Thousands of people – including Batman – attend Irish language rally march in Belfast

Around 12,000 people turned up in Belfast yesterday to attend a march in support for the introduction of an Irish Language Act.

This act would give Gaeilge an equal status with English, and should the act be passed, Irish would then be used by public bodies, the courts, on street signs and in the Stormont Assembly.

Irish language campaigning network An Dream Dearg organised the demonstration, insisting the legislation was promised as part of the St Andrew’s Agreement over ten years ago.

The support for the act has proven to be varied and wide, including the truly intimidating sight of Batman speaking As Gaelige:

The sister of Slaughtneil captain of Senior Camogie All-ireland winning team and star of team Eilis Ni Chaiside show her support from Machu Picchu:

Ní chaillfinn an deis tacú leis An Ghaeilge ar ór na cruinne! #LáDearg #AchtAnois #GaeilTharLear #MachuPicchu pic.twitter.com/rqa3lkhsRI

— Eilís Ní Chaiside (@eilis_gaeilge) May 21, 2017

Belfast actor Tony Devlin (Breakfast On Pluto) showed his support from the Cannes Film Festival, and the Tipperary Senior hurling team gave their backing, too:

Buaiteoirí craobh iomána na hÉireann @podzo21 agus @SeamusCallanan ag tacú leis an @dreamdearg agus cearta do phobal na Gaeilge#Laochra pic.twitter.com/8DBzc8QHDu

— An Dream Dearg (@dreamdearg) January 28, 2017