At this point, I’m surprised any Unionist MP, MLA, Councillor or indeed Loyalist hanger-on would dare to criticise the Irish language community or those who want the Irish language included in our lives for forcing their culture down Unionist gullets. It’s simply not true.
We consistently hear of how the Irish language is chipping away at Unionist culture (even though Carson not only spoke fluent Irish but was also a staunch supporter of the GAA) and how their Britishness is in eternal jeopardy because someone wants to speak a language other than English. Surely by this stage, many within Unionism and Loyalism have some inkling of how many eyes rolled when they started this all over again when Irish language signage was proposed to be used in the Olympia leisure centre on Boucher Road, Belfast.
Edwin Poots, who hasn’t been seen or heard from for some time emerged from the shadows to make the point that the Olympia leisure centre was in a Unionist area. He said people from that area (namely the village area of South Belfast) didn’t want the Irish language or that culture shoved down their throats. That was all well and good until it was pointed out that Boucher Road, where the leisure centre is situated is in fact one of the busiest commercial outlets in the North with almost every car dealership imaginable being situated there also, making it a shared space. On that point, aren’t council premises supposed to be shared space anyway? This is why I’ve always been somewhat uneasy about the likes of Carrickfergus leisure centre flying the Union flag pretty much all year round. I wonder how Irish nationalists feel about that shared ‘inclusive’ space?
Unionism is running out of road in their opposition to culture and the Irish language considering one of their own Loyalist terrorist groups, the Red Hand Commando’s motto features the words ‘Lamh Derg Abu’ – spelt incorrectly of course, and should be spelt ‘Lámh Dhearg Abú’ though that is neither here nor there. Even the Royal Irish Regiment’s motto ‘Faugh a Ballagh’ is a corruption of the Irish ‘Fág an Bealach’. There’s even an Irish language school in East Belfast of all places.
In reality, Unionism’s cry of ‘them’uns can’t have that because they complain about our parades’ fails miserably when one thinks back to the Loyalist parades which were forced through nationalist areas as recently as 5 years ago. Unionist culture caused some of the most horrific times for Irish nationalists, Catholics and ‘other’ in history. From the likes of Drumcree to Ardoyne and even Scotland, Unionist culture has trampled over other traditions and cultures in a bid to remain dominant. When another culture or denomination opposes Unionist or Loyalist tradition, the old cry of ‘They’re trying to take our culture!’ can be heard on every radio wave and read in every paper and digital page in NEI until anger boils over onto the streets.
People like Edwin Poots don’t seem to see the hypocrisy of his views on culture and tradition considering he is happy to have Loyalist bands marching through Catholic and nationalist communities, but doesn’t want simple Irish language signs in a leisure centre. The absurdity of his argument is laid bare when once again, Unionism isn’t losing anything but Irish language speakers are gaining signage…thats right, simple signs. The English language will still be there, and the words ‘Changing rooms, this way’ will still be on the signs but they will be accompanied by the words ‘Seomraí Feistis’ for example.
You see, Unionism’s problem with the Irish language is not that they are losing something, but more that someone else is gaining something, which just isn’t cricket to them. Much like in the same way as the GFA gave people other than Unionists a semblance of equality and equity. Because of that Unionists, even to this day cry foul…even though they lost nothing in the deal. The old complaint that the Irish language was weaponised by Irish Republicans, at this point, is a joke in itself. The Irish language became an issue for Unionism because Irish Republicans refused to stop using it, even after the Northern Irish Unionist government attempted to kill it off. It enshrined Irish culture, identity, and pride and what made their hatred of it even more aggressive were three little words…Tiocfaidh ár lá.
The Irish language is here to stay, Irish culture is here to stay and it’s beautiful and vibrant and colourful and encompasses many nationalities and cultures from around the world. No amount of gurning and complaining that Irish language signage is in contravention of the GFA will change that. As long as Unionists trample through Catholic and nationalist areas, playing anti-Catholic and anti-Irish tunes and songs in a country which is supposed to be shared by everyone, our culture will shine through all of that. We don’t need bonfires and all that palaver. We have music, dancing, and sport loved the world over from America to Palestine and beyond.
Éirinn go Brách.
Well put, Michael
“aren’t council premises supposed to be shared space anyway? This is why I’ve always been somewhat uneasy about the likes of Carrickfergus leisure centre flying the Union flag pretty much all year round.”
Which presumably could validate the point that unionists might feel uneasy about the presence of Irish language signs in ‘shared’ spaces. Not that the likelihood of some people ‘feeling uneasy’ should inevitably mean that a particular symbol definitely must be avoided under all circumstances – but if you feel uneasy about a Union Flag being flown in a shared space then it’s reasonable to at least consider that other people might find themselves feeling uneasy about other cultural symbols in a shared space.