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Scotland's biggest celebration of the Gaelic language, the Royal National Mòd, has kicked off in the Western Isles.

Minister for Gaelic Alasdair Allan spoke at the event's opening ceremony and outlined plans to work with the Office of Gaelic Affairs in Nova Scotia to allow up to five Gaelic learners to travel to Scotland for summer language lessons.

He also announced plans to fund the Ness Historical Society with their plans to become a new Gaelic 'hub' in North Lewis, offering language, local history and genealogy courses for locals and visitors.

Dr Allan said:

"The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant future for Gaelic in Scotland and has the support of the Scottish people in ensuring our language traditions are maintained.

"I am very pleased to be at the Mòd and to see first hand the wealth of talent at an event which will see an estimated £3 million going into the local economy over the coming week.

"The Western Isles is of course a key area for the language and I am pleased to announce an additional £10,000 for Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Society) in Habost which will support both the language and the North Lewis community, while also offering information on history and genealogy.

"And with so many of our global Celtic cousins present, I am particularly pleased to announce a new link-up with the Nova Scotian Gaelic community, to provide £10,000 a year in bursaries to allow a small number of Gaelic students to allow them to come to Scotland for summer language learning.

"Gaelic belongs to the whole of Scotland, but for this week it has a most welcoming home in the Western Isles. I hope everyone at the Mòd has fun, whether they're taking part or just visiting, and recognises their role in ensuring a sustainable future for the language."

Arthur Cormack, chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig added:

"We have already seen a number of Canadian Gaelic speakers coming to work in Scotland and a conference held during Homecoming Scotland 2009 brought together those working in education, in the media and in Gaelic development more generally at that time.

"As we consult on the next National Gaelic Language Plan, it is worth reflecting on the role that Gaelic speakers from Nova Scotia have played, and could play, in helping us implement our plans. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is happy to co-fund, with the Scottish Government, this series of Gaelic learning scholarships.

"Apart from the obvious benefits for our educational institutions from having extra Gaelic students, Bòrd na Gàidhlig is confident that Gaelic revitalisation has much to gain from better cooperation between those of us on both sides of the Atlantic who share the Gaelic language and culture."

Gàidhlig air a neartachadh

Fios mu phlanaichean airson prògram sgoilearachd agus hub Gàidhlig ùr.

Tha am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, an tachartas as mòtha a' comharrachadh Gàidhlig, air tòiseachadh anns na h-Eileanan an Iar.

A' bruidhinn aig fosgladh oifigeil a' Mhòid, mhìnich am Ministear airson Gàidhlig Alasdair Allan planaichean airson obair nas dlùithe leis an Oifis airson Gnothaichean Gàidhlig ann an Alba Nuadh airson cothroman a stèidheachadh airson suas ri ceathrar luchd-ionnsachaidh tighinn gu Alba airson an cuid Ghàidhlig a thoirt air adhart fad an t-samhraidh.

A bharrachd air a seo dh'fhoillsich e planaichean maoin a thoirt seachad do Chomunn Eachraidh Nis airson cuideachadh le 'hub' Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh ann an ceann a tuath Eilean Leòdhais. Bidh an t-Ionad seo a' cur fòcas air cànain, eachdraidh ionadail agus sloinneadh agus fiosrachadh teaghlaich airson daoine anns a' choimhearsnachd agus luchd-tadhail.

Thuirt an t-Oll Allan:

"Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba dealasach dèanamh cinnteach gum bi Gàidhlig bunailteach ann an Alba san àm ri teachd agus tha muinntir na h-Alba deònach gum bi ar traidiseanan Gàidhlig air an glèidheadh

"Tha mi toilichte a bhith aig a' Mhòd airson cothrom an tàlant a tha seo fhaicinn dhomh fhèin. Tha dùil gum bi timcheall air £3 milean a' dol a-steach dhan eaconamaidh anns an t-seachdainn a tha air thoiseach oirnn.

"Gu dearbh, tha na h-Eileanan an Iar uabhasach fhèin cudromach airson Gàidhlig. Tha mi toilichte £10,000 a chomharrachadh airson Comunn Eachdraidh Nis ann an Habost airson an cuideachadh le cànan agus dualchas air taobh-tuath choimhearsnachd Leòdhais, 's aig an aon àm fiosrachadh a thoirt seachad air sloinntearachd agus eachdraidh.

"Agus gu h-àraid oir gu bheil co-oghaichean Ceilteach còmhla rinn an-diugh, tha mi uabhasach toilichte innse gu bheil dùil againn ar suidheachadh le coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig ann an Alba Nuadh a neartachadh. Tha sinn a' comharrachadh £10,000 gach bliadhna airson cothrom a thoirt do dh' àireamh sgoilearan Gàidhlig tighinn gu Alba airson a' chànan ionnsachadh fad an t-samhraidh.

"Tha Gàidhlig a' bontain ri Alba air fad ach airson sheachdainn tha I air fìor dhachaigh fhaighinn anns na h-Eileanan an Iar. Tha mi an dòchas gun còrd a' Mhòd ris a h-uile duine, co-dhiù tha sibh a' gabhail pàirt neo direach a' tadhal. Tha pàirt cudromach agaibh uile ann a bhith a' dèanamh cinnteach gum bi Gàidhlig seasmhach san àm ri teachd."

Thuirt Cathraiche Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, Art MacCarmaig,

"Tha sinn air grunn Chanadianaich le Gàidhlig fhaicinn air tighinn a dh'obair ann an Alba agus thug co-labhairt a ghabh àite an lùib Tilleadh Dhachaigh 2009 (Homecoming Scotland 2009) còmhla a chuid a tha ag obair ann am foghlam, na meadhanan agus ann an leasachadh na Gàidhlig san fharsaingeachd aig an àm.

"Aig àm nuair a tha sinn a' co-chomhairleachadh air an ath Phlana Gàidhlig Nàiseanta, bu chòir cuimhne a' chumail air na dòighean anns an do chuidich luchd-labhairt na Gaidhlig ann an Alba Nuadh sinn - agus mar a dh' fhaodadh iad ar cuideachadh anns an àm ri teachd - ar planaichean a chur an gnìomh. Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig toilichte obrachadh còmhla ri Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson maoin a thoirt seachad airson sgoilearan Gàidhlig tighinn gu Alba airson a' chànan ionnsachadh fad an t-samhraidh.

"A bharrachd air a bhuannachd a bheir àireamh nas àirde de oileanaich Gàidhlig do ar n-ionadan foghlam, tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig misneachail gun dean conaltradh nas fhèarr eadar luchd na Gàidhlig air an da thaobh den Chuan Siar feum mòr airson ath-bheothachadh na Gàidhlig."

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