Tachartas dreuchdan Gàidhlig ‘Siuthad!’ airson sgoiltean ann an Cùirt an Easbaig

English translation follows

Thàinig luchd-labhairt òga Gàidhlig bho àrd-sgoiltean air feadh sgìre Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd còmhla ri Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air Diardaoin 29 Faoilleach aig Cùirt an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis.

Chaidh an tachartas, a tha a-nis san 12mh bliadhna aige, a chur air dòigh le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba, le maoineachadh bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.

Bha tachartasan is fiosrachadh a’ sealltainn nan cothroman a tha rim faotainn ann an roinnean far a bheil sgilean Gàidhlig nam buannachd ann am margaid na h-obrach.

Bha an tachartas ag amas air sgoilearan ÀS2 agus ÀS3 ann am Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig agus fhuair iad fiosrachadh mu na cothroman ann am foghlam adhartach is àrd-ìre far am faodadh na sgilean Gàidhlig aca a bhith bunaiteach a thaobh an cuid soirbheachais.

Bha mu 110 sgoilear an làthair bho shia sgoiltean – Àrd-Sgoil Àird nam Murchan, Àrd-Sgoil Loch Abar, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis, Àrd-Sgoil Ullapuil, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhubhthaich agus Acadamaidh Inbhir Pheofharain.

Chaidh an tachartas fhosgladh le Raibeart Robasdan, prìomh sheinneadair Tide Lines, a bhruidhinn mu na cothroman lìonmhor a bha cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig air a thabhann dha bho thòisich e air slighe a’ chiùil anns an sgoil sa Ghearasdan.

Bha raon taisbeanaidh ann agus stàlaichean aig grunn bhuidhnean a leithid Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, NHS na Gàidhealtachd, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, Alba FA, Cultarlann Inbhir Nis, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean agus Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.

Ghabh sgoilearan pàirt ann am bùithtean-obrach eadar-obrachail agus choinnich iad ri riochdairean bho dhiofar roinnean, a’ gabhail a-steach na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, foghlam, craobh-sgaoileadh agus an roinn phoblach, is iad ag innse mun obair a bhios iad a’ dèanamh agus na slighean a bhios iad a’ leantainn sna diofar dhreuchdan aca.

Chaidh bùithtean-obrach a chur air dòigh leis a’ BhBC, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba agus Astar Media.

Bhruidhinn luchd-stiùiridh nam bùithtean-obrach ris na sgoilearan mun obair aca agus mun dòigh sa bheil an cànan air an t-slighe dhreuchdail Ghàidhlig aca a chuideachadh.

Thuirt Derek MacCoinnich, Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig aig Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba: “Tha tachartasan mar seo cudromach gus na cothroman a th’ ann do luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a thoirt am follais. Tha iad cuideachd a’ sealltainn an raon farsaing dhreuchdan a th’ ann dhaibh agus na dreuchdan air am bu chòir dhaibh beachdachadh airson an ama ri teachd. Tha e na adhbhar misneachd faicinn gu bheil na h-uimhir de sgoilearan an seo bho air feadh na Gàidhealtachd a’ cleachdadh a’ chànain agus ag ionnsachadh gum faodadh a’ Ghàidhlig an cuideachadh sna dreuchdan aca ann an grunn dhòighean.”

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Drew Mac a’ Mhuilleir: “B’ e cothrom air leth a bha seo do luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig bho sgoiltean thar sgìre na Gàidhealtachd, is iad a’ togail ceangal le com-pàirtichean agus a’ sgrùdadh nan cothroman a tha an lùib dreuchdan Gàidhlig.

“A bharrachd air a bhith cho cudromach do chultar na Gàidhealtachd, tha a’ Ghàidhlig cuideachd a’ toirt iomadh buannachd eaconamach dhan sgìre againn, thar grunn roinnean eadar coimhearsnachd, gnothachas, turasachd, na meadhanan agus na h-ealain.

“Tha dreuchdan Gàidhlig is dreuchdan a’ buntainn ri cultar ann an riaghaltas ionadail, an NHS, teagasg, tràth-bhliadhnaichean, na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, gnothachasan ùra agus roinn na h-àrainneachd.

“Tha na dreuchdan seo fìor chudromach a thaobh a bhith a’ tàladh dhaoine gu bhith a’ fuireach agus ag obair san sgìre, a’ toirt taic do choimhearsnachdan agus a’ toirt spionnadh dhan eaconamaidh ionadail.

“Tha an tachartas aig Cùirt an Easbaig a’ leantainn air adhart a’ togail air deagh obair chom-pàirteach eadar Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba.

Thuirt an seinneadair is an cluicheadair-ciùil aig Tide Lines, Raibeart Robasdan: “Thòisich mi ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig san àrd-sgoil, agus bhon uair sin tha an cànan air iomadh doras fhosgladh dhomh. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig na pàirt mhòr de na tha sinn a’ dèanamh a thaobh cultar is ceòl le Tide Lines.

“’S e an teachdaireachd a th’ agamsa dhan ghinealach as òige, leantainn orra a bhith moiteil às a’ chànan aca, a chleachdadh gach cothrom a gheibh iad agus cumail a’ dol – is urrainn dhan Ghàidhlig an toirt a bhad sam bith.”

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‘Siuthad!’ (Go On!) Gaelic careers event for schools at Eden Court

Young Gaelic speakers from secondary schools across the Highland Council area joined Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Highland Council on Thursday 29 January at Eden Court in Inverness.

The event, now in its 12th year, was organised by Highland Council and SDS with funding also provided by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Activities and information highlighted showcased Gaelic opportunities in sectors where Gaelic language skills are an advantage within the labour market.

The event was aimed at Gaelic medium pupils in S2 and S3 and provided the pupils an occasion to explore further and higher education opportunities where using their Gaelic skills could be key to their success.

Around 110 pupils from six schools – Ardnamurchan, Lochaber, Inverness Royal Academy, Ullapool, Tain and Dingwall – attended.

The event was opened by Robert Robertson, lead singer from Tide Lines, who spoke about the many opportunities that Gaelic and Gaelic culture had offered him since his musical journey started at school in Fort William.

The event incorporated a marketplace/exhibitor area made up of several organisations including Highland Council, NHS Highland, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the University of Edinburgh, Alba FA, Cultarlann Inbhir Nis, Stòrlann, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Pupils participated in interactive workshops and met representatives from various sectors including creative industries, education, broadcasting and the public sector about the work they do and the pathways they followed in their respective careers.

Workshops were hosted by the BBC, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Historic Environment Scotland and Astar Media.

Those leading the workshops all spoke to pupils about their work and how language usage has enhanced their Gaelic career path.

Derek Mackenzie, SDS Gaelic Development Officer, said: “Events like this are important to highlight opportunities that are open to Gaelic learners. They also show the wide range of vocations that are available to them that they should consider for the future.

"It is encouraging to see many pupils here from across the Highland using the language and learning that it could help them in their careers, in all different ways.”

Chair of Highland Council Gaelic Committee, Cllr Drew Millar, said: “This was a great opportunity for Gaelic learners from schools across the Highland area to engage with participants and to explore opportunities for Gaelic-related careers.

“As well as being so important to the culture of Highland, Gaelic also carries many economic benefits for our region across various sectors from community, business, tourism, media and the arts.

“There are Gaelic and cultural-related posts in local government, the NHS, teaching, early years, creative industries, new start-ups and the environmental sector.

“These jobs are key to retaining and attracting people to live and work in the region, supporting communities and boosting the local economy.

“The event at Eden Court continues to build on the positive partnership working between the Highland Council, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Skills Development Scotland.

Musician and Tide Lines singer Robert Robertson said: “I started learning Gaelic in high school, and since then the language has opened so many doors for me. It is a huge part of everything we do culturally, and musically, with Tide Lines.

“My message to the younger generation is to continue to be proud of their language, to use it at every opportunity and to keep going – it can take them wherever they want to go.”