Gaelic students visit Queen's University Belfast on Gaelic-Irish exchange trip

Gaelic-speaking students from the University of Edinburgh met Irish-speakers at Queen's University Belfast as part of a cultural and linguistic exchange between the two communities.

Students posing for photo in the Scottish Parliament.
Irish and Gaelic-speaking students from the University of Edinburgh and Queen's University Belfast took part in the exchange.

Funded by Foras na Gaeilge, students stayed in Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, met Irish-speaking students, attended Irish classes, and visited Irish-language hubs in the city. 

The project aimed to offer students on both sides of the Irish Sea the opportunity to learn about the social, economic and cultural issues relevant to each language community and foster connections between the two communities in a fully Gaelic/Irish environment. 

Irish in Belfast 

Irish is a Celtic language, similar Scottish Gaelic, socially, linguistically and culturally. Today, as in Scotland, Irish Medium Education (IME) is available in a number of schools in Northern Ireland and it is possible to learn Irish at university. 

As part of the trip, students visited Irish-language centres in Belfast which promote the language in the city, including Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich and Glór na Móna. 

Students also visited the offices of Raidió Fáilte, an Irish-language radio station based in Belfast. 

Glór na Móna

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich | Belfast

Students in radio studio.
Students used the studio equipment in the Raidió Fáilte offices to interview one another.
Students watch musicians in Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Irish-speaking students attended Bothan Dhùn Èideann's monthly Gaelic music night as part of their visit to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Visit 

 As part of the exchange project, Irish-speaking students from Queen’s University Belfast visited Edinburgh in January. 

Students got the opportunity to sample Gaelic culture at the University and in the city, attending the John MacLeod Memorial Lecture, Gaelic language classes, Edinburgh’s leading Gaelic music night, Bothan Dhùn Èideann, and a workshop with the University’s Gaelic Writer in Residence, Niall O’ Gallagher. 

While in Edinburgh, the group received a tour of the Scottish Parliament with their Gaelic Officer Alasdair MacCaluim. 

Bothan Dhùn Èideann | Instagram

Fo-sgrìobh: Cuairt-litir Ghàidhlig na Pàrlamaid 

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