Speaking with one voice
POBAL is a representative partnership that provides strategic direction and a democratic forum for the groups who have created Belfast's thriving range of social, economic, artistic and educational projects for the Irish speaking community.

Our aims

  • promoting all aspects of the development of the Irish language within an inclusive framework fostering new collaborative approaches between the Irish language community and statutory, voluntary and government agencies, liaising and working in partnership with new governmental structures
  • enabling the Irish language community to develop coherent development strategies
  • providing a democratic and representative forum for discussion among Irish language groups

    • Our Objectives

  • informing statutory, voluntary, government agencies, the Irish language community throughout Belfast and further afield of the work of the group on an ongoing basis

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  • researching and establishing a long-term development strategy for the Irish language community in conjunction with all relevant agencies
  • establishing a three-year action plan for immediate implementation
  • researching and examining the need for POBAL to expand its remit outside the Belfast area

    • Mission statement
    Driving the positive development of the Irish language forward into a new, shared society

    Our membership
    Serving a rapidly-growing Irish speaking community of more than 30,000 in Belfast alone, POBAL's member groups range from small unfunded committees to the Irish-medium education group, Gaeloiliúint, whose own membership extends throughout the north of Ireland, and Glór na nGael which liaises with groups throughout the country.

    The representative and democratic structure of POBAL, which encourages member groups to pursue their own work and priorities whilst participating in a forum facilitating overall strategic development, attracts wide support from throughout the community.