(Read in English below)

Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air luaidh a dhèanamh air buaidh eaconamach na Gàidhlig san sgìre.

Choinnich riochdairean Diardaoin (1 Cèitean) ann an Inbhir Nis aig co-labhairt a chaidh a chumail ann an Cùirt an Easbaig airson sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air na buannachdan sòisealta is eaconamach a tha an lùib na Gàidhlig ann an sgìre na Gàidhealtachd.

Tha e iomchaidh gun robhar a’ cumail na co-labhairt ann an Inbhir Nis am-bliadhna, seach gu bheil 40 bliadhna o thòisich solar Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig an toiseach ann an sgìre Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Dh’fhosgail aonad Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann am Bun-Sgoil a’ Mheadhain ann an Inbhir Nis ann an 1985.

An-diugh, tha còrr is 1000 sgoilear a’ frithealadh FtG ann am 20 bun-sgoil anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Nam measg, tha sgoiltean le Gàidhlig a-mhàin ann an Inbhir Nis, Loch Abar agus Port Rìgh. Tha 15 àrd-sgoiltean co-cheangailte cuideachd a’ tabhann a’ chànain.

Bha mòran de luchd-frithealaidh na co-labhairt air a dhol tro FtG agus iad air a dhol air adhart gu bhith a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an dreuchdan measgaichte is soirbheachail sa Ghàidhealtachd agus ann an àiteachan nas fhaide air falbh.

Am measg na bha a’ bruidhinn aig a’ cho-labhairt, bha seann sgoilearan FtG Bun-Sgoil a’ Mheadhain, Calum MacIlleathain agus Calum MacFhearghais.

Tha Calum MacIlleathain air luchd-leantainn lìonmhor a thogail an cois a bhith na chraoladair, na phreasantair agus na neach-cruthachaidh airson nam meadhanan sòisealta. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig agus gaol air cruth-tìre na Gàidhealtachd aig cridhe a chuid obrach.

Bha a bhith a’ togail eòlas is mothachadh mun chànan gus cur ri tuigse air àite is eachdraidh na phrìomh theachdaireachd a thàinig am bàrr on cho-labhairt.

B’ e cuspair eile gum feumar cothroman cànain sa Ghàidhlig a leudachadh do dhaoine òga taobh a-muigh na sgoile.

Thug Calum MacFhearghais seachad taisbeanadh tarraingeach mu phròiseact Alba FA, a chuir e air bhonn còmhla ri feadhainn eile.

Tha Calum, a bha na chluicheadair ball-coise proifeiseanta, air sgioba ball-coise nàiseanta a stèidheachadh, agus tha Gàidhlig aig na cluicheadairean air fad. Tha prògraman cluba is òigridh a’ daingneachadh na h-iomairt gus cothroman farpaiseach is coidsidh a thoirt do luchd-labhairt is luchd-ionnsachaidh a’ chànain air feadh na dùthcha.

Thuirt Ceannard Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Raymond Bremner: “Sheall Cunntas Sluaigh 2022 gun robh còrr is ochd neach sa cheud anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd aig an robh sgilean Gàidhlig. Tha seo suas bho 7.4% ann an 2011. ’S e rud gu h-àraid brosnachail a tha seo, agus tha sinn a’ strì ris an àireamh seo a mheudachadh buileach.

“Tha sinn dealasach ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig air feadh na Gàidhealtachd – nar sgoiltean, air soidhnichean is air sanasan, air na meadhanan sòisealta, ann an gnìomhachas làitheil na Comhairle, agus ann an iomadh dòigh a bharrachd.

“Thug a’ cho-labhairt fianais às ùr dhuinn gu bheil luach cultarach is comas eaconamach aig a’ Ghàidhlig ann an gnìomhachas agus so-fhastachd air feadh na Gàidhealtachd.”

Am measg luchd-labhairt eile na co-labhairt, bha an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis (tro òraid chlàraichte); Joanna Peteranna, Stiùiriche Obrachaidh Sgìreil aig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean; agus Seumas Greumach, Àrd-Oifigear a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich – Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail.

Thuirt Mgr Greumach gun robh am Mòd, an fhèis bhliadhnail Ghàidhlig as motha san t-saoghal, a’ sealltainn na deagh bhuaidh a dh’fhaodas a bhith aig cultar air eaconamaidh ionadail.

Tha Mòdan o chionn ghoirid air cuideachadh gus còrr is 9,000 neach-frithealaidh a thàladh agus air còrr air £3 millean a thogail airson nan aitreabhan aoigheachd. Bidh an fhèis bhliadhnail ochd-latha a’ tilleadh chun na Gàidhealtachd san Dàmhair nuair a bhios Loch Abar a’ toirt aoigheachd dhan Mhòd.

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis: “’S e ar dùbhlan a th’ ann a dhèanamh comasach don Ghàidhlig a bhith air a brosnachadh ann am prìomh roinnean na h-eaconamaidh. Bheir seo ath-bheothachadh air ar n-eaconamaidhean agus ar cànan tro thionnsgaineachd. Agus gu dearbh feumaidh sinn cuideachd dèiligeadh ri cùisean eaconamach nas doimhne – leithid còmhdhail, taigheadas agus gleidheadh sluaigh – a tha a’ lagachadh na seasmhachd aig coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig…”

Am measg an luchd-labhairt eile, bha Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, neach-ciùil agus co-stèidheadair Taigh-Staile Thiriodh; an Eaconamaiche is an Stiùiriche Sgrùdaidh Cornilius Chikwama; Alison Bell agus Amy NicLeòid, bho Thuras tro Chaisteal Inbhir Nis aig High Life na Gàidhealtachd; agus Iain Moireasdan bho MG Alba.

Tha Plana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd (PG) 2024 –29 air a structaradh timcheall air na ceithir prìomh chuspairean de choimhearsnachdan agus dachaigh; meadhanan, ealainean, cultar agus dualchas; gnìomhachas agus an eaconamaidh; agus foghlam.

Tha na prìomhachasan ro-innleachdail a’ gabhail a-steach barrachd taic do luchd-cleachdaidh is luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig uile, sna coimhearsnachdan aca, agus sna lìonraidhean anns a bheil iad ag obair.

Tha a’ chomhairle ag amas air ionnsachadh cànain a bhrosnachadh do dhaoine òga is do theaghlaichean san dachaigh agus cothroman a chruthachadh airson cur an cèill, sgilean, ruigsinneachd, com-pàirteachadh agus cruthachalachd sna meadhanan is sna h-ealainean Gàidhlig.

Am measg nam prìomhachasan eile, tha a bhith a’ leudachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an gnothachasan agus iomairtean sòisealta, agus adhartachadh leantainneach is fàs a lìbhrigeadh ann am FtG agus Foghlam Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig aig gach ìre, a’ gabhail a-steach a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh na Gàidhlig mar nuadh-chànan.

A bharrachd, tha am Plana Gàidhlig a’ mìneachadh dòigh-obrach ùr, stèidhichte air àite, a thaobh na Gàidhlig. Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air gealltanas a thoirt seachad obrachadh taobh a-staigh nan coimhearsnachdan dùthchasach le bhith a’ sònrachadh nan ionadachdan aca agus le bhith a’ toirt taic dhaibh.

Chaidh a’ cho-labhairt a mhaoineachadh le Maoin Soirbheachas Co-roinnte na Rìoghachd Aonaichte agus Sgioba Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd.

Bha a’ cho-labhairt a’ togail air aithisg neo-eisimeileach a chaidh a choimiseanadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, agus com-pàirtichean ann an 2014 gus suirbhidh a dhèanamh air buaidh na Gàidhlig air gnìomhachasan agus iomairtean sòisealta. Lorg an aithisg sin gun robh 60 sa cheud de na gnothachasan a bha san t-suirbhidh a’ faireachdainn gun robh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig aca a’ cur ri luach a’ chànain sa choimhearsnachd agus gur e so-mhaoin a tha sa Ghàidhlig nuair a thathar ga cleachdadh gus na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, turasachd, biadh is deoch a chur air adhart.

Ann an 2022, lorg aithisg Buidheann-obrach Gheàrr-bheatha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air ‘Cothroman Eaconamach is Sòisealta don Ghàidhlig’ gum bu chòir barrachd a dhèanamh ann am prìomh roinnean gnìomhachais, a’ gabhail a-steach nan gnìomhachasan cruthachail, cultar, dualchas, turasachd, spòrs, biadh is deoch, seach gur iad na prìomh roinnean a bha a’ putadh air adhart cleachdadh na Gàidhlig gu sòisealta agus toraidhean eaconamach.

Thug sgoilearan bho Àrd-Sgoil Àird nam Murchan seachad taisbeanadh ciùil aig àm lòin.

Thèid toraidhean na co-labhairt aithris do choinneamh de Chomataidh Gàidhlig na Comhairle san àm ri teachd.

Conference hails Gaelic’s social and economic impact

Highland Council has hailed the key economic impact of the Gaelic language in the region.

Delegates met on Thursday (1st May) in Inverness at a conference held in Eden Court to explore the social and economic benefits of promoting Gaelic in businesses across the Highland region.

The timing and venue of the conference was fitting as this year marks 40 years since Gaelic Medium Education provision was introduced in the Highland Council area. Central Primary’s GME unit in Inverness opened in 1985.

Today over 1000 pupils attend 20 primary schools in Highland offering GME education. Among them are stand-alone Gaelic primary schools in Inverness, Lochaber and Portree. A further 15 associated secondary schools also offer provision in the language.

Many of those participating in the conference were themselves former GME pupils who have gone on to use their Gaelic in varied and successful careers within the Highlands and further afield.

Among those speaking at the conference were former Central Primary GME pupils Calum Maclean and Calum Ferguson.

Calum Maclean has gained a huge online following from his work as a broadcaster, presenter and social media creator. Gaelic and a love of the Highland landscape are at the heart of his work.

Acquiring knowledge and awareness of the language to enrich appreciation of place and history was a key message that emerged from the conference.

Another important theme of the event was to broaden Gaelic language opportunities for young people outside of a school setting.

Calum Ferguson delivered an engaging presentation on the Alba FA project, which he helped to create.

Former professional footballer Calum has formed a Scottish national football team made up entirely of Gaelic speakers. Underpinning the initiative are club and youth programmes to deliver competitive and coaching opportunities for speakers and learners of the language across the country.

Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner said: “The 2022 census showed that around eight per cent of people in the Highlands had Gaelic language skills, which is up from the 2011 figure. That is encouraging and we are striving to increase the numbers further.

“We are committed to promoting Gaelic throughout the Highlands - in our schools, on signs and advertisements, on social media, in the daily activities of the council and in many other ways.

“The conference demonstrated fresh evidence of the cultural value and economic potential of Gaelic in business and employability across the Highlands.”

Other contributions at the conference came from deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (via a recorded speech); Joanna Peteranna, who is HIE’s Director of Area Operations; and James Graham, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach – The Royal National Mòd.

Mr Graham said the Mòd, which is the world’s largest annual celebration of Gaelic, highlighted the positive impact culture can have on a local economy.

Recent Mòds helped attract some 9,000 attendees and generated around £3 million for host venues. The annual eight-day festival will return to Highland this October when Lochaber plays host.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “It is our challenge to enable Gaelic to thrive in key sectors of the economy, revitalising rural places and our language through entrepreneurship, as well as to tackle deeper economic issues such as transport, housing and population retention, all of which can undermine the resilience of Gaelic communities.”

Other key conference speakers included Ian Smith, musician and co-founder of Tiree Distillery; Economist and Audit Director Cornilius Chikwama; Alison Bell and Amy MacLeod, of High Life Highland’s Inverness Castle Experience and John Morrison of media body MG Alba.

Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2024 –29 has been structured around the four key themes of communities and home; media and the arts; business and the economy and education.

Strategic priorities include increased support for all Gaelic users and learners, in their communities and the networks in which they operate.

The council aims to encourage Gaelic language learning for young people and families in the home and create opportunities for expression, skills, access, participation and creativity in Gaelic media and the arts

Further priorities are to expand the use of Gaelic in businesses and social enterprises, and deliver continued promotion and growth in GME and Gaelic Learner Education at all levels, including delivery of Gaelic as a modern language.

In addition, the GLP outlines a refreshed, place-based approach to Gaelic. Highland Council has committed to targeted work within vernacular Gaelic communities by defining their localities and engaging and supporting them.

The conference was funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and Highland Council’s Gaelic Team.

The conference built upon an earlier independent report, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Highland Council and partners in 2014 to survey the impact of Gaelic on businesses and social enterprises. That report found that 60 per cent of the businesses surveyed felt that their use of Gaelic enhanced the value of the language within the community and that Gaelic is an asset when used to promote the creative industries, tourism, food and drink.

In 2022, a Scottish Government Short Life Working Group report on the ‘Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic’ found that there should be increased activity in key business sectors, including the creative industries, culture, heritage, tourism, sport, food and drink as the main drivers of social Gaelic use and economic outputs.

Pupils from Ardnamurchan High School gave a musical performance during the conference break.

Outcomes of the conference will be reported to a future meeting of the Council’s Gaelic Committee.