Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich |
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Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich logo
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Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
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| General information | |
| Type | Theatre, Concert hall, Art Gallery, Conference venue |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Address | 216 Falls Road, Belfast The Gaeltacht Quarter Belfast, BT12 6AH |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°35′33″N 5°57′41″W / 54.592465°N 5.961260°W |
| Inaugurated | 17 February 1991 |
| Renovated | 2010–2011 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, often called An Chultúrlann, is a special place in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a cultural centre that celebrates the Irish language. You can find it on the Falls Road, Belfast, in an area known as The Gaeltacht Quarter.
The centre first opened its doors in 1991. It was updated and made even better in 2010 and 2011. The Irish President at the time, Mary McAleese, officially reopened it. Inside, you'll find an art gallery, a theatre, a restaurant, and a book shop. There are also offices and rooms for meetings. Many people visit An Chultúrlann every year to enjoy its activities.
Contents
The Story of Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
How It All Began: 1991-2010
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich started in 1991. The building used to be a church called Broadway Presbyterian Church. It was bought and changed into the cultural centre we know today.
The centre is named after two important people. One was Robert Shipboy MacAdam. He was a businessman from the 1800s who helped bring back the Irish language. The other was Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich. He was a smart person from the 1900s who studied the Irish language.
One of the people who helped start the centre was Gearóid Ó Cairealláin. He also started Raidió Fáilte, a radio station that used to broadcast from the building. Another group, Aisling Ghéar, a theatre company, also calls the centre home.
An Chultúrlann was also the first home for Coláiste Feirste. This was Northern Ireland's first secondary school where all lessons were taught in Irish. It started with only nine students! Later, the school moved to a bigger building nearby.
In 2010, An Chultúrlann announced big plans to make the building even better. Many groups helped pay for this work. These included the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
A New Look: 2011 to Today
The newly updated Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich was reopened on September 19, 2011. Irish president Mary McAleese came for the special event. This celebration also marked 20 years since the centre first opened.
The updates and new parts cost about £1.9 million. They added an exciting new area for exhibitions and an art gallery. This gallery is named after a local artist called Gerard Dillon. The Irish language bookshop, An Ceathrú Póilí, also got a fresh new look. The restaurant, called Bia, was also updated.
To celebrate the reopening, BBC Two Northern Ireland showed a special TV show about the centre on December 12, 2011.
What You Can Find Inside
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich has many different areas and groups that work there.
- Gerard Dillon Gallery – This is an art gallery where you can see amazing artworks.
- Siobhán McKenna Theatre – This is a place for plays, music shows, and other performances.
- An Ceathrú Póilí – This is a bookshop that sells books and other items in the Irish language.
- Na Ballaí Bána – Another gallery space for art.
- An Taiscumar – An interactive exhibition area where you can learn and explore.
- Bia – A restaurant where you can enjoy tasty food.
- Aisling Ghéar – A theatre company that creates exciting plays.
- Nós – An Irish language magazine.
- Tobar Productions – A company that makes TV shows.
Groups That Used to Be Here
Some groups started at An Chultúrlann before moving to their own places.
- Raidió Fáilte – A radio station that began broadcasting from the centre.
- Coláiste Feirste – The first Irish language secondary school in Northern Ireland, founded here in 1991.
- Lá / Lá Nua – A former daily newspaper in the Irish language.
- Dúch Dúchais – A design company.
