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
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn Pádraig Mac Lochlainn Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (; born 12 June 1973) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has served as a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel since April 2016. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal North-East constituency from 2011 and 2016. He lost his seat at the 2016 general election, but was subsequently elected to the Seanad in April 2016. Mac Lochlainn was born in Leeds, England on 12 June 1973, the son of two Irish parents, Réamonn and Mary Mac Lochlainn. He is their only child. His father was a Provisional IRA