On 8th November, 20 teams from high schools across Scotland met to compete for the National Loganair Gaelic High Schools’ Debate. The first two days of debate were held in Stornoway and it was the teams of The Nicolson Institute A, Portree High School, Tarbert School A and Glasgow Gaelic High School who progressed to the semi-finals, held in Edinburgh on 29th November. Portree High School and Tarbert School A battled it out in the final on the 30th of November and Portree came out on top, with Jessica Mackay from Tarbert School A achieving the prize for the best speechmaker.
Joy Dunlop was a first-time judge alongside Agnes Rennie and Angus Maclennan, and she said it was a pleasure her to be among such hard-working children. She added that every team should be commended and praised for their preparation and work ethic.
Well done, Portree High School!
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
Làrach-lìn Ùr // New Website
Tha làrach-lìn gleansach ùr aig Seachdain na Gàidhlig! Tha sinn air a bhith ag obair air fad sheachdainean gus a dhèanamh nas fhasa dhuibh fhèin a bhith a’ tadhal air na duilleagan. Gheibh sibh a-mach mu na naidheachdan as ùire againn agus a dh’aithghearr gheibh sibh cothrom sùil a thoirt air na goireasan a tha sinn air a chur ann an aon àite a thaobh ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig. Bu chaomh leinn taing mhòr a thoirt do Fraser aig Mayfin Design airson a chur air a chasan. Feuch gun tadhail sibh oirnn aig seachdainnagaidhlig.scot!
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We have updated our Seachdain na Gàidhlig website! We have been working behind the scenes for a number of weeks to make the website easier to navigate. You will find all our latest news and soon we will have a list of resources to help you get started (or, indeed, continue) on your Gaelic learning journey. We would like to give a big thank you to Fraser Watson at Mayfin Design who has been working closely with us to get the new website up and running. Come and visit us on seachdainnagaidhlig.scot!
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr // Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Bu chaomh leinn uile aig Seachdain na Gàidhlig gach beannachd a ghuidhe dhuibh thar a’ chola-deug a tha ri thighinn, agus tha sinn an dòchas gum faigh sibh beagan fois. Tha sinn air bhioran airson Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2023 agus gu mòr an dòchas gum bi sibh uile ann còmhla rinn.
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The Seachdain na Gàidhlig team would like to wish you all the very best for the holidays and we hope you manage to get some rest. We are very excited for Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2023 and sincerely hope to see you all there with us.
National Loganair Gaelic High Schools’ Debate
On 8th November, 20 teams from high schools across Scotland met to compete for the National Loganair Gaelic High Schools’ Debate. The first two days of debate were held in Stornoway and it was the teams of The Nicolson Institute A, Portree High School, Tarbert School A and Glasgow Gaelic High School who progressed to the semi-finals, held in Edinburgh on 29th November. Portree High School and Tarbert School A battled it out in the final on the 30th of November and Portree came out on top, with Jessica Mackay from Tarbert School A achieving the prize for the best speechmaker.
Joy Dunlop was a first-time judge alongside Agnes Rennie and Angus Maclennan, and she said it was a pleasure her to be among such hard-working children. She added that every team should be commended and praised for their preparation and work ethic.
Well done, Portree High School!
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
30 November 2022. Pic-Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
Christmas Fair with Inverness Cultarlann
Meet Santa at An Lòchran
12.30pm or 1.45pm, Saturday 17th December
An Lòchran, 22 Mansefield Street, Partick, Glasgow,G11 5QP
A donation would be welcome for this event. There is not a specific amount, just what you are able to pay.
To book, send an e-mail to info@anlochran.com or carina@anlochran.com and state which time you want to reserve 12.30pm or 1.45pm,the children’s names and ages. Additionally it would be useful for them to know how many people will be attending in your group, including adults as numbers are limited due to the room size.
Cross-Party Group on Gaelic
The Cross-Party Group on Gaelic, of which Alasdair Allan MSP is chair and Bòrd na Gàidhlig is secretariat, met last Wednesday, 30th November 2022. The group’s purpose is to provide MSPs with a mechanism for obtaining information, support, advice and views on issues relating to the Gaelic language and culture within a broad forum which represents Gaelic interests in Scotland. Joy Dunlop, our director, was in attendance representing Seachdain na Gàidhlig, and raised awareness of our project within a wide audience of different groups.
Small Grants Fund Closed
We would like to thank every individual and group who submitted an application for funding support. We have had a look at the many wonderful and varied projects and events you have planned for Seachdain na Gàidhlig and we are more excited now than ever! A panel will meet to decide on each grant and we will let applicants know before Monday 19th December. We are, as always, hugely grateful to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, without whom the fund would not have been possible.
Dundee Gaelic Choir Needs You!
Do you live in or near Dundee? Are you interested in singing with a choir? Dundee Gaelic Choir is looking for new members – basses in particular! Now is a very good time to join a choir. If you are interested, please get in touch with Audrey Roshier on peapodaud@talktalk.net.
Information Sessions
We held a couple of successful information sessions about Seachdain na Gàidhlig on 3rd and 22nd November on Zoom, where we had a good number of people join us to find out more about the aims of the week. We even had a couple of folk tune in from Nova Scotia! There was a good conversation about the aims of the week and ideas on how everyone could be involved.
If you weren’t able to take part in either session but would like more information, please let us know on admin@project1-whhn4uljfw.live-website.com and Grant or Shona would be delighted to arrange a Zoom call or a phonecall.
Gaelic Awards 2023
We are delighted to tell you that the Gaelic Awards will be held during Seachdain na Gàidhlig on Tuesday 21st February in the Glasgow Marriott Hotel! The Awards are run by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Daily Record and recognise the efforts individuals and groups are making to uphold and develop Gaelic across the country and the world. This will be the tenth year of the Gaelic Awards and they are now seeking nominations for winners across several categories. Take a look at their website https://scottishgaelicawards.co.uk/2023/en/page/home to submit your nominations before 8th January 2023 and to find out more about the event itself. It’s sure to be a great night!