The erection of eight Irish language street names in Park village is the first phase of a programme to extend bilingual signage in the Park and Craigbane areas of Co Derry, Sinn Fein has said.
Diarmaid Ward, Sinn Fein’s local election candidate in the Sperrin Ward, said a further 18 signs were expected to be put in place later this year.
And he revealed the signs are being erected after an “anomaly” was overcome.
Mr Ward said: “In January 2013, the Kevin Lynch Cumann in Park/Craigbane submitted, with other local people, 28 applications to Derry City Council to obtain bilingual signage.
“Under the council’s plebiscite process, 26 of these secured majority support.
“However, we discovered an anomaly existed in the council’s Irish language policy which differentiated between ‘street’ and ‘road’ signs, and that’s at variance with Six Counties local government legislation and the practice in neighbouring councils.”
Mr Ward revealed that following representation between Sinn Féin and residents locally, a review was undertaken to redress the anomaly.
He added: “We have now had the first phase of signs erected in the village, and expect that the remaining 18 road signs will be in place later this year. A meeting is due shortly with Council officials to establish a time frame for the completion of all remaining signs.”
Mr Ward said the bilingual signage scheme had been “warmly welcomed” by the local community.
He said: “While it taken much too long to move these proposals through the Council’s system local people are delighted to see the first results of our year- long campaign.
“The Irish language translates beautifully and accurately reflects the local geographic and cultural heritage of the townlands across from the Dreen, Altinure through Ballyrory and across to Altahoney.”
Mr Ward concluded: “I have no doubt this will further assist with the promotion of the Irish language both within local schools and in the wider community.”
