The Communist Party of Ireland offers our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends and comrades of legendary Irish language community activist Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, who passed away on 21st December 2024.
Exemplifying the popular Belfast activists’ mantra “Ná habair é, déan é!”, Gearóid’s was a life dedicated to social and cultural activism in the working class heartland of his native West Belfast.
A former head of Conradh na Gaeilge, Gearóid leaves behind him an incredible legacy. His drive and passion led to the birth and development of so many transformational projects and campaigns.
Noted as one of the great architects of the radical revival of the Irish language in Belfast, Gearóid and his close group of comrades spearheaded many Irish language projects, including Preas an Phobail in 1981 and the first daily Irish language newspaper, Lá, in 1984. He was a founding member and lifelong advocate for theatre company Aisling Ghéar, community radio station Raidió Fáilte, community arts and Irish language hub Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich and Meánscoil Feirste, the first Irish language secondary school in west Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter.
Communist Party of Ireland NEC member and fellow Irish language activist Gearóid Ó Machail paid tribute to his late colleague:
“Gearóid inspired many of us in the language movement to drive forward with courage and determination in our demands for language and community rights and to relentlessly challenge the state and authorities for Irish language community services.
“He worked closely in the early days with communist activists, among others, in Belfast to establish printing facilities for ‘Preas an Phobail’ and ‘Lá’.
“Thug sé inspioráid agus misneach dúinn nuair ba mhó a theastaigh uainn. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann go deo.”
