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.

Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), bha oidhche aig Fèis Arainn far an do sheinn Deirdre Ghreamach cuid de na h-òrain Gàidhlig Arainneach le cùl-taic air a’ ghiotàr bho Findlay Napier is thug an t-eachdraiche ionadail Alistair Paul seachad fiosrachadh mun na sgeulachdan air cùl nan òran.

Bha an tachartas gu math soirbheachail. Bha barrachd san luchd èisteachd na bha an dùil (64) agus bha an ais-mholadh a fhuair sin bho na daoine a bha an làthair air leth math. A thuilleadh air a bhith a’ faighinn tlachd às a’ chuirm thuirt gu leòr dhiubh gun robh iad air tòrr ionnsachadh mu dhualchas Gàidhlig an eilein nach b’ aithne dhaibh roimhe. Bha e math a bhith a’ faicinn daoine aig diofar aoisean bho gach cheàrn dhen eilean an làthair. Ghabh luchd ciùil òga pàirt san tachartas is iad a’ cluich cuid de cheòl dùthchail an eilein is thug sin dhaibh cothrom ceanglaichean a neartachadh eadar ginealach ùr is dualchas an àite.

Chaidh clàradh a dhèanamh dhen oidhche a bhios ri fhaotainn air loidhne mar dòigh gus luchd-èisteachd nas fharsainge a ruighinn agus gus am bi goireas ri fhaotainn san ùine fhada do dhuine sam bith aig a bheil ùidh sa chuspair.

Thog an tachartas aithne mu luach dualchas Gàidhlig an eilein am measg muinntir an àite, cuid a tha mar-tha a’ gabhail pàirt ann an gnìomhan Gàidhlig is cuid eile nach eil. Thug an tachartas stuth nach deach èisteachd ris fad ùine mhòir gu bith às ùr agus bidh an clàradh a rinneadh air na ghoireas fheumail san àm ri teachd. Thugadh don òigridh a ghabh pàirt ann cothrom beagan eòlais a chur air dualchas an eilein.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Fèis Arainn held an evening where Deirdre Graham sang songs from Arran with accompaniment from Findlay Napier, and local historian Alistair Paul gave information on the songs’ history.

The event was hugely successful. The audience was bigger than anticipated (64) and the feedback was excellent. As well as saying they enjoyed the event, a good number said they had learned a lot about the island’s Gaelic heritage they were not aware of before. It was excellent to see people of all ages from across the island. A group of young folk performed local music which allowed for strengthening of ties between the young generation and the heritage of the area.

A recording was taken which is available online as a way of reaching more people and making the resource accessible to anyone interested in the subject.

The event raised awareness in local folk of the Gaelic heritage of the area, some who already take part in Gaelic activities and some who don’t. It also brought to the surface material that had not been heard for a long time, which will be invaluable in future. The youth received an opportunity to learn a little about the island’s heritage.