Latest news with #GaelicLanguagePlan
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Number of people with Gaelic skills on increase
The number of people with Gaelic skills in East Lothian has nearly doubled over the last 14 years, a new report has revealed. East Lothian Council says the 2022 census found 1, 396 residents above the age of three had some ability to use the traditional language. It added out of those, 638 said they spoke Gaelic with 452 people who said they could speak and read but not write Gaelic and 385 Gaelic literate speakers while 15 people said that Gaelic was their main language. The local authority highlighted the figures as it launched a public consultation on its new Gaelic Language Plan, which covers the period 2025-30. The draft plan, which the council has a statutory duty to renew, sets out actions to help meet a commitment to the aspirations and objectives included in the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. And it reveals the results of the census show use of the language is on the increase. In its report it says lowland Scots rather than Gaelic would have been spoken in East Lothian, however, there are some examples of place names in East Lothian having Gaelic origins, such as: • Cuil Choinnich – Cockenzie (the neuk of Coinneach) • Craobhbarraidh – Carberry (at the palisade) • Fan Taisidh – Phantassie (at the damp slope) • An garbh-Allt – Garvald (the rough burn) The report says the Jacobite army that fought in the Battle of Prestonpans (1745) was largely made up of Gaelic speaking Highland clansmen and the interest in commemorating the battle has resulted in the provision of some bi-lingual road signs and place names around the battlefield site. It says the council is now looking to build on its first Gaelic Language Plan, which covered the period 2020-25 and looked at ways to encourage and establish the use of the language and community engagement. A council spokesperson said the council hoped to build on the progress of recent years by continuing to develop Gaelic language provision in East Lothian in a proportionate way. They said: 'The draft plan recognises how the council can playing our part in making Gaelic more visible, valued and accessible — ensuring it thrives as part of our diverse and inclusive cultural landscape. 'Since 2011, there has been an increase in the number of people with Gaelic language skills in East Lothian. Gaelic, however, continues to face a number of challenges and that is why organisations such as East Lothian Council are required to play their part in supporting collective efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the language. We would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation.' The consultation runs until August 4. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Number of East Lothian Gaelic users doubles in just over decade
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The number of people with Gaelic skills in East Lothian has nearly doubled over the last 14 years, a new report has revealed. East Lothian Council says the 2022 census found 1, 396 residents above the age of three had some ability to use the traditional language. It added out of those, 638 said they spoke Gaelic with 452 people who said they could speak and read but not write Gaelic and 385 Gaelic literate speakers while 15 people said that Gaelic was their main language. The local authority highlighted the figures as it launched a public consultation on its new Gaelic Language Plan, which covers the period 2025-30. The draft plan, which the council has a statutory duty to renew, sets out actions to help meet a commitment to the aspirations and objectives included in the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. And it reveals the results of the census show use of the language is on the increase. In its report it says lowland Scots rather than Gaelic would have been spoken in East Lothian, however, there are some examples of place names in East Lothian having Gaelic origins, such as: • Cuil Choinnich – Cockenzie (the neuk of Coinneach) • Craobhbarraidh – Carberry (at the palisade) • Fan Taisidh – Phantassie (at the damp slope) • An garbh-Allt – Garvald (the rough burn) The report says the Jacobite army that fought in the Battle of Prestonpans (1745) was largely made up of Gaelic speaking Highland clansmen and the interest in commemorating the battle has resulted in the provision of some bi-lingual road signs and place names around the battlefield site. It says the council is now looking to build on its first Gaelic Language Plan, which covered the period 2020-25 and looked at ways to encourage and establish the use of the language and community engagement. A council spokesperson said the council hoped to build on the progress of recent years by continuing to develop Gaelic language provision in East Lothian in a proportionate way. They said: "The draft plan recognises how the council can playing our part in making Gaelic more visible, valued and accessible — ensuring it thrives as part of our diverse and inclusive cultural landscape. "Since 2011, there has been an increase in the number of people with Gaelic language skills in East Lothian. Gaelic, however, continues to face a number of challenges and that is why organisations such as East Lothian Council are required to play their part in supporting collective efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the language. We would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation.' The consultation can be found here and runs until August 4.
Edinburgh Live
29-04-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh school catchment and moving Gaelic unit under review at council debate
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Plans for the future of Gaelic education in Edinburgh are to be discussed this week. The Education, Children and Families committee will meet on Thursday as the number of applications for places at the city's only Gaelic primary school doubles in a year, and plans for a standalone secondary school stalled. Gaelic education for secondary school pupils is currently available at James Gillespie's High School - which is also seeing a rise in the number of pupils enrolled. A number of options, including exploring a catchment change, introduction of timetabling efficiencies, internal reconfiguration of existing accommodation or, if possible, additional accommodation, have all been highlighted in the meeting agenda. Plans to offer an annex unit at Liberton High School were previously ruled out and it was decided there was no budget in the capital programme to deliver a Gaelic Medium Education (GME) secondary school. Parents previously criticised plans for the provision at the new Liberton High School due to its location from the primary school and a more central site being required. Councillors agreed and a statutory consultation was paused. The main report states: "Engagement with the GME community on all aspects of GME education has continued through the Edinburgh Gaelic Collaborative Forum and in line with the specific action on demand for GME in the Gaelic Language Plan. "However, in relation to the provision of new GME primary and secondary schools, there remains no fundamental change to the update provided in 2022. Monitoring of the primary and secondary school rolls continues, and demand is currently able to be accommodated in existing provision or by introducing the rising rolls options highlighted above. "There remains no specific capital budget allocated to the provision of GME infrastructure and therefore no detailed project work can progress. The situation with potential site availability for a new GME secondary school remains as has been reported to Committee in 2022. "Following the request by Committee on 3 September 2024 to report the potential of the Police Headquarters at Fettes as a site, direct communication with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland has reconfirmed this site would not be available to the Council for the provision of a GME secondary school." In terms of next steps, the monitoring of school rolls for GME and recruitment of school staff will continue and the council will engage with the Scottish Government, the Gaelic community in Edinburgh and other stakeholders to consider the best way forward. Councillor Steve Burgess, Greens education spokesperson, said: "Greens strongly support the growth of Gaelic in the Capital, so we very much welcome any positive steps towards developing a robust strategy around the expansion of Gaelic Medium Education, which has now been stalled for years. "But the challenge is how to grow Gaelic with only one primary school, that looks to be bursting at the seams, and no dedicated high school for Gaelic, whereas Glasgow has several Gaelic primary schools and a high school. "The council needs to be working proactively with the Gaelic community in Edinburgh to rapidly produce a meaningful way forward for the growth of Gaelic in the Capital, and I would then hope and expect that the SNP Scottish Government would support this as they promised to in their last Holyrood election manifesto."
