Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), chaidh Farpais nan Gàidheal a chumail ann an Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, a’ cur fàilte air sgiobaidhean iomain bho àrd-sgoiltean air feadh na dùthcha.

B’ e latha air leth soirbheachail de spòrs a bh’ ann. Cha deach air Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu an tiotal a bhuannachadh airson dàrna bliadhna, le Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis a’ dèanamh an gnothach air Drochaid an Easbuig sa chuairt dheireannach. Bha an t-Òban, a bha ùr dhan iomairt, soirbheachail ann am farpais leasachaidh, le Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu B san dàrna àite.

Chaidh Dòmhnall F a chur air adhart mar shàr chluicheadair, agus fhuair Seumas F urram mar a’ chluicheadair a b’ fheàrr sa chuairt dheireannach. Bha Z Menzies air leth math san sgioba agus bha R MacCoinnich mì-fhortanach nach d’ fhuair e tadhal no dhà leis cho math ‘s a chluich e.

Bha luach mhòr san tachartas a bharrachd air a bhith na cho-fharpais leis gur h-e an tachartas spòrs a bu mhotha ann an Alba eadar àrd-sgoiltean, le dà uidhir a’ gabhail pàirt ris na bha ann an-uiridh. Bha e na chothrom air leth do sgoilearan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a choinneachadh taobh a-muigh na sgoile. Bha cuid de na cluicheadairean uabhasach math air a bhith a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig fhad ‘s a bha iad a’ cluich, le Alfi agus Alasdair a’ dèanamh deagh oidhirp, le F Mor ga mholadh leis an luchd-teagaisg airson Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh am measg na bha a’ cluich. Bha a h-uile duine san èisteachd a’ brosnachadh na cluicheadairean agus fhuair iad buannachd mhòr bho bhith a’ cluinntinn na Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn le deugairean eile bho dhiofar àiteachan.

Cha bhi am farpais ga chumail aig Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu an ath-bhliadhn’ ach tha iad an dòchas gun tog Acadmaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis no Drochaid an Easbuig am bratach airson soirbheachail na farpaise a chumail a’ dol.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu played host to the annual ‘Farpais nan Gàidheal’ for shinty teams from high schools across the country.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), lìbhrig Freya NicLeòid bùithtean-obrach mothachail ann an co-bhann le Colaiste MhicAmhlaigh (CIC) ann an Eilean Leòdhais.

Thug iad sùil air a’ cheangal eadar fuaim, buadhan agus obair ealain ann an cànan dùthchasach nan Eilean. Mar thoradh air a seo, chaidh mapa fhaclan a dhèanamh le faclan Gàidhlig a bha a’ freagairt air na fuaimean a bha na h-oileanaich a’ cluinntinn an àrainneachd an tuathanais.

Thairis air na trì làithean, fhuair na com-pàirtichean eòlas air na leanas:

A’ bruidhinn mun deidhinn fhèin sa Ghàidhlig (Is mise…)

Faclan Gàidhlig le fuaimean an tuathanais (splais, gag-gòg, mè mè, strùpag)

Dealbhachadh phostairean fiodha

Ag obair le diofar sheòrsan aodaich agus fiodh

A’ clàradh fuaim le microfòn is fònaichean-chluais

Ag aithneachadh àiteachan leis na fuaimean air gach làrach

Bha am pròiseact air leth soirbheachail le com-pàirteachadh uabhasach math bho na h-oileanaich agus luchd-obrach an tuathanais. B’ e amas a’ phròiseict gum deidheadh rudeigin a chruthachadh a sheasadh gu bràth ann am fiodh agus concrait le Gàidhlig aig a chridhe, agus chaidh seo a choileanadh. Leis gun robh diofar stèiseanan ann dha na h-oileanaich, cha robh uallach orra fuireach anns an aon àite. Bha e uabhasach sùbailte oir bha cuid a bha nas cofhurtail leis a’ chlàradh agus cuid eile a bha nas fheàrr air an obair ealain. Airson trì làithean, bha an t-seada beò le obraichean ealain agus còmhradh sa Ghàidhlig, agus bha feadhainn ann nach robh cleachdte ri bhith a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig. Bha e neo-fhoirmeil agus fhuair iad cothrom feuchainn air na h-innealan a bha aca.

Bha na nithean càilear agus furasta an làimhseachadh, a thug air falbh duilgheadasan sam bith aig com-pàirtichean fa-leth a thaobh tàlant, sgrìobhadh agus còmhradh. Bha iad brèagha agus tarraingeach, a bha feumail do dhaoine aig a bheil feumalachdan a bharrachd, a’ toirt cothrom dhaibh a bhith a’ faighinn eòlais air cuspair air nach robh iad buileach eòlach. Bha e cudromach gun robh teatha, cofaidh is briosgaidean ann ’s gum biodh iad uile cofhurtail. Bha e math gun robh obair ann a thaobh teicneòlais fuaim cuideachd, a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine rudeigin eadar-dhealaichte fheuchainn. Feumaidh cùisean a bhith gu math furasta do na com-pàirtichean. Bha a h-uile càil air leth soirbheachail agus chòrd e ris a h-uile duine a bha an sàs.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), ‘Feuch Seo / Try this, Feel this’ was a Gaelic sensory workshop as part of an ongoing project by Freya Macleod in collaboration with Macaulay College (CIC) on the Isle of Lewis.

They explored the connection between sound, print-making and the senses through the indigenous language of the islands. This process resulted in a woodblock printed word-map made up of Gaelic onomatopoeia that students had recorded in the farm’s landscape.

Through the 3-day programme of activities, the students were offered the following experiences:

Gaelic language introduction (learned how to say “I am…/ is mise…”)

Gaelic language words relating to the sounds of the farm (eg splais, gag-gòg, mè mè, strùpag)

Graphic Wood-block poster design & layout (is mise posters)

Collaborative Fabric creation using same wood-block technique (Final piece)

Sound recording using microphone and headphones

Geographical map identification by mapping the sounds related to each location

The project went incredibly well, with extraordinarily high levels of engagement from the students and staff members at the farm. The desired outcomes were originally Gaelic and design orientated, to co-create a word-pattern that would be installed as physical, permanent sculpture later down the line of this project (concrete and wood). With the multi-station format, a participant didn’t have to stay on one activity for long, if they weren’t enjoying a particular element. Some preferred going for a walk with the microphones, while others were very in to the printing. It was flexible. For 3 days, they created a creative, vibrant shed space as an open, friendly environment where neither the art nor the Gaelic came across as intimidating. Rather, it was a social opportunity for people to just hanging out, speak a bit of Gaelic (many had never spoken a word in their lives) and having fun with the tools that were in the room.

Tactile objects are a great method to level the playing field in a creative language workshop – so that a level of required dexterity / skill in drawing / writing / talking / painting are removed. They were visually stimulating, and almost acted like ‘play objects’ at times, which works really well for those with additional educational or social requirements to engage with an unfamiliar topic. Creating a ‘buzzy’ atmosphere with music and tea, coffee and snacks is important to make people feel at home in a workshop. Having a sound-technology element was great for people with a technical mind, allowing them to flourish creatively but in a different way. Making things VERY simple from the participants’ point of view is essential. The workshops were very much enjoyed by all who took part.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), chaidh làrach-lìn Fhèis Phàislig ùrachadh le goireas air a bheil an t-uabhas fiosrachaidh mun bhàrd Dòmhnall ‘Ruadh’ Mac an t-Saoir agus cuid de na sgrìobhaidhean aige. Chaidh seo ullachadh le Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil. Bha cèilidh teaghlaich aca cuideachd, a bha air leth soirbheachail, leis na tiocaidean uile gan reic fada mus robh an tachartas ann.

Sheinn Còisir Ghàidhlig Fhèis Phàislig dà òran a chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Dòmhnall, a chòrd gu mòr ris na bha a-staigh, agus chaidh daoine am brosnachadh gu bhith a’ cleachdadh abairtean sa Ghàidhlig. Bha nithean spòrsail mun cuairt leithid bùird mòr le faclan Gàidhlig airson rudan a chur air na meadhanan sòisealta, faclan Gàidhlig air na bùird, agus chaidh an rafail a dhèanamh sa Ghàidhlig agus fiosrachadh ga thoirt seachad gu dà-chànanach.

Tha an goireas air-loidhne ri fhaotainn gu furasta bho làrach-lìn na Fèise agus tha e uabhasach soilleir agus fiosrachail mu obair Dhòmhnaill Ruaidh. Thèid aig sgoiltean is buidhnean ionadail air an goireas a chleachdadh agus gheibh iad taic bho Fhèis Phàislig le bhith a’ togail fòn no a’ gabhail brath air na bhios iad a’ dèanamh sa choimhearsnachd. Thèid com-pàirtichean na Fèise a bhrosnachadh gu bhith a’ coimhead air na sgrìobhaidhean anns na leasanan aca, a’ cur ris an fhiosrachadh a th’ aca mu dhualchas na Gàidhlig agus nan ealan sa choimhearsnachd aca.

Bidh am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann am Pàislig am-bliadhna agus bheir e cothrom dhaibh barrachd dhaoine a ruigsinn le obair Dhòmhnaill Ruaidh. Gabhaidh goireasan a bharrachd, leithid stuth a thèid a luchdadh a-nuas, a chur ris an làrach-lìn cuideachd.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), the Fèis Phàislig website was updated with a new resource page, curated by Gillebrìde Mac ’IlleMhaoil, which now has biographical information, images and links to the works of poet Dòmhnall ‘Ruadh” Mac an t-Saoir, and they also held a family cèilidh.

The cèilidh was very successful, being sold out well in advance of the event. The Fèis Phàislig Gaelic Choir performed two of Dòmhnall Ruadh’s songs, to an enthusiastic reception. The use of Gaelic words and phrases was encouraged throughout the event: fun items were used such as large boards with Gaelic words for social media posts and cards with common phrases on each of the tables, the raffle was called in Gaelic and spoken introductions were in both Gaelic and English.

The online resource is easily accessible from the Fèis Phàislig main website, and is a clear, concise introduction to the work of Dòmhall Ruadh. Local schools and organisations will be able to access the resource and also take advantage of support offered from Fèis Phàislig, either through informal contact with us, or via our outreach work within the community. Our own Fèis participants will be encouraged to explore the works in their own lessons, adding to their knowledge of Gaelic heritage and arts within their own community.

The upcoming Royal National Mòd in the town will allow them even greater scope to promote and encourage the use of Dòmhnall Ruadh’s works, whilst there is also the potential to add more resources, such as downloadable content, to the page itself.