Northern Ireland

Van Morrison’s former school could become home of east Belfast’s first integrated Irish language primary

Naíscoil na Seolta is currently operating at Garnerville Presbyterian Church

The former site of Orangefield High in East Belfast. Naíscoil na Seolta first opened as a pre-school in 2021, and is planning to admit its first Primary One pupils in September 2025. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Irish language activist Linda Ervine at the former site of Orangefield High in east Belfast, which she hopes could become the home for Naíscoil na Seolta. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
By Suzanne McGonagle

Van Morrison’s former school could become the permanent site of the first integrated Irish language primary in east Belfast.

The “long-term goal” of Naíscoil na Seolta is to move to Orangefield High School, according to Irish language activist Linda Ervine.

The Department of Education are understood to be currently carrying out a “scoping exercise” at the site on Cameronian Drive.

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Sir Van Morrison previously attended Orangefield High School. PICTURE: DAVID JENSEN/PA

The Irish language school, which first opened as a pre-school in 2021, is currently operating at Garnerville Presbyterian Church.

However, it is examining a move to a temporary site on Montgomery Road in the Castlereagh area amid hopes it could later relocate to the former Orangefield High School. The school closed in 2014.

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The former site of Orangefield High in East Belfast. Naíscoil na Seolta first opened as a pre-school in 2021, and is planning to admit its first Primary One pupils in September 2025. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
The former site of Orangefield High School in east Belfast. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN

Ms Ervine, who helped set up Naíscoil na Seolta pre-school, said a move to the Orangefield High School site comes as they “visualise growth and development”.

It is planning to admit its first primary one pupils in September 2025.

She said talks have been held with the Department of Education and the Education Authority about the move.

“Our long-term goal is to move to Orangefield because this is just a starter site,” she told the BBC.

“The Department of Education has been doing a scoping exercise on the Orangefield site.

“We will not be starting to take P1s until September 2025.

The former site of Orangefield High in East Belfast. Naíscoil na Seolta first opened as a pre-school in 2021, and is planning to admit its first Primary One pupils in September 2025. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Irish language activist Linda Ervine. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN

“We hope to be in the Montgomery Road site for September 2024, but that might be a little optimistic.”

When first opening, Naíscoil na Seolta had initially planned to operate on the premises of Braniel Primary School in east Belfast.

However, an online social media campaign against the move meant it had to relocate.

But Ms Ervine said there is a clear demand for integrated Irish language provision in the area.

She said numbers for the new school had risen “quite dramatically in terms of expressions of interest from the local community”.

The school has received money from the Shared Island Fund to rent land in east Belfast and pay for a mobile classroom.

It is expected that the Montgomery Road site, close to Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, could be used by the school for five years.