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Turas currently offers 12 Irish-language classes each week, with levels ranging from total beginners to GCSE. Some learners at Turas have since continued on with A-levels as well as diploma certificates. Cultural classes include singing, set dancing, and tin whistle. Turas also hosts plays, lectures,
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Turas was first established in 2011 with a single Irish-language class held on the
Newtownards Road. Today, the project caters to approximately 200 learners and is considered the largest provider of Irish-language classes in Belfast. Turas has received many accolades for its cross-community work. In
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Ervine and Gordon McCoy (who has served as
Education Officer at Turas since 2015) host outreach presentations and events about the 'hidden' heritage of Northern Ireland at local churches, clubs, libraries, schools, and community centres. McCoy is an expert on Irish-speaking Protestants, and runs a
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2015, after awarding Linda with the Civic
Leadership Award, Community Relations Council chairman Peter Osborne stated that Turas' success was a "testament to Linda’s vision, bravery and leadership."
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prompted local interest in learning Irish, East
Belfast Mission decided to host a 15-week Irish-language class in November 2011. In 2012, with funding from
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207:"Turas in east Belfast is now the largest provider of Irish classes in Belfast with the highest number of people registered. @ForasnaGaeilge"
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359:"Where the streets have both names - many east Belfast landmarks have long-forgotten Irish roots, as Ivan Little discovers on a bus tour"
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Ervine and McCoy have also encouraged and facilitated the development of Irish-language programmes throughout the greater
Belfast area.
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Northern
Ireland. As a representative of Turas, Linda Ervine has actively engaged with Unionist politicians, as well as members of the
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435:"Visit our Irish class in loyal east Belfast... challenge to Orange chief who hit out at language"
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316:"Students who took Irish classes in loyalist area embark on university diploma as Gaeilge"
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341:"Protestants and Unionists from East Belfast learning Irish on the Dingle Peninsula"
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community. Historically, the Irish language was more closely associated with
151:"Linda Ervine: 'I don't want to be part of the problem in Northern Ireland'"
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188:"Irish Language Can Bridge Northern Irish Divide, Trinity Study Finds"
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453:"Linda Ervine: 'Curry my yoghurt' pushed me towards Irish act"
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The status of the Irish language has proved divisive in post-
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bus tour about the history of the language in East
Belfast.
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debates, film screenings, festivals, and trips to the
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Irish-language project in
Belfast, Northern Ireland
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70:Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of the late
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377:"Irish classes a success in Monkstown"
279:"New Irish language centre in Belfast"
239:"Ervine relative speaks up for Irish"
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379:. Diocese of Connor. 29 April 2014.
314:McConville, Marie (9 August 2017).
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408:Monoghan, John (14 April 2017).
221:"TURAS at East Belfast Mission"
205:Ervine, Linda (26 March 2018).
494:Organisations based in Belfast
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489:Irish language organisations
31:(Irish for "journey") is an
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72:Progressive Unionist Party
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257:"About Us – Cairde Turas"
123:Good Friday Agreement
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192:The University Times
457:Belfast News Letter
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297:"Language classes"
168:Geoghegan, Peter.
131:Irish Language Act
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