THE history of Gaelic in Glasgow is explored at a city landmark as the Mod prepares to open there for the first time in almost 30 years.
Mod Ghlaschu begins on Friday, running until Saturday, October 19, with big audiences expected to attend the celebration of Gaelic language, culture and music.
To mark the event, a display of historic items related to Glasgow’s Gaels is on show at the Mitchell Library.
It charts the community from the late 18th century to the present day though items taken from the Glasgow City Archive.
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These include police personnel records, poor relief applications, a survey of Gaelic speakers in Glasgow schools and items from the Glasgow Gaelic Club. The collection also highlights those Glaswegian children who were boarded out to the Highlands and Islands.
It also includes architectural plans for “Highland cathedral” St Columba’s Church, which is the only mainland kirk to offer its main service in Gaelic, and the 1945 research that paved the way for today’s Gaelic-medium education in the city.
It is hoped that the items will help people track their community history, and even learn more about their families.
Councillor David McDonald, who chairs the council’s arm’s-length external culture and leisure body Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow City Archives, housed in the Mitchell Library, is an unrivalled collection of all manner of detailed records and information relating the city.
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“As we look forward to welcoming the Mod to Glasgow this interesting new display is sure to appeal to anyone who can trace their family back to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
“Over the years many have sought to set up life in Glasgow and we are proud of our record of welcoming people from across Scotland and across the world. The Gaels contributed so much to our city and have played a huge part in making Glasgow the wonderful place it is today.”
The display will be on public show on the fifth floor of the Mitchell Library until the end of December.
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