Taigh na Gàidhlig/ Gaelic Flat

WITH a new term under way, there are new students in the University of Glasgow’s Gaelic flat.

The ‘Taigh na Gàidhlig’ was one of the first things I wrote about when I took over the Glasgow Letter earlier this year because I think it is one of the most beneficial and inspiring things the university’s Gaelic department does.

Residents can study any course, and be of any background, as long as they are fluent in the language and are committed to speaking only Gaelic with their flatmates and contribute to Gaelic life at the uni.

Since the birth of the scheme in 2009, it has been an invaluable means for so many native speakers to continue speaking Gaelic in Glasgow and for many newly-fluent speakers who have learnt the language in uni to get used to Gaelic as a linguistic norm outside a classroom situation.

Last week, the new residents had the famous ‘Taigh-na- Gàidhlig’ welcome ceilidh which I heard, if any of their mothers and fathers are reading this column, was a very sensible affair!

As well as hard work and studying, there is always craic and music to be found at Taigh na Gàidhlig.

This year, the residents are: Catriona Morrison from Inverness, doing a PGDE at the University of Strathclyde in Gaelic and History teaching; Erin Marie, from Pennsylvania, USA, doing Gaelic and English Language at Glasgow Uni; Alison MacVicar from Oban, studying Gaelic at Glasgow Uni, and Shannon Cowie from Inverness studying Pharmacology, also at Glasgow Uni.