The first ever bilingual English and Irish signs in Portadown have been approved tonight by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
Dual language signage at Woodside Gardens in Portadown had been recommended for adoption by a committee earlier this month.
No Irish language signs had been approved by the unionist-dominated council since it first came into existence in 2015.
The application was originally made in October 2023 by residents in the Woodside Hill area of Portadown, close to the Garvaghy Road, whose residents opposed an Orange Order parade that led to the Drumcree crisis in the late 1990s.
There are 10 dwellings and one commercial premises within the Woodside Gardens area, where the new signs will be erected.
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All residents and the commercial premises tenant were in favour of bilingual signage, while the owner of the commercial premises took a neutral view – well in excess of the two-thirds majority required.
A number of speakers spoke both in favour and against the bilingual signage application at a committee meeting regarding the matter in July, including the DUP’s Carla Lockhart MP, who expressed strong views against the decision, stating that the plans were part of “a concerted effort to cleanse this area of Protestantism”.
The plan came back before the committee this week and was passed after winning support from Sinn Féin and Alliance members.
The proposal was ratified at full council tonight, with Sinn Fein councillor Paul Duffy welcoming the news.
“The recognition of the Irish language by ABC council is long overdue,” he said.
“Residents of Woodside Gardens in Portadown entered into our bi-lingual street signage process, followed all aspects of our policy and tonight the signs have been given the go-ahead.
“I welcome this and commend the community of Woodside for their persistence.
“The Irish language is a vibrant part of our culture and identity, and the visibility of it enhances our surroundings.”