Gaelic is ‘talk of the town’

“Second Gaelic school”

An ambitious three-year plan to make Gaelic the talk of the town was unveiled today (Monday 6th April, 2010) when Glasgow hosted the first board meeting of Bòrd na Gàidhlig to be held in the city.

Pupils from Glasgow Gaelic School – Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu – helped to launch the council’s Gaelic Language Plan.

Local authorities like Glasgow have a statutory obligation to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. They must help secure Gaelic as an official language of Scotland, commanding equal respect to the English language and boost the number of people speaking it in day-to-day life.

Actions outlined in Glasgow’s plan include the opening of a second Gaelic school in the city and wider use of Gaelic on council signs and in relevant council communications including forms, press releases and letters.

“Schools and media”

It was produced following widespread public consultation and after research revealed that Gaelic education was proving so popular that eight out of 10 pupils learning Gaelic in Glasgow come from English speaking families. Those parents will also be encouraged to learn from their children by using the language more at home.

A recent survey of council staff found that over half the respondents (53%) know someone who speaks Gaelic and 10% of respondents (158 people) said they had some Gaelic skills with most being able to understand it. Forty-three per cent (672) of respondents were also interested in receiving further information about learning Gaelic.

Councillor Aileen Colleran, Executive Member with responsibility for Gaelic, said: “We have a vision for Gaelic in our city and this plan sets it out. By 2020, the place of Gaelic will be obvious to all. We’ll see it around us – in our buildings, on our streets and in our shops – we’ll hear it in conversations, in our schools and in the media.

“Our young people will be speaking it in Buchanan Street without feeling self conscious about it and people will recognise the language as Gaelic.”

She added: “We are delighted to launch this plan and to host Glasgow’s first Board meeting of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.”

“Commonwealth Games”

Arthur Cormack, Cathraiche, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “Gaelic has a very special place in the history of Glasgow – often known simply as Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal – the Big City of the Gaels. I am delighted that Glasgow City Council is being so supportive of Gaelic and mindful both of the historical context and the potentially significant advantages of being involved in Gaelic development.

“The city council is to be applauded for their support for Gaelic in all sorts of way but particularly in the field of education where the work being done in the Gaelic School is magnificent and a shining example of what can be done with appropriate support. There are many other towns and cities and local authorities which would do well to follow the example of Glasgow.  I look forward to further collaboration between the Bòrd and the city council, particularly as the Commonwealth Games and 2014, complete with their own Gaelic logo and identity  are now firmly on our radar.”

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