MyGlasgow News

The University formally launched its first Gaelic Language Plan last week with an event held in the Randolph Hall and attended by a range of staff and students and invited guests from both national and local Gaelic organisations.  

The special event was opened by Dr. Dorothy Welch, Deputy Secretary and Chair of the University’s Gaelic Language Committee while the Principal formally launched the document and provided the audience with an overview of the University’s long history with the language and more recent achievements.  Professor Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, Chair of Gaelic and Head of the School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan delivered an informative address which included some lesser known facts about Gaelic at the University of Glasgow including reference to Donald MacAlister, a former Principal of the University who was himself a Gaelic speaker.

 

The Principal, Professor Anton Muscatelli, said:  “Gaelic is a significant part of Scotland’s cultural and social identity. We are justifiably proud that it has been taught on campus for more than a century. Given the recent resurgence of interest in Gaelic across Scotland and especially within the city of Glasgo wnow is the right time to launch our Gaelic language plan for the University of Glasgow.”

The plan has been developed under the terms of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and is an overview of the University’s ongoing support for Gaelic language and culture and its aspirations to increase the profile and use of Gaelic within its day-to-day operations, throughout the city of Glasgow and both nationally and internationally. In practical terms it will involve the development of Gaelic language and culture within the context of key functions including: Communications, Staffing, Publications, Identity and the Student Experience. 

Also in attendance at the launch event was Clár Ni Bhuachalla and Ailbhe Ní Chonghaile, Irish Language Officers at University College Dublin and a group of Irish students with whom the University of Glasgow is developing an international partnership for the development and strengthening of their respective Gaelic Language Residency Schemes. Fiona Dunn, Gaelic Language Officer at theUniversity of Glasgow said: “We were delighted to welcome our Irish colleagues to Glasgow as part of this special event and we are looking forward to working with them in the future.”

The University’s Gaelic Language Plan was formally approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig on 10^th December 2012 and staff and students can read the plan online at: www.gla.ac.uk/gaelicplan or obtain a hard copy from the University’s Gaelic Language Officer, Fiona Dunn – Fiona.Dunn@glasgow.ac.uk who is based at 3 University Gardens. 

Plana Gàidhlig ga chur air bhog aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu

Chaidh a’ chiad Phlana Gàidhlig airson Oilthigh Ghlaschu a chur air bhog an t-seachdain-sa chaidh aig tachartas a chaidh a chumail anns an Talla Randolph is aig an robh measgachadh de luchd-obrach, oileanaich agus aoighean a’ riochdachadh buidhnean Gàidhlig aig ìre ionadail agus nàiseanta.

B’ ann leis an Dr Dorothy Welch, Iar-Rùnaire agus Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig an Oilthighe a chaidh an tachartas fhosgladh is b’ e am Prionnsapal, An t-Ollamh Anton Muscatelli a chur am Plana air bhog gu h-oifigeil le iomradh air eachdraidh na Gàidhlig aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus beagan mu adhartas na Gàidhlig san Oilthigh o chionn ghoirid. A thuilleadh air sin, chualar òraid thogarrach bhon Ollamh Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, Cathair na Gàidhlig agus Ceannard School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan, anns an robh iomradh inntinneach air Dòmhnall MacAlastair, seann Phrionnsapal Oilthigh Ghlaschu aig an robh a’ Ghàidhlig.

Thuirt an t-Ollamh Anton Muscatelli, Prionnsapal an Oilthighe: “Tha cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig air leth cudromach do dh’ìomhaigh chultarail agus shòisealta na h-Alba.  Tha sinne gu math moiteil gu bheil Oilthigh Ghlaschu air a bhith a’ teagasg Gàidhlig bho dheireadh an 19mh linn, agus a rèir mar a tha ùidh ann an Gàidhlig air fàs an Alba o chionn ghoirid, gu sònraichte ann an Glaschu fhèin, tha e iomchaidh gu bheil sinn a’ cur air bhog Plana Gàidhlig don Oilthigh aig an àm seo.”

Chaidh am Plana ullachadh a rèir amasan Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 is e a’ sealltainn mar a tha dùil aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu taic leantainneach a chumail ri cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig is mar a tha an t-Oilthigh an dòchas ìomhaigh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig àrdachadh ann an obair an Oilthighe bho latha gu latha, air feadh baile Ghlaschu agus an dà chuid aig ìre nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta. Aig ìre phractaigeach, thèid cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig a leasachadh san Oilthigh a rèir ceithir prìomh raointean-obrach nam measg: Conaltraidhean, Luchd-obrach, Foillseachaidhean, Ìomhaigh agus Beatha nan Oileanach.

Am measg na bha an làthair, bha Clár Ni Bhuachalla agus Ailbhe Ní Chonghaile, Oifigearan Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn aig Coláiste na h-Ollscoile Bhaile Áth Cliath agus buidheann de dh’oileanaich. Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu ag obair còmhla riutha an-dràsta airson leasachadh a thoirt air na sgeamaichean còmhnaidh  a tha a’ dol air adhart ann an Glaschu agus Baile Áth Cliath is thuirt Fiona Dunn, Oifigear Gàidhlig, Oilthigh Ghlaschu: “ Bha sinn cho toilichte fàilte a chur air ar caraidean Èirinnich air latha cho sònraichte agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla riutha anns na bliadhnaichean a tha romhainn.”

Chaidh Plana Gàidhlig Oilthigh Ghlaschu aontachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig air an 10mh latha den Dùbhlachd 2012 agus faodar a leughadh air loidhne aig: www.gla.ac.uk/gaelicplan neo lethbhreac chruaidh iarraidh bho Fiona Dunn, Oifigear Gàidhlig an Oilthighe – Fiona.Dunn@glasgow.ac.uk a tha stèidhichte aig 3 Gàrraidhean an Oilthighe. 

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First published: 15 March 2013