Tha sreath de thachartasan a’ comharrachadh 40 bliadhna de dh’Fhoghlam tron Ghàidhlig (FtG) sa Ghàidhealtachd a’ tòiseachadh sna seachdainean air thoiseach.
Thathar a’ cur tachartasan spòrs, taisbeanaidhean, cèilidhean coimhearsnachd agus sreath de dh’agallamhan bhidio air dòigh gus a’ chlach-mhìle eachdraidheil a chomharrachadh agus cuideachadh gus meòrachadh air na tha foghlam Gàidhlig air cur ris an sgìre san dà fhichead bliadhna mu dheireadh.
Às dèidh obair thùsail ann an Glaschu, b’ i Bun-Sgoil a’ Mheadhain ann an Inbhir Nis a’ chiad sgoil sa Ghàidhealtachd a chuir aonad FtG air bhonn, nuair a chlàraich seachdnar sgoilearan airson seisean sgoile 1985–86. Cha b’ fhada gus an do lean sgoiltean anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus an uair sin air feadh na sgìre.
B’ ann am Port Rìgh a bha breab toisich nan tachartasan comharrachaidh le fèis ball-coise òigridh air 25 Giblean. Le taic bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, stiùir coidseachan bho Alba FA – Caidreachas Ball-coise Alba – an fhèis a thug òigridh bho sgoiltean FtG còmhla. ’S e Calum MacFhearghais fear de stiùirichean pròiseict Alba FA, agus bha e roimhe na chluicheadair proifeiseanta a chluich airson Caley Thistle Inbhir Nis, agus bha e fhèin na sgoilear aig Bun-Sgoil a’ Mheadhain ann an Inbhir Nis.
Fon tiotal ‘An-dè agus an-diugh’, thèid tuilleadh thachartasan spòrsail is cultarach a chumail gus an ceann-bliadhna a chomharrachadh.
Tha iad a’ gabhail a-steach:
- Tachartasan ball-coise òigridh ann an Inbhir Nis (23 Cèitean) agus sa Ghearasdan (20 Ògmhios).
- Fèis iomain bun-sgoile co-cheangailte ri High Life na Gàidhealtachd air 21 Cèitean aig Pàirc a’ Bhucht ann an Inbhir Nis, le cothrom faighinn a-steach gu Taigh-tasgaidh Sgeul na Camanachd a tha air ùr-fhosgladh, a’ neartachadh tuigse chultarach nan sgoilear a thaobh Camanachd is a dualchas Ghàidhlig.
- Taisbeanaidhean aig Cultarlann Inbhir Nis (9 Ògmhios) agus aig Tasglann Phort Rìgh (16–18 Ògmhios) ag innse sgeulachd FtG agus sgeulachd na Gàidhlig ann am foghlam san fharsaingeachd.
- Cèilidhean coimhearsnachd.
- Sreath de dh’agallamhan le cuid dhen fheadhainn a tha air a bhith an sàs ann am foghlam Gàidhlig thairis air an dà fhichead bliadhna mu dheireadh.
An-diugh, tha còrr is 1000 sgoilear a’ frithealadh 21 bun-sgoiltean sa Ghàidhealtachd a tha a’ tabhann FtG.
Tha 15 àrd-sgoil co-cheangailte sa Ghàidhealtachd cuideachd a’ tabhann solar Gàidhlig agus tha an àireamh sgoilearan a tha a’ coileanadh theisteanasan Gàidhlig anns na sgoiltean seo a’ sìor dhol am meud.
Tha àireamhan FtG nan tràth-bhliadhnaichean a’ dol suas – tha iad a-nis a’ dèanamh suas mu dheich sa cheud de sgoilearan ro-sgoile na sgìre air fad, an ceudad as àirde a bha riamh clàraichte.
Sheall an cunntas-sluaigh mu dheireadh ann an 2022 gun robh àrdachadh san àireimh de dhaoine sa Ghàidhealtachd le sgilean Gàidhlig. Bha na h-àrdachaidhean a bu mhotha a thaobh ceudadan sna buidhnean aoise 3–15 agus 25–34.
Thuirt Ceannard Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Raymond Bremner: “Tha a bhith a’ comharrachadh 40 bliadhna de dh’Fhoghlam tron Ghàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd dha-rìribh na adhbhar moit airson na sgìre againn. Tha rud a thòisich mar chlas beag, tùsail ann an Inbhir Nis air fàs gu bhith na mhodail foghlaim soirbheachail, ùr-nodha a tha air an cànan againn is na coimhearsnachdan againn a neartachadh.
“Tha figearan a’ chunntais-shluaigh mu dheireadh a’ sealltainn gu bheil adhartas soilleir ann, gu h-àraid am measg nam buidhnean aoise as òige, agus tha a’ Ghàidhlig fhathast na cànan beò, làitheil air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Tha an dealas againn làidir, agus fhad ’s a tha sinn a’ coimhead air ais air 40 bliadhna, bu chòir dhuinn ar n-aire a chumail cuideachd air an àm ri teachd.
“Tha an obair againn a’ sìor leudachadh chothroman, a’ neartachadh solar, agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun soirbhich leis a’ Ghàidhlig airson ginealaichean ri teachd.”
Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Drew Mac a’ Mhuilleir: “Tha foghlam Gàidhlig air buannachdan a thoirt gu na sgoiltean againn, an cànan againn agus an cultar againn ann an dòighean air nach smaoinicheamaid o chionn 40 bliadhna. Bho na tràth-bhliadhnaichean gu àrd-sgoil, bho FilmG chun a’ chiad sgioba ball-coise nàiseanta le Gàidhlig, tha daoine òga a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig le misneachd is cruthachas.
“Bhiodh e doirbh tadhal air sgoil Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd gun a bhith a’ faireachdainn misneachail mu àm ri teachd a’ chànain.
“Airson sin tha sinn fada an comain nam pàrantan, nan tidsearan is an luchd-iomairt oir tro bhith a’ creidsinn ann am foghlam Gàidhlig, thog iad bun-stèidh an t-soirbheachais a tha sinn a’ faicinn an-diugh.”
Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Foghlaim Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Iain MacFhionnlaigh: “Airson mòran de na daoine òga againn, tha am foghlam a fhuair iad tron Ghàidhlig air toiseach tòiseachaidh a thoirt dhaibh air slighe gu dreuchdan measgaichte is soirbheachail ann an iomadh raon eadar-dhealaichte.
“Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air a bhith air thoiseach ann an raon an fhoghlaim Ghàidhlig airson iomadh bliadhna, agus tha a’ chlach-mhìle seo de 40 bliadhna a’ toirt cothrom dhuinn meòrachadh air an t-soirbheachas, agus coimhead ri bhith a’ togail air an adhartas a chaidh a dhèanamh san sgìre againn thairis air an dà fhichead bliadhna seo.”
Thuirt Calum MacFhearghais, Manaidsear Leasachaidh aig Alba FA: “Mura biodh a’ Ghàidhlig na pàirt dhen t-slighe agam fhèin, cha bhithinn a’ dèanamh na tha mi a’ dèanamh an-diugh. Tha mi cho taingeil gu bheil foghlam sa chànan seo air mo thoirt air an t-slighe seo.
“Tha an cànan againn bunaiteach dhan chultar is dhan dearbh-aithne againn sa Ghàidhealtachd.
“Tha a bhith a’ toirt ball-coise is Gàidhlig còmhla a’ cruthachadh chothroman gus an cànan a chleachdadh taobh a-muigh an t-seòmair-theagaisg ann an suidheachadh sòisealta. Cha bu chòir dhan Ghàidhlig stad aig geata na sgoile no aig na dorsan aghaidh againn.
“Nuair a bhios daoine a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an diofar shuidheachaidhean, bidh am misneachd a’ fàs agus bidh an cànan a’ fàs cuideachd.”
Thuirt Catrìona Nic a’ Phì, Neach-tasglainn airson High Life na Gàidhealtachd ann am Port Rìgh: “’S e urram a th’ ann dhuinn pàirt a ghabhail ann an An-dè is An-diugh: 40 Bliadhna de dh’Fhoghlam tron Ghàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd.
“’S e barrachd air ceann-bliadhna a tha seo; ’s e teisteanas beò a th’ ann do thapachd cànain agus na coimhearsnachdan a tha air a ghiùlan air adhart thar ghinealaichean. Ann a bhith a’ comharrachadh na Gàidhlig, chan e a-mhàin gu bheil sinn a’ coimhead air ais le taingealachd, tha sinn cuideachd a’ coimhead às dèidh dualchas cultarach a tha a’ cumadh mar a tha sinn a’ buntainn ri càch a chèile agus ri àite.
“Nas anmoiche sa bhliadhna, bidh sinn ag obair còmhla ri sgoiltean is coimhearsnachdan, chan ann a-mhàin airson cuimhneachadh, ach cuideachd gus freumhan na h-oidhirp cho-roinnte seo a dhèanamh nas doimhne agus gus neart sàmhach, seasmhach na Gàidhlig a dhaingneachadh nar beatha chumanta.
“Bidh sinn a’ tòiseachadh nan tachartasan air 8–13 Ògmhios, a’ tadhal air sgoiltean agus às dèidh sin bidh priob-thaisbeanadh a’ ruith aig an Tasglann.”
Crìoch
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Celebrating 40 years of Gaelic Medium Education in Highland
A series of events celebrating 40 years of Gaelic Medium Education in Highland are set to take place in the coming weeks.
Sports events, exhibitions, community ceilidhs and a series of video interviews are being planned to mark the historic milestone and help reflect on the contribution that Gaelic education has made to the region in the past four decades.
Following initial pioneering work in Glasgow, Central Primary School in Inverness was the first school in Highland to establish a Gaelic medium unit, when seven pupils enrolled for school session 1985–86.
It was soon followed by schools in Skye and then right across the region
The theme of celebration kicked-off with a youth football festival in Portree, held on 25 April.
Supported by Highland Council, coaches from Alba FA – The Alba Football Alliance – led the festival which brought together local youngsters from Gaelic medium schools.
One of the driving forces behind the Alba FA project is Calum Ferguson, an ex-professional who played for Inverness Caley Thistle, and was himself a former pupil at Central Primary School in Inverness.
Under the title of ‘An-dè agus an-diugh’– past and present, there will be further sporting and cultural events planned to commemorate the anniversary.
These include.
- Additional youth football events planned in Inverness (23 May) and Fort William (20 June).
- A Primary school shinty festival in connection with High Life Highland on 21 May at Bught Park Inverness, which will include access to the newly opened Sgeul na Camanachd Museum, enriching pupils' cultural understanding of Shinty and its Gaelic heritage.
- Exhibitions in Cultarlann Inverness (9 June) and at Portree Archive Centre (16–18 of June), telling the story of GME and Gaelic in education more broadly.
- Community ceilidh events.
- A series of interviews with some of those who have been involved in Gaelic education over four decades.
Today, over 1000 pupils attend 21 primary schools in Highland offering GME education.
A further 15 associated secondary schools in Highland also offer provision in Gaelic and the number of pupils achieving Gaelic qualifications in these schools is on the rise.
GME early years numbers are going up – they now account for some ten per cent of all the region’s pre-school pupils, the highest percentage ever enrolled.
The last census in 2022 showed an increase in the number of people in the Highlands with Gaelic skills.
The largest percentage increases were found in the age 3-15 and age 25–34 age groups.
Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner said: “Marking 40 years of Gaelic Medium Education in Highland is a moment of real pride for our area. What began as a small, pioneering class in Inverness has grown into a thriving, modern model of education that has strengthened our language and our communities.
“The latest census figures show clear progress, especially among younger age groups, and Gaelic remains a living, everyday language across the Highlands. Our commitment is strong, and as we look back on 40 years, we should also keep focused on the future.
“Our work continues to expand opportunities, strengthen provision, and ensure Gaelic thrives for generations to come.”
Chair of Highland Council’s Gaelic committee, Drew Millar, said: “Gaelic education has brought benefits to our schools, to our language and to our culture in ways that would not have been thought possible 40 years ago. From early years to secondary, from FilmG to the first national Gaelic‑speaking football team, young people are using Gaelic with confidence and creativity.
“It would be hard to visit a Gaelic medium school in the Highlands and not feel encouraged about the future of the language.
“For that we owe a debt of gratitude to the parents, teachers and campaigners whose belief in Gaelic education laid the foundations for the success we see today.”
Chair of Highland Council’s Education Committee, John Finlayson, said: “For so many of our young people, their education in Gaelic medium settings has been the start of a journey to varied and successful careers in all walks of life.
“The Highland Council has been a leader in the field of Gaelic education for many years, and this milestone of 40 years rightly offers us a chance to reflect on the success, and to look to build on the progress made in our region over these four decades.”
Calum Ferguson, Development Manager at Alba FA, said: “If Gaelic hadn’t been part of my own journey, I would not be doing what I do today. I am so grateful that education in the language set me down this path.
“Our language is a core part of our culture and our identity in Highland.
“Combining football and Gaelic is about creating opportunities to use the language outside the classroom in a social setting. Gaelic shouldn’t stop at the school gate or at our front doors.
“When people use Gaelic in different situations, their confidence grows and so does the language.”
Catherine MacPhee, Archivist for High Life Highland in Portree, said: “We are honoured to take part in Past and Present: 40 Years of Gaelic Medium Education in the Highlands.
“This is more than an anniversary; it is a living testament to the resilience of a language and the communities that have carried it forward across generations. In celebrating Gaelic, we are not only looking back with gratitude but also tending to a cultural inheritance that shapes how we belong to one another and to place.
“Later in the year, we will work alongside schools and communities, not simply to commemorate, but to deepen the roots of this shared endeavour and to affirm the quiet, enduring strength of Gaelic in our common life.
“We’ll be starting off events on 8–13 June, visiting schools and that will be followed by a pop-up exhibition running in the Archive Centre.”
Ends