Sunday, September 04, 2011

Ballintoy says no

Church of Ireland members of one of the most photographed country churches in Northern Ireland have objected to a bid to erect Irish nameplates on the road outside their place of worship.

Ballintoy Church is perched on the North Antrim coast and is one of the most scenic churches in the country, often pictured with a stunning vista of Rathlin Island in the background.

The area was also recently the backdrop for the filming of scenes for the new series of global smash hit fantasy series, ‘Game of thrones’, which has just been nominated for 13 Emmy awards–the US television version of the Oscars.

But behind the beautiful scenery and peaceful countryside, a bitter debate has been raging over the erection of a bilingual signs in the area.

Strong opposition by local residents means that the signs will not go ahead in the area around the church.

Under current rules, individuals can apply to Moyle Council in nearby Ballycastle for bilingual street signs in either English and Irish or English and Ulster Scots.

Several Irish signs have already gone up, mostly in the predominantly nationalist Glens of Antrim and Ballycastle areas, while Ulster Scots nameplates  appeared in places such as the mainly Unionist Bushmills in the area leading to the world famous Giant’s Causeway.

It emerges that an application was made for bilingual Irish/English signs of Harbour Road, Ballintoy – where the Church of Ireland parish church is situated – but the bid failed because only 36% of respondents on the road were in favour.

This fell short of the necessary two thirds of positive replies, thus vetoing the proposal.

A Moyle Council report said, “With regard to the proposal in respect of Harbour Rd.,Ballintoy, it should be noted that a petition was submitted to the council signed by 47 parishioners of Ballintoy Parish Church strenuously objecting to such a proposal. However only one vote was allowed on behalf of the church premises.”