As part of our spring season of Documentary on Newstalk Producer Judy-Meg Ní Chinnéide goes to East Belfast to find out about ‘Turas’, a groundbreaking project designed to connect people from the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist community with the Irish Language.

Listen to full documentary below

During Seachtain na Gaeilge 2014, the island-wide celebration of the Irish language, documentary maker, Judy-Meg Ní Chinnéide, travels to East Belfast to meet Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of the late Loyalist Leader David Ervine, who is now working as the Irish language Officer for East Belfast. Supported by Foras na Gaeilge, Linda is connecting people from her community with what she sees as a lost part of their heritage; the Irish Language.

Judy-Meg hears about how Linda Ervine discovered through the 1911 Census that the Ervine family were, in fact, Irish speakers. Judy-Meg then meets learners at Turas, the new Irish language centre based in the East Belfast Mission (the Skainos Centre) on the Lower Newtownards Road, and is given a tour of the area, taking in the sectarian divide at the nearby Short Strand. She hears about how the learners reacted when the recent Flag Protests erupted into rioting, directly outside the Skainos building, where they attend Irish classes. Judy-Meg also explores the remarkable relationship that has grown between ‘Turas’ and ‘An Droichead’, an Irish Language Cultural Centre, in a traditionally Nationalist area off the Ormeau Road.

The story ends with Turas’s celebratory concert in the Skainos Centre on the Lower Newtownards Road; a cross-commmunity event, including music, song and dance from both cultural traditions.

‘Turas: Learning Irish in East Belfast’ is a fascinating documentary that highlights the shared heritage of the Irish language on this island, and shows the healing potential of that shared heritage, in a city so deeply divided along cultural, religious and political lines. 

‘Turas: Learning Irish in East Belfast’ aired on Newstalk 106-108fm on Saturday May 10th at 7am,  and was repeated Sunday May 11th at 6pm

‘Turas: Learning Irish in East Belfast’was produced by Judy-Meg Ní Chinnéide.

‘Turas: Learning Irish in East Belfast’ can also be listened to online at: www.newstalk.ie

Podcast available at: www.newstalk.ie/documentaryonnewstalk after the broadcast.

This programme was made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's Sound&Vision II scheme.