The reader is invited to take a close look at a vibrant speech community in Belfast. During the 1960s its members took a courageous step, when they determined to create an environment wherein they could raise their children as Irish speakers. The success of the initiative is most clearly evidenced by steady diffusion of bilingualism throughout surrounding neighbourhoods.
Introduction
1 A Language Initiative in West Belfast
2 The Historical Backdrop
3 Irish and the Educational System
4 Irish in the Present Day Context
5 An Urban Gaeltacht: Formation and Development
6 The Bunscoil Families: Socioeconomic Profile
7 Why Choose the Irish-medium School?
8 Diffusion of Irish into the Home
9 Usage of Irish outside the Home
10 The Irish of Belfast: Parents' Views
11 Our Own Language: Views of the Community Children
12 Linguistic Trends in the Irish of Community Children
Conclusions