Turas

Turas (Irish for "journey") is an Irish-language project which is part of East Belfast Mission, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Beginning as a grassroots effort, spearheaded primarily by Linda Ervine, Turas aims to promote the language particularly in the Protestant Unionist community.[1] Historically, the Irish language was more closely associated with Irish Catholic identity.[2]

Turas was first established in 2011 with a single Irish-language class held on the Newtownards Road. Today, the project caters to approximately 200 learners and is considered the largest provider of Irish-language classes in Belfast.[3][4] Turas has received many accolades for its cross-community work. In 2015, after awarding Linda with the Civic Leadership Award, Community Relations Council chairman Peter Osborne stated that Turas' success was a "testament to Linda’s vision, bravery and leadership."[5]

History

Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of the late Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine, participated in a six-week Irish-language course in early 2011 as a member of an East Belfast cross-community women's group. When an article published by the Belfast Telegraph prompted local interest in learning Irish, East Belfast Mission decided to host a 15-week Irish-language class in November 2011.[6] In 2012, with funding from Foras na Gaeilge, East Belfast Mission was able to hire Ervine as Irish Language Development Officer.[7] In 2014, further funding allowed for the allocation of a permanent space for Turas in the newly built Skainos Centre.[8]

Programme

Turas currently offers 12 Irish-language classes each week, with levels ranging from total beginners to GCSE.[9] Some learners at Turas have since continued on with A-levels as well as diploma certificates.[10] Cultural classes include singing, set dancing, and tin whistle. Turas also hosts plays, lectures, debates, film screenings, festivals, and trips to the Gaeltacht.[11]

Outreach

Ervine and Gordon McCoy (who has served as Education Officer at Turas since 2015) host outreach presentations and events about the 'hidden' heritage of Northern Ireland at local churches, clubs, libraries, schools, and community centres. McCoy is an expert on Irish-speaking Protestants, and runs a bus tour about the history of the language in East Belfast.[12]

Ervine and McCoy have also encouraged and facilitated the development of Irish-language programmes throughout the greater Belfast area.[13]

Advocacy

The status of the Irish language has proved divisive in post-Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland.[14] As a representative of Turas, Linda Ervine has actively engaged with Unionist politicians, as well as members of the Orange Order, in order to promote the language.[15][16] Ervine has been particularly vocal about her support for a standalone Irish Language Act.[17]

References
  1. "Linda Ervine: 'I don't want to be part of the problem in Northern Ireland'". Belfast Telegraph.
  2. Geoghegan, Peter. "Protestants go for Gaelic in Northern Ireland". Al Jazeera.
  3. "Irish Language Can Bridge Northern Irish Divide, Trinity Study Finds". The University Times.
  4. Ervine, Linda (March 26, 2018). "Turas in east Belfast is now the largest provider of Irish classes in Belfast with the highest number of people registered. @ForasnaGaeilge".
  5. "TURAS at East Belfast Mission". East Belfast Mission.
  6. "Ervine relative speaks up for Irish". Belfast Telegraph.
  7. "About Us – Cairde Turas". Cairde Turas. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. "New Irish language centre in Belfast". BBC News. January 9, 2014.
  9. "Language classes". Cairde Turas.
  10. McConville, Marie (9 August 2017). "Students who took Irish classes in loyalist area embark on university diploma as Gaeilge". Irish News. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  11. "Protestants and Unionists from East Belfast learning Irish on the Dingle Peninsula". Radio Kerry. August 31, 2017.
  12. "Where the streets have both names - many east Belfast landmarks have long-forgotten Irish roots, as Ivan Little discovers on a bus tour". Belfast Telegraph.
  13. "Irish classes a success in Monkstown". Diocese of Connor. April 29, 2014.
  14. "Irish-Gaelic rebirth has Northern Ireland talking". The Globe and Mail.
  15. Monoghan, John (14 April 2017). "DUP MEP Diane Dodds met Irish language students during visit to east Belfast charity". Irish News. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  16. "Visit our Irish class in loyal east Belfast... challenge to Orange chief who hit out at language". Belfast Telegraph.
  17. "Linda Ervine: 'Curry my yoghurt' pushed me towards Irish act". Belfast News Letter.
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