Status of the Irish language Northern Ireland, including Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, learned Irish while in prison, a development known as the "Jailtacht". Although the language was taught in Catholic secondary schools (especially by the Christian Brothers), it was not taught at all in the controlled sector, which is mostly attended by Protestant pupils. Irish-medium schools, however, known as "Gaelscoileanna", were founded in Belfast and Derry and the Gaelscoileanna movement has since expanded to across much of Northern Ireland similar to its expansion in the Republic of Ireland. An Irish-language newspaper called "Lá" (later called "Lá Nua") produced by The Andersonstown News Group (later
Mícheál Mac Donncha He was editor of "An Phoblacht". from 1990 to 1996. From 1997 to 2014 he served as Parliamentary Assistant to Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and for much of that time was manager of the Sinn Féin Oireachtas team. He is the author of a centenary history of Sinn Féin 'A Century of Struggle' (2005). Mac Donncha as a child actor played a young version of the actor Marty Feldman in the 1976 film "The Last Remake of Beau Geste". Mícheál Mac Donncha Mícheál Mac Donncha (born Michael McConkey) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician, who served as the