Latest news with #RoyalNationalMòd
Glasgow Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow to spotlight Gaelic language at Royal National Mòd
Royal National Mòd, which was founded in Oban in 1891, is an event that focuses on celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage while providing opportunities for people of all ages to perform in a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature. During last week's full council meeting, Bailie Seonad Hoy asked following the Scottish Parliament's agreement of the Scottish Languages Bill if the administration would be updating the council's Gaelic language plan and introducing a Scots language plan. Councillor Greg Hepburn said that while the council monitors and prepares to review the Gaelic language plan, there were no immediate proposals to introduce a Scots language plan. He said: 'Glasgow plays a vital role in the preservation and promotion of the Gaelic language with the largest number of Gaelic speakers outside the highlands and islands. 'Gaelic is a living language that enriches the city's educational, cultural and community life from Gaelic education medium work to the work of organisations like Akhilorin and the Gaelic Books council. READ MORE: Update provided on new Gaelic school to open in Glasgow next year 'The language contributes to Glasgow's diverse civic identity. This commitment will be further highlighted when Glasgow hosts the Royal National Mod from October 9 to 17, 2026. 'It's a major celebration of Gaelic language and culture and will bring thousands of visitors and participants to the city and offer a platform to showcase Glasgow's vibrant Gaelic community. 'The council's Gaelic language plan will be updated in 2026 as part of its mid-point review and this will allow for reflection and progress and renewed engagement with communities to strengthen Gaelic development across the city. 'At the same time, the council recognises the importance of supporting the Scots language. While there are no immediate plans to introduce the Scots language plan, the council is carefully considering the implications of forthcoming legislation. 'This includes evaluation on how best to align resources and delivery mechanisms to ensure future plans are meaningful and achievable. 'Engagement with key partners will be central to shaping a thoughtful and inclusive approach to language planning in Glasgow.'
Glasgow Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Update on new Gaelic primary school to open in Glasgow
Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School) is being developed in the East End with funding from a £2.4 million Scottish Government investment to support Gaelic schools and culture across Scotland. The school is being established in a refurbished and extended former St James' Primary School, with £2 million of the funding dedicated to the project. Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, said: "This school will build on the encouraging surge we have seen in the number of Gaelic speakers and learners in Glasgow and support the language's growth into the future. "Gaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money by providing better grade averages across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than average." The new school will be Glasgow's fourth Gaelic primary and will accommodate up to 416 pupils. Glasgow City Council has contributed £17.6 million to the project, with a total budget of £23.8 million. Alison Richardson, headteacher of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn, said: "With Gaelic medium education continuing to flourish in Glasgow, our pupils and parents are excited and proud to be moving Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn into its very own repurposed school located in the East End. "We look forward to supporting Gaelic's growth in the Calton area, where many spoke it in the past, and for the school to become a real focal point and asset to the local community." The funding package will also support Gaelic classroom expansion at West Primary School in Paisley, the growth of two Gaelic cultural centres in the Highlands, and events delivered by An Comunn Gàidhealach, which will host this year's Royal National Mòd in Lochaber. Glasgow had 740 primary pupils in Gaelic medium education in 2023.
The National
03-06-2025
- General
- The National
Scottish city to open fourth Gaelic primary school after £2.4m funding
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes announced the investment as part of a £2.4 million package to support Gaelic schools and cultural initiatives across Scotland at the site in Calton today. The funding will complete the refurbishment and extension of the former St James' Primary School building to establish Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School). Glasgow is home to the third largest number of children and young people in Gaelic education in Scotland with 740 primary pupils in 2023. READ MORE: 200 fans cram into Scottish trad pub for surprise Tide Lines set Census statistics from 2022 showed that 17,380 people in Glasgow had some Gaelic skills, an increase of 7911 people from 2011. The £2.4m funding will also support: the construction of a second classroom at West Primary School in Paisley the expansion of two Gaelic cultural centres in the Highlands cultural events through An Comunn Gàidhealach who will host this year's Royal National Mòd in Lochaber On a visit to the site of the new school, Forbes said: 'This school will build on the encouraging surge we have seen in the number of Gaelic speakers and learners in Glasgow and support the language's growth into the future. 'Gaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money by providing better grade averages across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than average. 'To support Gaelic's growth across Scotland, we are providing an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic initiatives this year. We are also progressing the Scottish Languages Bill which, if passed by MSPs, will introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.' READ MORE: 5 lost Gaelic words and phrases rediscovered in Scotland The new school, with space for 416 pupils, will be managed by Glasgow City Council. It meets a growing demand for Gaelic primary education in the city. Census figures published last year show a 45% increase in the number of people with some Gaelic skills in Glasgow compared to 2011. Alison Richardson, headteacher of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn, said: 'With Gaelic medium education continuing to flourish in Glasgow, our pupils and parents are excited and proud to be moving Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a' Challtainn into its very own repurposed school located in the East End. 'We look forward to supporting Gaelic's growth in the Calton area, where many spoke it in the past, and for the school to become a real focal point and asset to the local community.'
Sunday Post
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Joy Dunlop on her unconventional journey into world of trad music
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up When an old man stopped her as she was leaving a rehearsal for her Gaelic men's choir in Oban, Joy Dunlop was knackered. She had been up since 3am for work and knew she wouldn't be back home before 11pm. What he said made it all worth it though. 'He wanted to tell me that singing in the choir gave him something to live for,' said Joy. 'He was in his 80s and he was retired, so he didn't see people that often. I do Gaelic things for work, but the choral stuff I do for fun and it has become one of my favourite things. 'That might mean long days, but I have never regretted it. We are working on something together and that invigorates me.' Joy's Gaelic journey If you watch Joy presenting the weather on BBC, spot her handing out awards at the Royal National Mòd, or listen to one of her many albums, it might shock you to know that she wasn't born into a family of Gaelic speakers. 'When I was nine, the Mòd came to Oban and children in the area were encouraged to take part in it – I'm from Connel,' explained Joy. 'We had a woman from Islay who was a native speaker and she said if anyone would like to compete she would teach us. We had a wee choir, I think it must have been pretty much the whole school. 'That was my first understanding of Gaelic. We didn't have it in primary and I didn't have it in the family.' The more she learned, the more she enjoyed it, but even as she grew older, Joy didn't see Gaelic as something she could build a career around. She said: 'When I went to secondary school, everyone had to do French then we chose between Gaelic and German. 'Back then, which is not that long ago, it wasn't seen as a career option, so I didn't think of it as one; the assumption was that it wasn't for me because I didn't naturally have Gaelic. 'Instead of sixth year I went to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, then I was going to go and study medicine. But something just clicked for me and I ended up not leaving. 'I did a whole degree and I have been involved with Gaelic in some way ever since.' Career in Gaelic Joy went on to work in Gaelic language and culture development. As the only person working in her area, with no budget, she was able to take on whatever challenge she set herself. Hooked on the freedom, she eventually went freelance, taking on work in TV and radio, hosting, the music industry and more. 'A lot of people ask 'what are you?' in terms of my job and they want me to be one thing,' said Joy. 'But I have never been one thing and have always felt really lucky in that. I never want to be put in a box. 'Gaelic is a really useful skill and you pick up all these other skills as a result. If you are happy to put in the leg work and make things happen, there are opportunities out there.' Though Joy's calendar is now full of events, festivals, talks, choir rehearsals, gigs, recording and more, it hasn't always been easy to find work. Joy said: 'When I started, it was hard. People didn't know who I was and the Gaelic world is a small one – everyone knows everyone. I came from the mainland and from a non-Gaelic family. 'I graduated [as] the most enthusiastic person you could ever meet and all of a sudden, I encountered folk who said I wasn't a Gael and said I couldn't do it. 'You either react to that by letting it sink in and you stop, or by saying 'I'll show you'. If I know I can do something, I want to show people I can do it. I still get people trying to pull the authenticity card and saying they are more traditional than me, but I can't do anything about that. 'I can't help where I came from, but I can be as good as I can be. I can listen, learn and take feedback. 'I will be learning to the day I die, but I don't think that is a bad thing.' Celebrating the language Joy's unconventional path to Gaelic is the inspiration for today's Rebellious Truth talk at Edinburgh Tradfest; No Wrong Path: A Gaelic Learning Journey. She hopes it will encourage others to learn Gaelic. One way she suggests doing that is through music. © Kris Kesiak 'Learning any language is so daunting at first,' said Joy. 'Music is a universal language. We're a bit more used to listening to songs in a different language – we sing along even if we aren't sure what the artist is saying. 'Nowadays it is so easy to access music, and I think through that there is more exploration of new genres like trad music. 'I grew up learning all the really traditional Gaelic songs, but at home I was boogying away to pop. The fact you can now combine the two and play around with the culture and heritage while still respecting it is so healthy to me. 'If you go into a conversation and everyone is speaking a language you don't understand, you are automatically barred. 'If you go to a festival, it doesn't matter, you can still jump around and enjoy being part of an experience with other people. It's the community, the friendships, the experience. 'Music is so good for the soul.' Through the generations With a huge range of ages in her Gaelic choirs, Joy said she has noticed a real difference in the younger generations taking more of an interest in their culture and heritage. In her eyes, overcoming the barrier of fear when it comes to learning something new is the first step in discovering a whole new sense of community. 'Learning from scratch as an adult makes you feel very off-kilter because it's something you can't do,' said Joy. 'But you have to get past that really awkward panic when you don't know what to say and your mind goes blank. If you can, it is hugely rewarding. You don't have to be a singer or a Gaelic speaker to join a Gaelic choir, it's just about coming together and singing with other people. The physicality of raising your voice with someone else is good for every part of you. 'No one is going to die if you make a mistake, no one is going to laugh at you. I think for years we have not been very good as Scots; it's not natural for us to self-promote, it makes us feel uncomfortable. 'I did trad music at school and I was very much in the minority, it was not seen as a cool thing. 'All of a sudden, people are realising it is cool to be speaking Gaelic and doing trad music. 'I think the community element is so strong, but also in general Scottish identity is just getting better. 'We are more proud of our language, our heritage, our culture than ever.' Scottish pride in the USA There may still be work to do to encourage Scots to shout about their heritage and culture, but in the meantime, Joy said plenty of people are doing it for them. 'I am just back from Tartan Week in New York,' she said. 'It's the third time I have been over and I think there is something unbelievably special about it, the parade in particular. When you are going down Fifth Avenue and there are pipe bands and kilts; it is almost like an Americanised Scottish celebration. 'The first time I did it, people were laughing watching me because I was the most excited person there has ever been in a parade, waving my little flag and wearing my tartan. Never would I think of parading down Oban high street – it's not the kind of thing we do – but it felt like the most natural thing in the world to be in this huge multicultural city. 'We had a spot there that was ours, we were being highlighted and promoted. I think we all do it, I am definitely more Scottish when I am not in Scotland.' © Supplied by BBC Alba She added: 'I think those of us speaking Gaelic are often scared to say 'this is us' because it used to mean we were poor, or from the countryside and not civilised enough – we were so much the underdog. 'But we are good enough. You now see things like Harris Tweed on the catwalk. What we produce is beautiful and world-class.' Joy's Rebellious Truth talk will take place at Traverse Theatre from 2pm today or live stream for free on YouTubeYouTube Find out more at
Press and Journal
24-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Tribute: Grandma Chrissie MacEachen the Gaelic singer who taught choir in Lochaber for 26 years
Memories of Chrissie MacEachen have been shared far and wide following the announcement of her death, only a few days short of her 90th birthday. For the past seven years, Chrissie was cared for in a Fife nursing home, surrounded by her family. They said that, almost to the very end, Chrissie was still singing — a lifelong passion and a defining part of who she was. Born on May 3, 1935, she was one of six siblings raised on the family croft at Clachan Mòr in South Uist. The small settlement, situated near the shore of Loch Bee, is known for its traditional crofting lifestyle. A native Gaelic speaker, Chrissie first competed in the Royal National Mòd in Dunoon at the age of nine. From then on, she was a strong supporter of Gaelic singing and promotion of the language. At the age of 15, she left the island to work on the mainland, beginning a career in hospitality. She moved to the Morar area and Chrissie often spoke of her time at the Morar Hotel. At the time it was owned by the family of weather presenter Carol Kirkwood. She loved it there and made many friends that lasted a lifetime. From there, she moved to Glasgow and became part of the Gaelic community in the city. It was while working in Glasgow, at Lauder's Bar, that she met her future husband, Ronald MacEachen. He was a dad to two daughters and Chrissie opened her heart and home to them all. The couple married in Glasgow in August 1968. Ronald worked as a prison officer at Barlinnie and for a few years they stayed in the city. In 1970, the couple moved to Caol, where Chrissie worked in the Bellhaven Ward at the Belford Hospital. She was a care assistant there — a role she loved. But it was through Gaelic music that Chrissie made her most lasting impact. She was a passionate advocate for the language and culture. And she spent more than two decades as the fun-loving yet formidable conductor of the Lochaber Gaelic Junior Choir. She nurtured young singers and tutored adults, instilling in them a pride in Gaelic heritage. Among those she coached were some of the biggest names in traditional music. Among them were members of the Henderson family and broadcaster Eilidh Davis. Under the dedicated leadership of Chrissie, the choir achieved notable success at the Royal National Mòd across Scotland. Individually, Chrissie herself won one of its highest prizes in the Gold Medal in 1982, at the Royal National Mod on Skye. Her performance was described by the audience as 'outstanding' for both Gaelic language and her wonderful singing voice. She was known for her immaculate Highland outfits and her willingness to get her sleeves rolled up and get on with the job of teaching Gaelic to her choristers. Chrissie even fundraised for her choir's outfits and made sure no one was left behind when it came to paying for hotel accommodation. She was loved by her choir members and their parents for helping them learn the language through songs. In 2007, Chrissie was awarded the Freedom of Lochaber in recognition of her services to Gaelic music and culture. The ceremony was performed at the opening night of the Royal National Mod in Fort William on Friday October 12, 2007. In the citation for her award it reads: 'She has dedicated her later years to Gaelic and set up the Lochaber Schools Choir in 1985. 'Since then she has trained the choir as well as solo singers, duettists and those wishing to recite. 'Her dedication and hard work have all been done on a voluntary basis.' At the time, the provost of Lochaber, Councillor Allan Henderson, said: 'My fellow councillors and I unanimously feel that Chrissie MacEachen is a worthy Freeman of Lochaber. 'This prestigious title honours all her hard work, enthusiasm, expertise and commitment. 'And it recognises the important role she has played in promoting excellence in Gaelic music and song in Lochaber over many years.' In 2017, the choir was awarded the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, highlighting their excellence in Gaelic choral performance. She loved the children in her choir as if they were their own, and there is nothing that was too much trouble for her. Children and adults from her family adored her, affectionately calling her Grandma Chrissie. She will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew her. Her funeral will take place in Benbecula on May 8. Chrissie MacEachen's legacy endures through the countless individuals she inspired and the rich Gaelic traditions she helped preserve. She is survived by her daughters, four grandsons and several great-grandchildren, whom she loved.
