Western Isles MSP highlights Irish example of Gaelic summer schools

Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has recently written to the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to highlight the ‘Coláistí Samhraidh’ scheme that operates inIreland, and to ask if any similar schemes might be considered for Scotland in the future.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“I have been contacted by a number of constituents who highlighted this scheme that has long operated in the most strongly Irish-speaking parts of Ireland. This is a systemwhich allows many thousands of school students who are interested in improving their fluency in Irish to spend three weeks at a special summer school in one of the regions of the Irish Gaeltachta.

“Remote communities”

“I have taken this opportunity to write to the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to ask if any lessons lie for Scottish Gaelic in the Coláistí Samhraidh. I believe that it would have a number of obvious benefits for encouraging young Gaelic speakers and learners to use their Gaelic in a Gaelic environment and with speakers of their own age.

“Particularly with so many young Gaelic speakers now being taught and growing up in areas which are not traditionally Gaelic speaking I believe a scheme like this could prove very beneficial. There would also be major economic benefits for areas in the Gaidhealtachd of such a scheme with students living and learning in remote communities.”

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