Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I had this idea that all Irish speakers wore balaclavas
Language ‘opened a new world’ for dad
A MAN says he has found a new love for the Irish language after growing up believing it was something he could never embrace.
Ivor Reid is the star of a new animated feature promoting Irish classes in East Belfast and says it has opened up a whole new world for him.
He added: “I felt the Irish language didn’t belong to me or to my community. It was the usual story – it was something to stay away from.”
His curiosity was first sparked after driving a group of Irish language learners led by Irish Language Development Officer Linda Ervine on a visit to the North West.
Ivor said: “I realised that some of the people who were going to the classes weren’t my idea of what an Irish speaker was – I had this idea that they all wore balaclavas – and it intrigued me a bit.
“I thought, ‘These people are OK – they’re from the same community I’m from’. They asked me so many times to come along to the classes that I had to go – it was getting embarrassing.
“So, curiosity got the better of me and I went along. After a few times of going, all the nonsense that I had in my head went away.”
Now five years on from his first class with the East Belfast Mission’s Turas project, which is funded by the Community Relations Council Core Funding Scheme, Ivor has become the star of a new video produced by Enteryes profiling the diversity of the people who are learning the language.
In the clip, the dad-of-two says the language has opened up a “magical world” for him and he is finally able to understand the meaning of the placenames and areas he has known all his life, such as how Knocknagoney, means Hill of the Rabbits, and Carryduff, means Black Hugh’s Quarter.
He said: “I never would have believed I’d be speaking Irish. I’m walking about the streets now and I understand what some of the place names mean.
“All of a sudden it opens your eyes and ears to things and you are curious to find these things out. It’s a bit of fun and a bit of company.”
Linda said the Community Relations Council funded Turas project has been running for almost 10 years and the video series tells the stories of why some of the people in East Belfast embarked on their journeys.
She added: “We were interested in hearing people’s own stories about why they got involved.
“There are 101 reasons for coming to the language and this shows what people get out of it.”
Curiosity got the better of me and I went along IVOR REID YESTERDAY
DISGRACE Men get ready to punch each other
POLICE are investigating after around 250 people gathered to watch an organised fight yesterday.
Video footage shared on social media shows a crowd of what appears to be all males gathered to watch two men boxing at a disused yard near Benburb, Co Tyrone.
A PSNI spokesman said concerns were raised locally because of a large number of vehicles that were causing disruption.
Chief Inspector Barney O’connor added: “Our officers attended a disused yard on the Battleford Road near Benburb in Co Tyrone this morning in relation to a large crowd of people attending an organised fight event. We estimate approximately 250 people were in attendance at this gathering, which was clearly a breach of Health Protection [Coronavirus] Regulations.
“This caused concern among the local community, as well as causing disruption due to the large number of vehicles in the area belonging to those in attendance.
“An investigation is under way and evidence gathered will now be reviewed, and breaches of the Regulations will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service.”
It’s understood some of those present had travelled from the Coalisland area.
Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon said: “It’s not acceptable for anybody to be gathering for any reason, or that you would be organising anything where a crowd is going to gather.”