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Belfast City Council has narrowly rejected a proposal to erect an Irish language street sign near the Stormont estate. The suggested location for the sign was Stormont Park, situated off the Upper Newtownards Road close to the estate’s main entrance. The council vote ended with 29 members opposed and 28 in favour of installing the sign. The proposed sign would have displayed the park’s name in Irish as “Páirc Chnoc an Anfa.”
A survey conducted among residents of Stormont Park revealed that just over the minimum required support was present under council regulations, with more than 15% backing the sign. However, despite this, the council decided against proceeding with the installation. Of the 83 residents surveyed, 56 (67.4%) opposed the sign, while only 13 (15.7%) expressed support. Because the level of approval barely crossed the threshold, a committee opted not to move forward, a decision upheld by the full council.
Supporters of the Irish language signage, including Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), contended that the sign should have been installed since the necessary support criteria were met. SDLP representative Séamas de Faoite stated, “It’s about establishing a threshold, it’s not a referendum,” highlighting the procedural nature of the support requirement. Conversely, unionist parties and the Alliance Party emphasized the overall majority of residents opposing the proposal.
Alliance group leader Michael Long voiced concerns after the vote, noting that a small number of residents may have been excluded from the consultation, potentially influencing the outcome. He called for a review of the data collection process, which was agreed upon by the council. Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn also supported the decision not to proceed with the Stormont Park sign, citing questions regarding the accuracy of the survey results. Meanwhile, the council chose to overturn a previous committee decision and approve an Irish street sign at Onslow Gardens, where 25% of surveyed residents supported the change. Other streets, including Kimberley Street, St Johns Place, Indiana Avenue, and Mountainview Drive, are also slated to receive Irish language signs
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