IF YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE: The Glór na nGael contingent outside Rosie O'Grady's yesterday with Tom Griffith (centre), the marine sector manager who brought news of the project to the attention of the ILA after visiting Belfast

Belfast's best take bite out of Big Apple

Stalwarts of Belfast Irish language youth club Glór na Móna have arrived in New York ahead of a fundraiser tonight for their new build plans. The Irish Echo is among sponsors of the event which has also garnered support from prominent Irish speakers in the Big Apple. 

On arrival, the Gaeilge group met up with leaders of the International Longshoremen's Association, the dockers' union driving a $600,000 appeal towards costs of a new hall at the group's West Belfast base. 

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Among speakers at the fundraiser in the news Rosie O'Grady's hostelry in Manhattan will be Consul General of Ireland in New York Helena Nolan, West Belfast MP Paul Maskey and Conradh na Gaeilge President Ciarán Mac Giolla Mhéin, himself a native of Belfast.

‘We believe that this ground-breaking project will become a flagship Irish language community project that can develop as a best practice example of grassroots minority language community development," said Paul Maskey.

"I have witnessed firsthand the hugely positive impact Glór na Móna has had on the lives of young people in the community and the influence it has had on the broader language revival movement. We fully support the ambition of the Croí na Carraige capital project and look forward to working with Glór na Móna to make it a reality’.

RITH MAITH: Belfast Media's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir who recently ran the Cleveland Marathon to support the new hall appeal with Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh and Eoghan Ó Garmaile of Glór na Móna

RITH MAITH: Belfast Media's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir who recently ran the Cleveland Marathon to support the new hall appeal with Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh and Eoghan Ó Garmaile of Glór na Móna

An ILA delegation is expected to travel to West Belfast in September to turn the first sod on the new hall which will be named in honour of legendary union president Harold Daggett whose forebears hailed from Belfast.

 



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