Mull man named Gaelic Ambassador of the year
‘Alasdair is an exceptional role model for the community and his work to progress Gaelic language and culture is second to none’
A Mull man has been named Gaelic Ambassador of the Year.
Alasdair Whyte, originally from Salen, received the prestigious award from Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP at a ceremony at Mòd Ghlaschu.
Mr Swinney praised the continued work Alasdair is doing to progress Gaelic language and heritage.
Alasdair was awarded a PhD in Celtic and Gaelic by the University of Glasgow for his research on the place names and history of the island of Mull.
He was also awarded a Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Research Fellowship from the University of Glasgow with the aim of publishing the first volume of the Survey of Scottish Place Names covering the Gàidhealtachd (Gaelic-speaking area) of Scotland.
This is not Alasdair’s first acclaimed award. Alasdair won the men’s Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd in 2006 when he was 19.
His mum, Riona Whyte, won the Gold Medal in 2001 in Stornoway.
After being named Gaelic Ambassador of the Year, Alasdair said: ‘It is an honour to receive this award. I would like to thank An Comunn Gàidhealach, not just for this award but for the experiences I have had and the people I have met as a competitor and adjudicator at provincial and national Mòds since attending my first national Mòd in Oban in 1992.
‘Gaelic is at the heart of my professional and social life and my life is much the richer for it.
‘I feel fortunate to have the chance to promote our language and culture and raise the issues I care about most in this role over the coming year.’
John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: ‘Alasdair is an exceptional role model for the community and his work to progress Gaelic language and culture is second to none and he is thoroughly deserving of the award.'