An Irish language school that was previously the target of loyalist opposition has opened in east Belfast.
Planning permission for Irish language primary school Scoil na Seolta (‘School of the Sails’) on the Montgomery Road was granted in June last year.
The school recently welcomed nursery pupils and in September it will welcome the first class of Primary One pupils.
The school is backed by Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine and is the first Irish language school in east Belfast.
Scoil na Seolta previously said they received over 100 letters from parents expressing interest in sending their child to the school.
Last year,the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) used a meeting with Education Minister Paul Givan to raise concerns about the proposed school in east Belfast and urged Mr Givan to stop the development.
The LCC is made up of community representatives, and within that are also representatives for the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando paramilitary groups.
The meeting between the LCC and Mr Givan caused controversy and was widely criticised.
In October a banner appeared outside the site earmarked for the school calling for it to “relocate”. The banner was subsequently removed and it was treated by the police as a “sectarian hate incident”.
The following month, two banners were erected calling for a consultation to be held. These were again treated as a “sectarian hate crime” by the police.
The current site is only temporary with long term plans to move to a permanent location at the site of Orangefield High – Van Morrison’s former school – which is earmarked for development.