Gaelic and football combine to inspire an innovative new learning and fitness programme
Tha Sgioba Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd fìor thoilichte fàilte a chur air FC Sonas, seirbheis ball-coise Gàidhlig a chuir Calum Fearghastan agus Donaidh Foirbeis, air bhonn le taic agus maoin bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Tha Calum agus Donaidh fileanta sa Ghàidhlig agus air a bhith an lùib ball-coise airson iomadh bliadhna. Tha grunn dhreuchdan air a bhith aig Donaidh le ICFTC, Comann Ball-coise na h-Alba agus Club Ball-coise Heart of Midlothian. ’S e cluicheadair ball-coise proifeiseanta a th’ ann an Calum agus tha e air cluiche airson clubaichean an dà chuid ann an Alba agus air stèidh eadar-nàiseanta ann an Canada agus Sealan Nuadh. Tha iad air dà rud air a bheil meas mòr aca – Gàidhlig agus ball-coise – a thoirt còmhla gus FC Sonas a chruthachadh.
’S e a’ bheachd-smuain a bhith a’ cleachdadh ball-coise mar dhòigh gus ceangal a thogail an dà chuid le daoine a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus le fileantaich co-dhiù a tha iad òg no sean, a’ toirt cothrom seachad gus sgilean cànain Gàidhlig a neartachadh a bharrachd air comasan ball-coise.
Thuirt Calum Fearghastan: “Tha sinn air ar dòigh glan gu bheil FC Sonas againn air dòigh a-nis. Tha sinn an dòchas gun glac an sreath bhidiothan a mhaireas sia seachdainean aire chloinne is theaghlaichean tron ghlasadh-sluaigh agus iad a’ measgachadh a bhith a’ cluiche ball-coise agus a’ bruidhinn na Gàidhlig aig an taigh. Tha grunn phlanaichean sgoinneil againn san amharc agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ris an àm ri teachd a dh’aindeoin cho mì-chinnteach ’s a tha cùisean an-dràsta.”
Thuirt Steven Kellow, Oifigear Maoineachaidh & Phròiseactan Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha sinn fìor thoilichte gun urrainn dhuinn taic a thoirt dhan phròiseact tharraingeach seo mar phàirt den iomairt #cleachdiaigantaigh a bhrosnaicheas iomadh neach òg air feadh na dùthcha gus a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh aig an taigh.”
Tha FC Sonas air barantas fhaighinn gus sia bhidiothan seachdaineach a chruthachadh agus bidh iad rim faotainn do 22 sgoil air feadh sgìre na Gàidhealtachd. Tha na bhidiothan a’ toirt seachad dùbhlain anns am faod an teaghlach air fad com-pàirt a ghabhail agus chan eil uidheamachd a dhìth ach rudan a bhios agaibh mun taigh co-dhiù.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh bho:
Dolina.Grant@highland.gov.uk
The Highland Council Gaelic team is delighted to welcome FC Sonas, an innovative Scottish Gaelic football service which has been set up by Calum Ferguson and Donnie Forbes, with support and financial assistance from Highland Council and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Calum and Donnie are both fluent Gaelic speakers who have been engaged in football circles for a number of years.
Donnie has held various roles with ICFTC, Scottish Football Association and Heart of Midlothian Football Club.
Calum is a professional football player who has played for clubs both in Scotland and on an international level in Canada and New Zealand. They have combined their two passions of Gaelic and football to create FC Sonas.
The idea is to use football as a way to engage those both learning Gaelic and fluent speakers whether young or old; providing an opportunity to enhance and strengthen Gaelic language skills as well as their football abilities.
Calum Ferguson said, “We delighted to have FC Sonas up and running. We hope that the 6 Week Video Series can engage children and families during lockdown combining football with speaking the Gaelic language at home. Going forward we have a number of exciting plans in place and we are looking forward to what the future has in store despite these uncertain times."
Steven Kellow, Funding & Project Officer at Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: "We're delighted to be able to support this exciting project as part of our #cleachdiaigantaigh initiative that will benefit many young people across the country to use Gaelic at home."
FC Sonas have been commissioned to produce 6 weekly videos which will be available to 22 schools throughout the Highland Council area.
The videos set weekly football challenges which the whole family can take part in and all you need is some household items.
For further information contact: