Rathlin Island's past, present and future were drawn together in a web of connections and communications yesterday, writes Alison Hurst in Rathlin Island, Co Antrim.
At Manor House on the island, Mr Sean Farren, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, launched a new video conferencing unit intended to create the opportunity for islanders to participate in the Irish-language classes run by An Teach Ceoil in Dunloy, Co Antrim.
The project was set up by a partnership of organisations including Bord na Gaeilge, Glor na Gael, Comhchoiste na Gaeilge-Aontroim Thuaidh and the Causeway Institute for Further Education.
Rathlin was the North's last traditional Gaeltacht area and Irish was spoken by some residents as recently as 1964.