LÀRACH-LÌN ÙR BHO BBC ALBA: www.bbc.co.uk/oran

GAELIC LANGUAGE ACTION PLAN ‘A BIG STEP FORWARD’ FOR THE LANGUAGE
Alasdair Allan MSP has given a warm welcome to today’s publication of an action plan to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers.

The plan, published by Bòrd na Gàidhlig on the instruction of Scottish Government Ministers, aims to make Gaelic more accessible to people of all ages who wish to learn the language and use it in everyday life.

Dr Allan, the SNP MSP for the Western Isles, who will be speaking in Gaelic in the Parliament when it is debated this week, said:

“There has been great progress made in securing the survival and status of Gaelic in recent years and the next step is to increase the numbers of people who use Gaelic as a living language.

“The action plan published today is a very practical one, which focuses on how children, young people and adults alike can access different ways of learning Gaelic and incorporating the language into their day-to-day lives. It’s a big step forward in ensuring that Gaelic not only survives but also thrives and grows in modern Scotland.

“I welcome today’s publication both as a signal of the SNP government’s belief in the central importance of Gaelic language and culture to Scotland's social, cultural and economic life, and as a practical tool for creating a new generation of Gaelic speakers. What is new here is the focus. From now on, it is clear the emphasis of Gaelic policy is going to be firmly on turning round the decline in the numbers and ensuring the language is put to use.”

The Scottish Government’s announcement can be read at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/04/13100001 
 

                            PAISLEY CHOSEN AS HOST TOWN FOR 2013 MOD

Paisley has been named as the official host town for the Royal National Mod 2013, one of Scotland’s biggest music festivals.

It is the first time the town will have hosted the event after previously losing out to Stornoway in the 2008 race.

The Western Isles capital will host the event in 2011, while this year’s Mod will take place in Caithness in October.

Today’s announcement follows an ambitious bid submitted by Meur Phàislig, in partnership with Renfrewshire Council.

Council leader Derek Mackay said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Paisley and Renfrewshire as a whole. “The Mod is a huge, much loved festival which will bring the focus of Scotland and Gaelic music lovers across the world on our historic town.”

The eight-day festival is famous for celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, including Gaelic music and song, Highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature

Congratulating Meur Phàislig and Renfrewshire Council on successfully bidding to host the 2013 Mod, Convener of the 2008 Falkirk Mod, Councillor Angus MacDonald said:

"I am delighted that Paisley has secured the Mod in 2013. The local organising committee have their work cut out over the next 5 years in fundraising and promotion however I am sure the final result will prove to be a resounding success. The Falkirk Mod proved to be both a financial and cultural success, with in excess of £1.5 million injected into the local economy and an increased awarenesss locally of traditional Scottish culture. The creation of a local Falkirk Gaelic Forum followed swiflty after the 2008 Mod, and is activley lobbying for increaseD Gaelic provision and improved cultural access in Falkirk District, which would not have been possible if the Mod had not come to Falkirk.

"We will be happy to assist the local organising committee in any way we can, and look forward to the Mod returning to the Central belt in five years time.

Suas leis a' Gaidhlig agus Suas leis Alba."

MACDONALD WELCOMES SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BACKING TO HAVE BBC ALBA ON FREEVIEW & CABLE

MSPs have voted to urge the BBC Trust to broadcast BBC Alba on Freeview.

Grangemouth SNP Councillor Angus MacDonald has welcomed a unanimous cross-party vote in the Scottish Parliament calling on the BBC Trust to ensure that popular Gaelic channel BBC Alba is broadcast on Freeview and Virgin Cable, which further demonstrates that there continues to be cross-party consensus on Gaelic broadcasting.  

Councillor MacDonald, who was Convener of the successful Falkirk Mod held in 2008 said:

“I welcome the cross-party agreement that BBC Alba has been a tremendous success, that it should be available to the widest possible audience and that the BBC Trust should take that decision sooner rather than later.

“The quality of programming from BBC Alba since it's launch in September 2008 has been of a high quality and has appealed to Gaelic and non-Gaelic speakers alike. Indeed, some of the channel's first broadcasts came from Falkirk during the Mod in 2008, just a couple of weeks after the channel was launched, and the channel has broadcast a number of football matches from Falkirk's Westfield stadium, so we have perhaps a stronger affinity with the new channel than other areas in Central Scotland.  

"Given the success of BBC Alba, It is important that a strong message is sent to the BBC Trust calling for Freeview and cable access to the channel.

“In addtion I have written to Virgin Media for the second time, reiterating the need for it to find a way to work with the BBC to ensure the channel is also made available on cable services as soon as possible.”

Tha BBC Gàidhlig air leth toilichte a bhith a’ foillseachadh làrach-lìn ùr a tha cur taic ris a’ phroiseact ioma-fhìllte, Bliadhna nan Òran. Tro 2010, bidh an làrach a’ cur ris na prògraman a th’ air an craoladh air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal agus air BBC ALBA agus a’ toirt an cothrom do dhaoine coimhead agus èisteachd ri taghadh de na h-òrain as fheàrr a tha rin lorg ann an tasglann Ghàidhlig a’ BhBC.
Air www.bbc.co.uk./oran gheibhear an cothrom fiosrachadh a’ lorg gu sgiobalta agus gu sìmplidh tro cheithir prìomh earrainnean: Òrain, Sgrìobhaichean, Cusapirean agus Seinneadairean. A thuilleadh air iad sin, tha fiosrachadh ann mu phrògraman agus taghadh à Tasglann a’ Mhòid far an cluinnear clàraidhean bho na bliadhnaichean eadar 1946 agus 1979.
Tha an làrach a’ taisbeanadh am beartas de dh’òrain Ghàidhlig a th’ ann an tasglann a’ BhBC le taghadh on a h-uile ceàrnaidh de dh’Alba: bho cuid de na clàraidhean fuaim is bhidio as sean gu cuid a chaidh a chlàradh a dh’aona-ghnothaich gus Bliadhna nan Òran a chomharrachadh le fiosrachadh mun coinneamh.
An-diugh air www.bbc.co.uk./oran tha cothrom ann èisteachd ri 440 òran cuide ri nam faclan, 140 criomag bho phrògraman rèidio agus còrr is 190 criomag bhidio bho phrògraman telebhisean leithid ‘Se Ur Beatha agus Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil. Tha cunntais-beatha ann mu choinneamh 250 seinneadair agus sgrìobhaiche.
Gheibhear ceangal gu Òran an Là a th’ air a bhith air leth soirbheachail air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal tron làraich cuideachd. Bidh na prògraman slàn rim faotainn cuide ri teacsa ann an cruth a tha facal air an fhacal – goireas a bhios tarraingeach agus a bheir taic do luchd-ionnsachaidh a’ chànain.
Thuirt Mairead Màiri Mhoireach, Ceann Seirbhis BBC ALBA, “S e pròiseact air leth cudromach a tha seo dhan BhBC agus tha sinn an dòchas gun cur an luchd-amharc ‘s an luchd-èisteachd taic ri Bliadhna nan Òran air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal agus air BBC ALBA agus gun tig iad chun na làraich-sa tro 2010 gus cothrom fhaighinn èisteachd ri co-dhiù cuid de na h-òrain mhìorbhaileach a tha gu mòr nam pàirt de chultar na Gàidhlig. Tha prògraman air-leth sna clàraidhean-craolaidh againn agus anns an tasglann, agus bidh cuid dhiubh sin a-nise rim faotainn air an làrach-lìn ùr seo agus tha sinn an dòchas cumail oirnn a’ cur ris an làraich gus an tuilleadh chothroman a thoirt do dhaoine èisteachd agus coimhead ri tuilleadh de na clàraidhean prìseil a th’ ann an tasglann Ghàidhlig a’ BhBC.”
Bithear a’ cur chlàraidhean ùra agus an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh ris an làraich-sa gach seachdain tro 2010.
LÀRACH-LÌN ÙR BHO BBC ALBA: bbc.co.uk/oran
Tha BBC Gàidhlig air leth toilichte a bhith a’ foillseachadh làrach-lìn ùr a tha cur taic ris a’ phroiseact ioma-fhìllte, Bliadhna nan Òran. Tro 2010, bidh an làrach a’ cur ris na prògraman a th’ air an craoladh air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal agus air BBC ALBA agus a’ toirt an cothrom do dhaoine coimhead agus èisteachd ri taghadh de na h-òrain as fheàrr a tha rin lorg ann an tasglann Ghàidhlig a’ BhBC.
Air www.bbc.co.uk./oran gheibhear an cothrom fiosrachadh a’ lorg gu sgiobalta agus gu sìmplidh tro cheithir prìomh earrainnean: Òrain, Sgrìobhaichean, Cusapirean agus Seinneadairean. A thuilleadh air iad sin, tha fiosrachadh ann mu phrògraman agus taghadh à Tasglann a’ Mhòid far an cluinnear clàraidhean bho na bliadhnaichean eadar 1946 agus 1979.
Tha an làrach a’ taisbeanadh am beartas de dh’òrain Ghàidhlig a th’ ann an tasglann a’ BhBC le taghadh on a h-uile ceàrnaidh de dh’Alba: bho cuid de na clàraidhean fuaim is bhidio as sean gu cuid a chaidh a chlàradh a dh’aona-ghnothaich gus Bliadhna nan Òran a chomharrachadh le fiosrachadh mun coinneamh.
An-diugh air www.bbc.co.uk./oran tha cothrom ann èisteachd ri 440 òran cuide ri nam faclan, 140 criomag bho phrògraman rèidio agus còrr is 190 criomag bhidio bho phrògraman telebhisean leithid ‘Se Ur Beatha agus Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil. Tha cunntais-beatha ann mu choinneamh 250 seinneadair agus sgrìobhaiche.
Gheibhear ceangal gu Òran an Là a th’ air a bhith air leth soirbheachail air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal tron làraich cuideachd. Bidh na prògraman slàn rim faotainn cuide ri teacsa ann an cruth a tha facal air an fhacal – goireas a bhios tarraingeach agus a bheir taic do luchd-ionnsachaidh a’ chànain.
Thuirt Mairead Màiri Mhoireach, Ceann Seirbhis BBC ALBA, “S e pròiseact air leth cudromach a tha seo dhan BhBC agus tha sinn an dòchas gun cur an luchd-amharc ‘s an luchd-èisteachd taic ri Bliadhna nan Òran air BBC Radio nan Gaidheal agus air BBC ALBA agus gun tig iad chun na làraich-sa tro 2010 gus cothrom fhaighinn èisteachd ri co-dhiù cuid de na h-òrain mhìorbhaileach a tha gu mòr nam pàirt de chultar na Gàidhlig. Tha prògraman air-leth sna clàraidhean-craolaidh againn agus anns an tasglann, agus bidh cuid dhiubh sin a-nise rim faotainn air an làrach-lìn ùr seo agus tha sinn an dòchas cumail oirnn a’ cur ris an làraich gus an tuilleadh chothroman a thoirt do dhaoine èisteachd agus coimhead ri tuilleadh de na clàraidhean prìseil a th’ ann an tasglann Ghàidhlig a’ BhBC.”
Bithear a’ cur chlàraidhean ùra agus an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh ris an làraich-sa gach seachdain tro 2010.

NEW GAELIC SONG WEBSITE: www,bbc.co.uk/oran

BBC Gàidhlig is delighted to announce the launch of an extensive new website to support the landmark project, Bliadhna nan Òran / Year of Gaelic Song. As well as supporting radio and television content broadcast throughout 2010 on BBC Radio nan Gaidheal and on BBC ALBA, the website also offers a unique opportunity to listen to and view some of the best songs selected from the BBC’s extensive Gaelic song archive.
www.bbc.co.uk/oran allows users to access content quickly and simply by means of 4 key sections: Songs, Writers, Themes and Singers. This is complemented by a programming section, and a Mod archive allowing unique access to highlights from the BBC’s extensive archive of Gaelic Mod recordings from the years between 1946 and 1979.
The site reflects the riches of the BBC's archive of Gaelic song, offering content from across Scotland: from the earliest audio and video recordings to the present day, providing a diverse range of songs with supporting contextual information.
www.bbc.co.uk/oran currently offers the opportunity to listen to 440 songs with supporting lyrics, 140 excerpts from radio programmes and over 190 videos from television series including the classic ‘Se Ur Beatha and the award winning Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil. Biographical information is also available for approximately 250 singers and writers.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s popular Òran an Là is also available on the site with the audio of each day’s programme and accompanying verbatim transcripts which, as well as being of interest to Gaelic speakers, will support learners of the language with unique, new and accessible content delivered on a daily basis.
Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service for BBC ALBA, said: “This is a hugely exciting project for the BBC and we hope that throughout 2010 audiences will tune in to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, watch BBC ALBA and log-on to www.bbc.co.uk/oran in order to sample some of the fabulous songs which are such a richly valued and integral part of our Gaelic culture. There are some real gems within the daily schedules and even more on the website which we hope will grow over time, enabling our audiences to sample and enjoy as many Gaelic songs as we are able to deliver from our archives.”
New content will be added to the site on a weekly basis until the end of 2010.
NEW GAELIC SONG WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/oran