Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), bha cuirm mhòr aig Comann nam Pàrant Lannraig a Tuath gus 25 bliadhna de dh’fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath a chomharrachadh. Chaidh cuireadh a thoirt dha gach pàiste a tha a’ dol tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig san sgìre pàirt a ghabhail sa chuirm. Thadhail na h-oidean, Màiri NicAonghais agus Norrie MacÌomhair, air na sgoilearan tro Sheachdain na Gàidhlig gus obair a dhèanamh leotha agus bha Fiona NicAsgaill cuideachd gan ullachadh anns na mìosan ro-làimh. Thàinig Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig na h-Eaglais Brice agus Còisir Ghàidhlig Chomar nan Allt a sheinn aig a’ chuirm cuideachd gus bharrachd dhan choimhearsnachd a thoirt a-steach. Rinn Màiri, Norrie agus Fiona pìosan aig a’ chuirm a bharrachd air a bhith a’ cluich ‘s a’ seinn còmhla ris a’ chloinn. B’ e deagh chomharrachadh a bh’ ann agus cothrom dha daoine coinneachadh gus Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn còmhla agus a bhith san èisteachd aig tachartas air leth. Bha an oidhche uabhasach soirbheachail agus chòrd e ris a h-uile duine a bha an làthair.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Comann nan Pàrant Comhairle Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath held a concert at Greenfaulds High School celebrating 25 years of Gaelic Medium Education within Comhairle Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath. All children from every GME establishment were given the opportunity to be a part of the concert. Tutors Màiri MacInnes and Norrie MacIver visited the kids during Seachdain na Gàidhlig and worked on material with them, on top of which Fiona MacAskill worked with the kids during her school timetable for months previous to the concert. They invited Comhairle na h-Eaglaise Brice Gaelic Youth Choir and Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir to perform at the concert to try and create a community atmosphere. They also had Màiri, Norrie and Fiona performing with the kids as well as their own material. The concert was very much a celebration as well as an opportunity for people within the community to mix and enjoy a unique experience thanks to Gaelic. It was a hugely successful event and it was well enjoyed by all who attended.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), bha cèilidh aig Comann nam Pàrant Peairt do theaghlaichean bhon sgìre a bha dà-chànanach agus trì-chànanach.

Bha teaghlaichean òg an làthair agus daoine nas sine bho choimhearsnachd Pheairt agus na còisirean Ghàidhlig. Chòrd oidhche de cheòl bho chòmhlan ris na bha a-staigh. Sheinn clann a bha ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ag ullachadh airson a’ Mhòid agus tachartasan Gàidhlig eile. Air na ballachan bha postairean a rinn a’ chlann. Chuidich iad le bhith ag eadar-theangachadh an tachartais fad na h-oidhche.

Dh’fhairich an Comann gun do thog an tachartas ùidh dhaoine sa Ghàidhlig. Bhruidhinn a’ chlann mu na h-òrain a sheinn iad agus dh’ionnsaich an fheadhainn aig nach robh Gàidhlig faclan furasta mar ‘mòran taing’ agus ‘a’ dannsa’. Bha cuid den chloinn car diùid a bhith a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig an toiseach ach bidh sin a’ tachairt le clann sa bhun-sgoil.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund, Comann nam Pàrant Peairt ran a cèilidh for families from throughout Comhairle Pheairtshire, many of whom had Gaelic and some who didn’t, and others who were trilingual.

They had young families attending and also older members of society from the Gaelic society of Comhairle Pheairt and Gaelic choirs. The evening was very much enjoyed, with live music from a cèilidh band. The Gaelic medium kids were singing in preparation for the Mòd and other Gaelic events. On the walls, they had Gaelic posters which the children had drawn. The kids helped during announcements to translate everything into Gaelic.

They felt like more members of the Comhairle Pheairt society, who do not have Gaelic, got very interested. Some English speaking and Gaelic speaking children spoke about their songs and easy words like ‘mòran taing’ and ‘a’ dannsa’. Some kids were a bit shy to actually communicate with the Gaelic choirs and society, but this often happens with the primary aged kids.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), bha cèilidh aig Co-roinn Ghàidhlig Mhuile is Idhe an Talla Àrois ann an Tobar Mhoire, le ceòl bhon t-seinneadair Ghàidhlig Ceitlin Lilidh, an còmhlan-cèilidh Treshnish agus seinneadairean agus luchd-ciùil ionadail. Bha bàr agus rafail ann cuideachd. Chlàraich iad a’ chèilidh agus sheall iad beò e air an duilleag Facebook aca.

’S e oidhche shoirbheachail agus làn spòrs a bh’ ann, le 50 neach aig a’ chèilidh. Bha an ceòl uile fìor mhath agus bha tòrr dhaoine suas a’ dannsa. Cheannaich tòrr dhaoine tiocaidean rafail.

Chòrd e gu mòr ri daoine a bhith a’ faighinn an cothrom cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig a chluinntinn. Tha iad uile an dòchas gum bi iad a‘ cur air dòigh barrachd chèilidhean mar seo san àm ri teachd, airson Gàidhlig a chumail beò sa choimhearsnachd.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag, chum Comann nam Pàrant Bhaile Dhubhthaich feasgar spòrsail far an tàinig a’ choimhearsnachd còmhla airson cèic, copan agus airson lèintean-T a dhealbhachadh agus a thoirt dhachaigh. Bha an tachartas fosgailte do dhaoine de gach aois agus bha gnìomhachd ann mar Bookbug Gàidhlig do chloinn, ceòl agus dannsa, agus teatha agus cofaidh. Bha gnìomhan ann cuideachd mar a’ cur dath, geamannan agus leughadh, agus bha àite ann a-muigh far am b’ urrainn dhan chlann ruith mun cuairt. Bha fiosrachadh aca mu thachartasan is bhuidhnean Gàidhlig san sgìre m.e. Còisir Ghàidhlig an Luirg, coinneamhan seachdaineil, gnìomhachd Chultarlann Inbhir Nis, clasaichean aig Ionad Ionnsachaidh Sgìre an Luirg, cothroman Ionnsachaidh air-loidhne leithid Leabhar Fosgailte, cofaidh is cabadaich Chomann nam Pàrant Nàiseanta, clasaichean aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Ceòlas is eile, is fiosrachadh air foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann am Baile Dhubhthaich.

Bha geamannan aca a-muigh le ball-coise is baidhseagailean beaga ann an àite sàbhailte. Chum iad Cuairt is Cabadaich a bharrachd air Dimàirt 21 Gearran far an tàinig 21 neach-ionnsachaidh is fileantach bho aois 3 gu còrr is 70. Bha seo air leth soirbheachail agus an-asgaidh, agus tha iad an dùil seo a dhèanamh nas trice tro shaor-làithean na sgoile gus cothroman a thoirt do theaghlaichean Gàidhlig a chleachdadh còmhla.

B’ e seo a’ chiad tachartas mòr Gàidhlig san sgìre airson mu 6 bliadhna agus tha iad dòchasach gum tig tuilleadh dhaoine beagan foighidinn is misneachd.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Comann nam Pàrant Bhaile Dhubhthaich held a fun afternoon where Gaelic speakers and learners from across the community came together for cake, a cuppa and made their own Gaelic T-shirt to take away and wear. The event was open to people of all ages, and there were activities such as Gaelic Bookbug story time for children, Gaelic sing along music and dancing from the children, make your own t-shirts, and served tea, coffee and home baking. There were also Gaelic colouring activities, word searches, games, and books, and they used an outdoor area for informal kids fun activities. They ran a small information point with information on local Gaelic activities and classes e.g Lairg Gaelic Choir, Weekly meetups, Cultarlann Inbhir Nis activities, Lairg Learning Centre Gaelic culture and heritage classes, online opportunities such as Leabhar Fosgailte, Comann Nam Pàrant Naiseanta Coffaidh is Cabadaich and classes from SMO, Ceòlas and others, and information about GME and preschool groups in Tain.

They offered outdoor games such as football, and ride on toys in an outdoor area just outside our function room so children had the option to play and run around outside, but in a safe and enclosed space. They decided to do an additional Cuairt agus Cabadaich on Tuesday 21st February, which attracted 21 people, a mix of Gaelic speakers and learners aged 3 to 70 something! This was very successful, and was a completely free to participate event which they plan to repeat regularly on school holidays, and potentially on future strike days to get families together and give children an opportunity to use Gaelic together outside school.

This was the first big Gaelic event in the area for about 6 years, so they are optimistic that patience and quiet encouragement will bring more engagement in time.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), chùm Buidheann Coinneachaidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu seisean airson luchd-labhairt aig gach ìre.

Sgrìobh Andy Beck bhon bhuidheann:

An toiseach, chuir sinn an aithne a chèile ann an Gàidhlig (“Is mise…”, “Tha mi à…”, “Tha mi a’ fuireach ann an…”, amsaa).

An uair sin, chleachd sinn ceistean (m.e. “Cò an gaisgeach na Gàidhlig as fheàrr leat?”), airson còmhraidhean a thòiseachadh.

Às deidh sin, lean sinn air adhart le buidhnean còmhraidh aig gach bòrd.

Thàinig 15 daoine, agus bha sinn a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig mu 70-75% dhen ùine. Chaidh Beurla a chleachdadh cuideachd airson taic a thoirt do na daoine aig nach robh tòrr Ghàidhlig, neo mar “safety valve”.

Dh’ionnsaich mi / dh’ionnsaich sinn gu bheil e comasach còmhraidhean a chumail far a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig na prìomh chànan. Ach: faodaidh seo a bhith duilich, oir mar as lugha de Ghàidhlig a bhios aig daoine, ’s ann as motha de Bheurla a bhios a dhìth gus dèanamh cinnteach gun tuigear a h-uile rud. Cuideachd, bha ceistean aig cuid de na daoine ann am Beurla mu ghràmar, dòighean ionnsachaidh, amsaa.

Anns an fharsaingeachd, chaidh an tachartas a rèir a’ phlana. Bha a h-uile duine an sàs gu math anns na h-eacarsaichean còmhraidh, agus chuidich iad a chèile. Cuideachd, bhrosnaich mi iad gu bhith a’ cleachdadh “Ciamar a chanas mi…?” nuair nach robh iad eòlach air facal no gnàthas-cainnt, rud a chum an còmhradh sa Ghàidhlig.

‘S e prìomh bhuaidh an tachartais seo gu bheil barrachd dhaoine anns a’ bhuidheann “Glasgow Scottish Gaelic Meetup Group” air Meetup.com a-nis, agus tha cuid dhiubh anns a’ bhuidheann WhatsApp a th’ againn cuideachd. Thog na daoine sin ùidh ann a bhith a’ tilleadh gu tachartasan eile san àm ri teachd (dà thuras sa mhìos). Bha fear no dhà an làthair aig an tachartas mu dheireadh.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), the Glasgow Scottish Gaelic Meetup Group held a session for speakers of all levels.

Andy Beck from the group wrote:

We did a round of introductions in Gaelic, so that everyone could say some things about themselves.

Then, we used some questions (e.g. “Who is your favourite Gaelic ambassador?”) as the basis for getting a conversation going.

After that, we continued the conversation groups with general conversation.

The outcome was that 15 people came, and we spoke Gaelic about 70-75% of the time, with English also used for clarification purposes/as a “safety valve”.

I learned/we learned that it is possible to host a meetup where Gaelic is the language that is primarily used. However, this can be a tricky balance to strike, as the less Gaelic that people speak, the more English will be needed to ensure that all activities are understood. Also, some people had questions in English about grammar, learning techniques, etc.

All in all, the event went according to plan. The attendees engaged well with the conversation exercises, and helped one another. They were also encouraged to use “Ciamar a chanas mi…?” when asking for words that they didn’t know, which kept the conversation in Gaelic and kept English off the table.

The main impact of this event is that more people have joined the Glasgow Scottish Gaelic Meetup Group on Meetup.com, and a small WhatsApp group that we have as well. These people expressed interest in returning to future events that we’ll hold (twice a month). One or two did, in fact, attend the latest event.