A banner erected in east Belfast calling for a proposed Irish language primary school to “relocate” has been branded “repulsive”.
The banner appeared on the fence posts of the site earmarked for of Scoil na Seolta (‘School of the Sails’) which is set to open on Montgomery Road later this year.
Belfast City Council gave planning permission for the proposed temporary nursery and primary school and soft play area in June.
Images of the banner circulated on social media on Thursday morning, but it is understood to have since been removed.
The banner read: “Relocate Irish school to where it is needed. Relocate Irish school to where it is wanted.”
Alliance representatives have condemned the banner saying that the move is not representative of the people of east Belfast.
Party leader Naomi Long said: “The level of interest in the pre-school Naíscoil na Seolta is evidence that it is wanted and welcome and no one has the right to demand they move.
“It’s hard to imagine how fragile an adult’s sense of identity must be if it is threatened by bilingual toddlers playing in a sand tray or learning to count to ten.”
The banner has since been taken down
Councillor Michael Long added: “Those behind this are not representative of people in east Belfast, who will rightly find it repulsive and I’d utterly condemn those who put it up.
“Alliance representatives have been in contact with the PSNI and have urged anyone with any information to contact them too. Children have a right to go to school without fear or intimidation.”
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In a post on social media loyalist activist Moore Holmes said: “This site has always been the most bizarre and inappropriate location for an Irish Language School.
“If the local demographic and the political sensitivities around Gaelic language wasn’t enough to sway you, then the mishandling of community engagement, the commercial and industrial nature of the site alongside the disingenuous misrepresentation of community attitudes before Belfast City Council would be enough to do it. Relocate.”
The school is backed by Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine and would be the first Irish language school in east Belfast.
Scoil na Seolta previously said they received over a 100 letters from parents expressing interest in sending their child to the school, which received permission to set up in the Montgomery Road area.
The PSNI has been contacted for comment.