Linda Ervine

In 2011, Linda Ervine fell in love with the Irish language after attending a beginner’s class run by the cross-community group, East Belfast Mission. Soon people began to take notice that the wife of the Progressive Unionist Party leader, Brian Ervine, was learning Irish.

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Raised in the traditionally Protestant area of East Belfast, Linda faced criticism for her newfound passion, but she was resolute in her understanding that ‘there is a rich history of Ulster Protestants speaking Gaelic and it is a beautiful language that anyone of any background can choose to learn.’

She founded her own beginner’s class which is known now as Turas or ‘journey’ – an apt name for a project Linda says for her ‘is not only a journey into a language but also a journey of healing and reconciliation.’ Turas is now one of Belfast’s biggest Irish language providers and signs up close to 300 people every year, with 65% of those coming from Protestant backgrounds.

The Irish language belongs to everybody and anyone who is interested is free to learn it and appreciate that its heritage belongs to unionists and nationalists alike.
Linda Ervine

Although many unionists in Northern Ireland associate Irish with Irish Republicanism, Linda has stressed how it is in fact ‘an undeniable part of our shared history.’ She has spent years trying to educate the public on the ‘the hidden Protestant history of the Irish language’ through talks and workshops at Turas.

As a people we are culturally rich yet instead of embracing that wonderful cultural mix, we separate it into narrow divisive boxes and deny ourselves access to the very things that make us who we are.
Linda Ervine

In late 2021, Linda was one of the key figures behind the opening of Naíscoil na Seolta – the first Irish-medium pre-school in east Belfast.

This came after years of planning, and a last-minute hurdle when they were forced to abandon plans to open in Braniel PS due to a tiny minority of protestors.

I felt quite threatened because you don’t know where these things are going to go, you don’t know who is involved and also when things were put out on social media who is it going to get to?
Linda Ervine

Despite the intimidation that the committee, and Linda, faced, the school was set up successfully and has plans to find a permanent home in the future.

In early 2022, Linda was awarded an MBE for her tireless work and service to the Irish language. She continues her work today.

Rewriting the Future

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