Council measures to encourage and expand the use of Gaelic are continuing to deliver benefits for young people and communities across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute. These include:
- ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 Gà idhealach, 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute and Highland Council offers online live lessons for Gaelic beginners with sixteen ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute.
Council Leader Jim Lynch, said: “Gaelic is part of what makes ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute’s economy. â€
Dìcheall a thaobh na Gà idhlig a’ lìbhrigeadh bhuannachdan do dh’Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd
Tha ceumannan leis a’ Chomhairle gus cleachdadh na Gà idhlig a mhisneachadh agus a leudachadh, a’ leantainn orra a’ lìbhrigeadh bhuannachdan do dhaoine òga agus do choimhearsnachdan air feadh Earra-Ghà idheal agus Bhòid.
Aig coinneamh de Chomataidh nan Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd, rinn comhairlichean ath-sgrùdadh air Plana Gà idhlig na sgìre agus thug iad fa-near an raon de dh’iomairtean a tha gu là ithreach a’ cur taic ri a cleachdadh air feadh Earra-Ghà idheal agus Bhòid. Nam measg tha:
- Bidh Earra-Ghà idheal agus Bòd a’ toirt aoigheachd don Mhòd Nà iseanta Rìoghail san Dà mhair 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-pà irtichean gus com-pà irt a bhrosnachadh.
- Tha Ionad Gà idhlig Furan agus Rianaire Gà idhlig speisealaichte a’ leantainn air adhart a’ toirt taic dheatamach do na sgoiltean san sgìre agus don choimhearsnachd Ghà idhlig air fad, leithid lìbhrigeadh sheiseanan Gà idhlig ann an Gnothachas gus gnothachasan ionadail a bhrosnachadh gu abairtean Gà idhlig a chleachdadh mar ullachadh don Mhòd Nà iseanta san Dà mhair.
- Mar phà irt den chuimse leantainneach air taic do sholar Gà idhlig sna sgoiltean, tha co-obrachadh eadar Comhairle Earra-Ghà idheal is Bhòid agus Comhairle na Gà idhealtachd a’ tabhann leasanan beò air-loidhne do luchd-tòiseachaidh na Gà idhlig le sia-deug sgoiltean ann an Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd air gabhail riutha gu ruige seo.
- Tha a’ chomhairle a’ leantainn ag obair ann an com-pà irteachas le sgoiltean agus buidhnean eile, leithid an Caidreachas a Tuath, gus trèanadh agus stuthan ghoireasan a sholarachadh.
- Tha sgoiltean eileanan Ìle is Dhiùra san dà rna bliadhna de phròiseact eadar-ghluasaid luchd-ionnsachaidh Gà idhlig 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 phà irt den phròiseas eadar-ghluasaid.
- Leasanan bhiortail Fèisgoil ann an sgoiltean – naoi clasaichean tarsainn Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd a’ faotainn leasanan luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gà idhlig gach seachdain (Dà mh 23-Mà rt 24).
- Na bun-sgoiltean uile ann am Muile, Ìle agus Tiriodh a’ teagasg Gà idhlig, còmhla ri sgoiltean a’ lìbhrigeadh Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gà idhlig air tìr-mòr.
- Tha cothrom aig cosnaichean na Comhairle air com-pà irt a ghabhail ann am Buidheann Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gà idhlig.
Tha ceumannan eile a’ gabhail a-steach a bhith a’ cruthachadh ìomhaigh nas à irde don Ghà idhlig ann an roinnean coimearsalta, reic, biadh is deoch agus turasachd, agus a’ meudachadh na buaidh eaconamach chun na h-ìre as à irde aig tachartasan / fèisean a tha air an cumail ann an Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd.
Thuirt Jim Lynch, stiùiriche na Comhairle: “Tha Gà idhlig mar phà irt de na tha a’ dèanamh Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd seasmhach. Tha pà irt chudromach aice nar n-eachdraidh is cultar agus tha sinn a’ fuireach dealasach a thaobh an cà nan agus cleachdadh a’ chà nain 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 Nà iseanta san Dà mhair. Tha an tachartas mìorbhaileach cultarach Gà idhlig seo na fhìor chomharrachadh air a’ chà nan agus sinn a’ cur fà ilte air na mìltean de dhaoine don sgìre. Coimhead a-mach airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu na gnìomhachdan agus na tachartasan a tha a’ gabhail à ite.
Tha dleastanas air a’ chomhairle fo reachdas Achd na Gà idhlig air Plana Gà idhlig 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-pà irteachas, a’ lìbhrigeadh fìor bhuannachdan is chothroman do na daoine òga againn agus do dh’eaconamaidh Earra-Ghà idheal is Bhòid.â€