Caithness Mod Awarded �35,000 By Scottish Government

13th October 2009

Speaking on the opening day of the Royal National M�d, 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 M�d to appoint a Gaelic development officer to take forward plans for the 2010 M�d 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 M�d'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 M�d 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 M�d and others can play their part too. In doing so we will all benefit."

John Macleod, President of An Comunn G�idhealach, who organise the Royal National M�d, 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 M�d 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 M�d in Falkirk.

The Royal National M�d was founded in 1891 and the first M�d 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 M�d 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.

G�idhlig ga chomharrachadh aig a' Mh�d
A' bruidhinn aig latha-fosglaidh a' Mh�id N�iseanta R�oghail, thuirt Ministear na G�idhlig M�cheal Ruiseil gu robh e ag ainmeachadfh tuilleadh taic do dh'iomairt Riaghaltas na h-Alba gus ginealach �r de luchd-labhairt na G�idhlig a chruthachadh.

Dh'ainmich am Ministear gum biodh �35,000 ga thoirt don Chomuinn Gh�idhealaich airson Oifigear Leasachaidh M�id a chur an dreuchd gus planaichean M�d 2010 ann an Gallaibh a thoirt air adhart agus gus taic a chumail ri ionnsachaidh na G�idhlig anns an sg�re. Dh' ainmich e cuideachd gum faigheadh Comhairle Earra-Gh�idheal is Mh�id �15,000 gus tuilleadh ch�rsaichean ionnsachaidh G�idhlig a st�idheachadh anns an sg�re ionadail agus gus d�anamh nas fhasa do dhaoine clasaichean Ulpan a fhrithealadh.

A' bruidhinn san �ban, thuirt Mgr Ruiseil: "Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a' gealltainn gn�omhachd �iginneach a chur air chois gus an d�idheadh ginealach �r de luchd-labhairt na G�idhlig a chruthachadh. Is ann air sg�th sin a tha mi ag ainmeachadh �50,000 eile airson phr�iseactan a bheirt taic do fhoghlaim agus leasachaidh na G�idhlig.

"Chan e a-mh�in gum bi ath-sheallaidh aig an Oifigear �r Leasachaidh a' Mh�id seo air na thathas ag ullachadh airson M�d na bliadhna ri thighinn ach bheir an neach taic do ionnsachadh agus leasachadh na G�idhlig ann an sg�re Ghallaibh agus mun cuairt air. Cleachdaidh Comhairle Earra-Gh�idheal is Bh�id an tabhartas aca gus �rdachadh a thoirt air �ireamh luchd-labhairt na G�idhlig san sgire sin le bhith a' tabhann chlasaichean ionnsachaidh inbheach tro mheadhan �r Ulpan. Tha na tasgaidhean sin ag aithneachadh cho cudromach sa tha coimhearsnachdan ionadail a thaobh ionnsachaidh na G�idhlig agus ann a bhith a' togail �m ri teachd don G�idhlig a bhios l�idir is seasmhach.

"Aig a' Mh�d an-diugh, tha e na thoileachas dhomh duais Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Tosgaire G�idhlig na Bliadhna seo a bhuileachadh air Anna Latharna NicIllIosa. Tha Anna air a bhith an s�s o chionn fhada ann an obair leasachaidh na G�idhlig, agus tha i air cur ris an seo gu �re mh�r. Tha an obair aice o chionn ghoirid air �rain is ce�l Hiort air a cumail aig toiseach obair-gn�omh is brosnachaidh na G�idhlig, agus tha i air leth airidh air an duais seo fhaighinn.

"Tha sinn airson gun ionnsaich daoine a' Gh�idhlig agus gun toir iad seachad i do ch�ch gus an gl�idhear p�irt bheairteach de bheatha culturail na h-Alba agus coimhearsnachd c�nain s�nraichte ann an Alba. Tha an Riaghaltas seo ag obair gu h-�iginneach agus is urrainn don Mh�d is do bhuidhnean eile cuideachadh le seo. Le bhith a' d�anamh seo, gheibh sinn uile buannachd �s."

Thuirt Iain Macle�id, Ceann-suidhe a' Chomuinn Gh�idhealaich: ""Tha Anna Latharna NicIllIosa air-leth airidh air an duais s�nraichte seo. Tha i air an t-uamhas a chur ri obair leasachaidh c�nan is cultar na G�idhlig tron ch�rsa beatha inbheil aice ann an raointean foghlaim, na h-ealain, craoladh is foillseachadh, agus deagh iomhaigh ionadail, n�iseanta agus eadar-n�iseanta aice. Tha mi cinnteach gum bi i na deagh thosgaire don Gh�idhlig thairis air a' bhliadhna th'air thoiseach.

Bheir maoineachadh Oifigear Leasachaidh a' Mh�id taic mh�r dhuinn anns na h-ullachaidhean a tha againn airson M�d 2010 ann an Gallaibh agus togaidh seo air na tha sinn a' d�anamh mar bhuidheann. Is e f�or thaisbeanadh math airson ar c�nan is cultar na G�idhlig a th'anns a' Mh�d agus tha sinn toilichte taic is beannachd an Riaghaltais fhaighinn bhon tabhartas maoineachaidh seo."

Thuirt Dick Walsh, Sti�iriche Comhairle Earraghaidheal is Bh�id: "Th�id na h-�ireamhan de ch�rsaichean rim faotainn ann an Earra-Gh�idheal 's B�id airson luchd-ionnsachaidh na G�idhlig an-�irde gu m�r le taic-arigid bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba. 'S e aon de na pr�omh amasan Plana G�idhlig na Comhairle gum bi barrachd luchd labhairt agus luchd cleachdaidh na G�idhlig anns an sgire. 'S e cothrom air leth a tha seo gus sin fhaighinn gu buil 's gus G�idhlig a leasachadh ann an coimhearsnachdan Earra-Gh�idheal. "

Thuirt Anna Latharna NicIllIosa: "Tha e na urram mh�r dhomh an duais seo fhaighinn anns a' bhaile dachaigh san �ban far an d'fhuair mi an cothrom nam nighean �g G�idhlig ionnsachadh agus far na bhuannaich mi mo Bhonn �r aig a' Mh�d. On uairsin that mi air mo dh�cheall a dh�anamh gus ar c�nan 's ar cultar a bhrosnachadh anns a h-uile d�igh a b'urrainn dhomh. Tha mi'n d�chas gun toir an duais seo cothrom dhomh eadhon barrachd a dh�anamh gus an obair chudromach seo a thoirt air adhart, aig an taigh agus thall thairis."

Is e seo an d�rna bliadhna den duais Tosgaire G�idhlig na Bliadhna a thug an Riaghaltas seachad. Tha seo a' comharrachadh dhaoine fa-leth a tha air a bhith a' brosnachadh na G�idhlig gu h-�ifeachdach. Chaidh a' chiad duais mar seo a-riamh a bhuileachadh air Julie Fowlis, an seinneadair G�idhlig, aig M�d na bliadhna n-uiridh anns an Eaglais Bhreac.

Chaidh an Comunn G�idhealach a st�idheachadh ann an 1891 agus chaidh a' chiad M�d a chumail anns an �ban ann an 1892. Bithear ga chumail ann an �ite eadar-dhealaichte de dh'Alba san D�mhair gach bliadhna. An-uiridh chaidh a chumail anns an Eaglais Bhreac agus an ath-bhliadhna th�id a chumail ann an Gallaibh. Is e tachartas farpaiseach de chultar na G�idhlig a tha sa Mh�d. Cumar farpaisean seinn, ci�il, aithris is eile tron t-seachdain. Tha pr�gram de thachartasan iomaill ann taobh a-muigh nam farpaisean.

Is e siostam ionnsachaidh c�nan a th'ann an Ulpan agus chaidh a chleachdadh airson c�nanan eile. Thathas air atharrachadh airson G�idhlig 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 c�mhradh.