QUB students to vote on dual Irish-English language plans

Students are to vote on whether to re-introduce signage in Irish and English at Queen's University Belfast Students' Union (QUBSU).

The referendum will also ask students whether Irish and English should be given equal status by the university.

Students will vote on whether the university's name and official logo should be in English and Irish.

Bilingual signage was previously in place at QUBSU until 1997, when Irish signs were removed after opposition from some unionist students and a recommendation by the Fair Employment Commission for a more neutral working environment.

The all-student vote held by QUBSU will take place online.

It asks students whether they back QUB adopting "an Irish language policy that gives the Irish language equal status to the English language as an official language of the university".

Further, it asks students whether they support a "bilingual corporate identity" and logo for the university and students' union, and bilingual signs throughout the campus.

The vote runs from Tuesday until Thursday 19 March.

QUB has been contacted by BBC News NI for comment.

Eoghan Ó Conghaile from An Cumann Gaelach said "the entire student body will have their say".

"Bilingual signage doesn't take away from anyone else's rights," he said.

"We're not talking about removing English language signs, we want the English there."

"For the first time in 30 years, since the removal of the signage, there will be a democratic mandate - all things going well - in support of the return of the signage," Ó Conghaile said.

"Essentially the actual request is a transparent commitment from the university to begin work on developing and implementing a comprehensive Irish language policy.

"This is something that will revitalise the experience for Irish speakers on campus, and everyone on campus."

He said other universities, such as St Mary's University College in Belfast, already had a logo in English and Irish.

Ó Conghaile also said it was hoped students would be able to receive their degree certificates in Irish if they wanted.

He said things had moved on since dual-language signs were removed in 1997.

"This is the done thing to see more understanding and respect for minority languages," he said.

"You have countless international students coming to study here in Belfast and if you were walking through Queen's University of Belfast you wouldn't even know there was an indigenous language where they are studying."

Ó Conghaile said An Cumann Gaelach was founded in 1906 by William McArthur, a Protestant who became a lieutenant-general in the Army.

"William McArthur was a middle class Protestant Unionist," he said.

"He saw the importance of protecting and cherishing this indigenous language.

"Edward Carson, the man who founded the state, a staunch, staunch Unionist and he spoke fluent Irish."

"This kind of idea that this is some kind of green and orange thing, it's a modern thing," he said.

"It is just a language, it's a few words on a sign.

"It's not taking away from any other language.

"All we're looking is equal footing," he added.

New language laws have recently come into effect in Northern Ireland.

Commissioners for the Irish language and Ulster-Scots/Ulster-British tradition have also taken office.