The Irish Language will be available on signage at Belfast Grand Central Station and on ticket machines, Northern Ireland's Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins confirmed on Monday, March 24.
Belfast Grand Central Station began its phased opening in September after construction began on the estimated £340m project in March 2022.
Kimmins, of Sinn Féin, made the announcement about the bilingual signage in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday.
"I am committed to the visibility and promotion of Irish language across public services and in our society," Kimmins said.
"Grand Central Station is not just for the people of Belfast, it is a transport hub for people right across the island and it's important, therefore, that it is reflective of all citizens.
"I've therefore taken the decision to install bilingual signage at Belfast Grand Central Station and on all Translink ticket vending machines.
"As we have just come out of Seachtain na Gaeilge, this is an important and positive development to demonstrate my support for the Irish language as a living language used daily by citizens across the North and actions being taken by my department.
Critical of the announcement, Timothy Gaston, a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA, said to Kimmins: "Coming from a minister whose party has once described 'every word spoken in Irish as another bullet in the freedom struggle,' why is the minister abusing her position to fire cultural bullets in a situation situated in a loyalist heartland of Belfast?"
Kimmins responded: "The Irish language is for everyone and it is reflective of the culture right across this island.
"The transport hub is not just for the people of Belfast, it's for all people right across our island.
"And it's nothing to fear.
"I think the important point as well to make is that the Irish language is actually in law and Belfast is one of the most thriving areas in the North, if not in Ireland, for the Irish language.
"I'm committed to delivering equality for everyone across this area."
Kimmins later added that the bilingual signage will include wayfinding signage, passenger information, including all safety signage, as well as welcome, customer service, and platform IDs.
It will be installed later this year, she said.
Irish language rights group An Dream Dearg welcomed the news on Monday.
"Bua iontach do phobal na Gaeilge a sheas an fód. Céim mhaith eile chun cinn san aistear i dtreo chearta teanga," the group said on social media.
"Another very significant victory in our ongoing campaign for rights and equality, bringing the Irish language into the very centre of our shared spaces. #BéalFeirste."
Bua iontach do phobal na Gaeilge a sheas an fód. Céim mhaith eile chun cinn san aistear i dtreo chearta teanga.
Another very significant victory in our ongoing campaign for rights and equality, bringing the Irish language into the very centre of our shared spaces. #BéalFeirste https://t.co/O7iD5xTsKq pic.twitter.com/JOmOkXYcRk
— An Dream Dearg 🅾️🦸🏽♀️🦸🏻♂️ (@dreamdearg) March 24, 2025
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