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POBAL's membership is constantly expanding, with new groups expressing an interest in the work of the umbrella group. As well as the 27 Belfast-based organisations, who already play an active role in POBAL, many other groups across the North are anxious to be involved. While a current lack of resources and funding continue to make this difficult, POBAL is always looking at ways of expanding its remit and offering services beyond Belfast. A list of the groups based outside of Belfast is given at the end of this section.
Below, member organisations of POBAL describe briefly their activities: AISLING GHÉAR
Aisling Ghéar was founded in 1996. The company produces Irish language plays on a professional, semi-professional, and amateur basis. Aisling Ghéar undertakes 5 major ventures per year - including classic Irish Drama and translated World Drama - while organising practical theatre skills courses for young people. The Christmas pantomime is also in great demand! Most of Aisling Ghéar's work is staged at the Cultúrlann, but the company also tours Ireland and Scotland in the Summer months. BUNSCOIL BHEANN MHADAGÁIN
Bunscoil Beann Madagáin was founded in 1994 on North Belfast's Antrim Road. We gained Dept of Education recognition in 1997 and now have 100 children on our role. Daire Nic An Fhaillí, P6 wrote this piece on the countryside, as seen by a child in the city:
"The countryside is a very beautiful place where food grows on the many trees. There is open space and long grass grows in the green fields. There is hardly any rubbish and the air is fresh......It is a wonderful place for children because there is little freedom for children in Belfast to run about." BUNSCOIL MHIC REACHTAIN
Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain was founded in 1999, with an intake of 5 children. Situated in an old Presbyterian Church, Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain is North Belfast's second bunscoil. In the absence of Dept. of Education recognition, the money which ensures a high standard of Irish medium education must be raised by parents. The benefits to their children are evident. Only recently, pupils of the school, Niamh Ní Dhochartaigh and Leoní Ní Rathaille, respectively, were awarded prize and commendation for their entries in a national art competition. Their work was displayed in Caife Trí D in Dublin throughout National Irish Language Week. 
BUNSCOIL AN tSLÉIBHE DHUIBH
The school was set up seven years ago with only 6 children. There are now 125 with 27 more starting next year and the nursery at capacity for the next 3 years. Eight children will this year complete their primary education, all of whom are going on to Irish medium secondary school. This year we founded football and hurling teams and there is a lot of computer-based activity in the school. We underwent inspection this year and received a very good report. We operate in temporary accommodation and on a temporary site. We hope soon to have something permanent. CAIRDE
CAIRDE was founded in 1992 as a community group to provide support for Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and Naíscoil Bhreandáin, Irish medium primary and nursery schools. Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Belfast's largest bunscoil, now enjoys Dept. of Education recognition and CAIRDE have gone on to provide 96 nursery places and 35 after-schools care places through the medium of Irish. With the assistance of various funders, these services are soon to find a new home in a purpose-built multi-resource centre. AN CLUB EACHTRA
An Club Eachtra was established in 1990. It is an Irish language community group providing services for youth, leisure and education. It also promotes small community business within the Irish speaking community. Club Eachtra run a community café and souvenir shop alongside a celtic design embroidery service. Club Eachtra is developing as a tourist information point. 
CULTÚRLANN Mc ADAM Ó FIAICH
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich is Belfast's only Irish language arts centre. The main aim of the centre is to promote the Irish language arts in the community. During the year the centre is very busy with a wide range of events including concerts, plays, exhibitions, classes, lectures etc. An Chultúrlann also houses a number of thriving Irish language based organisations, including An Caife Glas, café, and An Ceathrú Póilí, craft & bookshop CUMANN NA FUISEOIGE
Cumann na Fuiseoige was formed in December 1998 by Republican ex-POWs who speak Irish.
Our 3 primary objectives are:
1. To give ex-POWs an opportunity to practice their language.
2. To allow them to meet with the wider Irish-speaking community.
3. To provide training and employment for them through the medium of Irish. Groups of interest outside Belfast:
Bunscoil Uí Néill Coalisland, Co.Tyrone.
Conradh na Gaeilge Derry.
Gairm Derry.
Gaelphobail Strabane, Co.Tyrone.
Gaelphobail Lár Thír Eoghain Omagh, Co.Tyrone
Glór na nGael, Timire Uladh Maghera, Co.Derry.
Pobal Dhoire Derry.
Pobal an Dúin Downpatrick, Co.Down
Teach an Cheoil Dunloy, Co.Antrim.
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AN DROICHEAD
The committee of An Droichead,(The Bridge), was set up in 1991 to provide Irish medium education in South and East Belfast. While parents quickly established a nursery unit, children of primary school age had to travel to West Belfast to continue their education. By 1996, however demand for services had grown and a local Irish medium primary school - Scoil an Droichid - was founded on the Ormeau Road. Work has begun on a new multi-resource centre, which will house the pre-school and after school facilities as well educational resources for adults. FORBAIRT FEIRSTE
Since its foundation in 1994 Forbairt Feirste has been working to promote the use of the Irish language in the economic and business world and to create employment for Irish speakers. This is effected through a two pronged strategy:
1: The provision of training to enable the Irish language community to acquire and develop skills, ensuring they constitute a highly qualified work force.
2: The promotion of the language in all aspects of the business world, ensuring opportunity and advantage for Irish speakers in the competitive work place. GAELOILIÚINT
Founded back in 1991, Gaeloiliúint has its roots in the community who were, at that time, discussing Irish medium education. It has grown from an organisation of volunteers to be an employer of 6/7 full-time workers, and from an umbrella organisation into the Council for Irish medium Education with a broad and challenging remit. GAELSCOIL AN GHLEANNA
Hello! We are Jody, Jonathon, Damien, Alan and Conall. Our school is in Poleglass. This is the first year for all of us because we are only a new school, but next year 10 new children will join us. J.P. is our teacher. Our families and Gaeloiliúint help to raise money for our school. The thing we would like most for our school is some new toys and puzzles! GAELSCOIL AN LONNÁIN
Gaelscoil an Lonnáin is situated within St.Comghall's school on the lower Falls. We have 9 pupils, (P1 - P3): Sammy-Jo, Louise, Janos, Naiomi, Ryan, Yeshisha, Louise, Kirsty agus Paula. Siúin and Liam act as teacher and classroom assistant to all! Gaelscoil an Lonnáin is in its first year and remains unrecognised and unfunded by the Department of Education. Despite this we look forward to an intake of at least 10 new pupils in September 2000. LÁ
Lá was founded in 1984 as the national newspaper of the Irish language community. Lá is the voice of this community and is more than proud of its high standards of journalism and layout and design. Lá is printed every Wednesday and features some of the country's finest columnists, including Séamas Mac Annaidh, Micheál Ó Dónaill, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, Ian Malcolm, Roibéard Ó hEartáin and Colm Ó Dúlacháin. Lá is a sister paper of the North Belfast News and the Andersonstown News. 
SCOIL NA FUISEOIGE
We are Áine and Carmen! We go to Scoil na Fuiseoige, in Twinbrook, Belfast. There are 98 children in our school, 50 boys and 48 girls. We have 5 teachers: Áine P1, Máire P2, Eilís P3, Úna P4 and Conor P5/6/7. Other people also work in our school - Kate the classroom assistant, Tomás the caretaker, Joan and Patricia, the lunchtime supervisors and the dinner ladies, Mandy and Corrina! Barbara is the school secretary and Eilís is our principal. The things we love most about school are Art, Maths and Irish! (P7 pupils describe Scoil na Fuiseoige.) TACA
TACA was formed over 10 years ago to serve the financial needs of Irish-medium schools throughout the 6 counties. During this time TACA has assisted almost every nursery, primary and secondary Irish-medium school across the North, while also supporting cultural enterprises for the promotion of the language. TACA creates its income through TACA lottery sales, with outlets across the North. TACA now plans to extend its activities into the 26 counties. 
AN TELELANN
TELElann is part of an initiative to use Irish as a medium of communication and to explore its potential as a mechanism for promoting economic regeneration. TELElann provides low cost access to computer and telecommunications equipment and offers a range of office-based services in Irish as well as in English.
A translation service is available - both document and simultaneous translation - in several European languages but it is primarily an Irish language service.
TELElann offers a range of technology training courses through the medium of Irish, from word processing to internet and web design, and also hosts a children's technology club. Access to the internet is at an hourly rate.
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