Representatives from South Uist and Eriskay, which was recently named as Gaelic Community of the Year 2011, were presented with their award and a cheque for £3,000 by Alasdair Allan MSP, the Scottish Government Minister for Learning and Skills with responsibility for Gaelic and Scots, at a ceremony on Friday.
Nominations to the competition, which is run by Comunn na Gàidhlig, with support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, are assessed on the use of Gaelic at each local level, the profile of the language within the communities, and how frequently Gaelic can be heard being spoken by local people – with special priority given to use among young people.
The judges this year were unanimous that South Uist and Eriskay be awarded first place on the basis of the evidence provided that Gaelic was an integral and important part of daily life within the community.
Lena MacLellan, who is a member of Iomairt Ghàidhlig Uibhist a Deas agus Èirisgeigh, which nominated the community for the Award said, “Many will know that Gaelic is strong is this area, but that wasn’t the basis of this application. We focussed on all the things being done at the moment to strengthen Gaelic and particularly to create new opportunities for Gaelic speakers to come together and use the language.”
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, said, “I was delighted to be able to present this award to the community of South Uist and Eriskay, to recognise the work they are doing to maintain and develop the Gaelic language, particularly amongst young people.
“The judges have recognised that this is a community which understands that Gaelic has to be mainstreamed into every aspect of the community’s daily life, and that this has to go beyond tokenism if they are to be serious, as they clearly are, about the language having a future.
“Congratulations must also go to the two other communities in the Western Isles in Galson and Breasclete, who were awarded second and third prize respectively. Mealaibh ur naidheachd!”
CnaG chief executive Donald MacNeill said: “We know that many people, within the Highlands and Islands, and Scotland as a whole, are working hard for Gaelic, and we are delighted to be able to reward some of these efforts through this competition. South Uist and Eriskay demonstrated to the judges how Gaelic is used amongst young and old, and at every level of daily life, from the workplace to the school and clubs for younger people.”
Gaelic award presented to island community 24/11/11