Videos combine Gaelic skills and football

A new project has the twin goals of strengthening Gaelic language skills and football abilities.

FC Sonas combines the passions of Calum Ferguson and Donnie Forbes, who are fluent Gaelic speakers and have been involved in football circles for a number of years.

Mr Forbes has held various coaching roles with Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, the Scottish Football Association and Hearts.

Mr Ferguson is a professional footballer player who has played for clubs in Scotland, Canada and New Zealand.

FC Sonas, which receives financial assistance from Highland Council and Gaelic development body Bord na Gaidhlig, uses football to engage with people of all ages who are learning Gaelic or already fluent.

It has been commissioned to produce six weekly videos that will be available to 22 schools in the Highland Council area.

Participants will be set weekly football challenges and encouraged to interact and speak Gaelic; the best will be posted online.

Mr Ferguson said: “We hope that the six-week video series can engage children and families during lockdown, combining football with speaking the Gaelic language at home.

“Going forward we have a number of exciting plans in place and we are looking forward to what the future has in store, despite these uncertain times.”

Steven Kellow, funding and project officer at Bord na Gaidhlig, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support this exciting project.”