In this timely blog posted a number of days before the grand opening of our new flagship cultural centre - Cultúrlann Mac Adaim O Fiach. Irish language activist and director of Forbairt Feirste Jake Mac Siacais outlines how the Irish language has survived, developed and now thrives as an integral way of life and unique part of Belfast’s diverse history and culture.
The development of our language and culture is a central part of our tourism offering and has contributed to the success of West Belfast as must see tourist destination.
Building on authenticity
The development of our language and culture is a central part of our tourism offering and has contributed to the success of West Belfast as must see tourist destination.
Building on authenticity
From its origins as a ford at ‘the mouth of the sand-banked river’, Belfast has always and ever reinvented itself, its people, from their native creativity, giving new meaning to their place, experience and existence, as they pushed new frontiers of industrial, economic, social and environmental achievement.
Yet, there were always significant parts of the city which due to marginalisation, and often exclusion, were never able to fully realise their potential and which were consequently, in the context of citywide development, unable to derive, or supply maximum benefit from their native talents.
As regards the Irish Language and culture, this was all too true for long periods of the city’s history and it was the city itself which was the poorer as a result. The Irish Language community itself never lost hope and was always ready to offer its vision and talent even if others were not always ready to listen to or embrace that vision.
Given the current fascination with cultural roots and riches, however, it is surely time for us all to realise that the Irish language and culture is rich raw material which we should be exploiting for the benefit of the entire city and all its citizens.
It is high time for the city authorities and others to begin seriously and strategically investing in these cultural raw materials, which have grown and continue to grow here in this part of the city, so as to transform them into products.
A planned and medium to long-term city and regional policy designed to do this, and agreed with the local Irish Language community, would give us competitive advantage and add to our strategic attractiveness as a distinct and unique area where people would want to live, work and visit as well as enjoying the benefits of and adding to its assets.
The Gaeltacht Quarter is both an appropriate and effective model for achieving this. It was conceived and is specifically structured to maximise the economic opportunities provided by the growing cluster of Irish language and culture-based enterprises. Over time and with appropriate investment this will produce a self-sustaining entity with people attracting more people, businesses creating further businesses, imagination firing further imagination: a living, organic village, giving extra colour and credibility to the idea of Belfast as a vibrant, open and pluralistic city.
Belfast’s Irish speaking community has never been shy of stepping up to the mark. From the visionaries of Shaw’s Road, who dared to dream the dream of an urban Gaeltacht here in Belfast, despite the formidable obstacles and the naysayers, there sprang a belief in the worth of allowing new voices to be heard in this city, among them the authentic voice of the Gael. From that belief and that vision sprang a cultural revival which has placed Belfast at the transformational edge of cultural change on this island and which if embraced by the city as a whole would make the authentic voices of this great city of ours audible throughout the world
The policy framework already exists in the Dutton and Deloitte Reports on the Gaeltacht Quarter and the methodology couldn’t be simpler: identify resources and opportunities in partnership with local people and put them to use.
We could make a real and immediate start by adding to the Culturlann’s wonderful new extension and developing the old Beechmount Leisure Centre site and the Irish Medium Trust building at the corner of Broadway. These would be a trio of inspirational building blocks and a clear statement of the city’s intent to put its money where its mouth is. It would also be a move which would have citywide and far-reaching implications.
It’s as easy as one, two three really.
Jake pictured here (left) with members of the Laocra Loch Lao GAA team at a recent mayoral function at Belfast city hall
Ag baint leasa as an dúchas
Ón chianaimsir i leith, ó d’fhás an áth ag béal na Fearsaide, bhí Béal Feirste aríamh a athmhúnlú féin, a phobal, óna chruthaitheacht dúchasach féin, ag tabhairt brí úr dóibh féin agus dá éispeireas, an pobal i gcónaí ag brú teorainn úra i rith ama maidir le dul chun cinn agus forbairt sóisialta, eacnamaíochta agus timpeallachta de.
Ach i gcónaí bhí codanna suntasacha imeallaithe den chathair ann nach raibh, i gcomhthéacs mórfhorbairt na cathrach agus an eisiamh seo, ábalta iad féin a chur i lár an aonaigh agus nach raibh, de bharr an imeallaithe agus an eisiamh seo, ábalta leas iomlán a bhaint as a dtalúin dúchasacha, nó socmhainn s’acú féin a scaoileadh chun leasa na cathrach.
I dtaca leis an chultúr Ghaelach de bhí sé seo amhlaidh ar feadh tréimshe mhóra de stair na cathrach agus is boichte i bhfad a bhí an Chathair iomlán dá bharr. Níor chaill Pobal na Gaeilge féin dóchas in am ar bith agus bhí an pobal sin ríamh agus i gcónaí réidh aisling s’acu féin a roinnt fiú mura raibh daoine eile réidh nó toilteanach éisteach leis nó bheith páirteach san aisling sin.
Ach san aois seo, ina bhfuil an oiread sin spéise ann maidir le fréamhacha agus saibhreas cultúrtha de, is mithid dúinn-ne uilig tuigbhéal gur amhábhar saibhir í an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach agus go bhfuil sé i bhfad thar am againn buntáiste a bhaint aistí chun sochar na cathrach agus a cuid saoránach.
Tá sé i bhfad thar am ag údarais na cathrach agus na páirtithe leasmhara eile infheistiú staitéseach agus dáiríre a dhéanamh sna hamhábhair cultúrtha seo, atá i ndiadh fás agus atá ag fás go fóill go nadúrtha anseo sa taobh seo cathrach, chun tairgí a dhéanamh dóibh.
Dá mbeadh polasaí straitéiseach agus réigiúineach meán agus fad-tréimhseach ann, agus é aontaithe le Pobal na Gaeilge, leis an sprioc seo a bhaint amach chuirfeadh sé go suntásach lenár n-iomaíocht agus thabharfadh sé tarringteacht straitéiseach don cheantar seo mar áit uathúil inár mhaith le daoine cur futhú, obair a dhéanamh agus cuairt a thabhairt air chomh maith le bheith ag baint buntáiste as agus ag cur lena sócmhainní.
Is samhail cuí agus éifeachtach í an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta chun seo a thabhairt i gcrích.. Tá sí deartha agus struchtúrtha d’aonturas chun na féidirtheachtaí agus deiseanna eacnamaíochta a eascríonn ón chnuasach d’fiontraithe Ghaeilge a uasmhéadú. Thar am agus l’infheistiú cuí forbrófar ceantar agus Ceathrú féinchothaithe ar leith, daoine ag tarraing tuilleadh daoine, gnóanna ag cruthú agus ag cothú gnóanna eile, samhlaíocht ag cothú samhlaíochta: sráidbhaile beo, orgánach agus é ag tabhairt breis dátha agus creidiúint don choincheap gur chathair beoga, oscailte agus iolraíoch í Bhéal Feirste.
Ní raibh leisc aríamh ar Ghaelphobal Feirste nuair a theastaigh beart a dhéanamh de réir briathar. Ó na ceannródaithe físeacha ar Bhóthar Seoighe, a raibh sé d’uchtach acu aisling an Ghaeltacht úirbeach a fhíoriú anseo i mBéal Feirste aineoinn na ndeachrachtaí agus lucht a gcáinte, uathú sin a thainig an creidiúint gur rud fiúntach é ligint do ghuthanna úra a bheith a chluinstean anseo sa chathair, agus guth údarach na nGael ina measc. Ón bhunchreidiúint sin d’eascair an athbheochán cultúrtha agus teangan a chuir Béal Feirste ag croílár proiseas claochlaithe ar an oileán seo, proiseas a d’fhéadfadh guthanna údaracha na cathrach seo a chur ar a chluasa agus a súile don domhán mhór dá nglacfaí go fonnmhar leis.
Tá an tagarfhráma polasaí ann cheana féin i dtuairiscí Dutton agus Deloitte maidir leis an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta agus ní thiocfadh leis an cur chuige bheith níos simplí: déan sócmhainní agus deiseanna a aithint i gcomhpháirt leis an phobal agus cur chun tairbhe iad.
Thiocfadh linn, le chéile, tús dearfach a chur leis an obair láithreach agus muid ag cur le forbairt iontach úr na Cultúrlainne fríd deiseanna iontacha Suíomh Ard na bhFeá agus foirgneamh Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta ag an Bhealach Leathán a thapadh. Tríréad de blocanna tógála ionspioráideacha a bheadh ann a dhéanfadh ráiteas láidir go bhfuil údaras na cathrach seo réidh beart a dhéanamh agus infheistiú cuí a chur ar fáil.
Tá sé chomh héasca le haon, dó, trí.
Jake pictured with model of An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta.
For further information on the work of Forbairt Feirste http://www.forbairtfeirste.com/
Yet, there were always significant parts of the city which due to marginalisation, and often exclusion, were never able to fully realise their potential and which were consequently, in the context of citywide development, unable to derive, or supply maximum benefit from their native talents.
As regards the Irish Language and culture, this was all too true for long periods of the city’s history and it was the city itself which was the poorer as a result. The Irish Language community itself never lost hope and was always ready to offer its vision and talent even if others were not always ready to listen to or embrace that vision.
Given the current fascination with cultural roots and riches, however, it is surely time for us all to realise that the Irish language and culture is rich raw material which we should be exploiting for the benefit of the entire city and all its citizens.
It is high time for the city authorities and others to begin seriously and strategically investing in these cultural raw materials, which have grown and continue to grow here in this part of the city, so as to transform them into products.
A planned and medium to long-term city and regional policy designed to do this, and agreed with the local Irish Language community, would give us competitive advantage and add to our strategic attractiveness as a distinct and unique area where people would want to live, work and visit as well as enjoying the benefits of and adding to its assets.
The Gaeltacht Quarter is both an appropriate and effective model for achieving this. It was conceived and is specifically structured to maximise the economic opportunities provided by the growing cluster of Irish language and culture-based enterprises. Over time and with appropriate investment this will produce a self-sustaining entity with people attracting more people, businesses creating further businesses, imagination firing further imagination: a living, organic village, giving extra colour and credibility to the idea of Belfast as a vibrant, open and pluralistic city.
Belfast’s Irish speaking community has never been shy of stepping up to the mark. From the visionaries of Shaw’s Road, who dared to dream the dream of an urban Gaeltacht here in Belfast, despite the formidable obstacles and the naysayers, there sprang a belief in the worth of allowing new voices to be heard in this city, among them the authentic voice of the Gael. From that belief and that vision sprang a cultural revival which has placed Belfast at the transformational edge of cultural change on this island and which if embraced by the city as a whole would make the authentic voices of this great city of ours audible throughout the world
The policy framework already exists in the Dutton and Deloitte Reports on the Gaeltacht Quarter and the methodology couldn’t be simpler: identify resources and opportunities in partnership with local people and put them to use.
We could make a real and immediate start by adding to the Culturlann’s wonderful new extension and developing the old Beechmount Leisure Centre site and the Irish Medium Trust building at the corner of Broadway. These would be a trio of inspirational building blocks and a clear statement of the city’s intent to put its money where its mouth is. It would also be a move which would have citywide and far-reaching implications.
It’s as easy as one, two three really.
Jake pictured here (left) with members of the Laocra Loch Lao GAA team at a recent mayoral function at Belfast city hall
Ag baint leasa as an dúchas
Ón chianaimsir i leith, ó d’fhás an áth ag béal na Fearsaide, bhí Béal Feirste aríamh a athmhúnlú féin, a phobal, óna chruthaitheacht dúchasach féin, ag tabhairt brí úr dóibh féin agus dá éispeireas, an pobal i gcónaí ag brú teorainn úra i rith ama maidir le dul chun cinn agus forbairt sóisialta, eacnamaíochta agus timpeallachta de.
Ach i gcónaí bhí codanna suntasacha imeallaithe den chathair ann nach raibh, i gcomhthéacs mórfhorbairt na cathrach agus an eisiamh seo, ábalta iad féin a chur i lár an aonaigh agus nach raibh, de bharr an imeallaithe agus an eisiamh seo, ábalta leas iomlán a bhaint as a dtalúin dúchasacha, nó socmhainn s’acú féin a scaoileadh chun leasa na cathrach.
I dtaca leis an chultúr Ghaelach de bhí sé seo amhlaidh ar feadh tréimshe mhóra de stair na cathrach agus is boichte i bhfad a bhí an Chathair iomlán dá bharr. Níor chaill Pobal na Gaeilge féin dóchas in am ar bith agus bhí an pobal sin ríamh agus i gcónaí réidh aisling s’acu féin a roinnt fiú mura raibh daoine eile réidh nó toilteanach éisteach leis nó bheith páirteach san aisling sin.
Ach san aois seo, ina bhfuil an oiread sin spéise ann maidir le fréamhacha agus saibhreas cultúrtha de, is mithid dúinn-ne uilig tuigbhéal gur amhábhar saibhir í an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach agus go bhfuil sé i bhfad thar am againn buntáiste a bhaint aistí chun sochar na cathrach agus a cuid saoránach.
Tá sé i bhfad thar am ag údarais na cathrach agus na páirtithe leasmhara eile infheistiú staitéseach agus dáiríre a dhéanamh sna hamhábhair cultúrtha seo, atá i ndiadh fás agus atá ag fás go fóill go nadúrtha anseo sa taobh seo cathrach, chun tairgí a dhéanamh dóibh.
Dá mbeadh polasaí straitéiseach agus réigiúineach meán agus fad-tréimhseach ann, agus é aontaithe le Pobal na Gaeilge, leis an sprioc seo a bhaint amach chuirfeadh sé go suntásach lenár n-iomaíocht agus thabharfadh sé tarringteacht straitéiseach don cheantar seo mar áit uathúil inár mhaith le daoine cur futhú, obair a dhéanamh agus cuairt a thabhairt air chomh maith le bheith ag baint buntáiste as agus ag cur lena sócmhainní.
Is samhail cuí agus éifeachtach í an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta chun seo a thabhairt i gcrích.. Tá sí deartha agus struchtúrtha d’aonturas chun na féidirtheachtaí agus deiseanna eacnamaíochta a eascríonn ón chnuasach d’fiontraithe Ghaeilge a uasmhéadú. Thar am agus l’infheistiú cuí forbrófar ceantar agus Ceathrú féinchothaithe ar leith, daoine ag tarraing tuilleadh daoine, gnóanna ag cruthú agus ag cothú gnóanna eile, samhlaíocht ag cothú samhlaíochta: sráidbhaile beo, orgánach agus é ag tabhairt breis dátha agus creidiúint don choincheap gur chathair beoga, oscailte agus iolraíoch í Bhéal Feirste.
Ní raibh leisc aríamh ar Ghaelphobal Feirste nuair a theastaigh beart a dhéanamh de réir briathar. Ó na ceannródaithe físeacha ar Bhóthar Seoighe, a raibh sé d’uchtach acu aisling an Ghaeltacht úirbeach a fhíoriú anseo i mBéal Feirste aineoinn na ndeachrachtaí agus lucht a gcáinte, uathú sin a thainig an creidiúint gur rud fiúntach é ligint do ghuthanna úra a bheith a chluinstean anseo sa chathair, agus guth údarach na nGael ina measc. Ón bhunchreidiúint sin d’eascair an athbheochán cultúrtha agus teangan a chuir Béal Feirste ag croílár proiseas claochlaithe ar an oileán seo, proiseas a d’fhéadfadh guthanna údaracha na cathrach seo a chur ar a chluasa agus a súile don domhán mhór dá nglacfaí go fonnmhar leis.
Tá an tagarfhráma polasaí ann cheana féin i dtuairiscí Dutton agus Deloitte maidir leis an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta agus ní thiocfadh leis an cur chuige bheith níos simplí: déan sócmhainní agus deiseanna a aithint i gcomhpháirt leis an phobal agus cur chun tairbhe iad.
Thiocfadh linn, le chéile, tús dearfach a chur leis an obair láithreach agus muid ag cur le forbairt iontach úr na Cultúrlainne fríd deiseanna iontacha Suíomh Ard na bhFeá agus foirgneamh Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta ag an Bhealach Leathán a thapadh. Tríréad de blocanna tógála ionspioráideacha a bheadh ann a dhéanfadh ráiteas láidir go bhfuil údaras na cathrach seo réidh beart a dhéanamh agus infheistiú cuí a chur ar fáil.
Tá sé chomh héasca le haon, dó, trí.
Jake pictured with model of An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta.
For further information on the work of Forbairt Feirste http://www.forbairtfeirste.com/
