Gaelic Authors for New Highland Writing Initiative

5th February 2009

Sgriobhadh sa Sgìre is the name of a new Highland Gaelic writing initiative which will see published authors and established writers visiting schools to work alongside pupils. The writers will also take in part in arts and community based events and the project will also promote Gaelic books through sales and marketing.

Chairman of The Highland Council's Gaelic Committee, Councillor Hamish Fraser said: "I am delighted that the Council and The Gaelic Books Council are collaborating on such an innovative development in relation to Gaelic writing. Writers and authors will be working with young people in schools and they will be involved in hosting events in various venues in the Highlands. Sgrìobhadh sa Sgìre will also participate and spearhead initiatives which aim to both boost the sales of Gaelic books and raise the profile of Gaelic books for all ages. The Council's Gaelic Language Plan states that the authority will aim to assist and develop Gaelic creative writing in schools and in the community."

Sgrìobhadh sa Sgìre has been developed in partnership by The Highland Council and Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (the Gaelic Books Council) with additional investment support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

The project idea was conceived jointly by Morag Anna MacLeod, Gaelic Development Officer with The Highland Council and John Storey, Project Offficer with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean , who both recognised the importance of literature at a national and a local level.

John Storey said: "We need support to get more done for Gaelic writers and to promote Gaelic books and reading in our local communities. The Highland Council example will hopefully inspire other local authorities, and we'd welcome the chance to work on similar initiatives elsewhere."

To spearhead the initiative Tia Thomson from Nairn has been appointed on a part-time basis as Sgriobhadh sa Sgìre Project Co-ordinator. As part of her role she will be organising a new Gaelic writers in schools programme and organising Gaelic writing workshops and readings in Libraries across the Highland Council area.

Tia has worked with Gaelic Pre-school children and families in and around Nairn and also has had experience of working in publishing and bookselling.

She said: "I am tremendously excited about taking on the post of Project Co-ordinator for Sgriobhadh sa Sgire, and promoting new opportunities for our young people especially, but also for anyone else who thinks they might like to try.

I have seen the enthusiasm of children throughout a series of workshops in my own area, and heard about some other projects across the Highland area, especially that leading to publication of "Leabhar nan Gaidheal Oga", I think there is true value in making more such opportunities available for children, to explore their own lives, heritage and culture, and help them to express their own ideas, with confidence, and stretch their abilities."

In June 2007 the Leabhar nan Gàidheal Òga project was launched, which resulted in a culmination of Gaelic writing produced by young people in Gaelic education across the Highlands.

Sgrìobhadh sa Sgìre is the second phase and aims to build on the work undertaken within Leabhar nan Gàidheal Òga. This is also the second phase in a partnership between Highland Council and the Gaelic Books Council.

Iomairt Sgrìobhaidh Ùr Gàidhlig Na Gàidhealtachd

'S e Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre ainm iomairt sgrìobhaidh ùr Gàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd. Air sgàth na h-iomairt bidh ùghdaran is sgrìobhadairean stèidhte a' tadhal air sgoiltean agus ag obair còmhla ri na sgoilearan. Gabhaidh na sgrìobhadairean pàirt ann an cùisean ealain a bhios stèidhte sa choimhearsnachd, agus bidh an sgeama cuideachd a' brosnachadh leabhraichean Gàidhlig tro reic is margaideachd.

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealatachd, an Comhairliche Hamish Friseal: "Tha mi toilichte gu bheil a' Chomhairle agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean a' co-obrachadh air leasachadh ùr-nodha

co-cheangailte ri sgrìobhadh Gàidhlig. Bidh sgrìobadairean is ùghdaran ag obair còmhla ri òigridh sna sgoiltean agus bidh iad an sàs ann an cùisean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Bidh Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre cuideachd an lùib iomairtean gus reic leabhraichean Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh agus togail a thoirt do dh'inbhe leabhraichean airson gach aois. Tha Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle ag ràdh gun amais an t-ùghdarras air taic is leasachadh sgrìobhadh cruthachail Gàidhlig sna sgoiltean agus sa choimhearsnachd."

Chaidh Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre a leasachadh tro chaidreachas eadar Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean le taic maoineachaidh a bharrachd bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.

Chaidh am pròiseact a leasachadh le Morag Anna NicLeòid, Oifigear Leasachaidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus John Storey, a tha na Oifigear Phròiseactan aig Comhairle nan Leabhraichean. Chunnaic iad le chèile cho cudromach 's a tha litreachas aig ìre nàiseanta is ìre ionadail.

Thuirt John Storey: "Feumaidh sinn taic airson barrachd a dhèanamh do sgrìobhadairean Gàidhlig agus airson leughadh is leabhraichean Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh nar sgìrean. Tha sinn an dòchas gum misnich eisimpleir Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd ùghdarrasan ionadail eile, agus chuireamaid fàilte air cothrom obrachadh air iomairtean eile mar seo ann an àitichean eile."

Gus an iomairt a stèidheachadh, chaidh Tia Thomson à Inbhir Narann fhastadh pàirt-ùine na Co-òrdanaiche Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre. Mar phàirt dhen dreuchd aice, bidh i a' cur air dòigh prògram ùr sgrìobhadairean Gàidhlig sna sgoiltean agus ceàrdlainn air sgrìobhadh Gàidhlig is leughadh ann an leabharlainn air feadh sgìre Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd.

Rinn Tia obair còmhla ri teaghlaichean is clann fo aois sgoile ann an Inbhir Narann agus tha eòlas cuideachd aice air obair foillseachaidh is reic leabhraichean.

Thuirt i: "Tha mi air mo thogail gu mòr mun dreuchd Cò-òrdanaiche Phròiseactan aig Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre, agus a bhith a' brosnachadh chothroman ùra dhan òigridh gu h-àraidh, ach cuideachd do dhuine sam bith eile a bhios airson feuchainn.


Chunnaic mi dealas na cloinne ann an ceàrdlainn san sgìre agam fhèin. Chuala mi cuideachd mu phròiseactan eile air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus gu h-àraidh an obair a bha air cùl foillseachadh "Leabhar nan Gàidheal Òga". Saoilidh mi gur fhiach barrachd chothroman a thoirt dhan òigridh gus gun toir iad sùil air am beatha fhèin, air an dualchas is air an cultar, agus gus an cuideachadh a' cur an smuaintean an cèill le misneachd agus gus an comasan a leasachadh."

San Ògmhios 2007 chaidh pròiseact Leabhar nan Gàidheal Òga a chur air bhog agus 's ann mar thoradh air an sin a nochd leabhar de sgrìobhadh Gàidhlig bho sgoilearan ann am foghlam Gàidhlig air feadh na Gàidhealtachd.

S e Sgrìobhadh san Sgìre an dara ceum agus tha e ag amas togail air an obair ann an Leabhar nan Gàidheal Òga. Seo cuideachd an dara ceum ann an caidreachas eadar Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean.