Further Boost for Gaelic language!

A £620,000 package to support the continued growth of the Gaelic language has been announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on the first day of World Gaelic Week.

The funding includes an additional £200,000 for MG ALBA (the Gaelic media service) to deliver high-quality content including series two of BBC ALBA’s award-winning crime thriller An t-Eilean.

Independent research has found that Gaelic media generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports 340 jobs across Scotland, including 160 in island communities.

The new funding will also support ongoing work to establish the first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands and structural improvements at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the world’s only Gaelic-medium college on the Isle of Skye.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

“This year’s World Gaelic Week is particularly special, being the first since Gaelic gained official status through the Scottish Languages Act.

“This new investment will help the language thrive, from broadcasting that brings Gaelic to new audiences to education initiatives that help more people learn it.

“An t-Eilean’s success demonstrates there is a global appetite for high-quality Gaelic content. The programme has brought Gaelic into living rooms around the world and this funding will ensure the communities and talent behind that success continue to flourish.”

Sorcha Groundsell, who will return in series two of An t-Eilean in the lead role of Detective Sergeant Kat Crichton, said:

‘’I’m so pleased that An t-Eilean has been recommissioned for a second season. It was a wonderful and deeply fulfilling experience to be a part of season one and I have every faith the team will build on the work they did and that they will take the show to new heights and even broader audiences.

“It’s so important that we continue to platform Gàidhlig and to provide further opportunities for Gael creatives so that we can reinforce the language as a vital and vibrant force on the global cultural stage. I’m looking forward to picking up Kat’s journey and seeing where the show takes her in this next series!’’

Background

The First Minister is expected to unveil the Scottish Government’s Islands Plan in Shetland later today. The plan includes measures to support Gaelic’s growth in island communities where it is traditionally spoken.

Information about World Gaelic Week is available online.

Gaelic gained official language status in Scotland through the Scottish Languages Act. The Bill was passed in June 2025 and received Royal Assent on 1 August 2025. The Act is available online.

Census statistics indicate that 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase of 43,105 (50%) from 2011.

An t-Eilean has attracted a record number of viewers since the first episode aired on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on 14 January 2025 and has been sold to broadcasters in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Series two of An t-Eilean is supported with funding from MG ALBA, BBC, Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Black Camel Pictures.

Research from Ernst and Young on the economic impact of MG ALBA is available online.

Organisations benefiting from funding include:

• MG ALBA – £200,000 to support content production.
• Cultarlann Inbhir Nis – £103,413.89 to support the development of the Highlands’ first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in Inverness.
• South Lanarkshire Council – £98,250  to expand Gaelic medium education provision at Calderglen High School.
• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – £89,586.48 to support structural improvements at the Gaelic-medium college.
• Comunn Eachdraidh Nis – £83,772 for refurbishment of the museum promoting the history, language and culture of North Lewis.
• Tobar an Dualchais – £14,127 to develop its digital archive of Gaelic songs, history and stories.
• Highland Council – £23,000 to celebrate 40 years of Gaelic medium education through community and school events.
• Hands Up For Trad – £10,000 to support World Gaelic Week activities.

Brosnachadh dhan Ghàidhlig

Maoineachadh do chraoladh, foghlam agus pròiseactan cultarail.

Chaidh airgead de £620,000 ainmeachadh leis an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis air a’ chiad latha de Sheachdain na Gàidhlig, airson taic a chumail ri fàs leantainneach na Gàidhlig.

Tha am maoineachadh a’ gabhail a-steach £200,000 a bharrachd do MG ALBA (seirbheis nam meadhanan Gàidhlig) leis an gabh sàr-shusbaint a lìbhrigeadh – mar eisimpleir, sreath a dhà de ghaoir-sgeul eucoir An t-Eilean le BBC ALBA, ’s a’ chiad shreath air duaisean a chosnadh.

A rèir rannsachadh neo-eisimeileach, tha meadhanan na Gàidhlig a’ cruthachadh £1.34 airson gach £1 a thèid a thasgadh, ’s iad a’ cumail taic ri 340 dreuchd air feadh na h-Alba, nam measg 160 dreuchd ann an coimhearsnachdan eileanach.

Cuideachd, cumaidh am maoineachadh ùr taic ri obair leantainneach gus a’ chiad ionad-cultair Gàidhlig sònraichte a stèidheachadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, agus ri leasachaidhean structarail aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach – an aon cholaiste tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig san t-saoghal.

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis na leanas:

“Am-bliadhna, ’s ann air leth sònraichte a bhios an t-Seachdain fhèin. Seo a’ chiad Sheachdain na Gàidhlig bho fhuair an cànan inbhe oifigeil ann an Alba tro Achd nan Cànan Albannach.

“Bidh an tasgadh-airgid ùr seo na chuideachadh do shoirbheas a’ chànain, bho chraoladh a bheir an cànan do luchd-amhairc ùr gu iomairtean-foghlaim a chuidicheas tuilleadh dhaoine le bhith ga ionnsachadh.

“Le cho soirbheachail ’s a tha e, tha An t-Eilean a’ sealltainn gu bheil ùidh eadar-nàiseanta ann ann an sàr-shusbaint Ghàidhlig. Tha am prògram air Gàidhlig a thoirt a-steach do sheòmraichean-suidhe air feadh an t-saoghail, agus leis a’ mhaoineachadh seo, nithear cinnteach gum bi na coimhearsnachdan agus an tàlant air chùl an t-soirbheis sin a’ sìor-fhàs.”

Thuirt Sorcha Groundsell – ’s i a’ tilleadh ann an sreath a dhà de An t-Eilean gus a’ phrìomh phàirt a chluich mar an Lorgaire-Shàirdseant Kat Crichton – na leanas:

“Tha mi cho toilichte gu bheilear air An t-Eilean ath-choimiseanadh airson dàrna sreath. ’S e àm mìorbhaileach agus fìor thaitneach a bh’ ann dhomh a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt ann an sreath a h-aon, agus tha làn earbsa agam gun tog an sgioba air an obair a rinn iad agus gun toir iad am prògram gu àirdean ùra, agus gu luchd-amhairc fiù ’s nas fharsainge.

“Tha e cho cudromach gun lean sinn oirnn le bhith a’ togail ìomhaigh na Gàidhlig agus a’ toirt chothroman a bharrachd do luchd-cruthachaidh am measg nan Gàidheal, feuch an gabh an cànan a neartachadh tuilleadh mar ionnsramaid dheatamach, bheòthail air àrd-ùrlar eadar-nàiseanta a’ chultair. Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ cumail orm air slighe Kat agus a’ faicinn càite an toir am prògram i san t-sreath ùr seo!”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Thathar an dùil gum foillsich am Prìomh Mhinistear Plana nan Eilean le Riaghaltas na h-Alba ann an Sealtainn nas fhaide air adhart an-diugh. Tha am plana a’ gabhail a-steach cheumannan airson taic a chumail ri fàs na Gàidhlig ann an coimhearsnachdan eileanach dham buin i gu traidiseanta.

Tha fiosrachadh mu Sheachdain na Gàidhlig ri fhaotainn air loidhne.

Tro Achd nan Cànan Albannach, fhuair a’ Ghàidhlig inbhe cànain oifigeil ann an Alba. Chaidh am Bile aontachadh san Ògmhios 2025 agus fhuair e Aonta Rìoghail air a’ chiad latha dhen Lùnastal 2025. Tha an t-Achd ri fhaotainn air loidhne.

A rèir staitistigean a’ chunntais-shluaigh, bha beagan sgilean Gàidhlig aig 130,161 neach ann an Alba ann an 2022, àrdachadh de 43,105 neach (50%) bho 2011.

Tha An t-Eilean air àireamh de luchd-amhairc nach fhacas roimhe a thàladh bho chaidh a’ chiad eapasod a chraoladh air BBC ALBA agus BBC iPlayer air an 14mh latha dhen Fhaoilleach 2025, agus chaidh an sreath a reic ri craoladairean san Roinn Eòrpa agus ann an Canada, Astràilia agus Sealainn Nuadh. Thèid taic a chumail ris an dàrna sreath dhe An t-Eilean le maoineachadh bhon BhBC agus bho MG ALBA, Alba Chruthachail, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agus Black Camel Pictures.

Air loidhne, tha rannsachadh bho Ernst and Young ri fhaotainn air buaidh eaconamach MG ALBA.

Am measg nam buidhnean a gheibh maoineachadh, tha na leanas ann:

• MG ALBA – £200,000 airson taic a chumail ri obair gus susbaint a chruthachadh.
• Cultarlann Inbhir Nis – £103,413.89 airson taic a chumail ri leasachadh a’ chiad ionaid-chultair Ghàidhlig shònraichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd ann an Inbhir Nis.
• Comhairle Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas – £98,250 airson solarachadh foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a leudachadh aig Àrd-sgoil Ghlinn Challdair.
• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – £89,586.48 mar thaic do leasachaidhean structarail aig a’ cholaiste Ghàidhlig.
• Comunn Eachdraidh Nis – £83,772 airson an taigh-tasgaidh ath-uidheamachadh a bhrosnaicheas eachdraidh, cànan is cultar Leòdhais a Tuath.
• Tobar an Dualchais – £14,127 airson an tasglann dhidseatach de dh’òrain, eachdraidh is sgeulachdan Gàidhlig a leasachadh.
• Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd – £23,000 airson 40 bliadhna de dh’fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a chomharrachadh tro thachartasan ann an coimhearsnachdan is sgoiltean.
• Hands Up For Trad – £10,000 airson taic a chumail ri tachartasan tro Sheachdain na Gàidhlig.