Thousands of protesters march through Belfast in support of Irish language legislation

Thousands of people have attended a rally in Belfast in support of Irish language legislation in Northern Ireland.

Protesters marched from west Belfast to the city centre in an event organised by Irish language activist group An Dream Dearg.

Protestors say it would fulfill a promise first made by politicians in a 2006 agreement.

Legislation on a cultural package, including protection for the Irish language, had been expected before the end of the last assembly mandate.

It was part of the 2020 New Decade, New Approach deal.

That agreement, which restored devolution after the last standoff at Stormont, promised legislation to “provide official recognition” of the status of both the Irish Language and Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland.

Campaigners took to the streets on Saturday to demand action on that legislation.

Last June, the UK Government pledged to pass the legislation at Westminster to break an impasse between Sinn Fein and the DUP over its introduction in the Stormont Assembly.

However, the Government failed to bring forward a Bill before its self-imposed October deadline last year.

On a visit to Northern Ireland on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to deliver on the cultural package in the coming weeks.

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