Is ionad cultúrtha Gaeilge í an Chultúrlann atá suite ar shuíomh Eaglais Phreispitéireach an Bhealaigh Leathain ar Bhóthar na bhFál. Tá sí tiomanta don teanga agus don chultúr mar oidhreacht chómónta an phobail go léir.

Bunaíodh an t-ionad le heiteas neamhspleách neamhpholaitiúil, agus ainmníodh í as beirt mhórscoláirí Gaeilge de thraidisiúin éagsúla, déarfá: fear tionsclaíochta agus teanga, agus Preispitéireach de chuid an 19ú haois, Robert Shipboy McAdam (1808-95) agus an Cairdinéal Tomás ó Fiaich (1923-90).

Ba fhear ilteangach é MacAdam agus deirtear go raibh breis agus dosaen teangacha ar a thoil aige, ach ba sa Ghaeilge ba mhó a raibh spéis aige. Agus é in aois a 22, bhunaigh sé Cuideachta Gaedhilge Uladh, agus bhailigh sé mórán lámhscríbhinní luachmhara Gaeilge agus scríobh sé foclóir Gaeilge.

Rugadh Tomás Ó Fiaich i gCoilleach Eanach, Contae Ard Mhacha, agus oirníodh ina shagart é in 1948. Staraí agus scoláire Gaeilge iomráiteach a bhí ann. Ceapadh ar fhoireann Choláiste Phádraig, Maigh Nuad in 1953 é, agus rinneadh Uachtarán an Choláiste de in 1974. Rinneadh Cairdinéal de Ó Fiaich in 1979 agus bhí sé mar Phríomháidh na hÉireann Uile ó 1977 go dtína bhás. 

Osclaíodh an Chultúrlann in 1991 ar sheansuíomh Eaglais Phreispitéireach an Bhealaigh Leathain sa Cheathrú Ghaeltachta in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste. Ag an tús, bhí roinnt ceardlann ealaíontóirí ann chomh maith leis an chéad mheánscoil lán-Ghaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann. Rinneadh athchóiriú agus méadú suntasach ar an fhoirgneamh in 2010, agus anois, tá amharclann, bialann, siopa leabhar agus seomraí comhdhála ann. Tá dánlann Gerard Dillon ann chomh maith, a ainmníodh as an ealaíontóir mór de chuid an 20ú haois, a rugadh in aice láimhe ar Shráid Chluain Ard Íochtarach. Tá spás idirghníomhach ar an chéad urlár a thugann léargas ar fhorbairt na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste.

Located on the site of the last Presbyterian church on the Falls Road, Cultúrlann is dedicated to the Irish language and culture as part of the common heritage of everyone.

The centre, which was founded on an independent, non-political ethos, is named in honour of two eminent Gaelic scholars from what might be considered opposing traditions: the 19th century Presbyterian industrialist and linguist Robert Shipboy MacAdam (1808–95) and Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich (1923–90).

MacAdam was a true polyglot said to have mastered over a dozen languages. Of these, Irish was his greatest passion. At the age of just 22 he founded the Ulster Gaelic Society, and would go on to collect a large number of precious Irish-language manuscripts and publish a Gaelic dictionary.

Born in Cullyhanna, county Armagh, Tomás Ó Fiaich was ordained into the priesthood in 1948. A noted Irish language scholar and historian, he joined the faculty of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, in 1953, becoming its President in 1974. Ó Fiaich was created a Cardinal in 1979 and was Primate of All Ireland from 1977 until his death. 

The Cultúrlann was opened in 1991 on the site of the former Broadway Presbyterian Church in West Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter. It initially housed a number of artist workshops as well as Northern Ireland’s first Irish-medium secondary school. The building was significantly renovated and extended in 2010 and is today home to a theatre, restaurant, book shop and conference rooms, as well as the Gerald Dillon art gallery, named after the distinguished 20th century artist, who was born in nearby Lower Clonard Street. An interactive space on the first floor provides insight into the history and development of the Irish language in Belfast.