The demonstration was called by Irish language campaign group An Dream Dearg to build pressure on Northern Ireland political parties to commit to Irish language legislation in the current talks process.

The lack of Irish language legislation in Northern Ireland has previously been subject to criticism from the Council of Europe.

The St Andrews Agreement, brokered a decade ago, includes an unrealised commitment to introduce Irish language legislation.

Any such legislation would likely overturn the ban on the use of Irish in Northern Ireland courts, would allow the use of Irish in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and would extend the use of Irish by public bodies.

Belfast solicitor John Finucane, who is Sinn Féin’s election candidate in North Belfast, said the turnout at the demonstration on Saturday had “debunked the myth being peddled by the DUP that there is only a small number of political activists demanding an Irish Language Act”.

He added that the march had “sent a clear message to the British government and the DUP to honour and to implement the agreement to bring forward an Irish Language Act”.