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NORTHERN IRELAND Belfast a sea of red as tens of thousands take to street in Irish language rights demonstration

TENS of thousands took to the streets of Belfast yesterday for what was believe to be the biggest Irish language demonstration in a generation.

Buses came from across the country to attend the rally organised by  An Dream Dearg to protest against the lack of movement on language legislation. 

A commitment to an Irish language strategy was part of an agreement that restored power-sharing in the Northern Ireland Assembly in January 2020, ending a three-year impasse.

But there has been little progress on its implementation amid continued political wrangling over the issue. 

Organiser Conchur O Muadaigh said he was blown away by the level of the support shown, and claimed that it was “the biggest Irish language demonstration of a generation.”

“An Dream Dearg has built a grassroots movement that has pushed the Irish language from the margins to the very centre of political and civic discourse both here and internationally, a movement that has spoken truth to power and ensured our community would no longer be treated as second class citizens, marginalised or excluded. Those days are gone for good,” he said. 

“The Irish Language Act is long, long overdue. Our community cannot and must not be made to wait any longer for the same language rights enjoyed by citizens across these islands.”

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, who is expected to be sworn in as Northern Ireland’s First Minister after her party swept to victory in last week’s elections, called for swift action. 

“Acht Gaeilge must be delivered now — there must be no more delays, broken promises and time wasting,” she said. 

“Sinn Fein will continue to support the campaign for Irish language rights and press the British government to live up to their agreements,” Ms O’Neill added. 

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