Lying between the City Centre and Andersonstown, The Gaeltacht Quarter is an area renowned for a strong presence of the Irish language, a heightened cultural awareness, innovation and a warm welcome. The Gaeltacht Quarter draws on what are its traditional strengths of language and culture to drive forward the Belfast Irish tourist and arts experience.  The Quarter represents a new set of voices in the city, and is a location for imagination, initiative and achievement.

To celebrate the launch of the programme, festival organisers will also launch the Belfast ‘B’ brand in Irish on Wednesday.  The translation of this brand to Irish marks the valuable input into the life, vitality, and cultural sector of this city by the Irish Language community.  Large boards sporting the logo with various slogans will be unveiled at An Chultúrlann on Wednesday morning and the logos will be featured throughout the Gaeltacht Quarter during the festival and on all promotional material. 

“The Gaeltacht Quarter is an area with ‘can do’ attitude and the launch of this festival reflects that energy.  We look forward to four days of excellent events that represent the spirit of this area, the wealth of talent to be found here and our contemporary urban Gaelic culture.  The launch of the ‘B’ Belfast brand in Irish marks the valuable input into the life, the vitality, and the cultural sector of this city by the Irish Language community.  Fleadh Feirste is another step forward for the Gaeltacht Quarter and celebrates our valuable offering to the make-up of modern Belfast”Frainc Mac Cionnaith, Festival organiser.

The festival will begin on Thursday 26th November with the lighting of the Irish Language Christmas lights at An Chultúrlann by American Consul General, Kamala Lakhdhir, the Antrim Ladies football team and Daidí na Nollag!  Other highlights include the headline concert ‘Blaisín Béil’, the annual dinner and lecture and a visit to Belfast by the famous ‘Cabaret Craicáilte’ from Gaoth Dobhair based Irish Language cabaret event!