Claire Hanna, the leader of Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), marked St. Patrick's Day and Seachtain na Gaeilge by speaking in the Irish language while addressing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the House of Commons yesterday, Wednesday, March 12.
"Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh agus Seachtain na Gaeilge daoibh," Hanna said while addressing the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
"Deis lenár dteanga agus ár gcultúr a cheiliúradh ar fud an domhain."
She continued: "Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody, and happy Irish Language Week. It is an opportunity to use Irish language and celebrate Irish culture across the world."
The SDLP said on X afterward that it was the first time Irish was spoken during the Prime Minister's Questions.
"A small but symbolic moment for the Irish language and our shared future," the SDLP said.
While the Irish language has been spoken in the House of Commons several times, this is the first time a politician has spoken in Irish during Prime Minister's Questions.
For the first time, Irish was spoken during Prime Minister’s Questions as SDLP Leader @ClaireHanna MP marked Lá Fhéile Pádraig agus Seachtain na Gaeilge in the Commons.
A small but symbolic moment for the Irish language and our shared future. 💬☘️🤝 pic.twitter.com/HlYExhz6zN
— The SDLP (@SDLPlive) March 12, 2025
Hanna, who was born in Connemara in Co Galway and raised in Belfast, further said to the Prime Minister: "It is an increasingly turbulent world, and relationships and norms have been turned upside-down over recent weeks, which is why I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach on re-establishing a warm and firm relationship at their summit last week.
"It is reassuring for all of us to know that whatever our constitutional future, that bond is lasting and refreshed.
"Will the Prime Minister join me in wishing a happy St Patrick’s Day to all who value our shared bonds?
"May I take this opportunity to invite him, in August 2027, to Belfast, which was announced this week as the host of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the first time?"
(Hanna misspoke - the Fleadh will be in Belfast in 2026.)
Prime Minister Starmer replied: "I join the hon. Lady in wishing everybody celebrating a very happy St Patrick’s Day.
"She is right that we need a strong and settled relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the need for that has never been greater. That is why I was delighted to host the Taoiseach in Liverpool last week at our first annual UK-Ireland summit.
"We have turned the page and started a new era in our relationship with Ireland.
"I would be happy to go to Belfast in 2027, but I want to go much sooner than that."
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Irish language in the Commons
The first recorded time when the Irish language was used at the United Kingdom's Parliament, in London, was in 1901 when the Irish Member of Parliament, Thomas O'Donnell gave a speech as Gaeilge (in Irish).
During his speech, the House of Commons Speaker interrupted him and told him he "cannot allow him to address the House in any other language but English."
While there have been several other examples of politicians speaking Irish in the House of Commons a notable occurrence occurred in 2018 when Liz Saville-Roberts, a member of the Welsh party Plaid Cymru, spoke. In her speech, she called on Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley to implement an Irish Language Act.
She said “Is cearta daonna iad cearta teanga agus tá cothrom na féinne tuilte ag lucht labhartha na Gaeilge [Language rights are human rights and the Irish-speaking community are entitled to equality].”
In just February 2025, that it was announced the Northern Irish centuries-old ban on the use of the Irish language in the courts is to be repealed. Irish language group, Conradh na Gaeilge, announced it has been informed that Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn will commence section 4 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, which will repeal the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737.
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