Latest news with #IrishLanguage
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Fans of Irish band Kneecap surround a London court as a band member faces a terror-related charge
LONDON — Fans of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap mobbed sidewalks outside a London court Wednesday as a member of the trio faced a terror-related charge in what he says is a politically motivated effort to silence the band's support for Palestinians before its appearance at the Glastonbury Festival .
Sky News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Kneecap rapper appears in court on terror charge - as protesters gather outside
A member of Irish-language rap group Kneecap has appeared in court in London after being charged with a terror offence - as hundreds of protesters gathered outside. Liam O'Hanna, or Liam Og O hAnnaidh, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year. The charge against the 27-year-old, from Belfast, was brought last month after counter-terror officers assessed a video reported to be from a Kneecap concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on 21 November 2024. O'Hanna arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, as a crowd of fans and supporters gathered with placards and flags outside. During a short appearance, O'Hanna confirmed his name and address, and was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on 20 August. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him he must attend court on that day. Kneecap released their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 following the release of their debut album and award-winning eponymous film - a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language. The group are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise - and have been vocally opposed to Israel's military action in Gaza. O'Hanna performs under the stage name Mo Chara, while O Caireallain is known as Moglai Bap, and O Dochartaigh as DJ Provai. They have built a following for their hedonistic anti-establishment tracks, but their outspoken stance has proved polarising - prompting a surge in streaming for their songs and, at the same time, resulting in several of their gigs being cancelled this year. Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was business secretary. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unionist Irish language fears can be addressed - former Welsh first minister
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has said. Mark Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive". It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its cost. Drakeford, a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football". "I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said. "That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate." The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish nationalists. In Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British identity. Asked about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom". But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. The roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the laws. Interviews for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. She added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible". Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us". "Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said. "So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central Station. The plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the courts. At local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some neighbourhoods. They have been vandalised more than 300 times in five years. Northern Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street signs. In Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express support. More than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years ago. Of those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no response. The figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them". "People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said. "It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory." Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language teacher. He said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history. "I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism." Irish street sign vandalism cost councils £60,000 NI language law could spell significant change
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Unionist Irish language fears 'can be addressed'
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive".It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football"."I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said."That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate."The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom".But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". 'Languages are special' Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible".Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us"."Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said."So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Grand Central Station signs Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some have been vandalised more than 300 times in five Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them"."People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said."It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory."Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history."I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Anti-Irish language leaflets made us more determined to learn'
An Irish-language teacher whose class was targeted with leaflets saying "English is our mother tongue" has said the incident made people more determined to learn. Aoife Nic Giolla Cheara, 22, runs a free weekly Irish class at a pub in Belfast city centre. In December, her students discovered leaflets placed on their cars which said that most Irish people "should hate the Irish language". Police investigated the flyers as a "hate incident" but later said no offences were committed. Ms Nic Giolla Cheara, from west Belfast, grew up speaking Irish and said she felt "hurt" by what happened because the language is "all I've ever known". "When somebody says to me that there is no reasoning, there is no purpose, there is no need for it, it hurts," she said. The incident happened outside the bar on Dublin Road, where the Irish class was taking place. In a lengthy message, the flyers said the government "should respect the will of the Irish people not to speak Irish". At the time an Alliance Party councillor condemned the flyers, describing them as intimidating. "Irish belongs to our community who use and cherish it and people should be free to learn without this florid stupidity," Emmet McDonough-Brown said at the time. Ms Nic Giolla Cheara said she was "very concerned" about the impact on her students. "I don't want my class to feel unsafe or to feel that there's a disdain for them for just learning a language - it's ridiculous," she said. But the leaflets had the "opposite effect of what the person intended" and "if anything, they felt more motivated to learn". The Police Service of Northern Ireland it carried out a number of inquiries and determined that no offences had been committed. The development of policies in Northern Ireland on the Irish language has long been a focus of political disputes between unionists and Irish nationalists. Cross-border funding arrangements and proposals for bilingual signage at Belfast's Grand Central Station have been among the recent disagreements at Stormont. At local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some neighbourhoods. You can see more on this story on Sunday Politics on BBC One Northern Ireland at 10:00 BST on Sunday and on BBC iPlayer. Irish street sign vandalism cost councils £60,000 NI language law could spell significant change
