Hundreds at Irish festival in Belfast

Published Saturday, 06 October 2012

Hundreds of people have taken part in an Irish language festival in Belfast.

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Excited children and parents packed the grounds of City Hall on Saturday morning where they listened to traditional Irish music.

The group then made its way around to the Ulster Hall for a family fun day.

Organisers said up to 2,000 people attended - and they believe it to be the first event of its kind to be held at the Ulster Hall in its 150-year history.

It also marked a venue change for the Irish festival, which has taken place on Sundays in St George's Market in its past three years.

The day was supported by the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce as well as Belfast City Centre management.

Comments

15 Comments

Seán in Oz wrote (221 days ago):

@Gazza ní mórshiúil a bhí i gceist, sin an fáth nach ndeachaigh sé faoi bhráid Choimisiún na Mórshiúlta. Ní féile poblachtánach é ach an oiread, ach féile ag céiliúradh na teanga oscailte do chuile dhuine is cuma cén cúlra polaitíochta atá acu ná cén creideamh i gcodarsnacht leis na mórshiúlta a bhíonn ag an Ord Oráisteach. Agus sula n-ardaíonn tú an cheist, freastlaíonn aontachtóirí ar na féiltí seo fosta, aontachtóirí a bhfuil líofacht na teanga acu, tá a fhios agam seo mar chuir mé agallamh orthu roimhe seo. @Gazza, it wasn't a march which is why it had no reason to go through the Parades Commission. It also wasn't a republican festival as you put it, but a festival celebrating the language open to everybody irrespective of of political or religious background in contrast with Orange Order marches. And before you ask, yes some unionists do attend and do speak Irish fluently, I know this because I have interviewed them in the past.

seamas in belfast wrote (221 days ago):

Gazza. I know it’s a difficult concept but try to understand. The Parades Commission deal with parades. The clue is in the name. You see? This wasn’t a parade so no Parades Commission. And this attack on all things protestant? What is that exactly? There are over 4000 parades every year with restrictions placed on about 50. The Parades Commission has a staggeringly high approval ratio. More Orangemen are turned down for planning permission than parading permission. More Orangemen are refused an MOT than a march. No-one is suggesting that the Planning Service or the DVA is anti-protestant or anti-parading. With an approval ratio of over 98% anyone who thinks that the Commission is anti-parading is simply not dealing with reality.

Gazza in belfast wrote (223 days ago):

shouldnt this gathering been put through the parades commission if people find it offensive so as to show equality to both communities? , it seems as if republican festivals and parades are allowed to go ahead with no restrictions placed on them even though the fast majority of protestant events have to go through commissions and all sorts. Lets hope we will soon see fairer decisions about the protestant culture here in Northern Ireland instead of the discrimination of all things protestant or unionist.

jimmymac in canada wrote (223 days ago):

wise-up @ Jim in Belfast. How can you call, IT!culture, Drunken orange bandsmen disrespecting places of worship and annoying all other traditions with their endless marching row... Also, how presumptuous it is of you, to equate Irish music with only songs of rebellion, can't you understand. Irish music has a friendly spirit. And the world has amicable, embraced it, with great exuberance love and passion... You orange order, people should swim out of your back water, and change your bleak marching tunes in order to get in step with a place called- THE REAL- WORLD....

seamas in belfast wrote (223 days ago):

Isobel. We all saw the core values of the Loyal Orders being splashed up against the wall of St Matthew’s church. Gaelic isn’t a dead language. It’s very much alive and it’s spoken all over the British Isles. Because Gaelic is a language of the British Isles. The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are political constructs. Gaelic exists on the British Isles just as rivers and mountains do. It’s not a political thing. It doesn’t care about borders.

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