OUR WORK

The Trust tends to concentrate its resources on in-house projects and partnerships with other organisations rather than grants. The following list summarises the Trust’s current key areas of activity.

•          engaging in cross-community work

•          developing learning resources

•          forming strategic partnerships with relevant community,  research, educational and

                   statutory agencies

•          advising government and statutory agencies on language  planning and policy issues

•          campaigning for the establishment of an Irish-language broadcasting sector in

                  Northern Ireland

•          publishing material on the Irish language and related issues

•          initiating innovative language projects

•          funding Irish language projects

The Trust has a strong cross-community ethos. Since it was established in 1990, the Trust has recognised that cross-community activity works on a number of levels: tackling prejudice; stimulating interest in Irish across the community as a whole; researching the tradition of Protestant involvement in the language and raising awareness of that tradition; analysing those factors which inhibit Protestant and unionist interest in Irish; and providing opportunities to people from that community to engage with, acquire and use the language.

Gordon McCoy is the staff member with primary responsibility for cross-community development. He is available to discuss issues related to the Irish language with 'non-traditional' interest groups and individuals. His work includes the identification of obstacles to unionist engagement with the Irish language and the development of strategies to overcome fears, real and perceived, of potential learners. His work also involves raising awareness among the Catholic and nationalist communities of the difficulties experienced by learners of other traditions. He assists individuals and groups who wish to learn Gaelic or want to learn more about the language.

Some samples of Gordon's work are below.

Presentations on the Irish Language

Gordon gives presentations on the Irish language to various organisations, including community and university groups. These provide an historical background to the language, as well as the account of the contemporary Irish language scene. The presentations combine Powerpoint, sound and occasionally video clips. They assume no prior knowledge of the language and are geared to address common questions such as 'Where does Irish come from?' and 'Where do people speak Irish all the time?'. Gordon is also in contact with experts on Irish music, placenames, surnames and other aspects of the language if your group wishes to explore a related issue in-depth.

You can contact Gordon at gordon@ultach.org

Presbyterians and Gaelic

On 26th April 2006 Gordon organised a talk by the Rev. Bill Boyd, a retired Presbyterian minister who has learned Irish. You can learn about his experiences by reading his paper, Presbyterian and Gaelic.

Rev. Boyd is an organiser of the Presbyterian worship group An Tor ar Lasadh ('The Burning Bush') which usually meets at 3pm on the third Sunday of every month (summer months excepted) in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church at 75b University Street, Belfast. Everyone is welcome, including Catholics, Protestants,  and both learners and fluent speakers of Irish.

Irish Language Prayer Book

In September 2004 Gordon organised the launch of  Leabhar na hUrnaí Coitinne, the Irish language version of the Church of Ireland's Book of Common Prayer.

The book was officially launched on 18 September 2004 in Down Cathedral. This translation, the work of Canon Gary Hastings, Rector of Westport, Co Mayo, is published by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise/The Irish Guild of the Church. The occasion was marked by a conference in the cathedral titled ‘Celtic Worship: Celebrating a Prayerbook’. Speakers addressed Protestantism and the Irish language, Gaelic worship in Ireland and Scotland, and aspects of Celtic Christianity. Musical contributions were provided by Glasgow Gaelic Choir and Cór Duibhlinne (Dublin Gaelic Choir).

Present Work

Gordon is presently working on an Irish language element of the citizenship programme in secondary schools. He is also organising Irish classes for beginners in the Linen Hall Library. He is also co-operating with the Colmcille organisation on a series of events related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic.