The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
End Gaelic hostility – there’s no place for it, says Swinney
Mod: Major prizes in adult competitions
The deputy first minister has called for an end to “hostility” against Gaelic and defended the spending of public money on the language.
John Swinney spoke out in support of Gaelic development at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway yesterday – saying criticism is down to a “poor understanding” of Scottish history and culture.
The deputy first minister’s intervention was welcomed by senior figures from An Commun Gaidhealach, the organisers of the Mod.
Mr Swinney delivered the keynote Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture as the adult competitions got under way with several major prizes handed out.
The winner of the Silver Pendant was announced during the day, while competitions also ran in the clasarch.
Mr Swinney rejected the argument that the language should be anything other than encouraged.
The deputy first minister told gathered guests: “I know many of you have encountered this hostility to Gaelic.
“These views on Gaelic are just as groundless and unwelcome as they are inaccurate and misleading. They betray a poor understanding of our country, its history and the respect we should show to minority communities. My very clear view on this is that this hostility to Gaelic has no place in Scotland.
“So let me set the record straight. Gaelic is a language of daily use. The support for Gaelic is a good use of public funds.”
Mr Swinney assumed ministerial responsibility for the language following the Scottish Parliament elections earlier this year.
He said support for the language was not “special treatment or favouritism
“Let me set the record straight The support for Gaelic is a good use of funds”
for a nationalist plot” but instead said it was fair treatment for our minority language that has been spoken in the county for more than 1,000 years.
Mr Swinney also confirmed that a new national Gaelic plan will go out for consultation later in the year aimed at increasing the number of people speaking and learning the language.
An Commun president John Macleod welcomed Mr Swinney’s speech – but said that Gaelic communi-
ties had to take responsibility for preserving the language.
He said: “I think there is general majority support throughout Scotland for maintaining the Gaelic language. Most people realise that it is a valuable part of our life and if we lost it we would lose a great deal of our national heritage.”
He added: “Gaelic language will be saved not by the Scottish Government, not by local authorities but by ourselves as a people by passing on this important part of our heritage.”
Meanwhile, competitions got under way in the adult mod, with the Silver Pendant won by singers from Glasgow and Islay.
The prizes are handed out to the finest Gaelic learners.
The men’s competition was won by Fergus Muir ,57, from Bowmore on Islay who had been the runnerup in the competition for the past two years.
He said: “I’m delighted. There’s been a lot of work and a lot of effort gone into it.
“I’m glad to have finally won the thing.”
The ladies’ event was won by Fiona Ross, 33, from Maryhill who had competed in 17 Mods as a choir member and latterly as a soloist.
She won the Silver Pendant at the first time of asking.
She said: “I’m just in shock. There will definitely be some celebrations tonight.”
Clarsach competitions were also held yesterday, with the Clarsach Society welcoming a 20% increase in entries since the Mod was last held in the Western Isles five years ago.
Among the winners was Claire Whyman, from Back on Lewis, who began learning the instrument last year, having emigrated from Canada in 1999.
Yesterday was her first ever competition, playing with a hired instrument in a solo competition.
She said: “It was a nice surprise for sure.”