MINISTER for Arts and Culture, Linda Fabiani offered support to the beleagured Bord na Gaidhlig last week, in the form of £150,000 worth of funding, on the proviso that the money was used to establish a community fund.
Over 100 delegates from Ireland, Wales and Scotland flocked to Breasclete Community Hall last Friday as the Western Isles was host to the National Gaelic conference, choosing a venue adjacent to the Islands' first Gaelic Medium Primary School.
D
uring her highly anticipated keynote speech, Ms Fabiani informed the delegates that the Government was releasing £150,000 of the £1m set aside for Gaelic support to the Government funded body, Bord na Gaidhlig, and tasked them to look at how to promote and sustain Gaelic in areas where it was already established.
Ms Fabiani said: "We (the Scottish Government) recognise Gaelic as a national language and we have to support it on that basis. Supporting Gaelic in our towns and cities must be maintained
"The Scottish Government is committed to securing a sustainable and successful future for Gaelic in Scotland and the release of this funding to Bòrd na Gàidhlig is yet another step towards achieving that goal."
She continued: "I want to hear the ideas on creating practical opportunities to promote Gaelic."
Ms Fabiani told the delegates that while supporting Gaelic in places that it was not currently predominant was essential to its growth, showing complacency towards areas where the language had footholds would spell disaster.
"We take for granted the areas where Gaelic is in use and we let them die out without realising our mistake. Sometimes complacency can set in a bit when folk have been doing things for years."
Interim Chairman of Bord Na Gaidhlig, Arthur Cormack, encouraged delegates to make their views on the best way forward known throughout the day.
"I am aware that some people are concerned with what's been happening," he began.
"People have to trust the organisation. We haven't had a very successful year but things are improving. We've also been receiving strong support from the minister and I would like to thank her for that."
Mr Cormack added: "Although we still have 'traditional' Gaelic communities, where a majority of people speak Gaelic, there are an increasing number of smaller communities within urban areas where Gaelic is used regularly. We need to look at ways of supporting all kinds of Gaelic communities but perhaps look at special measures in the traditional Gaelic-speaking communities.
"We welcome the start of this conversation, the Minister's involvement in that and the continuing support of the Scottish Government in assisting us to promote Gaelic and extend its reach and influence.
"The release of funds from the Scottish Government is, of course, very welcome and will enable us to deliver more of the measures in the National Plan for Gaelic."
The twin themes of the conference focused on Gaelic community initiatives and the role of young people in energising the language.
