Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (An Chultúrlann) is an

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

cultural centre A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run. Africa * ...

in The Gaeltacht Quarter and is located on the

Falls Road, Belfast The Falls Road () is the main road through West Belfast, Northern Ireland, running from Divis Street in Belfast City Centre to Andersonstown in the suburbs. The name has been synonymous for at least a century and a half with the Catholic comm ...

. Opened in 1991, the centre underwent renovation in 2010 and was opened the following year by then Irish President

Mary McAleese Mary Patricia McAleese ( ; ; ; born 27 June 1951) is an Irish activist lawyer, academic, author, and former politician who served as the president of Ireland from November 1997 to November 2011. McAleese was first elected as president in 1997, ...

. The centre is home to an art gallery named after local artist Gerard Dillon, a theatre, restaurant, book shop, offices and conference rooms. In 2011, the centre was estimated to receive over 80,000 visitors per year.

History

1991–2010

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich was founded in 1991 after the purchase of Broadway Presbyterian Church on Falls Road, Belfast. It is named after 19th century Presbyterian businessman and

Gaelic revival The Gaelic revival () was the late-nineteenth-century national revival of interest in the Irish language (also known as Gaelic) and Irish Gaelic culture (including folklore, mythology, sports, music, arts, etc.). Irish had diminished as a sp ...

ist Robert Shipboy MacAdam and 20th century Gaelic scholar Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich. Co-founder

Gearóid Ó Cairealláin Gearóid Ó Cairealláin (October 1957 – 20 December 2024) was an Irish activist of the Irish language who was credited with playing a huge role in promoting the Irish language in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, especially in B ...

also founded Raidió Fáilte which aired from the building and Aisling Ghéar, the resident theatre production group. An Chultúrlann was also home to Coláiste Feirste,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

's first Irish-medium secondary school with activist Fergus O'Hare serving as principal. The school began with nine pupils., before the school moved to the nearby Beech Hill House, previously owned by the Riddel family. In 2010, An Chultúrlann announced a major renovation programme funded by the

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL; ; ) was a devolved government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department was the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. After ...

Arts Council of Northern Ireland The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Irish language, Irish: ''Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann'', Ulster Scots language, Ulster-Scots: ''Airts Cooncil o Norlin Airlan'') is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland. It ...

, International Fund for Ireland,

Northern Ireland Tourist Board Tourism Northern Ireland, also known as Tourism NI, is a non-departmental public body of the Department for the Economy. Its primary objective is to promote Northern Ireland as a tourist destination to domestic tourists, from within Northern Ire ...

and the

Department for Social Development Department of Social Development may refer to: * Department of Social Development (Canada) * Department of Social Development (New Brunswick) * Department of Social Development (South Africa) * Department for Social Development (Northern Ireland ...

2011 – present

The renovated Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich was re-opened by Irish president

on 19 September 2011, to celebrate 20 years since the centre's opening. The extension and renovation cost £1.9 million and included the building of an interactive exhibition space and art gallery, named after local artist Gerard Dillon. Also refurbished was An Ceathrú Póilí, an Irish language bookshop within the centre and ''Bia'', the restaurant.

BBC Two Northern Ireland BBC Two Northern Ireland is a Northern Irish free-to-air television channel owned and operated by BBC Northern Ireland as a variation of the BBC Two network. It is broadcast via digital terrestrial transmitters and from the SES Astra 2E satell ...

aired a documentary on 12 December 2011 to celebrate the reopening.

Spaces and resident organisations

* Gerard Dillon Gallery – art gallery * Siobhán McKenna Theatre – theatre and concert hall * An Ceathrú Póilí – Irish language bookshop * Na Ballaí Bána – gallery * An Taiscumar – interactive exhibition
Bia
– restaurant * Aisling Ghéar – theatre company *

Nós ''Nós'' (, meaning "custom" or "trend") is an Irish language culture and lifestyle magazine. Launched online on 17 March 2008 during Seachtain na Gaeilge, it began publishing a glossy print edition in November of the same year. Run on a volu ...

– Irish language magazine * Tobar Productions – TV production company

Former resident organisations

* Raidió Fáilte – Radio station founded in An Chultúrlann * Coláiste Feirste – Irish language secondary school founded in An Chultúrlann in 1991 *

Lá ''Lá'' ( Irish for "Day"; later known as ''Lá Nua'', Irish for "New Day") was an Irish-language daily newspaper based in Belfast. It was the first daily newspaper in Ireland to be published in Irish. ''Lá Nua'' belonged to the Belfast Media ...

/ Lá Nua – former Irish language daily newspaper * Dúch Dúchais – design company

History

1991–2010

2011 – present

Spaces and resident organisations

Former resident organisations

References

External links