Linda Ervine, founder of the East Belfast GAA club and manager of the Turas Irish language project, has been criticised by election candidate and academic, Patricia Smyth, for a report’s findings that claimed many World War I soldiers from east Belfast were monoglot Irish speakers. The report was produced by researchers from Ervine’s organisation after receiving National Lottery funding. Smyth also condemned the East Belfast GAA club, of which Ervine became the first president after its formation in 2020, regarding its use of council-run playing fields and “lack of transparency” surrounding its training facilities. In response, Ervine claimed that the report’s findings were misunderstood by Smyth, and that the research aimed to “shine a light on the diversity and shared history” of east Belfast.
