Using it or losing it: how important is Gaelic media?

26th Feb 2026
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Venue:
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Explore Gaelic-language digital media and broadcasting through the generations. With contributions from Gaelic media broadcasters Matthew MacIver, Cathy MacDonald and Calum Maclean, we will discuss the expansion of TV broadcasting in the 1980s, tothe launch of BBC Alba, to the current world of digital connection.

How has Gaelic media represented and supported the community it serves, and how can it contribute to maintaining use of Gaelic in the future? Should we count on specialist broadcasters to inform, entertain, and educate through Gaelic, or do we also have to do it ourselves?

Drawing on the Gaelic Week theme of ‘Use it or Lose it’ Gaelic media practitioners representing different periods of this constantly evolving sector will discuss their perspectives on these issues. How should we ‘use it’ to avoid ‘losing it’?

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