Gaelscoil an Chaistil has re-established traditional links with Scotland in its work with Ionad Calumchille on the island of Islay, which is only 20 miles away from Ballycastle.

Dr Réamaí Mathers, chairperson of the group, said: "It has always been a feature of our group to be open to all and to celebrate a local Gaelic tradition which has been here for hundreds and hundreds of generations.

"Our local Gaelic-medium school, Gaelscoil an Chaistil also does this in the broadest and most inclusive sense welcoming children from all linguistic, social, political and religious backgrounds.

"Gaelic is echoed in some way in everyone's lives, it is heard in almost every place name."

He said it is the source of the legends of Finn McCool, The Children of Lir and much more.

"Gaelic was spoken as a living language throughout all of the island of Ireland and indeed it was spoken in the Glens of Antrim up until the Fifties," he continued.

"The language is now on the up and the revival in our community is remarkable."

Dr Mathers said that Gaelic is the native language of Ireland, most of Scotland and the Isle of Man.

"During our visits with the people of Islay we are welcomed with open arms by our long lost friends in Scotland," he said.

"We look forward to developing a range of programmes that will help our children explore our commonality.

"We hope to pioneer some new projects this year that will allow children and adults to improve their educational opportunities while exploring our common past and a shared future.

"What is interesting is that of course that while some of the most vocal yet narrowest perspectives on this side of the sea are at pains to show Gaelic or Irish as an exclusively Catholic or nationalist heritage, this idea would be seen as ridiculous in Scotland with people from all religious and political backgrounds being proud of their Gaelic tradition.

"We hope and know that the work between Ballycastle and Islay will create an interesting space for people here to see our language as part of a tradition we can all celebrate together."