5th February 2009
Sgriobhadh sa Sg�re 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. Sgr�obhadh sa Sg�re 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."
Sgr�obhadh sa Sg�re has been developed in partnership by The Highland Council and Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (the Gaelic Books Council) with additional investment support from B�rd na G�idhlig.
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 Sg�re 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 G�idheal �ga project was launched, which resulted in a culmination of Gaelic writing produced by young people in Gaelic education across the Highlands.
Sgr�obhadh sa Sg�re is the second phase and aims to build on the work undertaken within Leabhar nan G�idheal �ga. This is also the second phase in a partnership between Highland Council and the Gaelic Books Council.
Iomairt Sgr�obhaidh �r G�idhlig Na G�idhealtachd
'S e Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re ainm iomairt sgr�obhaidh �r G�idhlig sa Gh�idhealtachd. Air sg�th na h-iomairt bidh �ghdaran is sgr�obhadairean st�idhte a' tadhal air sgoiltean agus ag obair c�mhla ri na sgoilearan. Gabhaidh na sgr�obhadairean p�irt ann an c�isean ealain a bhios st�idhte sa choimhearsnachd, agus bidh an sgeama cuideachd a' brosnachadh leabhraichean G�idhlig tro reic is margaideachd.
Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Gh�idhlig Chomhairle na G�idhealatachd, an Comhairliche Hamish Friseal: "Tha mi toilichte gu bheil a' Chomhairle agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean a' co-obrachadh air leasachadh �r-nodha
co-cheangailte ri sgr�obhadh G�idhlig. Bidh sgr�obadairean is �ghdaran ag obair c�mhla ri �igridh sna sgoiltean agus bidh iad an s�s ann an c�isean air feadh na G�idhealtachd. Bidh Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re cuideachd an l�ib iomairtean gus reic leabhraichean G�idhlig a bhrosnachadh agus togail a thoirt do dh'inbhe leabhraichean airson gach aois. Tha Plana G�idhlig na Comhairle ag r�dh gun amais an t-�ghdarras air taic is leasachadh sgr�obhadh cruthachail G�idhlig sna sgoiltean agus sa choimhearsnachd."
Chaidh Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re a leasachadh tro chaidreachas eadar Comhairle na G�idhealtachd agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean le taic maoineachaidh a bharrachd bho Bh�rd na G�idhlig.
Chaidh am pr�iseact a leasachadh le Morag Anna NicLe�id, Oifigear Leasachaidh na G�idhlig aig Comhairle na G�idhealtachd agus John Storey, a tha na Oifigear Phr�iseactan aig Comhairle nan Leabhraichean. Chunnaic iad le ch�ile cho cudromach 's a tha litreachas aig �re n�iseanta is �re ionadail.
Thuirt John Storey: "Feumaidh sinn taic airson barrachd a dh�anamh do sgr�obhadairean G�idhlig agus airson leughadh is leabhraichean G�idhlig a bhrosnachadh nar sg�rean. Tha sinn an d�chas gum misnich eisimpleir Chomhairle na G�idhealtachd �ghdarrasan ionadail eile, agus chuireamaid f�ilte air cothrom obrachadh air iomairtean eile mar seo ann an �itichean eile."
Gus an iomairt a st�idheachadh, chaidh Tia Thomson � Inbhir Narann fhastadh p�irt-�ine na Co-�rdanaiche Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re. Mar ph�irt dhen dreuchd aice, bidh i a' cur air d�igh pr�gram �r sgr�obhadairean G�idhlig sna sgoiltean agus ce�rdlainn air sgr�obhadh G�idhlig is leughadh ann an leabharlainn air feadh sg�re Chomhairle na G�idhealtachd.
Rinn Tia obair c�mhla ri teaghlaichean is clann fo aois sgoile ann an Inbhir Narann agus tha e�las cuideachd aice air obair foillseachaidh is reic leabhraichean.
Thuirt i: "Tha mi air mo thogail gu m�r mun dreuchd C�-�rdanaiche Phr�iseactan aig Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re, agus a bhith a' brosnachadh chothroman �ra dhan �igridh gu h-�raidh, ach cuideachd do dhuine sam bith eile a bhios airson feuchainn.
Chunnaic mi dealas na cloinne ann an ce�rdlainn san sg�re agam fh�in. Chuala mi cuideachd mu phr�iseactan eile air feadh na G�idhealtachd agus gu h-�raidh an obair a bha air c�l foillseachadh "Leabhar nan G�idheal �ga". Saoilidh mi gur fhiach barrachd chothroman a thoirt dhan �igridh gus gun toir iad s�il air am beatha fh�in, air an dualchas is air an cultar, agus gus an cuideachadh a' cur an smuaintean an c�ill le misneachd agus gus an comasan a leasachadh."
San �gmhios 2007 chaidh pr�iseact Leabhar nan G�idheal �ga a chur air bhog agus 's ann mar thoradh air an sin a nochd leabhar de sgr�obhadh G�idhlig bho sgoilearan ann am foghlam G�idhlig air feadh na G�idhealtachd.
S e Sgr�obhadh san Sg�re an dara ceum agus tha e ag amas togail air an obair ann an Leabhar nan G�idheal �ga. Seo cuideachd an dara ceum ann an caidreachas eadar Comhairle na G�idhealtachd agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean.