The John Macleod Memorial Festival takes place this Thursday in Edinburgh followed by a string of events over the weekend to celebrate Gaelic language, community and culture in Edinburgh.
Duncan Macleod from Bonar Bridge is presenting the lecture - in Gaelic with simultaneous
interpretation to English for those attending in person - at 7pm in Edinburgh University’s
George Square campus.
His theme is “Beachd a’ Chànanaiche: Dè tha crìonadh cànain ag innse dhuinn mun Gàidhlig?
(Thoughts of a Linguist- What does language decay tell us abut Gaelic?).
The lecture will be livestreamed on the Royal National Mòd’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RoyalNationalMod.
An Comunn Gàidhealach has been hosting this event in partnership with Edinburgh University since 2019, when the John Macleod Memorial Lecture took place for the first time.
Throughout his life, John Macleod (better known as Iain) from Carloway, Lewis, was heavily involved in Gaelic development work in Edinburgh. He became president of An Comunn Gàidhealach in 2007 and continued in that role for 10 years.
He also sung with Carloway Gaelic Choir at Mòd competitions.
In 1996 he relaunched the Edinburgh branch of An Comunn Gàidhealach and in 2017 he was presented the “Sàr Ghàidheal” award from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, for his work and dedication to the Gaelic language.
Three Gaelic events take place in the same venue on Friday after including a Gaelic writing workshop. There will also be a panel discussion on the Scottish Languages Bill. The third session is about Famous Gaels of Edinburgh: Gaels and ‘friends of the Gaels’ who were buried in the Dean Cemetery.
On Saturday night there’s a cèilidh organised by Bothan Dhùn Èideann at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
At noon the following day here’s a walking tour of Dean Cemetery while on Sunday the John MacLeod Memorial Service takes place in Greyfriars Kirk.
Gaelic language and culture will be celebrated in Edinburgh as part of the Iain MacLeod Memorial Festival
27 January 2025
