West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

De Brun - 'Turnout at Acht na Gaeilge march will send message to DUP'

Published: 11 October, 2008

Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun has commended those who turned out in enormous numbers on Saturday, October 11, to support the demand for an Irish language act.

Ms de Brun was accompanied at the march by the Sinn Fein president and west Belfast MP, Gerry Adams, Belfast mayor Tom Hartley, many of Sinn Fein's elected representatives and members of the west Belfast Sinn Fein Irish language cumann, cumann Caoimhin Mac Bradaigh.

''The turnout at today's Acht na Gaeilge march will send a message to Gregory Campbell and the DUP that the issue of an Irish language act is not going to disappear just because they cannot or will not accept the rights of people who want to use their native language.

"The rights of Irish speakers will not be limited or denied by any strain of unionism.

''The DUP need to make it clear whether or not they support the St Andrews Agreement because that is the basis on which we achieved a return of the political institutions.

''The Irish language threatens no one.

''Irish language rights threaten no one.

''The revival of the Irish language has been a cultural success story. More and more people are using Irish. Young children in particular are being educated in increasing numbers through the medium of Irish and it is their future and their rights that must be secured through legislation.

''I am confident that if we continue to campaign and argue for Acht na Gaeilge that it will be achieved.''