Northern Ireland

Students hold protest demanding respect for Irish

STUDENTS have held a protest demanding respect for the Irish language at Queen's University Belfast.

The university's acting vice-chancellor apologised this week amid a row over Irish language signs being placed on campus.

Irish language society An Cumann Gaelach QUB had hit out after receiving a letter from Professor James McElnay which appeared to suggest putting up bilingual signs would contravene the university's diversity and equality policy.

Prof McElnay later said he wanted to reinforce the university's commitment to Irish, adding that this was evidenced "by our broad range of research and courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level that involve the teaching of the language".