Promoting Gaelic in the Hebrides

Gaelic initiatives in the Outer Hebrides are to benefit from Scottish Government funding as part of efforts to grow the language.

An Taigh Cèilidh (The Cèilidh House), a Gaelic cultural centre in Stornoway, will receive £10,000 to undertake renovations and purchase musical instruments. The visitor attraction includes a shop and café and hosts cèilidhs and other live music events in the Gaelic language.

Funding of £110,000 will also be provided to MG ALBA (The Gaelic Media Service) to modernise studios used by BBC ALBA in Stornoway. Independent research has found that Gaelic media generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports 340 jobs across Scotland, including 160 jobs in the islands.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced the funding ahead of a visit to Stornoway following one year in office as Scotland’s first Gaelic Secretary.

Ms Forbes said:

“The Scottish Government recognises that urgent action is needed to grow the Gaelic language in communities where it is traditionally spoken.

“This investment will support Gaelic community events in Stornoway and ensure that Gaelic broadcasters can continue to develop high-quality programmes. This follows the success of BBC ALBA’s crime thriller series An t-Eilean (The Island).

“To grow Gaelic across Scotland, we are also introducing the Scottish Languages Bill to strengthen Gaelic education provision and investing £35.7 million in initiatives to promote the language in 2025-26.”

The funding is being made available through 2024-25 Gaelic Capital Fund allocations.

Census statistics show that 14,633 people in the Outer Hebrides had some Gaelic skills 2022, a decrease of 1,856 people from 2011.

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

A’ cur Gàidhlig air adhart anns na h-Eileanan an Iar

Taic do phròiseactan ionadail

Tha iomairtean Gàidhlig anns Na h-Eileanan an Iar gus buannachd fhaighinn à maoineachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba a tha ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh fàs a’ chànain.

Gheibh An Taigh Cèilidh, ionad cultarail Gàidhlig ann an Steòrnabhagh, £10,000 gus obair-leasachaidh a leantainn is ionnsramaidean ciùil a cheannachd. Tha bùth is cafaidh aig an ionad is bidh e a’ cur air dòigh cèilidhean agus tachartasan ciùil beò eile anns a’ Ghàidhlig.

Thèid cuideachd maoineachadh luach £110,000 a thoirt do MG ALBA gus ùrachadh a dhèanamh ri stiùideothan a tha air an cleachdadh le BBC ALBA ann an Steòrnabhagh. Tha rannsachadh neo-eisimeileach air lorg gu bheil na meadhanan Gàidhlig a’ cruthachadh £1.34 airson gach £1 a tha air a thasgadh annta. Bidh iad cuideachd a’ cur taic ri 340 cosnadh air feadh Alba le 160 dhiubh sin anns na h-eileanan.

Chaidh am maoineachadh seo a chur an cèill leis an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis is i a’ tadhal air Steòrnabhagh aon bhliadhna bhon a chaidh a cur an dreuchd mar a’ chiad Rùnaire Gàidhlig aig Alba.

Thuirt a’ Bh-uas. Fhoirbeis:

“Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba ag aithneachadh gu bheil gnìomh èiginneach a dhìth gus fàs a thoirt air a’ Ghàidhlig sna coimhearsnachdan far an tèid a bruidhinn gu traidiseanta.

“Cuiridh an tasgadh airigid seo taic ri tachartasan coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig ann an Steòrnabhagh. Nì e cuideachd cinnteach gun urrainn do chraoladairean Gàidhlig cumail orra a bhith a’ leasachadh phrògraman fìor mhath. Tha seo a’ leantainn air cho soirbheachail ’s a bha an sreath dràma eucorach aig BBC ALBA, An t-Eilean.

“Gus am bi a’ Ghàidhlig a’ fàs air feadh Alba, tha sinn cuideachd a’ toirt a-steach Bile nan Cànan Albannach gus foghlam Gàidhlig a neartachadh agus a’ cur £35.7 millean ri iomairtean gus an cànan a chur air adhart ann an 2025-26.”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Tha am maoineachadh a’ tighinn bho Mhaoin-chalpa na Gàidhlig 2024-25.

Sheall àireamhan a’ chunntais-shluaigh gun robh ìre de Ghàidhlig aig 14,633 neach sna h-Eileanan an Iar ann an 2022, ìsleachadh de 1,856 neach ann an 2011.

’S urrainnear rannsachadh le Ernst agus Young mu bhuaidh eaconamaich MG ALBA fhaighinn air-loidhne.