Shaw's Road

or "The Irish Houses") [Mac Póilin, Aodán (2007) "Nua-Ghaeltacht Phobal Feirste: Ceachtanna le foghlaim?" In: Wilson McLeod (Ed.) "Gàidhealtachdan Ùra; Leasachadh na Gàidhlig agus na Gaeilge sa Bhaile Mhòr." Edinburgh: Edinburgh University, p. 31.] is a small Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Shaw's Road Gaeltacht was founded in 1969 when five families from Belfast built their houses together in a new development on the street. The community has expanded through the years and now there are 22 houses in the Gaeltacht. In 1971, parents in the Gaeltacht established the first Irish-medium school in Northern Ireland. After a lengthy campaign, the school received official recognition from the State in 1985. [Maguire, Gabrielle (1991) "Our Own Language, An Irish Initiative." Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.] The school has since grown rapidly and is no longer under direct administration by the Gaeltacht, but remains all-Irish and over 350 students attend. The Shaw's Road Gaeltacht has a strong culture of traditional music, dance and drama and the Irish language continues to be the normal language of communication between residents. [Nig Uidhir, Gabrielle (2006) “The Shaw’s Road urban Gaeltacht: role and impact.” In: Fionntán de Brún (ed.), "Belfast and the Irish Language." Dublin: Four Courts Press, pp. 136-146.]

There is often some confussion between the Shaw's Road Gaeltacht and the Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast, [Mac Póilin, Aodán (2007) "Nua-Ghaeltacht Phobal Feirste: Ceachtanna le foghlaim?" In: Wilson McLeod (Ed.) "Gàidhealtachdan Ùra; Leasachadh na Gàidhlig agus na Gaeilge sa Bhaile Mhòr." Edinburgh: Edinburgh University, pp. 57-59.] which is a related, but newer and distinct project located in the center of the Falls Road district. The Shaw's Road Gaeltacht is located closer to Andersonstown.

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