Unionists boycott council’s new Irish language group

Unionists boycott council’s new Irish language group

10 August 2016

UNIONISTS are to boycott a new council working group established to promote the Irish language.

Newry Mourne and Down Council’s Irish language strategy implementation group will be responsible for overseeing the promotion of Irish following an audit gauging the community’s interest in embracing the language.

Responsible for rolling out a new Irish language strategy, it was intended that the working group would include representatives from each party. 

However, in statements released this week, both the DUP and UUP have confirmed they will not nominate anyone to the group.

Speaking on behalf of the DUP, Ballynahinch councillor Garth Craig said its councillors, who include Harry Harvey, William Walker and Glyn Hanna, felt their views were being treated with contempt by nationalist and republican councillors.

He said that it would be pointless to join the working group because of the way in which unionist councillors had been disregarded in the past.  

He said the erection of bilingual signs at the council boundary in areas which are predominately unionist had caused issues as the DUP had warned.

“Our concerns were brushed aside by a republican agenda which insisted that the signage go ahead even though the unionist community felt alienated by this action,” he said.

“We feel we have been ignored and we have had enough. This is not working and we hope that by not joining the working group the council will realise no attempt has been made to sell this to us.

“While we do not have any difficulty with those who want to learn the Irish language, there is a lack of tolerance for those who do not wish to use it.

“The purpose of this group was to bring the other community along with the Irish language policy rather than having something forced upon them, but that has not happened.”

Ulster Unionist Party group leader David Taylor said his grouping had also taken the decision not to nominate a representative to the Irish Language Strategy Implementation Group.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has consistently expressed its opposition to the introduction of an Irish Language Strategy by Newry, Mourne and Down Council, believing it to be a petty political ideological crusade pursued by republican and nationalist representatives,” he said.

“Republican and nationalist representatives have blatantly chosen to ignore genuine concerns raised by Unionist representatives on this issue and it is abundantly clear that they have absolutely no interest in accommodating such concerns as they seek to implement this deeply flawed and divisive strategy.

“The Ulster Unionist Party does not agree or believe in the implementation of an Irish Language Strategy and will not participate in a working group seeking to pursue this agenda which sits very uncomfortably with the unionist community in our district.”

Unionists’ decision to opt out of the working group was greeted with dismay by Sinn Fein councillor Willie Clarke who said he was “deeply disappointed” by the announcement.

He insisted unionists have nothing to fear from the Irish language and said the working group had been created to ensure a cross party inclusive process.

“The Irish language belongs to the entire community and unionist councillors should be providing leadership to ensure the Irish language is embraced,” he said.

”There is a requirement for unionist councillors to respect the democratic process, there needs to be a mutual understanding and respect when dealing with bilingualism.

“The Irish language does not belong to any political party, it does not belong to any particular persuasion.

“Unionist councillors would be better following the example of many from the Protestant unionist tradition across the north who are reclaiming the language.

“The East Belfast Mission has given a floor in the Skainos Centre to the promotion of the Irish language and is running eight Irish classes each week. 

“The Irish language development officer Linda Ervine speaks of a growing desire among Protestant, unionist and loyalist people to learn Irish.”

Local SDLP group leader Gary Stokes said his party was also disappointed by the decision.

“From our own point of view we are very disappointed,” he said.

“The Irish language should not be a political matter or a sectarian issue. In our view the Irish language belongs to everybody, regardless of your political persuasion or religion.”