21 May 2022 was a historic day.

Thousands of people came together and marched in Belfast in support of ‘Acht na Gaeilge’, an Irish language Act, for the North of Ireland. Language rights are being demanded by the Irish language community following a series of commitments and delays over a number of years. An Dream Dearg organised yesterday’s rally which was attended by people from all over the island of Ireland, but drew huge support from the local communities. I spoke to Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh of An Dream Dearg last night at the group’s post-event party at Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich, on the Falls Road. He told me that he is confident that the language rights campaign will bear fruit, and soon.

To outsiders it would presumably appear to be absurd, but the reality is that speakers of the indigenous language of Ireland in the North do not have similar language rights as speakers of Welsh in Wales, Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, or Irish in the South.

For many of the marchers, the issues stretch beyond legislation to respect. That said, and despite the repetition of the slogan ‘Tá muid dearg, dearg le fearg!’ (We are red, red with anger!), this was an occasion that felt more like a celebration than an outburst – a revolution of positivity and optimism, as well as an assertion of the right to recognition. It was a family event in a inclusive environment – an occasion for all. The event drew people from all corners and all backgrounds, and many people seemed to be genuinely shocked by the turnout. At Belfast City Hall, speakers addressed the crowd and musicians provided entertainment. The atmosphere was electric. It was a joy to witness.

Conchúr Ó Muadaigh, a spokesperson of An Dream Dearg who organised the event, told the Irish Times and the BBC that this was the biggest Irish language event of a generation. The mass gathering, with estimates of up to 17,000 participants, has rightly been covered by many mainstream media outlets including RTÉ, The Journal and the The Belfast Telegraph.

When you speak with people involved in this movement such as Katie Ní Chléire and Conor Torbitt, who I met yesterday, it’s clear you’re not just dealing with smart people, you’re dealing with people of substance. All of this bodes well for the future of the movement.

As I left the atmosphere of unbridled elation at An Dream Dearg’s party in the Cultúrlann last night, it felt very much that, exciting as things are at present, this is a movement that has yet to reach its peak. It is a movement of youthful vigour, exuding energy and passion.

For a couple of decades now there has been talk of a rejuvenation of the Irish language and signs of ‘green shoots’, led mainly by the Gaelscoileanna in the South and the North, TG4, and other broadcast media such as Raidió Fáilte, Raidió na Life and Raidió Rí-Rá and a host of online media. We’re no longer talking about green shoots or merely a spark.

Tá an tine lasta.