The following article has been published in both Gaelic and English.
IN one of his essays, Somhairle MacLean wrote that “Scottish Gaelic song is the chief artistic glory” of Scotland. This is what we celebrate at the Mòd this coming week.
Last night, it was a privilege to be at the opening concert of the 120th Royal National Mòd. Oban is of course the historic home of the Mòd so it is particularly special.
I want to congratulate all at An Comann Gàidhealach for the tireless work involved in making the Mòd happen year after year and for all they do to promote and preserve Gaelic for generations to come.
The Scottish Government plan to guarantee support to An Comunn Gàidhealach in ensuring that it has sufficient resources to enable it to continue to fulfil its ambitious plans for continuous development and innovation of the Royal National Mòd. This will underpin its sustainability well into the future.
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The Mòd is of huge cultural significance to the Gaelic speaker and learner community and to Scotland as a whole. It is an annual celebration of the deep and abiding connections between place/land, people, language and song.
Many readers will be aware of the rich archive we have in Tobar an Dualchais. Many of you will also remember the splendid BBC achievement of 2014, Bliadhna nan Òran.
Both of these important initiatives have clear links to the Mòd and the wider world of Gaelic song. Since 2014, Bliadhna nan Òran has been managed and promoted by the BBC and in future it will be relocated in the Tobar an Dualchais digital archive.
Last night, I was pleased to confirm the Scottish Government is able to provide £10,000 in this financial year to help with this transition. Also for further support for Gaelic song I was pleased to announce an additional £10,000 in next financial year towards Bliadhna nan Òran and £7000 to strengthen the Tobar an Dualchais website with a mapping facility, “Clicking into Place”.
I am sure we will look forward to the renewed promotion of Bliadhna nan Òran and it being an important source for both those that want to learn Gaelic song and those that may want to listen and enjoy.
The Scottish Government commitment to Gaelic and Scots is something we can all take pride in. We are consistently looking at how we can strengthen and improve our commitments to Gaelic – in education, in support for teachers, in media, in the arts and with community initiatives.
My appointment as Scotland’s first Cabinet Secretary for Gaelic is a further sign of this Government’s determination to preserve Gaelic as a vital part of our culture at a time of extremely challenging budgets.
There is much to be proud of in Argyll and Bute, where the Mod is taking place. There are many Gaelic initiatives including the Ionad Gaidhilg Fuaran (Gaelic Centre) upstairs here at the Corran Halls.
Gaelic is also present in a number of Argyll and Bute’s islands and I was delighted tonight to announce capital investment for the Argyll and Bute authority area, of £150,000 towards the immersive classroom at the Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile and £8000 for a Literacy Shed at Bowmore to support outdoor learning, literacy and expressive arts.
The Scottish Government recognises the cultural, economic and social value of the Mòd and the Gaelic language to the whole of Scotland. We recognise the crucial role of the Mòd in preserving and promoting Gaelic.
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I am committed to taking forward the Scottish Languages Bill and working across Parliament to strengthen the legislation as it progresses. For Gaelic, the bill’s aim is to build on the advancements so far made in the fields of education, language planning and community development. The bill also offers official language status for Scots for the first time.
I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard throughout the year to put together such a wonderful programme – that includes of course ACG, Argyll and Bute Council, The Mòd an Òbain Local Organising Committee, Bid4Oban, Rockfield Centre and the many volunteers. I know this Mòd week will be a tremendous success because of all your hard work.
Let me wish everybody, especially participants, of all ages, who have been practising and rehearsing so hard, a successful and enjoyable Mòd week.
GAELIC
Sgrìobh Somhairle MacGill-Eain, ann an aon de na h-aistean aige, gur e òrain Ghàidhlig sàr ealain na h-Alba. ’S e seo a tha sinn a’ comharrachadh aig a’ Mhòd an t-seachdain sa tighinn.
A-raoir, thoisich a’ cheudamh Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ’s a fichead, san Òban – dachaigh eachdraidheil a’ Mhòid.
Bu mhath leam meal-a-naidheachd a chur air a h-uile duine aig a’ Chomunn Ghàidhealach airson na h-obrach ionmholta a bhios iad a’ dèanamh gus am Mòd a chur air dòigh gach bliadhna agus airson a h-uile rud a bhios iad a’ dèanamh airson Gàidhlig a chur air adhart agus a chumail beò airson nan ginealach ri thighinn.
Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba an dùil gealladh a thoirt seachad gum faigh An Comunn Gàidhealach taic a nì cinnteach gum bi stòrasan gu leòr aca a leigeas leotha na planaichean lèirsinneach aca a choileanadh airson leasachadh is piseach a thoirt air a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail.
Bheir seo bun-stèidh sheasmhach san ùine air thoiseachTha am Mòd glè chudromach a thaobh cultair do luchd-labhairt is luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig agus do dh’Alba gu lèir.
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’S e tachartas bliadhnail a th’ ann far am bithear a’ dèanamh gàirdeachas ris na ceanglaichean làidir is maireannach eadar àiteachan is tìr, daoine, cànan is òrain.Bidh mòran luchd-leughaidh eòlach air an tasglann bheairteach a th’ againn le Tobar an Dualchais.
Bidh cuideachd cuimhne aig mòran air an sàr phròiseact a thug am BBC gu ceann ann an 2014, Bliadhna nan Òran.Tha ceangal follaiseach aig an dà iomairt chudromach seo ris a’ Mhòd is saoghal òrain na Gàidhlig san fharsaingeachd.
Bho 2014, tha Bliadhna nan Òran air a bhith air a stiùireadh is air a cur air adhart leis a’ BhBC agus san àm ri teachd thèid a gluasad gu tasglann didseatach Thobar an Dualchais.Bha e na thoileachas dhomh a ràdh a-raoir gun urrainn do Riaghaltas na h-Alba £10,000 a thoirt seachad sa bhliadhna ionmhais seo gus cuideachadh leis a’ ghluasad sin.
Cuideachd, gus taic a bharrachd a thoirt do dh’òrain Ghàidhlig, bha mi toilichte £10,000 a bharrachd fhoillseachadh do Bhliadhna nan Òran san ath bhliadhna ionmhais agus £7,000 gus làrach-lìn Thobar an Dualchais a leasachadh le goireas mapaidh, ‘Clicking into Place’.
Thèid gach suim a tha seo a thoirt seachad a thuilleadh air an £20,000 a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ toirt seachad do Thobar an Dualchais gach bliadhna.Tha mi cinnteach gun dèan sinn fiughair ri Bliadhna nan Òran a bhith air a cur air adhart às ùr is i a bhith na goireas cudromach agus fiù ’s nas fheàrr dhaibhsan a tha airson òrain Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh is iadsan a tha airson èisteachd ri is tlachd fhaighinn às.Faodaidh sinn uile a bhith moiteil às an taic a bhios Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ toirt dhan Ghàidhlig.
Tha sinn daonnan a’ sireadh dhòighean gus ar taic dhan Ghàidhlig a neartachadh is a leasachadh – ann am foghlam, taic do thidsearan, na meadhanan, sna h-ealain agus le iomairtean coimhearsnachd.
Tha mar a chaidh mo chur an dreuchd mar a’ chiad Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson na h-Eaconamaidh is Gàidhlig a’ toirt barrachd dearbhaidh dhuinn air mar a tha dealas aig an Riaghaltas airson Gàidhlig a ghleidheadh mar phàirt fìor chudromach de ar cultar is eaconamaidh aig àm gu math dùbhlanach airson bhuidseatan.Tha tòrr ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd às am bu chòir daoine a bhith moiteil, le iomadh iomairt Ghàidhlig ga toirt air adhart.
Tha Gàidhlig cuideachd follaiseach ann an grunn de dh’eileanan Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid agus tha e a’ toirt toileachas mòr dhomh an naidheachd fhoillseachadh a-raoir gum faigh sgìre ùghdarras Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid airgead calpa – £150,000 airson seòmar-teagaisg bogaidh ann an Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle agus £8,000 airson seada Litearrachd Bhogh Mhòir airson taic a chur ri ionnsachadh a-muigh, litearrachd agus na h-ealain.Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ toirt aithne do luach cultarach, eaconamach agus sòisealta a’ Mhòid agus na Gàidhlig airson Alba air fad.
Tha sinn a’ tuigsinn mar a tha am Mòd a’ dèanamh feum mòr ann a bhith a’ gleidheadh is a’ cur na Gàidhlig air adhart.Tha mi air cur romham Bile nan Cànan Albannach a thoirt air adhart agus a bhith ag obair le càch air feadh na Pàrlamaid gus an reachdas seo a neartachadh aig gach ìre.
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Tha e na amas dhan Bhile togail air an adhartas a rinneadh mu thràth airson na Gàidhlig le foghlam, planadh cànain agus leasachaidhean coimhearsnachd. Cuideachd, airson a’ chiad turas, bidh Albais a’ faighinn inbhe mar chànan oifigeil fon Bhile.Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine a dh’obraich cho cruaidh thar na bliadhna gus prògram sònraichte a chur air dòigh – An Comunn Gàidhealach, Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid, Comataidh Ionadail Mòd an Òbain, Bid4Oban, Ionad Achadh na Creige agus an iomadh neach-obrach saor-thoileach.
Tha mi cinnteach gum bi seachdain air leth againn mar thoradh air an t-saothair mhòir rinn sibh.Bu mhath leam soirbheachas a ghuidhe dhan a h-uile duine, gu h-àraidh na farpaisich, de gach aois, a tha air a bhith ag obair cho cruaidh gus ullachadh airson a’ Mhòid. Gu math a thèid leibh agus tha mi an dòchas gun còrd an t-seachdain ribh.
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