of the teachers of Irish in Belfast were múinteoirí a bhí ag teagasc na Gaeilge i from Munster. Learners of Irish, therefore mBéal Feirste. Ar an ábhar sin, Gaeilge na mostly learned the Munster dialect. When Mumhan a bhí ag na foghlaimeoirí don chuid Father Gearóid Ó Nualláin was ‘professor’ of is mó. Nuair a ceapadh an tAthair Gearóid Ó Irish in St Mary’s College in 1902, the Nualláin ina ‘ollamh’ le Gaeilge i gColáiste Munster dialect was the one which trainee Mhuire i 1902, ba í canúint na Mumhan a teachers under his care both learned and d’fhoghlaim agus a chleacht na hábhair oidí practised. Although Father Ó Nualláin was a bhí faoina chúram. Cé gur tógadh an reared in Tyrone and in Belfast he always tAthair Ó Nualláin i dTír Eoghain agus i spoke Munster Irish. His explanation for this mBéal Feirste, Gaeilge na Mumhan a bhí aige in his autobiography, ‘Beatha Dhuine a Thoil’, riamh. Ba é an míniú a thug sé ar an scéal was that there was no literature in the Ulster ina dhírbheathaisnéis, Beatha Dhuine a Thoil, dialect but that there were books, such as nach raibh litríocht ar bith le fáil i nGaeilge ‘Séadna’ were in Munster Irish. Chúige Uladh ach go raibh leabhair ar nós Séadna, le fáil i nGaeilge na Mumhan.

Ba chainteoir dúchais as Tír Chonaill é P.T. P.T Mac Fhionnlaoich (Cú Uladh) was a native Mac Fhionnlaoich (‘Cú Uladh’), fear a raibh speaker of Donegal Irish and he had a central baint mhor aige le bunú chraobh Bhéal role in the establishment of the Belfast Feirste de Chonradh na Gaeilge. Níor thaitin branch of the Gaelic League. Neither he, nor sé leis féin ná le daoine eile nach mbíodh others of like mind, were happy that Ulster Gaeilge Chúige Uladh á teagasc i mBéal Irish was not being taught in Belfast. An Feirste. Rinneadh iarracht tabhairt ar na effort was made to persuade the teachers at múinteoirí a bhí ag Coláiste Chomhghaill St Comgall’s College in Bank Street to (Sráid an Bhainc) Gaeilge Chúige Uladh a promote Ulster Irish. It was the responsibility chur chun tosaigh. Ba é an cúram a bhí ar of the St Comgall’s staff to train young Choláiste Chomhghaill oiliúint a thabhairt do teachers for the certificate of Irish (see mhúinteoirí óga i gcomhair teastais i picture). According to Mac Fhionnlaoich and dteagasc na Gaeilge [féach grianghraf]. Dar his Ulster Irish supporters they got no le Mac Fhionnlaich agus lucht Ghaeilge satisfaction from the authorities at St Chúige Uladh nach bhfuair siad sásamh ar Comgall’s. In 1911 Mac Fhionnlaoich and his bith ó údaráis Choláiste Chomhghaill. I 1911 allies established their own college, where bhunaigh Mac Fhionnlaich agus a Ulster Irish could be taught in line with their chomhghleacaithe a gcoláiste féin, áit a own wishes. dtiocfadh leo Gaeilge Chúige Uladh a chur cinn ar a dtoil féin. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 19

Gabháil de Valera agus foirgneamh The arrest of de Valera and the new nua na hArdscoile 1929 high school building 1929 I mí Feabhra 1929 bhí sé socraithe ag In February 1929 the Gaelic League and the Conradh na Gaeilge agus ag Cumann Gaelic Athletic Association had plans to hold Lúthchleas Gael go mbeadh aonach mór acu a great fundraising fair. The intention of the le hairgead a bhailiú. Ba é an rún a bhí ag an Gaelic League was to erect a building for an Chonradh foirgneamh a thógáil don Ardscoil. Irish college. Eamon de Valera was invited to Tugadh cuireadh d’Éamon de Valera labhairt address the gathering but was banned from ag an aonach ach thoirmisc rialtas an crossing the border by the Northern Tuaiscirt ar de Valera dul thar an teorainn. authorities. When the day of the fair arrived Nuair a tháinig lá an aonaigh, tháinig na the police entered the train on which de péas isteach sa traein mar a raibh de Valera Valera was travelling and arrested him. De ina shuí agus ghabh siad é. Cuireadh mí Valera, who addressed the court in Irish, was príosúnachta air as an dlí a bhriseadh. Ba i sentenced to a month imprisonment. His nGaeilge a labhair de Valera sa chúirt. case did a lot to inspire people and enough Chuidigh cás de Valera go mór leis na daoine money was raised to build the High School in a spreagadh, bailíodh an oiread airgid is gur Divis Street where it remained in operation tógadh foirgneamh don Ardscoil i Sráid until it was destroyed by fire in 1985. Dhubhaise, áit a raibh sí ar feadh na mblianta nó gur dódh go talamh í i 1985. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 20

Béal Feirste agus Belfast and the athbheochan na Irish Revival 1893- Gaeilge 1893-1916 1916

Faoi dheireadh an 19ú haois bhí meath mór By the end of the 19th Century a huge tagtha ar líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge taobh decline in the numbers of Irish speakers had amuigh d’iarthar na hÉireann agus corráit taken place in all but the West of Ireland and eile. I 1893 bhunaigh Dúghlas de Híde agus a few other places. In 1893 Douglas Hyde Eoin Mac Néill Conradh na Gaeilge d’fhonn and Eoin MacNeill founded the Gaelic League an Ghaeilge a chur in athréim mar theanga to reestablish Irish as a spoken language. The labhartha. Ba í an athbheochan Ghaelach a Irish revival was predominant for the next bhí in uachtar go cionn tríocha bliain ina thirty years. dhiaidh sin.

Bunaíodh craobh Bhéal Feirste de Chonradh The Belfast branch of the Gaelic League was na Gaeilge ar an 19 Lúnasa 1895 ag 32 founded on August 19 1895 at 32 Bóthar Beersbridge, teach cónaithe P.T. Mag Beersbridge Road, the residence of P.T. Mc Fhionnlaoich, cainteoir dúchais as Tír Ginley, a native speaker from Donegal. It was Chonaill. Is as ranganna Gaeilge an Belfast from the Irish classes of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club a d’eascair craobh an Naturalists' Field Club that the Belfast branch Chonartha agus ba chainteoir dúchais as of the Gaelic League grew and their teacher Contae Chiarraí, P.J. Ó Sé, an múinteoir a bhí was a native speaker from County Kerry P.J. Ó acu sin. Ba mháinlia in Ospidéal na Sé. Dr John St Clair Boyd, a surgeon in the Samárach (Samaritan) é an chéad Samaritan Hospital, was the first chair of the chathaoirleach a bhí ar Chraobh Bhéal Belfast Branch, a truly remarkable man who Feirste, an Dr John St Clair Boyd (1858- fervently believed that the 'noble and 1918), fear a bhí ina aontachtaí go smior beautiful language' Irish should be preserved. agus a chreid gur chóir ‘teanga uasal álainn’ na Gaeilge a chaomhnú.

Bhí go leor pátrún ag an Chonradh i mBéal There were many patrons for the Gaelic Feirste agus orthu sin bhí an Canónach League in Belfast among them Canon Crozier Crozier, Eaglais na hÉireann, An tUrr. R.R. of the Church of Ireland, The Rev R.R. Kane, Kane, Ardmháistir an Oird Oráistigh, An Grandmaster of the Orange Lodge, Bishop tEaspag Mac Éinrí (easpag Caitliceach an Henry (the Catholic bishop of Down and Dúin agus Choinnire) agus Francis Joseph Connor) and Francis Joseph Bigger. Bigger.

FJ Bigger (1864-1926), dlíodóir agus FJ Bigger (1864-1926) a solicitor and famous ársaitheoir cailiúil de chuid Bhéal Feirste, bhí antiquarian from Belfast was among the sé ar athbheochanóirí móra thús an 20ú most prominent revivalists of Irish at the haois. Náisiúnaí Protastúnach a bhí ann agus beginning of the 20th Century. He was a ba gheall le hollscoil bheag a theach Protestant Nationalist and his residence Ard cónaithe ar Bhóthar Aontroma (‘Ard Righ’) ag Righ on the Antrim Road was akin to a mini- an dream líonmhar éirimiúil a bhí ag saothrú university for the galaxy of talent associated na hathbheochana sa tréimhse sin go dtí with the Irish revival in the pre-1916 period. 1916. Ina measc sin bhí Joseph Campbell, Among those was Joseph Campbell, a poet, file, agus a dheartháir John, ealaíontóir, Alice broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 21

Milligan, banfhile, ceannairí an IRB Denis brother of the artist John, the poet Alice McCullough agus Bulmer Hobson agus Roger Milligan, Denis McCullough the head of the Casement. Bhí na daoine seo ar an mhuintir IRB as well as Bulmer Hobson and Roger ba mhó a chuidigh le bunú Fheis na nGleann Casement. These were the principal figures in (Co Aontroma) i 1904. the establishment of the Glens Feis (Antrim) 1904. I measc na ndaoine is mó a bhí gníomhach i ngluaiseacht na Gaeilge ag tús an 20ú haois Numbered among the most active in the Irish bhí an an tAthair Dónall Ó Tuathail agus an revival movment at the start of the 20th tUrr. Feardorcha Ó Conaill (Frederick Century were Father Dónall Ó Tuathail and O’Connell), léachtóir le Gaeilge in Ollscoil na the Reverend Frederick O Connell, a lecturer Banríona. Ba chainteoir dúchais as Conamara in Irish in Queen's University. O'Connell was a é Ó Conaill agus bhí sé ina shagart de chuid native speaker from Connemara and he was a Eaglais na hÉireann. Bhíodh seirbhís eaglasta minister in the Church of Ireland. He held an éacúiméineach Ghaeilge aige in Eaglais ecumenical Irish language service in Saint Naomh Eoin, Maigh Lón idir 1911-14. John's Church Malone during 1911 and 1914.

Is é an tAthair Ó Tuathail (1882-1922) a thionscain ‘Modh na Ráite’ i dteagasc na Father O Tuathail(1882-1922) pioneered the Gaeilge. 'phrase method' in the teaching of Irish.

Mrs Margaret Hutton (1862-1953), Gaeilgeoir Protastúnach díograiseach ar Mrs Margaret Hutton (1862-1953) a ghobharnóir de chuid Ollscoil na Banríona í. Protestant Irish enthusiast who was a D’fhoilsigh sí leagan de ‘Táin Bó Cuailnge’ i governor of Queen's University. She produced 1907 agus bhíodh cailíní aimsire ar fostú aici a version of the Cattle Raid of Cooley in 1907 as an Ghaeltacht ina teach cónaithe ar and employed maidservants from the Bhóthar Mhaigh Lón. Donegal Gaeltacht in her home at Malone Road. Alec Wilson (c1870-1940), as Páirc Belvoir, cuntasóir mór le rá agus ball de chuid Eaglais Alec Wilson (c1870-1940), from Belvoir Park, na hÉireann. Bhí sé gníomhach in ‘An a leading accountant and a member of the Chraobh Rua’, craobh de chuid an Chonartha Church of Ireland. He was active in the Red sa chathair. Bhí sé ar dhuine de stiúrthóirí Branch, a branch of Conradh na Gaeilge in Scoil Éanna, an scoil dhátheangach a bhí ag the city. He was a director of Scoil Éanna, Pádraig Mac Piarais i mBaile Átha Cliath, Pádraig Pearse’s bilingual school in Dublin, agus bhíodh sé ina chomhairleoir airgeadais and was a financial adviser to the school. He ag an scoil. Bhí sé go mór i bhfách le was a key figure in the movement for Irish gluaiseacht an tionscail Éireannaigh agus is é industries and designed their famous logo a dhear lógó clúiteach na gluaiseachta sin ar which bore the legend ‘Made in Ireland’ a raibh an mana ‘Déanta in Éirinn’. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 22

Pádraig Mac Piarais i mBéal Feirste Pádraig Pearse in Belfast Ba mhinic an Piarsach ag caint ag cruinnithe Pearse often spoke at meetings of the Gaelic de chuid an Conartha i mBéal Feirste roimh League in Belfast before the Easter Rising of Éirí Amach 1916. Thug sé a chuairt 1916. He made his last visit to the city in dheireanach ar an chathair i Márta 1916, mí March 1916, one month before the Rising. roimh an Éirí Amach. Bhí sé de nós aige When in Belfast he always made a point of riamh, agus é i mBéal Feirste, cuairt a visiting St Colmcille’s National School in thabhairt ar Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Colm Ballyhackamore where the teacher, a Miss Cille i mBaile Hacamar, scoil ina mbíodh MacNeill operated a bi-lingual policy. polasaí dátheangach ag an mháistreás, Iníon Mhic Néill. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 23

Cumann Chluain Cumann Chluain Ard Ard

Tá Cumann Chluain Ard ar cheann de na Cumann Chluain Ard is one of the most heagrais Ghaeilge is tábhachtaí i scéal na important organisations in the story of the Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste. Is geall le hollscoil Irish language in Belfast. It can be likened to a Ghaeilge í nach bhfuair tacaíocht ón stát ach univeristy of Irish which was never supported ó na daoine. Ba sa chumann a d’fhoghlaim by the state but always supported by the na mílte an Ghaeilge. people. In CCA thousands learned Irish.

Bunú an Chumainn The establishment of CCA

Thosaigh Cumann Chluain Ard amach mar Cumann Chluain Ard established in 1936 chraobh de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge a began life as a branch of the Gaelic League. bunaíodh i 1936. Bhí bochtaineacht agus There was poverty and hardship in Belfast in cruatan mór i mBéal Feirste sna blianta sin those years due to high unemployment. mar gheall ar an líon mór daoine a bhí Despite the poverty there were two young dífhostaithe. In ainneoin na bochtaineachta, unemployed men were thinking of the cause bhí beirt fhear óga dhífhostaithe ag of Irish. Liam Rooney and Seamus Maxwell smaoineamh ar chúis na Gaeilge. Bhunaigh established the O'Neill/Crowley branch of the Liam Ó Rúnaí agus Séamus Maxwell ‘Craobh Gaelic League in Kane Street off the Kashmir Pheadair Uí Néill Uí Chrualaoich’ i Sráid Road. A native speaker from Donegal, Prionsias broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 24

Kane, Bóthar Kashmir. Luaitear cainteoir Mac a' tSeachlainn, is also mentioned as a dúchais as Tír Chonaill, Proinsias Mac a’ founder of the branch. After several years the tSeachlainn, le bunú an chumainn fosta. I club moved to Waterford Street and from ndiaidh cúpla bliain bhog an cumann go there to Hawthorn Street in 1944 where they Sráid Phort Láirge agus uaithi sin go Sráid na had acquired an old garage. Voluntary Sceiche i 1944. Seangharáiste a bhí san workers came together and repaired and fhoirgneamh a fuarthas i Sráid na Sceiche. renovated the old garage making it into a Tháinig oibrithe deonacha le chéile gur serviceable hall. The club was officially cóiríodh an seangharáiste agus go ndearnadh opened at Christmas 1944 and has thrived halla ceart de. Osclaíodh an cumann úr ag an ever since. Nollaig 1944 agus is ann atá sé ó shin.

1950í agus 1960í The 1950s and 1960s

Bhí an Cumann ina chrann taca mór ag an The club was a well of support for Irish in Ghaeilge sna 1950í agus na 1960í. Ba é seo the 1950s and 1960s. This was the era of the ré na gcumann sóisialta: cumainn social clubs: the drama clubs, the bicycle drámaíochta, cumainn rothaíochta, cumainn clubs, the arts clubs etc. The Irish Language ealaíne srl. Ba ghluaiseacht mhór shóisialta í movement at the time was essentially a large gluaiseacht na Gaeilge agus gan maoiniú ar social movement which was totally unfunded bith ar fáil aici ón stát. Ina áit sin, chuir an by the state. On the contrary, the state stát cúl ar an Ghaeilge sna scoileanna. Mar actually curtailed the position of Irish in the sin féin, d’fhan go leor daoine dílis don schools. All the same many people remained teanga agus bhain siad tairbhe as an faithful to the language and indeed devoted Ghaeilge nuair a bhí siad saor ón obair nó ón themselves to it when they were free from scoil. work or school. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 25

Cosc ar an Bhéarla The ban on English

Sa bhliain 1953 cuireadh cosc ar labhairt an In 1953 the speaking of English was Bhéarla i gCumann Chluain Ard. Go dtí an t- prohibited in the Cumann Chluain Ard. Until am sin bhí cead an dá theanga a úsáid sa that time both Irish and English had been Chumann. Rinne an riail úr Gaeltacht bheag allowed in the club. The Irish-only rule den chumann agus deirtear gur chuidigh sí created a mini-Gaeltacht in the club and it is go mór le caighdeán na Gaeilge a ardú san said that the banning of English greatly áit. D’éirigh le lucht an Chumainn múinteoirí improved the standard of Irish within the as Tír Chonaill a fháil do na ranganna - orthu club. Members of the club were successful in sin, bhí Dónall Ó Grianna as Rann na Feirste, attracting teachers of the language from deartháir na scríbhneoirí, Séamus agus Donegal to teach in the club - among them Seosamh. Bhí cónaí ar Dhónall ag Sráid na were Dónall Ó Gríanna from Rann na Feirste, Banríona Thuaidh (North Queen St) agus is a brother of the writers Seamus and ann a thóg sé a chlann. Bhí Bríd Nic Seosamh. Dónall lived in North Queen Street Gaoithín, as an Cheann Gharbh, ag teagasc where he raised his family. Bríd Nic Gaoithín sna blianta sin fosta. Bhí Bríd ina cónaí i from An Ceann Garbh was also teaching in Sráid Hillman sa Lóiste Úr. Cuireadh béim those years. Bríd lived in Hillman Street in mhór sa Chumann ar Ghaeilge Thír Chonaill, the New Lodge area. Great emphasis was idir fhoclóir agus fhoghraíocht. placed on Donegal Irish in the club both in vocabulary and the pronunciation. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 26

Gaeltacht Bhóthar The Shaws Road Seoigh Gaeltacht

Ar an deichiú lá de mhí Dheireadh Fómhair On the 10th of October 1965 a group of 1965 tháinig roinnt lánúineacha óga le chéile young couples came together in Cumann i gCumann Chluain Ard le labhairt faoi phlean Chluain Ard to discuss a plan which they a bhí acu tithe a thógáil ar Bhóthar Seoigh do were considering for the building of houses theaghlaigh arbh í an Ghaeilge teanga an tí for couples who had chosen Irish as the acu. language of the family. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 27

Bhí comharchumainn They had established a credit chreidmheasa bunaithe acu union and had been gathering agus airgead á chruinniú acu le money together for around four ceithre bliana roimhe sin, agus years and had purchased two bhí dhá acra talaimh acres of land for the building of ceannaithe acu le tithe a chur houses. Some were affiliated to suas. Bhí baint ag cuid acu leis the group "Misneach" which had an ghrúpa radacach ‘Misneach’, been established by the writer a bhunaigh an scríbhneoir, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, the group Máirtín Ó Cadhain, grúpa a bhí was trying to pursuade the ag iarraidh tabhairt ar an Dublin government to give Irish rialtas sa deisceart a gcearta a speakers their full rights. In the thabhairt do chainteoirí letter which was sent to families Gaeilge. Sa litir a cuireadh announcing the Shaws Road amach chuig na teaghlaigh ag scheme the following was fógairt thús scéim Bhóthar written: Seoigh, tá an méid seo inti: 'Without a community like ‘Gan pobal den sórt seo this we cannot demand ní féidir linn ár gceart our rights as citizens; for no mar shaoránaigh a corporation, county éileamh; nó ní thig le council or government Bárdas, Comhairle can adminster to a Contae nó rialtas, riar do language community dhream atá scaipthe fríd which is interspered within dhaoine eile nach bhfuil communities that do not an t-éileamh céanna share their demands' acu.’ It is easy to see here the Ní deacair a aithint ón méid sin emphasis that was being placed an bhéim a bhíothas a chur ar on the achievement of rights for chearta a bhaint amach don the people, of course this was phobal agus, ar ndóigh, ba é the era of civil rights in North seo ré na gceart sibhialta sna America and more importantly in Stáit Aontaithe agus i the north of Ireland. dtuaisceart na hÉireann go háirithe.

De réir ailt a bhí ar an Irish According to an article published Press sa bhliain chéanna, bhí in the Irish Press in that same 36 teaghlach Gaelach i mBéal year there were 36 Irish speaking Feirste. Críochnaíodh na tithe households in Belfast. The new úra ar Bhóthar Seoigh i 1969 houses on Shaws Road were agus dhá bhliain ina dhiaidh finished in 1969 and two years sin, 1971, oscaíodh ‘Scoil later in 1971 'The Belfast Irish Ghaeilge Bhéal Feirste’. Níorbh School' was opened. That wasn't é sin amháin é, áfach, nó the end of their efforts, however, chuidigh muintir Bhóthar as the community of Shaws Road Seoigh le hatógail na dtithe a helped rebuild the houses in dódh i Sráid Bombay, ag bun Bombay Street at the foot of the Bhóthar na bhFál. Falls Road which had been burned out by loyalists. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 28

Is spéisiúil an teideal a bhí ar ghné-alt de The title of a feature piece in the Irish Times chuid an Irish Times i 1971, ‘Belfast: the in 1971 is very interesting: 'Belfast: the strongest Gaeltacht’. Tá cur síos ann ar an strongest Gaeltacht'. There is a description in obair a bhí ar siúl ag mná Bhóthar Seoigh – the article on the work which women in the ag cur Gaeilge ar leabhair Bhéarla agus ag Shaws Road community were engaged in - cruthú scéim léitheoireachta i measc rudaí translating English books and inventing an eile. Tá agallamh san alt fosta le Séamus Irish reading scheme among other things. Mac Seáin, duine de bhunaitheoirí scéim There is an interview also in the article with Bhóthar Seoigh, tamall i ndiaidh a ghortaithe Séamus MacSeáin, one of the founders of the in ionsaí seicteach a rinneadh ar ‘Gharáiste Shaws Road Gaeltacht, shortly after he was an Phobail’ mar a raibh sé féin ina shot and wounded in a sectarian attack at bhainisteoir. Labhair údar an ailt fosta le The People's Garage where he worked as Seán Mac Aindreasa a bhí ina bhainisteoir ar manager. The author of the article also spoke ‘Shiopa an Phobail’, siopa leabhar Gaeilge a with Seán MacAindreasa who was manager d’oscail muintir Bhóthar Seoigh. of the People's shop, an Irish language bookshop established by the Shaws Road Cuireadh le líon na dtithe ar Bhóthar Seoigh community. nuair a tógadh ceithre theach úra i bPáirc Ros Goill i 1993 agus arís i 2006 nuair a The housing scheme at Shaws Road was tógadh sé theach úra ar chúl thithe Bhóthar extended when four new homes were built at Seoigh. Tá an tríú glúin anois ag teacht i Ros Goill Park in 1993 and again in 2006 méadaíocht i nGaeltacht Bhóthar Seoigh. when six new homes were built to the rear of the original houses at Shaws Road. The third generation is now coming of age in the Shaws Road Gaeltacht. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 29

An Ghaeilge i Irish in the scoileanna Bhéal schools in Belfast Feirste

Ní raibh áit ar bith ag an Ghaeilge ar There was no place for Irish on the school churaclam scoileanna na hÉireann go dtí curriculum in Ireland until 1897. Even when 1897. Go fiú nuair a tugadh cead an permission was given for the teaching of Irish Ghaeilge a theagasc le linn uaireanta na in schools it was as an additional subject scoile, ba mar ábhar breise a bhí sí le bheith only. ann. All the same there was a growing interest in Mar sin féin, bhí borradh faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge Irish during the same period: the Belfast san blianta céanna: bunaíodh craobh Bhéal Branch of the Gaelic League was established Feirste de Chonradh na Gaeilge in 1895 agus in 1895 and in the following year a large bliain ina dhiaidh sin tharla cruinniú mór i meeting was held in the Ulster Hall where it Halla Uladh inar moladh go mbeadh an was proposed that Irish be taught in all Ghaeilge á teagasc sna scoileanna uile. schools. Father Gearóid Ó Nualláin (1874- Ceapadh an tAthair Gearóid Ó Nualláin 1942) was appointed Professor of Irish in (1874-1942) ina ‘ollamh’ le Gaeilge i Saint Malachy's College in 1900 and broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 30

gColáiste Maolmhaodhóg i 1900 agus ina afterwards in 1902 was appointed to Saint dhiaidh sin i gColáiste Mhuire i 1902. Mary's College.

Ó shin i leith, ba iad na múinteoirí Gaeilge From then on Irish teachers were the cnámh droma na hathbheochana sa chathair. backbone of the language revival in the city. Is liosta le háireamh anois iad: Muiris Ó Among the many Irish teachers in the city Droighneáin, Colm Beckett, Fidelma Ní were Muirís Ó Droighneáin, Colm Beckett, Bhroin agus an Bráthair Beausang, as measc Fidelma Ní Bróin, Brother Beausang out of go leor eile. Is minic a bhí ar mhúinteoirí an the many many more. Teachers often had to Ghaeilge a chosaint ar dhoicheall na n- defend the position of Irish against the údarás oideachais, mar a tharla ag deireadh excesses of the education authorities, just as na 1980í nuair a bhí an tAire Oideachais, an happened in the 1980s when the British Dr Brian Mawhinney, ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge Education minister Dr Brian Mawhinney, tried a fhágáil amach as na teangacha a bhí le to exclude Irish from the list of languages bheith ar churaclam na meánscoileanna. which were to be included in the secondary Eagraíodh feachtas mór in éadan mholtaí an school curriculum. A campaign was organised Aire agus, i measc imeachtaí eile, bhí against the minister’s proposals and among mórshiúl go Páirc Mhic Easmaint ar an Fhéile other protests a march was organised to Pádraig 1989. Ghéill na húdaráis don Casement Park on Saint Patrick's day 1989. fheachtas sa deireadh. The authorities relented eventually in the face of the campaign. Na Gaelscoileanna Irish Medium Schools Bunaíodh Scoil Ghaeilge Bhéal Feirste (Bunscoil Phobal Feirste) sa bhliain 1971. Ar The Belfast Irish School (Bunscoil Phobal feadh trí bliana déag, mhair an scoil gan Feirste) was established in 1971. For 13 years maoiniú ar bith ón stát. Ba iad na the school survived without any state tuismitheoirí, foireann na scoile agus an assistance. The parents, the teachers and the pobal máguaird a choinnigh an scoil beo sna community in the surrounding area kept it blianta sin. Sa deireadh thiar, ghéill an stát going throughout those years. Eventually the d’fheachtas na dtuismitheoirí agus tugadh a state gave in to the parents' campaign and ceart don scoil i 1984. Bunaíodh an dara gave the school its rights in 1984. The second gaelscoil i 1987 agus athbhunaíodh Irish school was established in Belfast in Meánscoil Feirste i 1991 (bunaíodh an chéad 1987 and the Irish medium secondary school mheánscoil ar Bhóthar Seoigh i 1978 ach was reestablished in 1991 ( the first was set níor mhair sí ach seal gairid). San am i up in 1978 but only lasted a number of láthair, tá 11 naíscoil, 10 mbunscoil agus years). Today there are eleven nursery meánscoil lán-Ghaeilge amháin i mBéal schools, ten primary schools and one Feirste. Tá oifigí ag Comhairle na Secondary school in the Irish medium sector Gaelscolaíochta i lár Bhéal Feirste agus in Belfast. The Council For Irish-medium tugtar oiliúint do mhúinteoirí san oideachas Schools is housed in Belfast City Centre and lán-Ghaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh teachers receive their training in Irish- Muire. Is sa Choláiste fosta atá an tÁisaonad medium Education in Saint Mary's University Lán-Ghaeilge lonnaithe, an t-aonad a College. In the College there is also an Irish- sholáthraíonn áiseanna do scoileanna lán- medium Resource Unit, which supplies Ghaeilge. resources to the Irish Schools. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 31 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 32 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 33

Séipéal Saint Mary's Mhuire agus Church and Pobal an the Mass Aifrinn Community

Léitear aifreann Gaeilge i Séipéal The Irish Mass is read every Mhuire, Lána an tSéipéil gach Sunday at midday in St Mary's Domhnach ag meánlae. Tá stair Church Chapel Lane. There is a fhada ag an séipéal céanna, nó is é long history associated with this an chéad séipéal Caitliceach a church, the first Catholic church to tógadh i gcathair Bhéal Feirste. have been built in Belfast. Before Sular tógadh an séipéal bhíodh an the church was built Mass was t-aifreann á léamh i dteach i lána read in a house in a small lane off beag taobh le Sráid an Chaisleáin, Castle Street which, on account of lána a dtugtaí ‘Squeeze-gut Entry’ its narrowness, was called air mar gheall ar a chaoile a bhí 'Squeeze-gut Entry'. When St sé. Nuair a osclaíodh Séipéal Mary's was opened in May 1784 a Mhuire i mí Bealtaine 1784 bhí company of the Belfast Volunteers complacht d’Óglaigh Bhéal Feirste turned out as a guard of honour mar gharda onórach ag an sagart, for the priest, Father Aodh Ó an tAthair Aodh Ó Dónaill. Lena Dónaill. Besides this, Protestants in chois sin, d’íoc Protastúnaigh an Belfast paid half of the cost of bhaile leathchuid de chostas an bulding the church, aorund £84. tséipéil, timpeall £84. The number of Catholics in the Tháinig méadú mór ar líon na town greatly increased in the 19th gCaitliceach sa 19ú haois, go Century, especially at the time of háirithe ó aimsir an Ghorta anall, the Great Hunger and beyond, and agus ba chainteoirí Gaeilge go leor many of these were Irish speakers. acu sin. Faoin bhliain 1861 ba By the year 1861 Catholics made Chaitlicigh iad trian de phobal up one third of the town's Bhéal Feirste. Go dtí gur tógadh population. Until the building of St Teach Pobail Naomh Peadar in Peter's in 1866 it was to St Mary's 1866 ba ar Shéipéal Mhuire a bhí that the people of the Falls went. muintir uile Bhóthar na bhFál ag tarraingt.

An tAifreann Gaeilge The Irish Mass

Sna 1940í a bunaíodh Cuallacht In the 1940s the Legion of Mary Mhuire agus bhíothas ag teacht le was founded and they came chéile uair sa mhí go dtí na 1960í. together once a month until the Sa bhliain 1965 a athraíodh 1960s. In 1965 the language of teanga an aifrinn ón Laidin go dtí the Mass was changed from Latin teanga an phobail agus léadh an to the vernacular and the first chéad aifreann Gaeilge i Séipéal Irish Mass was read in St Mary's broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 34

Mhuire ar an seachtú lá de mhí an Mhárta on the seventh of March 1965. Thanks to 1965. A bhuíochas ag sagairt dhíograiseacha, dedicated priests like Father Brendán Mac macasamhail an Athar Breandán Mac Maoláin and his brother Caoimhín, as well as Maoláin agus a dhearthár Caoimhín, chomh to the Irish community, the Irish Mass has maith le pobal na Gaeilge, tá an tAifreann now been read for over 40 years in St Mary's. Gaeilge á léamh le corradh le daichead During that period a vibrant musical tradition bliain. Le linn an ama sin, d’fhás traidisiún has also grown around the Irish Mass. The bisiúil ceoil thart ar an aifreann Gaeilge. mass choir Cór an Aifrinn was set up in 1983 Bunaíodh Cór an Aifrinn sa bhliain 1983 faoi under the direction of Éamonn Ó Faogáin and stiúir Éamoinn Uí Fhaogain agus Ghabrielle Gabrielle NigUidhir and Eamonn regularly NigUidhir agus bíonn Éamonn anois ag ceol i performs at the Mass with the Monaghan gcuideachta mhuintir Uí Mhonacháin ag family. In 2003 the well known piper Paddy aifreann an Domhnaigh. In 2003 chum an Davey composed a musical piece based on píobaire iomráiteach, Paddy Davey, ceol the theme of the Mass Rock and such was speisialta bunaithe ar théama charraig an the response that a new group Ceolfhoireann aifrinn agus bhí a oiread éilimh ar an cheol Aifreann Feirste (The Orchestra of the Belfast gur bunaíodh Ceolfhoireann Aifreann Feirste. Irish Mass) was set up.

Seirbhís Phreispitéireach Presbyterian Service

Bunaíodh an grúpa ‘An Tor ar lasadh’ i 1997 The Tor ar Lasadh (Burning Bush) group was agus bíonn seirbhís Ghaeilge acu gach tríú established in 1997 and they hold an Irish Domhnach den mhí in Eaglais language service every third Sunday in the Phreispitéireach Fitzroy leis an Urramach Bill Fitzroy Presbyterian Church with the Boyd. Tháinig an grúpa le chéile de chéaduair Reverend Bill Boyd. The group first came le seirbhís a bheith acu mar chuid together to organise a service during the d’Oireachtas na Gaeilge tráth a bhí sé i Oireachtas when it was in Belfast. They often mBéal Feirste. Is minic a bhíonn have guest preachers and the service is aoisheanmóirithe acu agus bíonn idir attended by both Catholics and Protestants. Phrotastúnaigh agus Chaitlicigh ag freastal ar na seirbhísí. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 35 broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 36

Tús Na hAislinge The Vision begins – Scéal Choláíste – The story of Feirste Coláíste Feirste

Is tréimhse fhada ama é fíche bliain ó Twenty years is a long time from gestation to ghiniúint go breith agus ní gan dua a birth and it wasn’t without struggle that bunaíodh an t-oideachas iarbhunscoile i post-primary Irish Medium Education was mBéal Feirste. Ghlac sé fís, fuinneamh agus first established in Belfast. It took vision, foighne a bheith ag lucht a bhunaithe le go energy and patience in abundance from the n-éireodh leo. founders to ensure that they succeeded.

Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul do na chéad A special word of recognition and thanks is tuismitheoirí a bhí sásta á gcuid páistí a chur due to those parents who were prepared to ar scoil nach raibh stair oideachais ná send their children to a school which was at aitheantas stáit taobh thiar di ag an am. that time without any educational history or state funding. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 37

Gidh nár mhair an chéad Mheánscoil ach ó Although this first attempt at establishing a 1979 go dtí 1981, chruthaigh sí go dtiocfadh Second level Irish school only lasted from 1979 gaeloideachas maith a chur ar fáíl ach go til 1981, it proved that Irish Medium Second leor airgid agus áiseanna a bheith taobh thiar level education was viable if only sufficient de. funding and resources were made available.

Bhí an chéad iarracht sin ar This first attempt at second level Irish education iarbhunscolaíocht i mBéal Feirste ag brath go in Belfast was totally dependant on volunteer huile agus go hiomlán ar obair dheonach ach work but it was highly productive work. Feargus bhí sí tairbheach. Rinne Feargus Ó hÍr, Ó hÍr, Pádraig Ó Maolcraoibhe and Fionnbar Pádraig Ó Maolcraoibhe agus Fionnbar Dynan Dynan did sterling work. Let us also remember scoth oibre. Cuimhnímis gur daoine iad sin a that these were people who had full-time raibh postanna lánaimseartha acu i teaching jobs in other schools but who came in scoileanna eile agus a tháinig isteach iná during their free time to labour in this Belfast gcuid ama saor féin le hoibriú sa" Mheánscoil ‘Secondary Hedge School’. scairte" seo.

Chomh maith leis na múinteóiri sin ón taobh As well as these external teachers, many from amuigh bhí daoine de chuid an phobail féin within the Shaws Road Gaeltacht community as Bóthar Seoighe a theagaisc sa scoil le go also taught in the school to ensure that a wide mbeadh réimse leathan ábhair ar fáil. Orthu range of subjects were available to pupils. sin bhí Áine Mhic Aindreasa, Máire Mhic Amongst these latter were, Áine Mhic Aindreasa, Sheáin agus Brighid Mhic Sheáin a raibh Máire Mhic Sheáin and Brighid Mhic Sheáin who ranganna rialta acu agus daoine eile ón taught regular classes and others from among phobal a theagasc corr-rang ar a seal. the community who taught occasional lessons. D'oibrigh an scoil go maith fad a mhair sí ach The school worked well, for as long as it lasted, ó tharla go raibh bunscoil, nach raibh ag fáil but considering that there was also a non- maoiniú stait ag an am, le reáchtáil ag an funded primary school to run the community felt phobal chomh maith d'éirigh an t-ualach overwhelmed by the pressure and the brave róthrom agus b'éigean éirí as. undertaking was brought to an end.

Chuaigh ocht mbliana eile thart sula dtug Eight years were to pass before a new glúin eile de thuismitheoirí faoi scoil generation of parents sought to establish post- iarbhunoideachais a bhunú i mBéal Feirste primary Irish education in Belfast for their arís. children. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 38

Sa bhliain 1989 thug Gearóid Ó Cairealláin In 1989 Gearóid Ó Cairealláin and Aoífe Ní agus Aoífe Ní Riain dream daoine le chéile Riain brought together a group of people to ‘féacháint le Meánscoil Ghaelach a bhunú explore ‘the establishment of an Irish arís i mBéal Feirste’. Medium Secondary School in Belfast’.

D'iarr siad ar Séamus MacSeáin baint a They asked Séamus MacSeáin, in light of his bheith aige leis ó tharla baint a bheith aige role in the first attempt, to assist in their leis an chéad iarracht. Áinneoin a theaghlach efforts. Despite his own family being raised féin a bheith tógtha aige agus gan duine ar by this time and no longer requiring bith acu in aois mheánscoile níos mó bhí secondary education Séamus was, áthas air ciudiú leis an iarracht nó chuir sé nonetheless, delighted to help since the need isteach air go mór go mb'éigean an chéad to end the first Irish Medium secondary mheánscoil a scor. Bhí barúil mhaith aige school still rankled with him. Séamus also fosta faoi na rudaí a bhí le seachaint má bhí had a valuable insight of those things which le héirí leis an dara hiarracht seo. should be avoided during this second attempt. Bhí sé tabhachtach dar leis gan an iomarca buartha a bheith ar na tuismitheoirí faoi Séamus thought it important to avoid undue chúrsaí airgid agus ba ar an taobh sin de concern among prospective parents about Mheánscoil Feirste a chaith sé a dhúthracht funding and it was in this area that he ag an tús. devoted his energies at the start. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 39

Chuir an coiste tuairisc ghairid le chéile ar na The Committee compiled a small report on bunriachtanais a bhí ag teastáil leis an scoil what was required to establish the school a thosnú agus chuaigh i mbun airgid a and set about fundraising immediately. At bháiliú. Ag an am sin bhí crannchur 'á that time the Ráth Carn Cooperative were reáchtáil ag Comharchumann Ráth Cairn running a small lottery and they allowed the agus cheadaigh siad sin a úsáid le hairgead a Belfast committee to use the lottery to raise bhailiú don scoil. Ba iad Malachy Duffin agus funds for the school. Malachy Duffin and Pádraig Ó Maolchraoibhe a ba mhó a dhíol Pádraig Ó Maolchraoibhe were the principal na ticéidí don chrannchur agus taobh istigh sellers and within six months £11,000 was de shé mhí bhí £11,000 sa chiste. gathered in the kitty.

Ag tús 1991 bhí go leor airgid sa chiste le At the beginning of 1991 enough funding beirt mhúinteoir a fhostú go cionn cúpla mí. was in place to support two teachers for a Ní rabhthas cinnte cá has a dtiocfadh an period of months . There was no certainty tairgead ina dhiaidh sin ach bhí go leor about future funds but the committee were muinín ag an choiste le fógra a chur ar an happy to advertise two teaching posts. pháipéar ag iarraidh beirt mhúinteoir a fhostú. Luckily they managed to recruit Feargus Ó hÍr and Cathal Ó Donghaile who were satisfied to Bhí an t-ádh orthu gur aimsigh siad Feargus undertake the heavy workload that such a job Ó hÍr agus Cathal Ó Donghaile a bhí sásta would entail. Feargus, escpecially, was aware tabhairt faoin obair chrua a bheadh de dhíth of just what was involved from his role in the le scoil mar seo a choinneáilt ag dul. Thuig first Irish Secondary school back in 1979. Feargus ach go háirithe cad é mar a bheadh nó bhí sé ar dhuine de na múinteóirí a The committee now had teachers but no theagasc gan tuarastal sa chéad mheánsoil i place to teach and as often happens, with 1979. those daring enough to take the risk, fate itself supplied the solution. The committee Bhí múinteóirí anois ag an choiste ach iad learned that an old Presbyterian Church at gan suíomh scoile go fóill. Mar a tharlaíonn Broadway on the Falls Road was on the go minic do dhaoine a bhfuil misneach acu market with a lease on offer for £25,000 per sheol an chinniúint réiteach na faidhbe nuair year. a chuala siad gur dócha go mbeadh an tseánEaglais ag an Bhealach Leathan ar Bhóthar na Bhfál ar fáil ar léas ag dream a dtiocfadh leo £25,000 sa bhliain de chíos a íoc ar an fhoirgneamh. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 40

Ní raibh pingin rua ag an choiste dar ndó ach The Committee were peniless of course, with d'iarr siad ar an Belfast Action Team an cíos funds committed to teachers salaries, so they a íoc don chéad bhliain, rud a thoiligh siad a applied to the Belfast Action Team to pay the dhéanamh. lease for the first year, which they agreed to do.

Mar sin de cuireadh ainmneacha Séamus So a three year lease was exectued in the MacSeáin agus Gearóid Ó Cairealláin le léas names of Séamus MacSeáin and Gearóid Ó trí bliana ar fhoirgneamh a bhí le bheith ina Cairealláin for a building which was to ionad cultúrtha ar tugadh Cultúrlann become a cultural centre named Cultúrlann McAdam/Ó Fiaich air ach a bhí go fírinneach McAdam/Ó Fiaich but which would function ina láthair scoile. mainly as a school.

Bhí múinteóirí ag an phobal, bhí láthair scoile The Committe had teachers, they had a againn agus ní raibh ag teastáil anois ach na school building now all that was needed were dáltaí. Mar sin ag tús Mhí Mheán an Fómhair pupils. So in September 1991 Meánscoil 1991 cuireadh tús le Meánscoil Feirste le 9 Feirste opened its doors with nine pupils, two ndalta, beirt mhúinteóir ar tuarastal agus salaried teachers and two voluntary workers

beirt eile ag obair go deonach mar a bhí Nóirín Ní Chléirigh and Ciarán Ó Dornáin. In Nóirín Ní Chléirigh agus Ciarán Ó Dornáin. Sa the second year there were 18 pupils and by dara bliain tháinig 18 dalta nua isteach agus the third year 36 came on the rolls. sa tríú bliain tháinig 36 isteach. A hard fought campaign for funding and D’éirigh leis an fheachtas chun aitheantás a recognition finally met with success by 1997. fháil don scoil i 1997. Bhog an scoil go Teach Two years later in 1999 the school moved to Ard na bhFeá i 1999 agus i 2005 athraíodh Beechmount House and by 2005 had changed ainm na scoile go Coláiste Feirste. Ba ghairid its name from Meánscoil Feirste to Coláiste in dhaidh sin gur shroic an scoil farasbarr ó Feirste. Shortly thereafter the school reached thaobh uimhreacha de leis na céadtaí dalta ó capacity as far as enrolments were concerned gach cearn de Bhéal Feirste agus de na sé with hundreds of pupils from all parts of chondae ag déanamh a mbealach go Béal Belfast and further afield throughout the Six Feirste Cois Cuan le hoideachas den scoth a Counties making their way to Belfast for fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Second level Irish Medium Education of the highest standard. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 41

Aonaid na nGael i Belfast’s Gaelic mBéal Feirste Cultural Centres

Tá clú agus cáil ar Bhéal Feirste ar fud na Belfast has a growing reputation hÉireann agus ar fud na cruinne mar Chathair throughout Ireland and abroad as a city ina bhfuil rath agus bláth tagtha ar an where the Irish Language and culture are Ghaeilge le blianta beaga anuas. Tá réimse flowering and flourishing. A wide range of leathan d’éagraíochtaí, institiúdí agus eile ag organisations, companies and institutes are obair leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun tosaigh in working to promote Irish in every aspect of achán ghné den saol. Bhí ár ndóigh an tArd life. Of course there have been long Scoil Ultach agus Cumann Cluain Ard ann le established institute like An Ard Scoil and fada ach níor mhiste na nua-aonaid Cultúrtha, Cumann Cluain Ard but specific mention ar ghné an-tabhachtach den athbheochán iad, needs to be made of the hugely important a lua. and role being played by Gaelic Cultural centres in this revival. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 42

Cultúrlann MacAdam/Ó Fiaich Cultúrlann McAdam/Ó Fiaich

Cultúrlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, i gcroílár na Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, in the heart Ceathrún Gaeltachta ar Bhóthar na bhFál Bhéal of the Gaeltacht Quarter, is truly the Feirste, is í Eispéireas Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste í. essence of the Belfast Gaelic experience.

Teach aitheantais ina dtig leat teagmháil le A melting pot where one can where you muintir na háite agus dul i dtaithí ar chultúr na can engage with the locals and Gaeilge, ach fosta, ag brath ar an rud is spéis experience Irish culture but depending on leat, is ionad fuinniúil ealaíon í, ionad don cheol your interests, it is also a dynamic arts traidisiúnta, pointe eolais turasóireachta, caifé, centre, a centre for traditional music, a áit a gceannófá obair cheardaíochta nó leabhair, tourist information point, a café, a place áit a bhfoghlaimeofá Gaeilge nó a dtógfá to buy crafts or books, a place to learn caithimh úra aimsire, a gcasfaí ort cairde úra nó the Irish language or take up new a gcuirfeá focal ar thuras, áit a mbeifeá ag hobbies, to meet friends or book a tour, a maíomh as d’oidhreacht nó a bhfiosrófá cultúr place to feel proud of your heritage or to na hÉireann. explore Irish culture.

Tá An Cultúrlann suite i sean-Eaglais Cultúrlann is housed in the old Broadway Phreispítéireach an Bhealaigh Leathain. In 1896 Presbyterian Church. Built in 1896, this a tógadh an foirgneamh, agus rinne sé freastal building served it’s congregation until ar a phobal go dtí 1982. Bhí an eaglais ina háras 1982. The church was also home to the fosta ag Lóiste Dílis Oráisteach uimh. 824. Loyal Orange Lodge no. 824.

Bunaíodh an Cultúrlann in 1991 agus ainmníodh Established in 1991 Culturlann is named é in ómós do bheirt de laochra móra na Gaeilge in honour of two giants of the Irish mar a bhí Roibeard McAdam (1808 -1895), fear Language movement: Robert McAdam gnó Preispitéireach agus duine an-tabhachtach (1808-1895), a Presbyterian Businessman in athbheochán an 19ú Aois, agus Tomás and key figure in the nineteenth century Cairdineál Ó Fiaich Scoláire Gaeilge, staraí agus revival movement and Tomás Cairdineál Ó Príomháidh na hÉireann 1923 – 1990. Fiaich (1923-1990) an Irish Scholar, historian and Catholic Primate of All- Ireland. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 43

Ó bunaíodh é bhí polasaí ‘Doras Oscailte’ ag an Since its foundation Culturlann has operated Chultúrlann a chuireann fáilte roimh an ‘open door’ policy which welcomes Irish gaelphobal na tire agus rompú siúd in Éireann speakers and those from throughout Ireland agus i gcéin ar suim leo na Gaeilge nó an and further afield who have an interest in Chultúr Gaelach. Gaelic Language and culture.

Tá clú ar an Chultúrlann fosta mar gheall ar a Culturlann is also famed for its cosmopolitan eispéireas iltíreach agus a bhia blásta a atmosphere and its wonderful cuisine which tarraingíonn áitritheoirí agus taisteálaithe attracts residents and visitors in equal idirnáisiúnta ar aon. Is iomaí cuairteoir measure. Many well known figures have cluiteach a chur cos thar an tairseach fosta graced Culturlann including such as Model ina measc siúd bhí lethéidí Bianca Jagger, and UN Diplomat Bianca Jagger and Film mainicín agus taidhleoir na Náísiún Aontaithe Director Ken Loach. agus Ken Loach, stiúrthóir scannánaíochta. Culturlann really is the Belfast Gaelic S’é an Chultúrlann Croílár na Ceathrún experience. Gaeltachta

An Droichead An Droichead/The Bridge I 1992, bhunaigh pobal na Gaeilge in oirthear In 1992 the Gaelic speaking community of agus deisceart Bhéal Feirste a n-eagraíocht South and East Belfast established their own féin chun athbheochan na Gaeilge a bhrú chun organisation for promoting the Irish cinn. Tháinig said le chéile mar ‘An Droichead’, Langauge and Culture. They came together as óir is ó shean-cheantair stairiúla cois Lagáin a An Droichead (The Bridge) recalling their tháinig siad – an Trá Ghearr, an Margadh, agus origins in the historic Laganside area of the an Ormeau Íochtarach – áiteanna ina raibh city where a bridge joins Short Strand in the dhá naíscoil bunaithe acu cheana féin sna East of the city with the Markets and Lower hochtóidí. Ormeau in the South and where two Irish Nursery Schools already existed since the Ba Gaeilgeoirí samhlaíocha iad a bhí ag 1980s. iarraidh todhchaí na Gaeilge ina gceantar a chinntiú trí fhorbairt seirbhísí Gaeilge don These were Gaels with drive and imagination phobal. Chuige sin, thóg siad Lárionad seeking to secure the future of their cultúrtha sa bhliain 2000. communities through developing Irish Sa lárionad cultúrtha seo tá idir ranganna Langauge services for the people. To that end naíscoile, cumann iarscoile, cumann óige, they established an Irish Cultural Centre ranganna Gaeilge d’fhoghlaimeoirí ag gach called an Droichead in the year 2000. leibhéal, ranganna rince, ranganna ealaíne, In An Droichead there a whole range of Irish ranganna snoíodóireachta agus ranganna ceoil. language and cultural activities: nursery broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 44

Ar bharr sin uilig tá cumann siúlóide, drámaí classes, an after-schools club, a youth club, Gaeilge agus ceolchoirmeacha traidisiúnta Irish classes for learners at all levels, dance chun an Gael, an aitritheoir agus an classes, art classes, oak carving and craft cuairteoir a shásamh. classes as well as music classes. On top of all Bhain An Droichead príomhdhuais agus this there is a ramblers club, drama and Trófaí Ghlór na nGael i 2005, chomh maith le traditional concerts to appeal to Irish Craobh Uladh an chomórtais i 2006. speakers, residents and visitors alike. An Droichead were winners in 2005 of the Cumann Cultúrtha agus Teach Glór na nGael national trophy and the Ulster Mhic Reachtáin title in 2006.

Bunaíodh Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain McCracken House and the sa bhliain 2000 leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun McCracken Cultural Association cinn i dtuaisceart Bhéal Feirste agus an ceantar máguaird. Bíonn réimse leathan The McCracken Cultural Association was imeachtaí ar siúl ag Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic established in the year 2000 to promote Irish Reachtain i rith na bliana: ranganna in the North Belfast area and its environs. It laethúla/seachtainiúla Gaeilge ag gach hosts a wide range of activities throughout leibhéal, scéim na mbunscoileanna Béarla, the year: daily and weekly Irish classes for all Scéim na bhFáinní, club óige do dhéagóirí, levels of learners, a primary schools Irish imeachtaí sóisialta, Scoil Samhraidh ar feadh language scheme, the Fáinne scheme, a seachtaine ag deireadh Mhí Iúil chomh maith youth club as well as a range of social events le roinnt díanchúrsaí ar fud na bliana do and activities through the medium of Irish. It gach aois ghrúpa. also hosts a Summer School each July as well as a range of intensive Irish Courses Baineann ainm Chumann Cultúrtha Mhic throughout they year for all age groups. Reachtain le sloinne an Éireannaigh Aontaithe, Annraí Seoighe Mac Reachtáin The name of the Association and its Cultural (1767-98) agus lena dheirfiúr Mary Anne Centre derives from the McCracken Family, (1770-1866). Tá Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Belfast Presbyterians and United Irishmen Reachtain lonnaithe i dTeach Mhic particularly Henry Joy McCracken (1767-98) Reachtáin, teach trí stóras ar Bhóthar and his sister Mary Anne (1770-1866). The Aontroma i dTuaisceart Bhéal Feirste. McCracken Cultural Association is housed in Ceannaigh Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Teach Mhic Reachtáin (McCracken House) a Reachtain an teach seo sa bhliain 2004 agus three story house on the Antrim Road. The is é sin an áit a mbíonn an chuid is mó de na Association purchased this house in 2004 himeachtaí agus na seirbhísí for-rochtain ar and it is here for the most part that its siúl againn. activities are housed. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 45

‘An Ghaeilge faoi ‘Irish in Bondage’- ghlas’-Guth na The Prisoners’ gCimí story/voices

Focal Brollaigh Foreword Chuir cimí Éireannacha ariamh spéis i Irish political prisoners have always had an bhfoghlaim na Gaeilge agus iad i interest in learning the Irish language while ngéibheann. Téann an Gaelachas i bhfad siar incarcerated. This interest in their native i stair na gcimí sa chéad seo caite. I tongue goes way back to the beginning of bhFrongoch, i Lewes, sa Churrach, i bpríosún the last century. In Frongoch, in Lewes, in the Dhoire agus in Ard Mhacha, i Muinseo agus i Curragh, in Derry prison and in Armagh, in bPort Laoise ar longa príosúin nó i gcampaí Mountjoy and in Portlaois, in prison ships géibhinn, ar Bhóthar Chromghlinne nó sa and in prison camps, in Crumlin Road and in Cheis Fhada; bhí an Ghaeilge ann mar Long Kesh; the Irish language was a bhunchloch i gcultúr na gcimí. foundation-stone of the prisoners’ culture.

Frongoch Frongoch Bunaíodh ‘ollscoil oideachais’ i bhFrongoch i Frongoch ‘university of education’ was 1917. Cuireadh béim, beagnach éigeantach formed in 1917. An almost compulsory focus ar theagasc agus ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge. was placed on the teaching and learning of Lonnaíodh Campa Frongoch i gceantar the Irish language. Frongoch camp was based tuaithe sa Bhreatain Bheag áit a raibh an in a rural part of Wales where the Welsh Bhreatnais iontach láidir. Eagraíodh craobh language was very strong. A very active iontach gníomhach de Chonradh na Gaeilge branch of the Gaelic League was formed sa champa faoi bhrat an ainm ghrinn ‘Craobh under the auspices of the comic name ‘The na Sróine Deirge’ os rud é gur mhínigh Liam Branch of the Red Noses’ because Liam Ó Ó Briain [a chríochnaigh mar ollamh le Briain (who later ended up a Professor for teangacha rómánsúla in Ollscoil na Romantic Languages at Galway University) Gaillimhe] gurb é seo an chiall a bhí ag an explained that this was the meaning of the logainm ‘Frongoch’. place name ‘Frongoch’.

Phlándáil éacht Frongoch síol a bheadh faoi Frongoch planted a seed that would blossom bhláth i bpríosúin eile fud fad an fhichiú throughout the twentieth century and in haois agus i mBéal Feirste ach go háirithe. Belfast especially. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 46

An Argenta The Argenta

D’imir an teanga ról athghiniúna den chineál The language played a similar regenerative chéanna i measc braighdeanach sna fichidí i role amongst internees in the 1920’s in the gcomhthéacs an tuaiscirt. Imtheorannaíodh North. Over 700 nationalists, including os cionn 700 náisiúntóir ar an long phríosúin, teachers, were interned on the ‘Argenta’ ‘Argenta’ i mBéal Feirste cois cuain idir 1922 prison ship on Belfast Lough from 1922 to agus 1925, múinteoirí ina measc. Chuir na 1925. The local police accused them of being péas áitiúla ina leith siúd gur ‘ardent and ‘ardent and active IRA propagandists at active IRA propagandists at school’ a bhí school’. These teachers, along with six or iontu. Spreag na múinteoirí seo, mar aon le seven Frongoch graduates inspired ‘a spirit seisear nó seachtar iarchimí agus céimithe de and intellect’ amongst the prisoners through chuid Frongoch, ‘spiorad agus intleacht’ na the medium of Irish language education. gcimí araon, trí mheán an oideachais Ghaelaigh. The Curragh An Currach The language functioned in the same way in D’fheidhmigh an teanga ar an bhealach the Curragh camp in Kildare. Two Irish chéanna seo i gcampa an Churraigh, Cill language huts were set up and were a great Dara. Cuireadh dhá bhóthán lánGhaeilge ar success. Hundreds of men were arrested, bun agus bhí an-rath orthu. Bhí na céadta including the Irish language writer Máirtín Ó fear, an scríbhneoir Máirtín Ó Cadhain ina Cadhain, and imprisoned in the Curragh. The measc, faoi ghlas sa Churrach. D’fhás an language grew under the direction of Ó Ghaeilge ann faoi bhráid Uí Chadhain, Cadhain, a native speaker from Conemara cainteoir dúchais as Conamara a d’imir ról who played a central role in the promotion lárnach i saol na Gaeilge agus é ar an taobh of the Irish language when back in the amuigh arís. outside world.

Ní hé amháin go raibh gléasanna teagaisc in Not only was there a lack of teaching easnamh ach bhí coinníollacha sioctha ann materials, conditions in the Curragh were sa Churrach agus bhí síorghanntanas bia freezing and there was a constant shortage ann. of food.

Foinse spreagtha a bhí in Ó Cadhain dá Ó Cadhain and others were a source of chomhchimí agus é ag scaipeadh na teanga inspiration for their fellow prisoners as they ar fud an champa. Bhain na céadta líofacht spread the language throughout the camp. amach anseo, baicle bheag d’Fheirstigh Hundreds reached proficiency there including iomráiteacha ina measc mar a bhí, Willie- a small number of famous Belfast men who John McCorry agus Eddie Ó Cianáin. came through these Gaeltacht huts on the Curragh, including Willie-John McCorry and Eddie Keenan broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 47

Bóthar Cromghlinne Crumlin Road Sa tréimhse chéanna, sna daichidí bhí an rud In the same period in the forties, a similar céanna idir lámha sa Bhóthar Chromghlinne i linguistic approach was being pioneered mBéal Feirste i measc na gcéadta náisiúntóirí amongst hundreds of young nationalists who a bhí i mbraighdeanas ann. Ina measc, bhí na were interned in Belfast’s Crumlin Road Jail. scríbhneoirí cáiliúla Gaeilge Tarlach Ó hUid Amongst these prisoners were famous Irish agus Liam Mhic Reachtain chomh maith le writers Tarlach Ó hUid and Liam Mhic leithéidí an sóisialach clúiteach ‘Moscow’ Reachtain as well as well-known socialist Jack Brady a rinne iarracht shuntasach an ‘Moscow Jack Brady’ who did their utmost to teanga a scaipeadh, an príosún a Ghaelú spread the language, Gaelicise the prison and agus athghiniúint a chur chun cinn. develop an open revival.

D’fhán an struchtúr oideachais seo i The same educational structure remained in bhfeidhm agus an bhéim ar an teanga i place again along with the emphasis on the measc na bpríosúnach a imtheorannaíodh language amongst prisoners who were athuair ar Bhóthar Chromghlinne i rith na interned again in Crumlin Road Jail in the mallchaogaidí agus luathseascaidí. Míníonn late Fifties and early sixties. Belfast Irish an gníomhaí Gaeilge Feirsteach Labhrás Mac language activist, Labhrás Mac Oirc, explains Oirc an dóigh ar fhoghlaim sé an teanga how he learned the language

‘Bhí ranganna Gaeilge againn gach lá agus ‘We had Irish classes every day in the big hall gach maidin sa halla mór seachas ar an and every morning apart from Saturday and Satharn agus ar an Domhnach. Bhí a lán Sunday. We had a lot of very capable múinteoirí cumasacha ann ar nós Tómas Ó teachers like Tómas Ó hEanáin, Liam Mac hEanáin, Liam Mac Maoláin agus Paddy Joe Maoláin and Paddy Joe McClean, Seán Ó McClean, Seán Ó Cearnaigh, Prionsias Ó Cearnaigh, Prionsíos Ó Mianáin and Art Mac Mianáin agus Art Mac Cathaigh’. Cathaigh’. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 48

An Cheis Fhada - Na Cásanna Long Kesh - The Cages Ní aon ábhar iontais é gur lean an traidisiún It’s no surprise that this educational tradition oideachais seo sa Cheis Fhada, i Lios na continued in Long Kesh, in Lisburn between gCearrbhach idir 1971 agus 2000. Nuair a 1971 and 2000. When internment occurred tháinig ann d’imtheorannú arís i 1971, again in 1971, hundreds of young chríochnaigh na céadta náisiúntóirí óga sa nationalists ended up in prison along with a phríosún in éineacht le neart seanfhondúirí a few older activists who had spent time in chaith sealanna i bpríosún sna caogaidí. prison in the Fifties. Many of these older Chuaigh cuid mhaith de na seanfhondúirí seo prisoners had an educational influence on i bhfeidhm ar na daoine óga seo i gcúrsaí these younger prisoners especially those who oideachais, go háirithe iad siúd a bhain had achieved fluency in the fifties like líofacht sa Ghaeilge amach sna caogaidí ar Proinsias Mac Airt. nós Proinsias Mhic Airt. There were committed young activists in the Bhí leáids óga díograiseacha sa Cheis le suim Kesh with an interest in the language like sa teanga ar nós Bobby Sands, Géaróid Ó Bobby Sands, Géaróid Ó Ruanaí, Séanna Ruanaí, Séanna Breathnach, Tom Louden, Breathnach, Tom Louden, Liam Ó Liam Ó Maolchloiche, Diarmaid Mac an Maolchloiche, Diarmaid Mac an tSionnaigh, tSionnaigh, Sean Mag Uidhir agus a lán eile. Sean Mag Uidhir and many more. They Bhunaigh siad Gaeltacht sa deireadh. eventually formed a Gaeltacht.

Ní fada gur thosaigh na leáids óga seo ag cur Before long, these young lads began showing díol spéise sna héachtaí a bhí á ndéanamh an interest in the achievements of Irish broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 49

ag gníomhairí na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste language activists on the outside, especially agus iad siúd i nGaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe those in the Shaws Road Gaeltacht. As a ach go háirithe. Is mar thoradh air seo gur result of this, they began inspiring their thosaigh siad ag gríosadh a gclann ar an families to support those language activists taobh amuigh chun tacú leis na Gaeil sin ar on the outside and to follow the prisoners’ an taobh amuigh agus sampla na example and learn the language. bpríosúnach a leanúint agus an teanga a fhoghlaim. In a letter that Bobby Sands wrote for the prisoners’ magazine, Our Own Voice in 1975, I litir amháin a scríobh Bobby Sands in iris na he praised the Shaws Road activists and tried bpríosúnach, Ár nGuth féin i 1975, to motivate others with the confidence to tréaslaíonn sé le lucht Bhóthar Seoighe agus follow their example: déanann se iarracht daoine eile a spreagadh le muinín chun sampla s’acu a leanúint: “...I think there is about 15 houses there as well as a nursery school where all the “...sílim go bhfuil thart fá cúig theach déag children are learning everything through Irish ann, (Bóthar Seoighe/Shaws Road) comh and they speak Irish all the time with their maith le sin tá naíscoil bheag acú, agus tá na parents too and they have their own páistí ag foghlaim gach rud trí Ghaeilge agus culture...Why isn’t there more than one bíonn siad ag caint i nGaeilge i gcónaí agus Gaeltacht in Belfast? Well, to tell you the a dtuismitheoirí freisin agus tá a gcultúr féin truth, I think Irish speakers are too lazy, I’ve acú.....Cad tuige nach bhfuil níos mó ná heard a lot of excuses like, people can’t do it Gaeltacht amháin i mBéal Feirste? Bhail leis because they have no money; that isn’t true an fhírinne a insint sílim go bhfuil na nor is it an excuse. Gaeilgeoirí rófhalsa, chuala mé a lán leithscéalta cosúil leis seo, níl na daoine le Another interesting development that took Gaeilge ábalta Gaeltacht a bhunú de place in the Cages in the Seventies was that thairbhe nach bhfuil aon airgead acu, ní fíor a small batch of unionist prisoners, from the é agus ní leithscéal é...” UVF, began learning Irish under the direction of their leader, Gusty Spence. Some of them Rud eile spéisiúil a tharla sna cásanna sna achieved a silver fáinne and a Gaelic league seachtóidí ná gur thosaigh dream beag de organiser came into the prison to bestow it chimí Aontachtacha, ón UVF, ag foghlaim na upon them. Gaeilge faoi stiúir a gceannaire Gusty Spence. D’éirigh le cuid acu Fáinne Airgid a In the years after this, a few Irish language bhaint amach agus tháinig timire de chuid activists form the Cages were re-arrested a Chonradh na Gaeilge isteach sa phríosún short time after being released and were lena mbronnadh. subsequently sentenced to the H-Blocks when they opened in 1976. Sna blianta ina dhiaidh seo, athghabhadh dream beag de Ghaeilgeoirí na gcásanna, tamall gairid i ndiaidh daofa a bheith scaoilte saor, agus daoradh chun na mblocanna H iad nuair a osclaíodh iad i 1976. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 50

Na Blocanna The Blocks Sna Blocanna H, rinneadh iarracht caitheamh In the H-Block, an attempt was made to leis na cimí mar ghnáthchoirpigh. Dhiúltaigh treat the prisoners like ordinary criminals. na céadta daofa géilleadh agus thosaigh Hundreds refused to submit to this and thus ‘Agóid na Pluide’ inárbh éigeán daofa fanacht began the ‘Blanket protest’ where prisoners sa chillín an lá ar fad. Bhí cosc ar leabhair, ar had to remain in their cells all day. Books, pháipéir nuachta, ar phinn, nó ar fhoinse newspapers, pens or reading materials were léitheoireachta ar bith, seachas an Bíobla not permitted except for the Holy Bible for Naofa do na cimí a bhí ar agóid. Ní raibh the prisoners who were on the protest. All acu ach tocht, pluid agus crois choróin they had was a mattress, blanket and rosary Mhuire. Sna coinníollacha seo, bhláthaigh an beads. In these conditions, the Irish language Ghaeilge, mar áis chumarsáide an phríosúin blossomed, becoming the prison medium for ainneoin gach constaic. communication, in spite of all obstacles.

Chríochnaigh agóid na bpríosúnach ina stailc The prisoners’ battle for political status ocrais sna blianta 1980-81 agus bhí feachtas finished with a Hunger Strike in 1980-81 and náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta ar a son. Scríobh there was both a national and international na cimí na céadta litreacha mar chabhair ar campaign on their behalf. The prisoners fheachtasaíocht a dteaghlach ar an taobh wrote hundreds of letters in support of their amuigh agus mheall siad tacaíocht ó réimse families’ campaign on the outside and leathan grúpaí, cuid mhaith de Ghaeilgeoirí attracted support form a wide variety of ina measc. groups, including many Irish language activists. Fuair deichniúr bás sa Stailc Ocrais seo i 1981, Bobby Sands; Francis Hughes, Ten eventually died in this Hunger Strike in Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe 1981, Bobby Sands; Francis Hughes, Raymond McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty, Tom McElwee agus Mickey Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Devine agus bhí Gaeilge ar a dtoil acu uilig. Tom McElwee and Mickey Devine; all were fluent Irish speakers. After the 1981 Hunger I ndiaidh stailc ocrais 1981, tháinig borradh strike, the cultural revival expanded in faoin athbheochan chultúrtha i mBéal Belfast. Feirste. When many of these Gaelic speaking D’imir cuid mhaith de na hiarchimí Gaelacha prisoners were released, theyn played a seo ról lárnach i saol na Gaeilge agus i central role in the Irish language movement bhforbairt na Gaeilge agus an and its development as well as in the Ghaeloideachais agus iad ar an taobh amuigh development of Irish language medium arís. Bunaíodh naíscoil sa Trá Ghearr i 1982, education. A nursery school was set up in the dhá cheann eile in Ard Eoin agus i gCill Short Strand in 1982, two more in Ardoyne Uaighe sa bhliain 1984 agus bunaíodh dara and Twinbrook in 1984 and a second primary bunscoil, Gaelscoil na bhFál i 1986. Faoi school, Gaelscoil na bhFál was formed in dheireadh na nóchaidí, bhí deich mbunscoil 1986. By the end of the nineties, there were Ghaeilge agus meánscoil Ghaeilge amháin sa ten Irish primary schools and one Irish chathair. medium secondary school in the city. broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 51

“...sílim go bhfuil thart fá cúig theach déag ann, (Bóthar Seoighe/Shaws Road) comh maith le sin tá naíscoil bheag acú, agus tá na páistí ag foghlaim gach rud trí Ghaeilge agus bíonn siad ag caint i nGaeilge i gcónaí agus a dtuismitheoirí freisin agus tá a gcultúr féin acú.....Cad tuige nach bhfuil níos mó ná Gaeltacht amháin i mBéal Feirste? Bhail leis an fhírinne a insint sílim go bhfuil na Gaeilgeoirí rófhalsa, chuala mé a lán leithscéalta cosúil leis seo, níl na daoine le Gaeilge ábalta Gaeltacht a bhunú de thairbhe nach bhfuil aon airgead acu, ní fíor é agus ní leithscéal é...” broprint 09 21/12/09 08:55 Page 52