how do you create a community? the inspiring story of belfast’s first urban gaeltacht

Taispeántas ina ndéantar iniúchadh ar scéal spreagúil na Chéad Ghaeltachta Uirbeach i mBéal Feirste

9 men and woman standing on steps - a black and white image
Date
12th December 2025 to 10th May 2026
Time
10:00 to 17:00 (Closed Mondays)

Déan iniúchadh arscéal inspioráideachna chéadGhaeltachta uirbeach i mBéal Feirsteag IarsmalannUladh.

Sna 1960í, rinne grúpa lanúineacha óga ceannródaíocha an cinneadh misniúil an chéad Ghaeltacht uirbeach in Éirinn a bhunú i mBéal Feirste. Rinne siad an bhunobair do cheann de na hathbheochana teanga agus cultúrtha b’iontaí i stair nua-aimseartha na hEorpa.

Le céad bliain anuas, rinneadh cuid mhór iarrachtaí an Ghaeilge a athbheochan mar an teanga laethúil taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht thraidisiúnta. Ba bheag iarracht a d’fhág a lorg chomh buan sin ar an phobal ná cruthú Ghaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe.

Ní amháin go léiríonn a gcuid iarrachtaí acmhainneacht Ghaeilgeoirí, ach léiríonn siad plean oibre i bhforbairt pobail. Léireoidh an taispeántas seo an dóigh ar thóg siad a dtithe féin, ar thóg siad a bpáistí, ar bhunaigh siad a scoileanna féin agus ar bhunaigh siad fiontair pobail. Iniúchfaidh sé an dóigh a bhunaítear pobal in áiteanna nach raibh pobal ann riamh, na rudaí a cheanglaíonn iad le chéile chomh maith leis na rudaí atá de dhíth orthu le fás agus le rathú agus bláthú.

Thar aon rud eile, is scéal grá scéal athbheochana comhaimseartha na Gaeilge, athdhearbhaíonn fírinne an tseanfhocail Ghaeilge: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

Tá GaelStair maoinithe ag an Ciste Oidhreachta. 

Explore the inspiring story of Belfast's first urban Gaeltacht at Ulster Museum. 

In the 1960s, a group of pioneering young couples took the bold decision to set up Ireland’s first urban Gaeltacht in Belfast. This created the foundations for one of the most remarkable linguistic and cultural revivals in modern European history.

Over the past hundred years, many efforts have been made to revive the Irish language as the daily language outside the traditional Gaeltacht areas. Few have had a lasting impact on a par with the creation of Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe. Their story shows the resourcefulness of Irish speakers, but also a roadmap in community building. 

This exhibition looks at how the group built homes, raised children, founded schools, and established community enterprises. It explores how new communities are formed where none existed, what binds them together, and what is needed for them to grow and flourish.

The narrative of the contemporary Irish language revival is above all else a love story, reaffirming the truth of the old Irish proverb; Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – People live in the shelter of each other.

What to know

Everything you need to know about this exhibition

This exhibition was created in partnership with GaelStair. As part of their project, organised by Spórtlann na hÉireann and made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, GaelStair have involved groups of young people in collecting and cataloguing the archive.

This exhibition takes place in the Belfast Room. Please note, sometimes the Belfast Room is closed due to functions so where possible, please ring ahead to make sure it's open on the day of your visit.

This is a free exhibition and no booking needed!

Related Content