IRISH language activist Linda Ervine will address the Seanad today to mark Irish week.
Ms Ervine, manager of the Turas Irish Language Project at the East Belfast Mission and president of East Belfast GAA, will speak to senators at 1.30pm about her work in broadening access to Irish.
Seanad Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, said language and culture "can deepen our connections throughout this island".
Linda Ervine: I realised Irish belonged to me - a Protestant - and I fell in love with it
"Since the establishment of the Turas project in 2012, Linda and her colleagues have been working hard to provide Irish classes to non-traditional learners of the language," he said.
"She has shown that language is a medium that can unite communities, promote reconciliation and heal divisions through learning about our shared history and culture."
Ms Ervine is studying for a degree in Irish from Queen’s University Belfast.
Turas has established a scholarship scheme to encourage learners to undertake third-level qualifications in the language.
"It is a testament to the impressive work of Linda and her colleagues in teaching and promoting the language, that six out of nine of their scholarship students are from a Protestant background and did not have the opportunity to learn Irish in school or at home," Mr Daly said.
