Gaelic – cultural value and economic potential
A’ Ghàidhlig – luach cultarach is comas eaconamach (Translation below)
An t-seachdain seo bheachdaich comhairlichean Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd air fianais ùr mu luach chultarach is mu chomas eaconamach na Gàidhlig ann an gnothachas is so-fhastachd air feadh na Gàidhealtachd.
Aig a’ choinneimh aice an-dè (Diciadain 4 Ògmhios) bha Comataidh na Gàidhlig a’ deasbaireachd prìomh phuingean bhon Cho-labhairt Ghàidhlig dhan tug Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd aoigheachd air 1 Cèitean ann an Cùirt an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis.
Am measg nan cuspairean cumanta tron tachartas bha aithne cho-roinnte mu bhuannachdan follaiseach na Gàidhlig thar iomadh roinn bho choimhearsnachd, gnothachas is turasachd gu na meadhanan, cultar is na h-ealain.
Bha na còmhraidhean a’ beachdachadh air mar a tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ toirt buannachd dhan Ghàidhealtachd tro bhith a’ cur ri beairteas agus a’ gabhail tlachd à brìgh àite agus eachdraidh.
B’ e cuspair cudromach eile a bhith a’ leudachadh chothroman a thaobh na Gàidhlig do dhaoine òga taobh a-muigh suidheachadh sgoile.
Air cuspair co-cheangailte, mheòraich Comataidh na Gàidhlig air soirbheachas Duaisean Ceòl Traidiseanta MG ALBA, a bha air aoigheachd ann an Inbhir Nis san t-Samhain an-uiridh, agus bhathar cuideachd a’ coimhead air adhart ri Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail na bliadhna sa, a thèid a chumail ann an Loch Abar san Dàmhair.
Thug Na Trads mòran aoighean, luchd-ealain, luchd-naidheachd is riochdairean gu Inbhir Nis airson ceithir latha, is iad uile a’ cleachdadh àiteachan-fuirich is aoigheachd ann am prìomh bhaile na Gàidhealtachd.
Thèid am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, an fhèis fharpaiseach chultarach Ghàidhlig as motha san t-saoghal, a chumail bhon 10 chun an 18 dhen Dàmhair.
Chaidh fiosrachadh às ùr a thoirt do bhuill mu dhiofar thaobhan dhen fhèis, a’ gabhail a-steach ionadan, tachartasan iomaill, com-pàirteachadh gnothachais agus pròiseact Acadamaidh a’ Mhòid a tha air cuideachadh gus oideachadh a bharrachd a thoirt seachad ann an sgoiltean thar sgìrean Loch Abar.
Tha Acadamaidh a’ Mhòid air a lìbhrigeadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal, ann an com-pàirteachas leis a’ Chomunn Ghàidhealach agus le maoineachadh bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig agus taic bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Tha an Acadamaidh air ochdnar oidean fhastadh, tha 18 sgoiltean air an ainmean a chur sìos airson a’ phrògraim, thathar a’ lìbhrigeadh 297 seisean, agus tha 493 sgoilearan a’ gabhail pàirt.
Diciadain fhuair Comataidh na Gàidhlig cuideachd cunntas às ùr air Bile nan Cànanan Albannach a tha an-dràsta aig ìre a trì ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.
Tha amas anns a’ Bhile gun tèid cumhachd a thoirt do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte ainmeachadh – sgìrean a bheir comas seachad seirbheisean is iomairtean Gàidhlig amas air coimhearsnachdan le ceanglaichean làidir cànanach, foghlamach, cultarach no eachdraidheil ris a’ Ghàidhlig.
Tha am Bile cuideachd a’ toirt a-steach dòigh-obrach ro-innleachdail ùr a thaobh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig, ag amas air dèiligeadh ri beàrnan is cion cunbhalachd ann an solar air feadh na h-Alba.
Tha grunn atharrachaidhean eile gam moladh a thaobh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig is iad a’ còmhdach còmhdhail sgoile; sgìrean-sgoile; co-roinn fiosrachaidh; tràth-ionnsachadh is cùram-chloinne; agus a bhith a’ leudachadh cothrom air foghlam Gàidhlig ann am foghlam adhartach is àrd-ìre.
Chaidh aithisg adhartais a thoirt dhan chomataidh cuideachd mu Phlana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2024–29.
Crìoch
Gaelic – cultural value and economic potential
Fresh evidence of the cultural value and economic potential of Gaelic in business and employment across the Highlands was recognised by Highland Councillors this week.
At its meeting yesterday (Wednesday 4th June) the Council’s Gaelic Committee discussed the key items from the well-attended Gaelic Conference hosted by the Council on 1st May at Eden Court in Inverness.
A common theme throughout the event was the shared recognition of Gaelic’s tangible benefits across multiple sectors from community, business and tourism to media, culture and the arts.
The discussions focussed on how Gaelic benefits the Highlands through both enrichment and appreciation of place and history.
Another important theme of the event was to broaden Gaelic language opportunities for young people outside of a school setting.
On a related theme the Gaelic Committee reflected on the success of the MG Alba Traditional Music Awards, hosted in Inverness last November, and looked forward to this year’s Royal National Mòd, which will be held in Lochaber in October.
Na Trads brought multiple guests, artists, sponsors, press and production staff to Inverness for four days, all using hospitality and accommodation in the capital of the Highlands.
The Royal National Mòd, which is the largest annual competitive Gaelic cultural festival in the world, will take place from 10 - 18 October.
Members were updated on various aspects of the festival, including venues, fringe events, business engagement and the Mòd Academy project which has helped provide additional tutoring in schools across the Lochaber area.
The Mòd Academy is delivered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, in partnership with An Comunn Gàidhealach and funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig with support from Highland Council. It has employed eight tutors, 18 schools have signed up for the programme, 297 sessions are being delivered and 493 pupils participating.
On Wednesday the Gaelic committee was also given an update on the Scottish Languages Bill currently at stage three in the Scottish parliament.
Included within the Bill is an aim to give local authorities power to designate Areas of Linguistic Significance - areas which will allow for targeted delivery of Gaelic services and initiatives in communities with strong linguistic, educational, cultural or historical ties to Gaelic.
The Bill also introduces a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education, aiming to address gaps and inconsistencies in provision across Scotland.
There are various other proposed changes linked to Gaelic medium education covering school transport; catchment areas; information-sharing; early learning and childcare and widening access to Gaelic education in further and higher education settings.
The committee was also given a progress report on the delivery of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan for 2024–29.
The reports that went before the committee can be found here.
Ends