South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile calls for respect of Irish Language within Sirocco and future developments in Belfast

Published: 18 December, 2007


Sinn Féin's East Belfast Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has stated he believes future developments proposed within Belfast should be inclusive from the outset and show respect to the heritage of the area's where they are being situated.

Ó Donnghaile said,

"In Belfast city centre, for example, we see the creation of 'Victoria Square'. For many people right across Ireland, Victoria was commonly known during her reign as the 'Famine Queen'. The naming of this development bears no relevance to its location, history or indeed for many people, the City of Belfast."

"In East Belfast over the coming years we will see developments such as Sirocco Quays and indeed Titanic Quarter emerge. Sirocco, in particular should bear in mind the history and location of the site. It is situated on 'An Trá Ghearr', the Short Strand, within the area of 'Baile Mhic Airt', Ballymaccarrett."

"The inclusion of the Irish Language is widely recognised as being of benefit to businesses throughout the city and given that the majority of street names within the Short Strand area (located immediately beside the development) are already bi-lingual, a precedent has been set."

"I have written to Chris Carvill , the Managing Director of the Carvill Group, who own the site. I have asked him to give consideration to local heritage in this development. To help facilitate this process, I will also be sending him a copy of 'Name your Place', a book compiled by 'Club na Sionna Conradh na Gaeilge' and published by 'Foras na Gaeilge', specifically designed to assist those developing projects, to conserve the heritage and place names of Ireland. I look forward to working with the developers on this matter. I hope to help them create an aspect to their project, which is both reflective and accurate of its location".

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