Protests over lack of Gaelic in exhibition on Jacobite uprisings
ALAN SIMPSON
Wilson McLeod, professor of Gaelic at Edinburgh University and his colleague Anja Gunderloch, lecturer in Celtic and Scottish studies, write today in The Herald expressing their disappointment at the format of the new show.
“The NMS website promises that the exhibition will examine some of the misconceptions that have surrounded the Jacobites, but they appear to have maintained one of the most enduring and pernicious misconceptions: that the Gaels were minor players in the Jacobite movement and that the English language suffices to tell all aspects of the Jacobite story,” they write. “The physical exhibition will be entirely in English, with the Gaelic element in the ‘Jacobite story’ downplayed and marginalised; an act of linguistic and cultural erasure.”
The National Museum of Scotland has drawn up a Gaelic language plan as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to raise the status and profile of Gaelic, and create practical opportunities for learning and use of the language. Gaelic language plans are a statutory requirement for all public bodies in Scotland and museum bosses have met with representatives of the national body for Gaelic, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to discuss the campaigners’ concerns.
A Gaelic version of the tour and commentary for visitors will be available to download and there are several Gaelic exhibits.
Shona MacLennan, chief executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said she was aware of concerns about what was “seen as a lack of Gaelic content in the exhibition”. She added: “Recognising and acknowledging the views of the Gaelic community is another important principle contained within the Gaelic Language Act and Bòrd na Gàidhlig sees this discussion as an important part of that.”
A National Museums Scotland spokeswoman said: “We do not think it is appropriate for this exhibition to be bi-lingual as its approach is to explore the Jacobite cause in its full pan-European historical context.
“It explores a 200-year period of Scottish, British and European history from the perspective of the dynastic claim of the Stuarts to the thrones of Scotland, England and Ireland and covers events which took place in England, France and Italy, as well as in Scotland. Gaelic is represented in the section of the exhibition that looks at the events of 1745-6.
“We do not doubt that an important exhibition could be mounted which looked in more detail at the 1745 challenge and the profound consequences for the people of the Highlands, their language and culture. However, that is not what this particular exhibition sets out to do.
“Gaelic translations of the main exhibition text have been created for our schools programme and will be made generally available for download via our website, with free wi-fi available in the exhibition gallery.”
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