Northern Ireland

Irish language signs introduced to Glider route in west Belfast

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon with Piarais MacAlastair from Forbairt Feirste
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon with Piarais MacAlastair from Forbairt Feirste Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon with Piarais MacAlastair from Forbairt Feirste

Irish language signs have been introduced to the Glider route in west Belfast.

Bilingual on-board 'next stop' signs can be seen on services operating from Millfield to McKinstry Road and at the Colin Connect Hub.

Buses operating Metro 10 services have displayed bilingual signs since a public consultation by Translink in early 2011.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon visited the Colin Connect Hub to launch the new Glider signs today.

"This is a positive step forward in giving the Irish language the visibility it deserves on our public services and within our communities," she said.

"While there is much more to do to ensure language equality, I am pleased that my department is delivering and building on progress.

"From today, Irish will also now be displayed with English on on-board destination messaging on Glider services operating from Millfield to McKinstry Road and at the Colin Connect Hub."

Ms Mallon said her department and Translink had worked with Irish language group Forbairt Feirste to introduce the signs.

"This important step ties in with the commitments to Irish language in New Decade, New Approach but it is just a first step," she said.

"I also look forward to introducing more Irish signage both inside and outside of our public transport vehicles in partnership with Translink and the local community."

Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomed the new signs.

"The Irish language continues to go from strength to strength in west Belfast and this additional increase in visibility will help that continue," he said.

"I would like to see this bilingual signage extended to other parts of the route and the public transport network."