A cultural centre renowned for promoting the Irish language in Belfast has started classes in Scottish Gaelic.

The Ormeau Road venue An Droichead, which is Irish for The Bridge, has formed links between nationalists, unionists and diverse ethnic minority communities.

The site includes an Irish medium school, but its purpose-built cultural centre has become widely known as a top venue for celtic music.

The organisers of the annual festival at An Droichead included Scottish Gaelic in their schedule after a successful cross-community project saw people from East Belfast and the south of the city learn Irish and the Scottish equivalent.

Feile organiser Ray Giffen said the classes in Scottish Gaelic were in keeping with its celebration of celtic culture seen in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

"It has always been part of our cultural diversity programme to build bridges between people and to bridge the language links between Ireland and Scotland," he said.

This year's Feile An Droichead, which begins this week, is being championed by one of the founders of modern-day Irish traditional music Donal Lunny and boasts a host of top-name acts.

The series of concerts includes a major attraction with the trad super-group The Gloaming making a special appearance at the Mandela Hall at Queen's University campus.

"It's a coup for An Droichead to have The Gloaming come to Belfast," Mr Giffen said.

The festival opens on Thursday when Donal Lunny takes to the stage for a special one-off concert with box player Mairtin O'Connor and sean nos singer Roisin Elsafty.