Irish Language in Belfast / Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste

A short video from Manchán Magan's "No Bearla" program, discussing the Irish language in Belfast. Manchán speaks to both sides of the community - From Fall's Road to Shankill Road.

This video qualifies under fair use for Educational purposes. This video is protected under Irish copyright law, and should not be re-distributed without permission from it's Author.

http://www.manchan.com - Support Manchán and visit his website.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• irish language
• belfast
• unionists
• nationalists
• gaeilinn
• gaeilge
• cultúrlann
• culturlann
• gaelic
• irish gaelic
• shankill road
• shankill
• falls
• falls road
• manchán magan
• manchan magan

[SeanOBriain]

I've updated the subtitles lads.. They are a chore to write out. I had already written them out in full but apparently they didn't save, so I've done it again. It's difficult for me to translate the Ulster dialect as my ear isn't trained to it. Should be all ok now :) Enjoy.

[2bjjones]

wow, that's pretty sad. That pretty much answers my question as far as how much Irish is spoken in Ireland. It seems for many people it's a foreign language in their own country. I'm an American of Welsh and English ancestry and after having covering all my possible germanic roots by learning every germanic language except faroese, I'm learning as much Welsh and Gaelic as I can.

[SeanOBriain]

@2bjjones It's not reflective of the entire country. We have areas called Gaeltachtaí where Irish is the community language, rather than English. I speak Irish as a daily language myself. It's true it could be in a better position, but it's coming back to the wider community bit by bit.

[dajwilkinson]

It's a pity to see so many blank stares from shop staff when they are addressed in Irish. The danger is that Irish will survive but only as a plaything of a few artists and scholars - seeing so few ordinary people, especially young people, knowing it on this film does not bode well for its future. Use it or you will lose it! Do theanga, do rogha.

[SeanOBriain]

@dajwilkinson Tá an ceart agat!

[dolcemaddalena]

I may be wrong and not sure as I am Italian but I found more people speak Irish in NI and are more proud of it than the ROI. I lived in Belfast for over 4 yrs and met many across NI that studied at Irish schools and even speak it at home. I have to say most of the unionists I met were more like the one in 4:19. Polite and respectful who acknowledge the Irish language and culture. Aren't unionists really Scots who have a different dialect of Gaelic? I always heard the term Ulster Scots used.

[SeanOBriain]

@dolcemaddalena Ulster Scots has nothing to do with Scottish Gaelic. Ulster Scots is derived from Scots, which is derived from Middle-English. Scottish Gaelic is derived from Old/Middle-Irish.

[nofalltoofar]

There ya have it: if you speak Irish, you're a terrorist. Those Unionists wouldn't lie to you, would they? They'll also have you know that Navajo, Cherokee, and Welsh are political languages.

[7agris]

Why government is doing nothing to save Gaeilge?

[sainglain]

Question for everyone: What do you think of Google's translater which now has Irish (Gaeilge) ? Personally I think for Google Translater (under the More button) to have Irish (even though it's not 100% accurate) is better than nothing!!

[sainglain]

@androd500 - get it taught from primary school upwards

[sainglain]

@candyapple20121 - Béal Feirste ;-)

[1After100]

Thought this would be boring and silly but it was quite fascinating and insightful. Nice job!

[ManxyBoy1]

Tá sé iontach ar fad go bhfuil Gaeilge a úsáidtear níos mó i dTuaisceart na hÉireann lá atá inniu ann!