Ahead of the first ever Seachdain na Gàidhlig, here’s a little more about each of our team members:

Joy Dunlop – Director

’S mise Joy Dunlop agus ’s e Stiùiriche Seachdain na Gàidhlig a th’ annam. ’S ann às a’ Choingheal ann an Earraghàidheal a tha mi bho thùs ach tha mi a-nis a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu. ’S e craoladair a th’ annam agus bidh mi a’ lìbhrigeadh na h-aimsire ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla air BBC Scotland agus BBC ALBA. Tha mi cuideachd nam phreasantair SpeakGaelic, goireas ùr ioma-mheadhanach gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh agus a chleachdadh. Dh’ionnsaich mi fhìn Gàidhlig agus mar sin, ’s e fìor urram a bhith an sàs ann.

’S e seinneadair agus dannsair a th’ annam cuideachd agus tha mi air mo bheò-ghlacadh le òrain Ghàidhlig, gu h-àraidh feadhainn às an sgìre agam fhìn. ’S fìor thoil leam còisirean agus tha mi nam bhall de Atomaig Piseag agus Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu. Bidh mi cuideachd a’ stiùireadh Còisir Ceann an Tuirc agus Còisir Alba, a riochdaich Alba air Eurovision – abair deagh chothrom a bha sin dhomh!

Saoilidh mi gur e iomairt air leth cudromach a th’ ann an Seachdain na Gàidhlig leis gun toir e cothrom do dhaoine sealbh a ghabhail air a’ chànan ann an dòigh a fhreagras orra fhèin. Tha rudeigin ann dhan a h-uile duine; feadhainn aig an robh I bhon ghlùin, luchd-ionnsachaidh agus daoine aig nach eil an cànan fhathast. Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair mhòr ris an t-seachdain agus tha mi an dòchas gu bheil sibhse cuideachd.

Murdo MacSween – Social Media

Murchadh MacSuain. Niseach, ann a Glaschu. Bha mi ag obair sna meadhanan aig a’ BhBC agus an uairsin MG ALBA ach thòisich mi an companaidh agam fhìn (Astar Media) an-uiridh agus tha mi trang a’ dèanamh rudan tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Tha mi smaoineachadh gu bheil mi èibhinn, ach chan eil mi.

I’m Murdo MacSween, from Ness in the Isle of Lewis but based in Glasgow. I worked for years at the BBC and then at MG ALBA but last year I started my own company (Astar Media), still working in Gaelic. I think I’m funny, but I know I amn’t.

Grant McFarlane – Administrator

My name is Grant McFarlane – I’m the Administrator for Seachdain na Gàidhlig. I have been learning Gaelic with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig for three years (distance learning). I am really happy to be working with team SnaG! I am a musician and arts practitioner from Paisley.

I studied traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutorage of Ian Muir & John Somerville and went on to compete in the BBC Young Traditional Musician competition as a finalist in 2013 & 2017. I have performed in a number of bands over the years and I’ve been very lucky to travel internationally, including performances in Australia, India and the USA.

I have my own ceilidh band, Scotia Ceilidh Band, who perform regularly at events across the UK. In 2014, I founded Fèis Phàislig – an arts organisation that provides opportunities in traditional music and Gaelic culture for young people across Renfrewshire!

Chris Hunt – PR & Marketing

My name is Chris and I do the PR, ensuring our team, partners and press all know what we and everyone involved wants to shout about. I’ve been working freelance for Hands Up for Trad since 2018 across their cultural programme, and just love working with such talented people in music and language for this beautiful country, and I respect and wholly support protecting, growing and nurturing our culture.

I am a huge Sassenach fan of all things Scottish, and work in development for both contemporary and historic Scotland’s creatives industries. I come from a family who danced, played instruments and sang for work and our suppers. Having family here in Fife, where I live now, I first visited Edinburgh as a child. I started work in the culture and textiles sectors from my teens onwards and permanently moved from London to Glasgow in 2003 whilst establishing my own business Genuine Scotland, working in promotion and events. I also established Scotland ReDesign in 2005, a social enterprise for fashion and design workers and I married my husband in 2016, relocating to Dundee & Tayside in 2018.

You can stay up-to-date with all things Seachdain na Gàidhlig across all social media channels. Join us today and don’t forget to use the hashtags #SeachdainNaGàidhlig #Gàidhlig.