[English below]

Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu air Manaidsear Leasachaidh na Gàidhlig ùr fhastadh, chaidh ainmeachadh an-diugh (Diluain 28 Màrt 2022).

Tha Ruairidh Greumach, a tha a’ tighinn don Oilthigh agus a bha ag obair roimhe seo aig Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil na h-Alba, gu bhith a’ leasachadh an ath Phlana Gàidhlig aig an Oilthigh – an trìtheamh plana gu ruige seo – thar nan sia mìosan a tha romhainn.

Is e amas na dreuchd, ìomhaigh agus mothachadh do chànan is do chultar na  Gàidhlig a thogail, chan ann dìreach san Oilthigh ach air feadh na h-Alba agus barrachd chothroman a thaobh ionnsachadh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a chruthachadh.

Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu na dhachaigh do aon de na co-chruinneachaidhean de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig as motha air an t-saoghal, a’ gabhail a-steach àireamh a tha a’ sìor mheudachadh de luchd-labhairt ùr Gàidhlig.

Tha luchd-obrach agus oileanaich le Gàidhlig air a bhith ag obair agus ag ionnsachadh an seo bho chuireadh an t-Oilthigh air bhun-stèidh ann an 1451. San latha an-diugh, tha mòran luchd-obrach agus oileanaich an sàs ann an rannsachadh, teagasg, ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus gu fìor chudromach ga cleachdadh agus ga h-adhartachadh.

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Roibeard (‘Robby’) Ó Maolalaigh, Iar-Phrionnsapal agus Ceannard Colaiste nan Ealain, agus Àrd-Ollamh na Gàidhlig san Oilthigh: “Tha sinn air ar dòigh fàilte a chur air Ruairidh gu coimhearsnachd an Oilthighe gus togail air soirbheachas mòr Iomairt Ghàidhlig UofG  

“Tha Ruairidh a’ toirt leis saidhbhreas de eòlas ann am planadh cànan na Gàidhlig agus tha ar luchd-obrach agus oileanaich a’ dèanamh fiughair mhòr ri bhith ag obair còmhla ri Ruairidh.”

Thuirt Uzma Khan, Iar-Phrionnsapal Leasachaidh is Ùr-ghnàthachaidh Eaconamach  agus Iar-Àrd-Oifigear Obrachaidh: “Tha mi air leth toilichte fàilte a chur air Ruairidh gu Oilthigh Ghlaschu mar ar Manaidsear Leasachaidh ùr Gàidhlig. Bidh ealantas Ruairidh deatamach a thaobh ar lèirsinn agus ar n-àrd-amas a stiùireadh ann an adhartachadh luach na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu agus air a thaobh a-muigh.

“Tha ar misean a’ labhairt ri aithne a thoirt don tabhartas chultarach shònraichte a tha  cànan is sgilean Gàidhlig air a chur ri ar coimhearsnachdan agus ris a’ cho-chomann san fharsaingeachd, agus tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ris.”

Thuirt Mgr Greumach: “Is e fìor urram a th’ ann dhomh a thighinn air bòrd mar Mhanaidsear Leasachaidh na Gàidhlig do Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Tro lìbhrigeadh eòlasan cruthachail agus buadhach do dh’oileanaich is luchd-obrach, co-obrachaidhean le com-pàirtichean is oilthighean rannsachaidh, agus conaltradh le coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig: tha an t-Oilthigh air àrd-chliù a chosnadh mar mheadhan adhartachaidh air sàr-mhathas ann an cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig ann an Alba agus gu h-eadar-nàiseanta. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri bhith nam phàirt de dh’iomairtean agus de chothroman ùra a bhios a’ togail àrd-amas an oilthighe airson Gàidhlig ceum nas àirde.”

Tha an dreuchd ga lìonadh aig àm a tha cudromach don Ghàidhlig ann an seagh nàiseanta agus taobh a-staigh baile-mòr Ghlaschu. Tha àireamhan na Gàidhlig air àrdachadh fhaicinn o chionn ghoirid ann an daoine òga ann an Alba aig a bheil sgilean Gàidhlig – teisteanas don t-soirbheachadh ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig.

Tha mu 87,503 neach ann an Alba aig a bheil cuid de sgilean Gàidhlig. Le còrr air  10% de fhaisg air 60,000 fileantach Gàidhlig na h-Alba, an àireamh as motha taobh a-muigh nan Eilean Siar, faodar Glaschu a mheas mar a bhith aig cridhe cultar na Gàidhlig air tìr-mòr na h-Alba.

Thàinig Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 gu bith tro Phàrlamaid na h-Alba leis an amas air inbhe thèarainte a dhleasadh don Ghàidhlig mar chànan oifigeil ag àithneadh co-ionannachd spèis leis a’ Bheurla.

Chuir an achd am buidheann poblach, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, air bhonn aig a bheil uallach airson a’ chànain adhartachadh agus airson fàs sa chànan, a thuilleadh air inbhe a’ chànain a dhèanamh tèarainte mu choinneamh an ama ri teachd.  

Tha ùghdarras aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig iarraidh air buidhnean poblach Planaichean Gàidhlig a dheasachadh agus a bhuileachadh, agus b’ ann tron seo a thug Oilthigh Ghlaschu a’ chiad Phlana Gàidhlig aca gu buil ann an 2013.

Tha tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus Gàidhlig ri fhaotainn air: https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/gaelic/

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_{UofG appoints a new Gaelic Development Manager}

The University of Glasgow has appointed a new Gaelic Development Manager / Manaidsear Leasachaidh na Gàidhlig, it was announced today (Monday 28 March 2022)

Ruairidh Graham, who joins the University having worked previously at Historic Environment Scotland, will develop the University’s next Gaelic Language Plan – its third to date - over the next six months.

The aim of the role is to raise the profile and awareness of Gaelic language and culture, not just in the University but across Scotland and to create more opportunities to use and learn the language.   

The University of Glasgow is home to one of the largest concentrations of Gaelic speakers in the world including an increasing number of new Gaelic speakers.

Gaelic-speaking staff and students have worked and studied here since the University’s foundation in 1451. Today many staff and students are involved in

Gaelic-related research, teaching, learning and importantly, usage and promotion

Professor Roibeard (‘Robby’) Ó Maolalaigh, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Arts, as well as being the University’s Professor of Gaelic, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ruairidh to the University community to build on the great success of the UofG Gàidhlig initiative.

“Ruairidh brings a wealth of experience in Gaelic language planning and our staff and students look forward very much to working with Ruairidh.”

Uzma Khan, Vice-Principal of Economic Development & Innovation and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ruairidh to the University of Glasgow as our new Gaelic Development Manager. Ruairidh’s expertise will be critical to driving forward our vision and ambition in promoting the value of Gaelic language in Glasgow and beyond.

“Our mission speaks to recognising the significant cultural contribution of Gaelic language and skills in our communities and wider society, and I look forward to working with him”.

Mr Graham said: “It’s a real privilege to come on board as Gaelic Development Manager for the University of Glasgow. Through the delivery of creative and impactful experiences for students and staff, collaborations with research partners and universities, and engagement with Gaelic communities: the University has developed a first-rate reputation as a promoter of excellence in Gaelic language and culture in Scotland and internationally. I very much look forward to being a part of discovering new ventures and opportunities that raises the university’s ambition for Gaelic further still.”   

The appointment comes at an important time for Gaelic both nationally and within the city of Glasgow. Recent figures on Gaelic, has shown a rise in young people in Scotland with Gaelic language skills – a testimony to the success of Gaelic-Medium Education.

Some 87,503 people in Scotland have some Gaelic skills. With over 10% of Scotland's near 60,000 fluent Gaelic speakers, the largest number out with the Western Isles, Glasgow can be seen as the centre for Gaelic culture in mainland Scotland.

The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed by the Scottish Parliament with a view to help secure the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.

The act established the public body of Bòrd na Gàidhlig which has responsibility for the promotion and growth of the language, as well as securing its status and long-term future.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has the authority to request public bodies to prepare and implement Gaelic Language Plans, and it is through this that the University of Glasgow produced its first Gaelic Language Plan in 2013.

For more information on the University of Glasgow and Gaelic: https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/gaelic/

First published: 25 March 2022