Caithness Mod Awarded £35,000 By Scottish Government

13th October 2009

Speaking on the opening day of the Royal National Mòd, the Minister for Gaelic Michael Russell announced further support for the Scottish Government's drive to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers.

The Minister awarded £35,000 for the Royal National Mòd to appoint a Gaelic development officer to take forward plans for the 2010 Mòd in Caithness and to support Gaelic learning in the area. He also announced that Argyll and Bute Council will receive £15,000 to increase the number of Gaelic courses in the local area and providing access to Ulpan classes.

Speaking in Oban, Mr Russell said: "The Scottish Government is committed to taking urgent action to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers. That is why I am investing a further £50,000 in projects which will support Gaelic education and development.

"The Mòd's new development officer will not only oversee preparations for next year's celebrations but support Gaelic learning and development in Caithness and the surrounding areas. Argyll and Bute Council will use its award to boost the number of Gaelic speakers in the area by offering adult learning classes using the innovative Ulpan method. These investments recognise the important role local communities play in Gaelic learning and in building a strong and sustainable future for Gaelic.

"At the Mòd today, I am delighted to present this year's Scottish Government Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award to Anne Lorne Gillies. A long time Gaelic activist, Anne's contribution to Gaelic language and culture is immense. Her more recent work on the songs and music of St. Kilda has kept her at the forefront of current Gaelic activity and language promotion, and makes her a truly worthy recipient.

"We want people to learn and pass on Gaelic in order to preserve a rich seam in the cultural life of Scotland and a distinct language community in Scotland. This Government is taking urgent action and the Mòd and others can play their part too. In doing so we will all benefit."

John Macleod, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, who organise the Royal National Mòd, said: "Anne Lorne Gillies is most worthy recipient of this prestigious award. She has made a huge contribution to the development of Gaelic language and culture throughout a distinguished career in the fields of education, the arts, broadcasting and publishing, with a local, national and international profile. I am certain that she will be a worthy ambassador for Gaelic over the coming year.

The award of funding for a Mod Development Officer to support our preparations for the Mod 2010 in Caithness will greatly enhance our role over the coming year. The Mod is a great showcase for Gaelic language and culture and we are delighted to have the Scottish Government's endorsement of our work through this funding package."

Argyll and Bute Council Leader Dick Walsh said: "I am delighted to hear of this further funding from the Scottish Government for Gaelic language classes. As a Council we take responsibility for the continuation of the Gaelic language very seriously. The preservation of Gaelic is vital not only for Argyll and Bute but for Scotland as a whole. Since Argyll and Bute Council adopted the Gaelic Language Plan in 2008 we have promoted, and continue to promote Gaelic and we are proud to be a part of this."

Quote from Anne Lorne Gillies: "It is an enormous honour to receive this award in my home town of Oban, where I myself was given the opportunity to learn Gaelic as a little girl and where I won my Mòd Gold medal. Ever since I've tried to promote our language and culture in whatever ways I can. I hope this award will give me even greater opportunities to carry on this important work, both at home and abroad."

The Scottish Government's Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award is now in its second year. It acknowledges individuals who have effectively promoted Gaelic. Gaelic singer songwriter Julie Fowlis received the first ever ambassador award at last year's Mòd in Falkirk.

The Royal National Mòd was founded in 1891 and the first Mòd held in Oban in 1892. It is held in a different area of Scotland in October of every year. Last year it was in Falkirk and next year Caithness. The Mòd is a competitive celebration of Gaelic culture. Competitions will be held throughout the week in song, music, recitation and more. There is also a programme of fringe events around the competitions

Ulpan is a system of language learning that has been used for other languages. It has now been adapted for Scottish Gaelic and Ulpan classes are currently being offered throughout Scotland. It is taught in a series of modules with the main emphasis on speaking.

Gàidhlig ga chomharrachadh aig a' Mhòd
A' bruidhinn aig latha-fosglaidh a' Mhòid Nàiseanta Rìoghail, thuirt Ministear na Gàidhlig Mìcheal Ruiseil gu robh e ag ainmeachadfh tuilleadh taic do dh'iomairt Riaghaltas na h-Alba gus ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a chruthachadh.

Dh'ainmich am Ministear gum biodh £35,000 ga thoirt don Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich airson Oifigear Leasachaidh Mòid a chur an dreuchd gus planaichean Mòd 2010 ann an Gallaibh a thoirt air adhart agus gus taic a chumail ri ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig anns an sgìre. Dh' ainmich e cuideachd gum faigheadh Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Mhòid £15,000 gus tuilleadh chùrsaichean ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh anns an sgìre ionadail agus gus dèanamh nas fhasa do dhaoine clasaichean Ulpan a fhrithealadh.

A' bruidhinn san Òban, thuirt Mgr Ruiseil: "Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a' gealltainn gnìomhachd èiginneach a chur air chois gus an dèidheadh ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a chruthachadh. Is ann air sgàth sin a tha mi ag ainmeachadh £50,000 eile airson phròiseactan a bheirt taic do fhoghlaim agus leasachaidh na Gàidhlig.

"Chan e a-mhàin gum bi ath-sheallaidh aig an Oifigear ùr Leasachaidh a' Mhòid seo air na thathas ag ullachadh airson Mòd na bliadhna ri thighinn ach bheir an neach taic do ionnsachadh agus leasachadh na Gàidhlig ann an sgìre Ghallaibh agus mun cuairt air. Cleachdaidh Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid an tabhartas aca gus àrdachadh a thoirt air àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig san sgire sin le bhith a' tabhann chlasaichean ionnsachaidh inbheach tro mheadhan ùr Ulpan. Tha na tasgaidhean sin ag aithneachadh cho cudromach sa tha coimhearsnachdan ionadail a thaobh ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig agus ann a bhith a' togail àm ri teachd don Gàidhlig a bhios làidir is seasmhach.

"Aig a' Mhòd an-diugh, tha e na thoileachas dhomh duais Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna seo a bhuileachadh air Anna Latharna NicIllIosa. Tha Anna air a bhith an sàs o chionn fhada ann an obair leasachaidh na Gàidhlig, agus tha i air cur ris an seo gu ìre mhòr. Tha an obair aice o chionn ghoirid air òrain is ceòl Hiort air a cumail aig toiseach obair-gnìomh is brosnachaidh na Gàidhlig, agus tha i air leth airidh air an duais seo fhaighinn.

"Tha sinn airson gun ionnsaich daoine a' Ghàidhlig agus gun toir iad seachad i do chàch gus an glèidhear pàirt bheairteach de bheatha culturail na h-Alba agus coimhearsnachd cànain sònraichte ann an Alba. Tha an Riaghaltas seo ag obair gu h-èiginneach agus is urrainn don Mhòd is do bhuidhnean eile cuideachadh le seo. Le bhith a' dèanamh seo, gheibh sinn uile buannachd às."

Thuirt Iain Macleòid, Ceann-suidhe a' Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: ""Tha Anna Latharna NicIllIosa air-leth airidh air an duais sònraichte seo. Tha i air an t-uamhas a chur ri obair leasachaidh cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig tron chùrsa beatha inbheil aice ann an raointean foghlaim, na h-ealain, craoladh is foillseachadh, agus deagh iomhaigh ionadail, nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta aice. Tha mi cinnteach gum bi i na deagh thosgaire don Ghàidhlig thairis air a' bhliadhna th'air thoiseach.

Bheir maoineachadh Oifigear Leasachaidh a' Mhòid taic mhòr dhuinn anns na h-ullachaidhean a tha againn airson Mòd 2010 ann an Gallaibh agus togaidh seo air na tha sinn a' dèanamh mar bhuidheann. Is e fìor thaisbeanadh math airson ar cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig a th'anns a' Mhòd agus tha sinn toilichte taic is beannachd an Riaghaltais fhaighinn bhon tabhartas maoineachaidh seo."

Thuirt Dick Walsh, Stiùiriche Comhairle Earraghaidheal is Bhòid: "Thèid na h-àireamhan de chùrsaichean rim faotainn ann an Earra-Ghàidheal 's Bòid airson luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig an-àirde gu mòr le taic-arigid bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba. 'S e aon de na prìomh amasan Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle gum bi barrachd luchd labhairt agus luchd cleachdaidh na Gàidhlig anns an sgire. 'S e cothrom air leth a tha seo gus sin fhaighinn gu buil 's gus Gàidhlig a leasachadh ann an coimhearsnachdan Earra-Ghàidheal. "

Thuirt Anna Latharna NicIllIosa: "Tha e na urram mhòr dhomh an duais seo fhaighinn anns a' bhaile dachaigh san Òban far an d'fhuair mi an cothrom nam nighean òg Gàidhlig ionnsachadh agus far na bhuannaich mi mo Bhonn Òr aig a' Mhòd. On uairsin that mi air mo dhìcheall a dhèanamh gus ar cànan 's ar cultar a bhrosnachadh anns a h-uile dòigh a b'urrainn dhomh. Tha mi'n dòchas gun toir an duais seo cothrom dhomh eadhon barrachd a dhèanamh gus an obair chudromach seo a thoirt air adhart, aig an taigh agus thall thairis."

Is e seo an dàrna bliadhna den duais Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna a thug an Riaghaltas seachad. Tha seo a' comharrachadh dhaoine fa-leth a tha air a bhith a' brosnachadh na Gàidhlig gu h-èifeachdach. Chaidh a' chiad duais mar seo a-riamh a bhuileachadh air Julie Fowlis, an seinneadair Gàidhlig, aig Mòd na bliadhna n-uiridh anns an Eaglais Bhreac.

Chaidh an Comunn Gàidhealach a stèidheachadh ann an 1891 agus chaidh a' chiad Mòd a chumail anns an Òban ann an 1892. Bithear ga chumail ann an àite eadar-dhealaichte de dh'Alba san Dàmhair gach bliadhna. An-uiridh chaidh a chumail anns an Eaglais Bhreac agus an ath-bhliadhna thèid a chumail ann an Gallaibh. Is e tachartas farpaiseach de chultar na Gàidhlig a tha sa Mhòd. Cumar farpaisean seinn, ciùil, aithris is eile tron t-seachdain. Tha prògram de thachartasan iomaill ann taobh a-muigh nam farpaisean.

Is e siostam ionnsachaidh cànan a th'ann an Ulpan agus chaidh a chleachdadh airson cànanan eile. Thathas air atharrachadh airson Gàidhlig na h-Alba agus thathas a' tabhann clasaichean Ulpan air feadh na h-Alba. Thathas ga theagasg tro ghrunn mhodalan agus thathas a' cur cuideam air còmhradh.