Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
	Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich logo
	Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
	Location within Belfast
General information
Type	Theatre, Concert hall, Art Gallery, Conference venue
Architectural style	Gothic
Address	216 Falls Road, Belfast; The Gaeltacht Quarter; Belfast, BT12 6AH
Country	Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°35′33″N 5°57′41″W / 54.592465°N 5.961260°W
Inaugurated	17 February 1991; 33 years ago
Renovated	2010–2011
Technical details
Floor count	4
Website
	culturlann.ie

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (An Chultúrlann) is an Irish language cultural centre in The Gaeltacht Quarter and is located on the Falls Road, Belfast. Opened in 1991, the centre underwent renovation in 2010 and was opened the following year by then Irish President Mary McAleese.

The centre is home to an art gallery named after local artist Gerard Dillon, a theatre, restaurant, book shop, offices and conference rooms. In 2011, the centre was estimated to receive over 80,000 visitors per year.^[1]

History[edit]

1991–2010[edit]

Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich was founded in 1991 after the purchase of Broadway Presbyterian Church on Falls Road, Belfast. It is named after 19th century Presbyterian businessman and Gaelic revivalist Robert Shipboy MacAdam and 20th century Gaelic scholar Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich.^[1]

Co-founder Gearóid Ó Cairealláin also founded Raidió Fáilte which aired from the building and Aisling Ghéar, the resident theatre production group.^[2] An Chultúrlann was also home to Coláiste Feirste, Northern Ireland's first Irish-medium secondary school with activist Fergus O'Hare serving as principal. The school began with nine pupils.,^[3] before the school moved^[when?] to the nearby Beech Hill House, previously owned by the Riddel family.

In 2010, An Chultúrlann announced a major renovation programme funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, International Fund for Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Department for Social Development.^[4]

2011 – present[edit]

The renovated Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich was re-opened by Irish president Mary McAleese on 19 September 2011,^[5] to celebrate 20 years since the centre's opening. The extension and renovation cost £1.9million and included the building of an interactive exhibition space and art gallery, named after local artist Gerard Dillon.^[6] Also refurbished was An Ceathrú Póilí, an Irish language bookshop within the centre and Bia, the restaurant.

BBC Two Northern Ireland aired a documentary on 12 December 2011 to celebrate the reopening.^[1]

Spaces and resident organisations[edit]

Gerard Dillon Gallery – art gallery
Siobhán McKenna Theatre – theatre and concert hall
An Ceathrú Póilí – Irish language bookshop
Na Ballaí Bána – gallery
An Taiscumar – interactive exhibition
Bia – restaurant
Aisling Ghéar – theatre company
Nós – Irish language magazine
Tobar Productions – TV production company

Former resident organisations[edit]

Raidió Fáilte – Radio station founded in An Chultúrlann
Coláiste Feirste – Irish language secondary school founded in An Chultúrlann in 1991
Lá / Lá Nua – former Irish language daily newspaper
Dúch Dúchais – design company

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c "An Chultúrlann, Monday at 10 pm on BBC Two NI". Northern Ireland Screen. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
^ "The Wheelchair Monologues". Cedar Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
^ "History of Irish medium education". Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
^ "Belfast's Irish language community to benefit from new facilities at An Chulturlann". Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
^ "President McAleese to open new extension of An Chultúrlann". Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge. Retrieved 30 October 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Belfast's Irish Language hub reveals its £1.9 million facelift". International Fund for Ireland. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

External links[edit]

An Chultúrlann – official website
An Chultúrlann – Facebook page
Bia Archived 23 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine – restaurant
An Ceathrú Póilí – book shop

54°35′33″N 5°57′41″W / 54.592465°N 5.961260°W / 54.592465; -5.961260

[niscreen-1] "An Chultúrlann, Monday at 10 pm on BBC Two NI". Northern Ireland Screen. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

[cedar-2] "The Wheelchair Monologues". Cedar Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

[failtiu-3] "History of Irish medium education". Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

[artscouncilni-4] "Belfast's Irish language community to benefit from new facilities at An Chulturlann". Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2016.

[gaelport-5] "President McAleese to open new extension of An Chultúrlann". Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge. Retrieved 30 October 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}

[irishfund-6] "Belfast's Irish Language hub reveals its £1.9 million facelift". International Fund for Ireland. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]