About
Find out more about the initiative and the team behind it…
Seachdain na Gàidhlig is the first official nationwide language and culture week to be held in Scotland.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) aims to raise the profile of Gaelic through community initiatives, projects and events. It provides the opportunity for both Gaelic speakers and those without the language to take part in a way that suits them; here in Scotland and further afield. Our theme for 2023 is ‘Coming Together’ and we are looking for projects / events that have this theme embedded at their core. Anybody can take part and / or run their own event – use the button below to submit your event or get in touch if you would like to discuss an idea.
Meet the Team
Joy Dunlop
Director
Joy Dunlop is a popular television & radio broadcaster; presenting the weather on both BBC Scotland & BBC Alba, in addition to being the main host of SpeakGaelic, the new and multi-faceted learning brand, offering the most comprehensive approach to learning Scottish Gaelic in a generation. With her trademark poise and depth of knowledge, Joy’s warmth and enthusiasm have made her increasing in-demand in television and radio broadcasts alike, presenting the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition and being a frequent host and panelist on a wide range of music, current affairs and light entertainment programmes.
A fluent Gaelic speaker, with an honours degree in Gaelic language and culture, she is also a multi-award winning Gaelic singer, winning both the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal and releasing multiple highly acclaimed albums. Her music has led her all over the world; from major Celtic festivals, to touring the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Japan and New Zealand. She also conducts the Alba Choir, Scotland’s first and only Eurovision entry, who participated in the 2019 Eurovision Choir of the Year finals in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Grant McFarlane
Project Manager
Grant McFarlane is an accordion player, arts practitioner and Gaelic learner from Paisley. Grant studied traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and performs and teaches across Scotland and further afield. He has performed in a number of groups and in countries across the world including Australia, India and Barbados. In 2015, he founded Fèis Phàislig which now delivers a year-round programme of opportunities in traditional music and Gaelic for young people in Renfrewshire. Grant has been learning Gaelic for around 3 years now and is passionate about creating opportunities for everybody to engage with the language, no matter what level they’re at.
Shona MacMillan
Administrative & Social Media Assistant
Shona Macmillan comes from Doune Carloway on Lewis Island and now lives in Skye with her two young children. She graduated with a BA in Gaelic and Media from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and has been working in Gaelic development for a number of years. She sings with Còisir Ghàidhlig Chàrlabhaigh and Còisir Sgìre Phort Rìgh. She joined the Seachdain na Gàidhlig team in November 2022 and has thoroughly enjoyed interacting with people who are just as passionate about Gaelic and culture as she is!
Chris Hunt
PR & Marketing
Chris Hunt has worked for twenty five years at the heart of Scottish culture, textiles and fashion both at home and abroad. Coming from a musical family, he was a professional musician singing choral & solos on BBC broadcasts, two albums and touring the USA twice. After leaving school to study design and working at various PR and Media companies in London, he began freelancing in Public Relations, Events and Communications in 2001.
He has worked with Scottish artists and culture organisations including: Pam Hogg; Dicky Trisco; Scottish Government’s Creative Industries Leadership Group; Dundee Events Forum; Paolo Nutini; Nordoff-Robbins; SAY Award; Scottish Music Awards; MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. Chris has launched various events and festivals partnership models across Scotland, with equality, storytelling, sustainability, place and people at their heart.
Following the success of #SayAGaelicPhraseDay, Chris began working with the team on developing Seachdain na Gàidhlig and now handles Press, Strategy and Public Relations.
