Council measures to encourage and expand the use of Gaelic are continuing to deliver benefits for young people and communities across Argyll and Bute.
At a meeting of the Community Services Committee, councillors reviewed the area’s latest Gaelic Language Plan and noted the range of initiatives currently delivered to support its use across Argyll and Bute. These include:
- Argyll and Bute will host the Royal National Mod in October 2024 in Oban. The council has provided funding and is covering the cost of competition venues, working with An Comunn Gàidhealach, the local Mod committee and partners to promote participation.
- Furan Gaelic Centre and a specialist Gaelic Administrator continue to provide crucial support to the area’s schools and the wider Gaelic community, such as delivering Gaelic for Business sessions to encourage local businesses to adopt Gaelic phrases in preparation for the National Mod in October.
- As part of the ongoing focus on supporting Gaelic provision in schools, a collaboration between Argyll and Bute and Highland Council offers online live lessons for Gaelic beginners with sixteen Argyll and Bute schools signed up to date.
- The council continues to works in partnership with schools and other organisations, such as The Northern Alliance, to provide training and resource materials.
- Islay and Jura schools are in their second year of implementing Gaelic learners’ transition project P7-S1. All P7 pupils create comic character videos which are shared and used as part of the transition process
- Fèisgoil virtual lessons in schools – nine classes across Argyll and Bute received weekly Gaelic learner lessons (Oct 23-March 24)
- All primary schools in Mull, Islay and Tiree teach Gaelic, along with schools delivering Gaelic Medium Education on the mainland.
- A Gaelic Learners Group is available for council employees
Other measures include creating a higher profile for Gaelic in commercial, retail, food and drink, and tourism sectors and maximising the economic impact of Gaelic at events/festivals held in Argyll and Bute.
Council Leader Jim Lynch, said: “Gaelic is part of what makes Argyll and Bute great. It plays an important part in our history and culture and we remain committed to promoting the language and its use throughout the area.
This is an exciting year as we look forward to Oban hosting the National Mod in Oban. This fantastic Gaelic cultural event is a real celebration of the language as we welcome thousands of people to the area. Look out for more details about the activities and events taking place.
The council has a duty under the Gaelic Language Act to prepare and deliver a Gaelic Language Plan annually. It’s clear from the latest report that the wide variety of initiatives and the resources we have introduced in partnership, are delivering real benefits and opportunities for our young people and Argyll and Bute’s economy. ”
Dìcheall a thaobh na Gàidhlig a’ lìbhrigeadh bhuannachdan do dh’Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd
Tha ceumannan leis a’ Chomhairle gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a mhisneachadh agus a leudachadh, a’ leantainn orra a’ lìbhrigeadh bhuannachdan do dhaoine òga agus do choimhearsnachdan air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bhòid.
Aig coinneamh de Chomataidh nan Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd, rinn comhairlichean ath-sgrùdadh air Plana Gàidhlig na sgìre agus thug iad fa-near an raon de dh’iomairtean a tha gu làithreach a’ cur taic ri a cleachdadh air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bhòid. Nam measg tha:
- Bidh Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd a’ toirt aoigheachd don Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail san Dàmhair 2024 anns an Òban. Tha a’ chomhairle air maoineachadh a sholarachadh agus a’ còmhdach chosgaisean ionadan-cruinneachaidh nam farpaisean, ag obair leis A’ Chomunn, comataidh ionadail a’ Mhòid agus com-pàirtichean gus com-pàirt a bhrosnachadh.
- Tha Ionad Gàidhlig Furan agus Rianaire Gàidhlig speisealaichte a’ leantainn air adhart a’ toirt taic dheatamach do na sgoiltean san sgìre agus don choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig air fad, leithid lìbhrigeadh sheiseanan Gàidhlig ann an Gnothachas gus gnothachasan ionadail a bhrosnachadh gu abairtean Gàidhlig a chleachdadh mar ullachadh don Mhòd Nàiseanta san Dàmhair.
- Mar phàirt den chuimse leantainneach air taic do sholar Gàidhlig sna sgoiltean, tha co-obrachadh eadar Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ tabhann leasanan beò air-loidhne do luchd-tòiseachaidh na Gàidhlig le sia-deug sgoiltean ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd air gabhail riutha gu ruige seo.
- Tha a’ chomhairle a’ leantainn ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas le sgoiltean agus buidhnean eile, leithid an Caidreachas a Tuath, gus trèanadh agus stuthan ghoireasan a sholarachadh.
- Tha sgoiltean eileanan Ìle is Dhiùra san dàrna bliadhna de phròiseact eadar-ghluasaid luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig P7-ÀS1 a chur an gnìomh. Bidh sgoilearan P7 a’ cruthachadh bhidiothan de charactaran èibhinn, a tha air an roinn agus air an cleachdadh mar phàirt den phròiseas eadar-ghluasaid.
- Leasanan bhiortail Fèisgoil ann an sgoiltean – naoi clasaichean tarsainn Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd a’ faotainn leasanan luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig gach seachdain (Dàmh 23-Màrt 24).
- Na bun-sgoiltean uile ann am Muile, Ìle agus Tiriodh a’ teagasg Gàidhlig, còmhla ri sgoiltean a’ lìbhrigeadh Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig air tìr-mòr.
- Tha cothrom aig cosnaichean na Comhairle air com-pàirt a ghabhail ann am Buidheann Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig.
Tha ceumannan eile a’ gabhail a-steach a bhith a’ cruthachadh ìomhaigh nas àirde don Ghàidhlig ann an roinnean coimearsalta, reic, biadh is deoch agus turasachd, agus a’ meudachadh na buaidh eaconamach chun na h-ìre as àirde aig tachartasan / fèisean a tha air an cumail ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd.
Thuirt Jim Lynch, stiùiriche na Comhairle: “Tha Gàidhlig mar phàirt de na tha a’ dèanamh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd seasmhach. Tha pàirt chudromach aice nar n-eachdraidh is cultar agus tha sinn a’ fuireach dealasach a thaobh an cànan agus cleachdadh a’ chànain adhartachadh air feadh na sgìre.
Is e bliadhna bhrosnachail a tha seo agus sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ris an Òban a’ toirt aoigheachd don Mhòd Nàiseanta san Dàmhair. Tha an tachartas mìorbhaileach cultarach Gàidhlig seo na fhìor chomharrachadh air a’ chànan agus sinn a’ cur fàilte air na mìltean de dhaoine don sgìre. Coimhead a-mach airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu na gnìomhachdan agus na tachartasan a tha a’ gabhail àite.
Tha dleastanas air a’ chomhairle fo reachdas Achd na Gàidhlig air Plana Gàidhlig ullachadh agus a lìbhrigeadh gach bliadhna. Tha e soilleir bhon aithisg mu dheireadh gu bheil am measgachadh farsaing de dh’iomairtean agus na goireasan a tha sinn air a thoirt a-steach mar chom-pàirteachas, a’ lìbhrigeadh fìor bhuannachdan is chothroman do na daoine òga againn agus do dh’eaconamaidh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid.”