Historic Gaelic Summit Unites Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man – Nova Scotia Gaelic College Hosts

A significant event for the Pan Celtic movement took place in July in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. An International Gaelic Summit formally named “Connecting the Gaels an International Gaelic Summit” was held on the campus of Colaisde na Gàidhlig (Gaelic College of Celtic Arts & Crafts) in St. Anns. The main participants were the host Gaelic College and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College. Also attending were representative of Gaelic organizations from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Joining the Summit was an array of Gaelic related organizations, businesses, government representatives and educational organizations.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Summits co-host, is Scotland’s Gaelic College located on the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast. Founded in 1973, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig has become internationally recognized as a National Centre for Gaelic language and culture.  The College is an academic partner within the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), and provides high quality education and research opportunities through the medium of Scottish Gaelic.

The CEO of Cape Breton’s Colaisde na Gàidhlig, Rodney MacDonald, cited the participation of delegates from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man as contributing to the significance of what many language activists consider to be the inaugural Gaelic Summit.  MacDoald added: “The event itself — the “Connecting the Gaels” conference — was a great success. It was a chance for individuals to get together and speak about some of the opportunities and challenges facing the Gaelic community. It’s certainly inclusive, but not limited to the educational programming that’s offered by both institutions. We’ll be supporting visits and exchanges between students, staff and alumni, (and) the promotion of Gaelic cultural events.  Also, the knowledge exchange is very important in the areas of Gaelic language, music, dance and craft.”

Increased collaboration of Gaelic language advocates from the four Celtic nations with Gaelic speaking populations is welcomed by supporters of the Celtic language and culture. These efforts support the work done by the Celtic League which since its founding in 1961 have supported the Celtic languages and fostered co-operation between Celtic peoples and supported the development of a shared Celtic consciousness.

The possibility of increased higher levels of cooperation amongst Gaelic language advocates perhaps leading to an international governing body dedicated to the health of Gaelic language and culture is an exciting prospect.

Although Nova Scotia is not recognized by the Celtic League as a Celtic Nation, for purposes of the revitalization of Gaelic through Pan Celtic cooperation it functions as such. Given the definition of a Celtic Nation put forward by the Celtic League, that a Celtic Nation is one that has a living Celtic language, then Nova Scotia meets that criteria. There have been native Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia in an unbroken line since 1773 and there are currently estimated to be about 1500 fluent Gaelic speakers primarily on Cape Breton Island. Thus, it is arguable that Nova Scotia meets the criteria to be recognized as a separate Celtic nation by the Celtic league’s standard or at the very least an extension of the Celtic Nation of Scotland.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/2017/8/16/gaelic-college-in-st-...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/living/2017/7/5/gaelic-college-hosting-int...

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1483467-summit-of-gaelic-identit...