Welcome for council’s new Irish language Christmas
October 18, 2016
IRISH language Christmas lights look set to adorn Omagh’s Courthouse this festive season after a Sinn Féin motion went unopposed at a recent Fermanagh and Omagh District Council meeting.
Irish language activists have welcomed the move, which will see the message ‘Nollaig shona duit’ lit up in both Omagh and Enniskillen.
Local gaeilgeoir Sinéad Ní Mhearnóg has described the move as a “big step” in helping change some attitudes to the language.
The Greencastle woman is chair of Pobal ar a’n Iúl, a new local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League), which was established in 2014.
The group had lobbied local councillors on the issue of Christmas lights and last week they responded by approving the motion first introduced by Carrickmore Sinn Féin councillor Barry McNally at September’s Regeneration and Community meeting.
Costing around £550 each, the lights will follow places like Carrickmore, Dungannon and Belfast, where Irish language messages are already part of the Christmas decorations.
Cllr McNally said the new decorations would complement the council’s Irish language policy.
“It absolutely complements the Irish language policy that has been developed by the council.
“I was pleased to get cross party support in the chamber, there was no dissension,” he said. “There were times in the past where this would have been opposed, but we’re glad that this got across the line without any opposition to it.”
Sinéad Ní Mhearnóg said the lights would help encourage the growing numbers of Irish speakers in the local area and encourage more positive reactions to the language.
“We see this as the council acknowledging that growing community in a positive way and we’re just really happy that the unionist councillors didn’t feel it was a negative thing.
“A sign isn’t any kind of a threat,” she added. “It’s really about acknowledging the large Irish language community there is in the area.”
The language activist pointed to the growing numbers in the Irish medium education sector, which has prompted Gaelscoil na gCrann in Ballinamullan to seek a new build.
“From all the new council areas, Omagh has quite a high number of people from the last census who would have knowledge of the Irish language.
“I think people forget there are children and families out there who are fully fluent,” she said.
“There are a growing number of young people out there who are fluent and will one day be working in the shops, the solicitors, the doctors. It’s all steps in the right direction.
“The Christmas lights is a small thing, yet it’s a big step I think in maybe changing attitudes a bit.”
Date set for Omagh’s festive lights switch-on
OMAGH’S big Christmas lights switch on will take place on Thursday November 24 at 6.30pm.
The date was confirmed by councillors at last week’s monthly meeting in Enniskillen.
Councillors also approved a system to seek voluntary contributions of between £50 and £250 from local businesses to help cover the cost of the lights.
The contribution will be calculated based on the total net asset valuations (NAV) of town centre businesses.
Councillors have also opted to once again supply 12 Christmas trees to towns and villages throughout the Omagh district. It followed a controversial decision last year to harmonize Omagh’s policy with Fermanagh, where only two trees were traditionally provided to Enniskillen and Irvinestown.
The council later reversed the decision.
Two trees will once again be installed in Omagh at Market Street and the Swinging Bars Roundabout. Other areas benefitting include: Beragh, Carrickmore, Dromore, Drumquin, Fintona, Gortin, Killyclogher, Loughmacrory, Mountfield and Trillick.
The council have also agreed to explore the concept of artificial trees for the 2017 Christmas period.
Meanwhile a total budget of £44,500 to fund settlements across Omagh and Fermanagh with money to purchase Christmas lights has been approved by the council.
New procedures introduced last year mean the funding is allocated on a basis of the population in a settlement.
