Fighting The Good Fight for Scots Gaelic - Champions in the Fight to Preserve Our Culture

There are a number of Gaelic Organisations working across Scotland to develop and support the use of the Gaelic language and culture and which could provide support to learning and using Gaelic.  Here is an abridged list of these groups working to preserve our precious Celtic Heritage. See a complete listing at http://www.gaidhlig.org.uk/fdp/en/community/main-gaelic-groups/:

Bòrd na Gàidhlig: Established as a public body by the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 which was commenced on 13th February 2006. The legislation is designed to promote the use of Scottish Gaelic, secure the status of the language and ensure its long-term future.  The Act sets out 3 main aims for Bòrd na Gàidhlig:

• to increase the number of persons who are able to use and understand the Gaelic language;
• to encourage the use and understanding of the Gaelic language; and
• to facilitate access, in Scotland and elsewhere, to the Gaelic language and Gaelic culture.

An Comunn Gàidhealach: An Comunn Gàidhealach runs the Royal National Mòd and local mods. Many children in Gaelic education compete in local and national mods. It’s an excellent opportunity to participate in singing, instrumental, oral, drama and literacy competitions.

Clì Gàidhlig:  Clì Gàidhlig is the Gaelic Learners Association. CLI was established to assist adult learners of Gaelic in becoming fluent Gaelic speakers. CLI run courses throughout the country, for different levels, with an emphasis on conversation. CLI also organise a range of specialist courses including Ùlpan courses (a fast and effective way to learn a language) as well as Gaelic Awareness courses.

Comunn na Gàidhlig: Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) at present have Iomairtean Gàidhlig (Gaelic Initiatives) operating in 7 areas: Lochaber, Glasgow, Edinburgh, North-east Skye, Uist and Eriskay, Lewis, and Islay and Jura. They work with the community to strengthen Gaelic in each area. They have programmes of events running in these areas. Comunn na Gàidhlig also do a lot of youth work including Gaelic Youth Camps, Sradagan and running a student work placement scheme.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal: Fèisean nan Gàidheal supports the development of community-based Gaelic arts tuition festival throughout Scotland. At a Fèis your child can develop skills in the Gaelic arts – song, dance, drama, and traditional music on a wide range of instruments. Tuition is fun, but professional and effective. The focus of activity for most Fèisean is an annual, week-long festival, but increasingly Fèisean offer a full programme of year-round follow-on classes to ensure sustained provision. Follow this link to a mapshowing where a Fèis all the Fèisean in Scotland. Fèisean nan Gàidheal also supports the Meanbh-chuileag Theatre Company, which tours schools with plays focussing on Gaelic culture and history. They also offer drama workshops for children.

Pròiseact nan Ealain:  Pròiseact nan Ealain (PnE) or the Gaelic Arts Agency based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. PNE initiatives have received many awards over the last 10 years including the Scottish Event of the Year Award (Traditional) – Scottish Events Awards for Hiort: St Kilda – A European Opera in 2007.

Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig:  Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig create resources for Gaelic education. They have a range of free interactive resources for families including Gaelic4parents, where families can also access support for homework and other issues relating to Gaelic education. Gaelic4parents has a wealth of resources that parents can use with children. An Seotal is a project managed by Storlann. It develops terminology for the teaching of a range of subjects in the secondary school through the medium of Gaelic.

http://www.gaidhlig.org.uk/fdp/en/community/main-gaelic-groups/

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