Connel‘s Joy Dunlop teams up to present SpeakGaelic

BBC presenters and social media stars Joy Dunlop and Calum Maclean are to lead SpeakGaelic, a new language learning initiative aiming to increase take-up of the language.

SpeakGaelic’s exciting and ambitious new Gaelic learning resources will provide a comprehensive framework for Gaelic language learning across TV, iPlayer, BBC Sounds, web, face-to-face classes, YouTube and other social media to attract and inspire learners and speakers.

Joy Dunlop, from Connel in Argyll, is familiar to many who watch BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA as a regular weather presenter, musician and programme contributor.

A fluent Gaelic speaker, with an honours degree in Gaelic language and culture, Joy has fronted a range of shows for BBC ALBA including Cuirm@Celtic Connections, Na Trads: Hall of Fame and Bainnsean. Since 2020, she has co-presented the final of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.

Joy is also a multi-award-winning Gaelic singer, winning the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and The Oban Times Gold Medal and releasing multiple highly acclaimed albums. She also conducts the Alba Choir, Scotland’s first and only Eurovision entry, which took part in the 2019 Eurovision Choir of the Year finals in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Commenting on her new role, Joy said: ‘As a lifelong learner, I know how much of a rewarding challenge learning a language is, so to be part of a project that will be stimulating learners to put their Gaelic skills to use across such a wide array of learning methods is so exciting.

‘I’m regularly asked ‘what is the best way to learn Gaelic?’ What is so ingenious about SpeakGaelic is that it offers a choice in how you learn, finding the way that suits you.’

Calum Maclean is known to social media regulars for his outdoors content, including his unforgettable ‘midge challenge’, and in BBC ALBA’s Dhan Uisge, he showcases his passion for wild swimming in the seas, lochs and around Scotland.

Calum, who will be contributing outdoor features to the SpeakGaelic programmes, said: ‘Just playing a part in helping other people learn and enjoy Gaelic is a privilege, particularly as this is a huge rivers moment in what we offer to people who want to join us in being Gaelic speakers.

‘I really love being able to pass on knowledge to those who are curious, particularly doing it my own way, building Gaelic into the great outdoors. The language, and the pull it has for so many people, is rooted in our natural surroundings in Scotland so it’s a natural step for the future of Gaelic learning to be coming from there too.’

SpeakGaelic’s project board chairwoman, MG ALBA’s Iseabail Mactaggart, said:

SpeakGaelic‘s new presenters Calum Maclean and Joy Dunlop

‘SpeakGaelic is the most comprehensive Gaelic learning initiative in a generation. It is a hugely exciting moment to be revealing that Joy and Calum – two brilliant and dynamic personalities – will be presenting the programmes.

‘SpeakGaelic will be for all those with an interest in speaking the language, whether it is those whose learning journey is already under way, those who are less confident about their ability to speak, those new to Gaelic or those of us whose Gaelic learning journey will be lifelong.

‘All of us in the partnership are excited about creating the opportunities through SpeakGaelic for everyone in the Gaelic community to #cleachdi! – to use their Gaelic.’