Submission to the 2021 independent review of local government boundaries and names
The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 provides for the periodic appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to review the names of the district councils and wards within Northern Ireland. The latest review launched in February 2021, with an invitation for proposals.
CAJ and leading Irish language NGO, Conradh na Gaeilge (CnaG), wrote to the Commissioner jointly in February 2021 proposing that the traditional and correct forms of placenames in Irish (and Scots where applicable) be adopted alongside the English language names. This correspondence detailed the treaty-based duties – already entered into by the UK – which support the use and promotion of the Irish language within NI.
The letter was subsequently augmented by an official joint submission from CAJ and CnaG, which provides further details, including evidence regarding the growing usage of and demand for the Irish language.
Download the submission here.