A split between residents over a dual language street sign on a two-house street close to a loyalist estate exposes flaws in the process, according to a leading expert on symbols and flags.
Homeowners in one of the properties opposed the Irish-English sign proposed by their neighbours, but it will be automatically approved by Belfast City Council as 50% of the four adults voted in favour, far more than the 15% threshold.
The couple opposing the erection of the sign believe the properties on Grangeville Drive will attract unwanted attention as they are situated off the Upper Lisburn Road and close to the loyalist Taughmonagh estate.
While not opposed to such signs, there are no others in the surrounding area, leaving the properties and residents open to potential attack, the homeowner argued. Union flags still fly along the Lisburn Road during the marching season.
A goal is to move towards a space where everyone is comfortable with the Irish language, that it is normal and accepted and seen as positive rather than negative, said Dominic Bryan, of Queen’s University.
Mr Bryan said this society is not there yet, adding of the two house street: “It’s a flaw in the rules and the people have honest worries. None of us would want to be that test case.”
The city council changed the rules to make it easier for dual-language signs to be erected, allowing one household to propose and if 15% of all eligible residents vote in favour then it will be approved.
This in theory means dual language signs in all streets of up to six houses will be approved if one household proposes and votes in favour but all the others are in opposition.
On a visit to the two house street, the homeowners in favour of the sign did not want to comment. But they are understood to be Irish language speakers who moved in to the house relatively recently after some years living in England and are not originally from Belfast.
The other residents have lived in the house for two decades and their home was attacked previously many years ago. They are not opposed to dual signs, indeed one has a strong Irish language background. It is a quiet area where houses can sell for £350,000 and more and is close to a busy part of the Lisburn Road.
The two couples are expected to meet on Thursday for discussions following city council approval.
“I cannot come up with what would look like a solution to that one,” said Mr Bryan, the former co-chair of the one time all-party Flags, Identity, Culture and Traditions Commission.
“This might sound bland and glib but the main thing is the need to create a society where the Irish language is comfortable for everybody and is perceived as a benefit...as in Scotland and Wales.
“It is amazing how things can change when people find the world is not going to cave in once something becomes part of everyday life and oddly disappears to people in some way.”
The street is Céide Bhaile na Gráinsí in Irish. Nine other streets were agreed for dual English and Irish language signs in different parts of the city during the monthly meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee.
