The Gaelic language dates back centuries. It's the founding language of Scotland, associated with a rich heritage of music, folklore and culture.
Most of modern-Scotland once spoke Gaelic. It's still spoken today by around 60,000 Scots. It's also still spoken in New Zealand, Australia, and North America where Gaelic communities settled in the 18th and 19th century.
Gaelic has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages. It plays a vibrant role in the modern world.
It features in the hugely popular TV series Outlander, as well as in other radio, television and theatre productions.
Many of Scotlandâs national icons, such as the kilt and the ceilidh, have their roots in Gaelic communities and draw visitors from around the world.
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331% increase in popularity of Gaelic content on visitscotland.com (2018-2022)
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visitors are interested in Gaelic origins, areas spoken and heritage
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four in five users who viewed Gaelic content on visitscotland.com were from outside the UK
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visitors are searching for Gaelic on visitscotland.com were younger compared to average site users â 43% were under 35 years old
Funding support for this project was provided by Bòrd na Gà idhlig's Gaelic Language Act Implementation.
1. Gaelic and your business
We have coordinated a directory of Gaelic resources in partnership with our colleagues at Bòrd na Gà idhlig. You can use these resources to:
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increase your own knowledge and understanding of Gaelic
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find resources to share with your visitors
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develop your own Gaelic proposition
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offer your visitors an immersive and transformative experience
The following are a few examples of how to use our resources:
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provide information on Gaelic events (Celtic Connections, Fèisean etc), celebrations (such as Halloween or Beltane), or attractions in your area
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translate local Gaelic placenames to give visitors a better understanding of the language and landscape
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use Gaelic music, folklore, art or poetry in your business or marketing materials
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offer some online learning classes if you have a staff member who knows some basics
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teach your staff basic Gaelic phrases to offer visitors a taste of the language and giving visitors some key phrases they can use when visiting
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translate some of your traditional Scottish menu items into Gaelic
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provide background to the Gaelic roots of Scottish icons, such as whisky or the bagpipes
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use bilingual signs, room names or job titles in your organisation
2. Case studies
Westend B&B
Westend B&B is located on the Isle of Lewis on croft land. During the summer season, Magaidh Smith welcomes guests at Westend Bed and Breakfast and works as a tour guide for cruise ship visitors.
Maggie is a native Gaelic speaker and the remainder of her year is spent researching and recording aspects of Hebridean culture.
Maggie loves to share her knowledge of GĂ idhlig culture with visitors from outside the UK who are always interested in Gaelic.
She began offering online Gaelic learning sessions which became a feature of the business during lockdown.
In the future, Maggie will be combining Gaelic learning with accommodation at Westend B&B to extend the visitor season.
Eilean Iarmain
Eilean Iarmain is a hotel in the south of Skye overlooking the Sound of Sleat. It has a long history of supporting Gaelic - since the late Sir Iain Noble - in local communities, education, the work environment.
It's an integral part of the businesses of Hotel Eilean Larmain, the Gaelic whiskies and the Gaelic gins. The hotel is located close to the Gaelic University of Scotland, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
It offers visitors to gain a closer understanding into the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Gaelic. The language is intrinsically a part of the landscape that they all come to visit.
The hotel sees potential to grow long-standing relationships with visitors, boosting return visits.
3. Our Gaelic directory
Local Gaelic history and heritage
visitscotland.com/gaelicRead more information on the Gaelic language and its history.
View Gaelic events
visitscotland.com/infoView Gaelic themed events and festivals being held across Scotland.
Promote Gaelic events
visitscotland.com/submit-eventPromote your own Gaelic event or festival to millions of potential visitors by submitting your event to our online…
4. Other Gaelic resources
LearnGaelic
There are training levels for beginners, intermediate and proficient speakers.
Duolingo
Learn online and through an app for beginners. Nearly 5 million people are subscribed to learn Gaelic.
Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland
This is the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names in Scotland and provides a free resource on the Gaelic forms of place-names.
NatureScot
Scotland's nature agency has an online dictionary of Gaelic nature words.
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland have created this Gaelic Thesaurus to provide users with translations from English to Gaelic and Gaelic to English for the part of the vocabulary relevant to safeguarding the nation's historic environment.
LearnGaelic
As well as lessons, LearnGaelic also offers a dictionary with example phrases in their dictionary.
CeangalG GĂ idhlig toolkit
This toolkit is for tourism businesses and includes more information on the Gaelic language, its history, events, accommodation and more.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (video)
This video talks about the value of our native languages in attracting, engaging with, and providing a unique experience for visitors. Case studies from beginners to well-established.
Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland has created an introduction to Scotlandâs languages PDF.
Open University
The Open University offers a free online course about Gaelic and its history, called "Gaelic in Modern Scotland".
Gaelic Books Council
The Gaelic Books Council offers online resources and a shop for all Gaelic literature.
Acair Books
They are a not-for-profit company providing Gaelic, English, and bilingual books.
Kist o' Riches
This website contains 40,000 plus oral recordings from 1930s onwards, including stories, songs, music, poetry, and factual information.
Glaschu
This is an initiative aimed at communicating and sharing Gaelic culture within Glasgow.
Edinburgh Gaelic Week
This festival is run by a committee of volunteers currently chaired by the University of Edinburgh's Gaelic Officer, with events run by organisations and individuals from across the city.
An Comunn GĂ idhealach
An Comunn GĂ idhealach furthers the aims of supporting and developing all aspects of the Gaelic language, culture, history, and heritage at local, national, and international levels.
Fèisean
Learn about the co-ordination of Gaelic youth arts learning as well as cèilidh trails and the Blas Festival.
Forestry and Land Scotland
They have created a Gaelic alphabet poster. It contains the 18 letters of the Gaelic alphabet, each relating to a type of tree.
The Shieling Project
They promote outdoor activities and Gaelic culture.
Cairngorms National Park
They have produced a leaflet and map featuring Gaelic placenames.
Historic Environment Scotland (video)
They offer short video lessons in a range of subjects, from introducing yourself to climate change.
Historic Environment Scotland
They have Gaelic resources, such as videos, and Gaelic versions of places and people guides.
Hebrides People
The Seallam! Visitor Centre on the Isle of Harris features exhibitions on the Hebrides and their Gaelic culture.
An lanntair
View their website for more information on the hub for creativity and the arts in Stornoway on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig college
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig college is the national centre for Gaelic language and culture. They offer classes and distance learning.
Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
The Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre is on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
Bòrd na Gà idhlig (funding)
Find the latest information about Bòrd na GĂ idhligâs funding schemes.
Tha aâ GhĂ idhlig aâ dol air ais linntean. 'S i cĂ nan stèidheachaidh na h-Alba, a tha co-cheangailte ri dualchas beairteach de cheòl, beul-aithris agus cultar.
Bha GĂ idhlig ga bruidhinn tron mhòr-chuid de dhâAlba an latha an-diugh. Tha i fhathast air a bruidhinn le timcheall air 60,000 Albannach.
Tha i cuideachd air a bruidhinn ann an Sealan Nuadh, Astrà ilia, agus ann an Ameireaga a Tuath far an deach coimhearsnachdan Gà idhlig a stèidheachadh san 18mh agus 19mh linn.
Chaidh aâ GhĂ idhlig a ghlèidheadh tro litreachas, ealain agus beul-aithris tro na linntean. Tha pĂ irt bheòthail aice ann an saoghal an latha an-diugh.
Tha i aâ nochdadh anns an t-sreath TBh mòr-chòrdte Outlander, a bharrachd air riochdachaidhean rèidio, telebhisean agus tèatair eile.
Tha freumhan aig tòrr de na h-ĂŹomhaighean nĂ iseanta, mar eisimpleir am fèileadh agus an cèilidh, ann an coimhearsnachdan GĂ idhlig agus bidh iad aâ tarraing dhaoine bho air feadh an t-saoghail.
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cleachdadh susbaint mun GhĂ idhlig suas 331% air visitscotland.com (2018-2022)
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tha Ăšidh aig luchd-tadhail ann an sinnsrean GĂ idhealach, sgĂŹrean far a bheil GĂ idhlig ga bruidhinn agus anns an dualchas aice
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bha ceathrar anns gach còignear a choimhead air susbaint mun Ghà idhlig bho thaobh a-muigh na RÏoghachd Aonaichte
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bha na daoine a bha aâ lorg fios mun GhĂ idhlig air VisitScotland.com nas òige na luchd-cleachdaidh cuibheasach na lĂ raich - bha 43% nas òige na 35 bliadhna a dhâaois
Fhuair am pròiseact seo taic-airgid bho Bhòrd na Gà idhlig tro Mhaoin Buileachaidh Achd na Gà idhlig.
1. GĂ idhlig agus an gnĂŹomhachas agad
Tha sinn air liosta de ghoireasan Gà idhlig a cho-òrdanachadh le ar co-obraichean aig Bòrd na Gà idhlig. Faodaidh tu na goireasan seo a chleachdadh gus:
- cuir ris an eòlas agus tuigse agad air aâ GhĂ idhlig
- goireasan a lorg gus co-roinn leis an luchd-tadhail agad
- rudan Gà idhlig a chur air dòigh sa ghnÏomhachas agad fhèin
- eòlas tarraingeach cruth-atharrachail a thoirt dhan luchd-tadhail agad
Seo beagan eisimpleirean air mar a dhâfhaodadh tu na goireasan a chleachdadh:
- Aa toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu thachartasan Gà idhlig (Celtic Connections, Fèisean is mar sin air adhart), amannan sònraichte den bhliadhna (mar eisimpleir Oidhche Shamhna no Bealltainn) no rudan co-cheangailte ri Gà idhlig san sgÏre agad.
- ag eadar-theangachadh ainmean-Ă ite GĂ idhlig ionadail gus am bi tuigse nas fheĂ rr aig an luchd-tadhail air aâ chĂ nan agus air aâ chruth-tĂŹre
- a' cleachdadh ceòl, beul-aithris, ealain no bà rdachd sa ghnÏomhachas agad no ann an stuthan margaidheachd airson do ghnÏomhachais
- aâ toirt seachad clasaichean GĂ idhlig air-loidhne ma tha neach-obrach agad aig a bheil beagan eòlais air aâ chĂ nan
- aâ teagasg abairtean GĂ idhlig bunaiteach dhan luchd-obrach agad gus blas den chĂ nan a thabhann do luchd-tadhail agus gus prĂŹomh abairtean a thoirt dhaibh as urrainn dhaibh a chleachdadh nuair a thadhlas iad
- ag eadar-theangachadh cuid de na rudan traidiseanta Albannach air aâ chlĂ r-bĂŹdh agaibh
- aâ toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu na freumhan GĂ idhlig aig ĂŹomhaighean Albannach, leithid uisge-beatha agus aâ phĂŹob mhòr
- aâ cleachdadh soidhnichean dĂ -chĂ nanach, ainmean sheòmraichean no tiotalan obrach taobh a-staigh na buidhne agad
2. SgrĂšdaidhean cĂšise
Westend B&B
Tha Westend B&B suidhichte ann an Eilean Leòdhais air talamh croitearachd.
Tro sheusan an t-samhraidh, bidh Magaidh Nic aâ Ghobhainn aâ cur fĂ ilte air luchd-tadhail ann an Leabaidh is Breacaist aâ Westend agus ag obair mar threòraiche do luchd-tadhail air cuairtean-mara.
Tha GĂ idhlig aig Magaidh bhon ghlĂšin agus bidh i aâ cur seachad aâ chòrr den bhliadhna aâ rannsachadh agus aâ clĂ radh mu dhualchas Innse Gall.
Is fĂŹor thoil le Magaidh a bhith aâ co-roinn a h-eòlas air cultar na GĂ idhlig le luchd-tadhail bho thaobh a-muigh na RA - tha Ăšidh daonnan aca sa GhĂ idhlig.
Thòisich i le bhith aâ toirt seachad seiseanan ionnsachaidh GĂ idhlig air-loidhne tron ghlasadh-sĂŹos agus tha iad a-nis mar phĂ irt den ghnĂŹomhachas aice.
San Ă m ri teachd, bidh Magaidh aâ toirt seachad ionnsachadh na GĂ idhlig agus cuid oidhche aig Westend B&B gus seusan an luchd-turais a leudachadh.
Leugh mu Westend B&B air westendbandb.co.uk (Beurla).
Eilean Iarmain
Tha Eilean Iarmain na thaigh-òsta ann an taobh deas an Eilein Sgitheanaich le sealladh air linne Shlèite.
Tha eachdraidh fhada aige de thaic dhan Ghà idhlig - a thòisich Sir Iain Noble nach maireann - ann an coimhearsnachdan ionadail, foghlam, an à rainneachd obrach.
Tha i mar phà irt riatanach de ghnÏomhachasan Taigh-òsta Eilean Iarmain, agus uisgeachan-beatha agus sineubharan Gà idhealach. Tha taigh-òsta faisg air Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Colaiste Ghà idhlig na h-Alba.
Tha e aâ toirt chothroman do luchd-tadhail tuigse nas doimhne fhaighinn air dualchas cĂ nanach is cultarach beairteach na GĂ idhlig. Tha an cĂ nan na phĂ irt cho bhunaiteach den chruth-tĂŹre air am bi iad aâ tadhal.
Tha an taigh-òsta aâ faicinn comas a bhith a' fĂ s dhĂ imhean lĂ idir agus seasmhach le luchd-tadhail, ag Ă rdachadh an Ă ireamh sa cheud de luchd-tadhail a thig air ais.
Leugh mu Eilean Iarmain air eileaniarmain.co.uk (Beurla).
3. Ar goireasan GĂ idhlig
Eachdraidh is dualchas GĂ idhlig ionadail
visitscotland.com/gaelicFaigh barrachd fiosrachaidh mu eachdraidh is dualchas GĂ idhlig ionadail (Beurla).
Bhidio âGaelic explainedâ
youtube.comCoimhead air agus co-roinn aâ bhidio againn âScottish Gaelic explainedâ (Beurla).
Faigh a-mach mu thachartasan GĂ idhlig
visitscotland.com/infoFaigh a-mach mu thachartasan is fèisean Gà idhlig air feadh na h-Alba (Beurla).
Brosnaich tachartas GĂ idhlig
visitscotland.com/submit-eventBrosnaich an tachartas no fèis GĂ idhlig agad do na milleanan de dhaoine. Faigh a-mach mu liostaichean thachartasan…
4. Goireasan GĂ idhlig eile
LearnGaelic
Tha Ïrean ann do luchd-tòiseachaidh, eadar-mheadhanaich agus luchd-ionnsachaidh adhartach.
Duolingo
Ionnsaich Gà idhlig air-loidhne tro app. Tha Ïrean ann do luchd-tòiseachaidh. Tha cha mhòr còig mhillean duine air clà radh gus Gà idhlig ionnsachadh.
Ainmean-Ăite na h-Alba
'S e an com-pĂ irteachas comhairleachaidh nĂ iseanta airson ainmean-Ă ite GĂ idhlig ann an Alba a tha. Goireas an-asgaidh leis na cruthan GĂ idhlig air ainmean-Ă ite.
Ărainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba
Tha Ărainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba air am faclair seo a chruthachadh gus eadar-theangachadh cunbhalach a thoirt seachad co-cheangailte ris an Ă rainneachd eachdraidheil.
LearnGaelic
A bharrachd air leasanan, tha faclair ann an LearnGaelic le eisimpleirean de dh'abairtean.
Goireas GĂ idhlig CeangalG
Tha Goireas GĂ idhlig CeangalG airson gnĂŹomhachas na turasachd. Tha fiosrachaidh mu chĂ nan, eachdraich agus Ă rainneachd thogte Ghaidhlig aige.
Iomairt na GĂ idhealtachd 's nan Eilean (bhidio)
Tha bhidio seo a' bruidhinn mu cho cudromach 's a tha na cĂ nanan dualchasach againn ann a bhith a' tĂ ladh, agus a' toirt turas air leth do luchd-turais.
SgrÚdaidhean cÚise bho dhaoine a tha air Úr-thòiseachadh gu gnÏomhachasan stèidhichte.
Alba Chruthachail
Tha gèarr-chunntas air cà nanan na h-Alba aig Alba Chruthachail.
Open University
The Open University offers a free online course about Gaelic and its history, called "Gaelic in Modern Scotland".
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean
Goireas / bÚth air-loidhne airson litreachas Gà idhlig de gach seòrsa.
Acair Eta
Tha i companaidh neo-phrothaid a nĂŹ leabhraichean GĂ idhlig, Beurla agus dĂ -chĂ nanach.
Tobar an Dualchais
LĂ rach-lĂŹn le 40,000 + clĂ raidhean beòil bho na 1930an air adhart â sgeulachdan, òrain, ceòl, bĂ rdachd agus fiosrachadh.
Glaschu
'S e iomairt a tha seo mu bhith aâ comharrachadh agus aâ sgaoileadh cultar na GĂ idhlig taobh a-staigh Ghlaschu.
Seachdain na GĂ idhlig
Bidh an fhèis seo Oifigear Gà idhlig an Oilthigh agus comataidh luchd saor-thoileach ga ruith, le tachartasan air an cur air dòigh le diofar bhuidhnean agus daoine bho air feadh a' bhaile.
An Comunn GĂ idhealach
Tha An Comunn GĂ idhealach fhathast aâ daingneachadh na h-amais a bhith aâ brosnachadh agus aâ neartachadh cĂ nan, cultar, eachdraidh agus dualchas na GĂ idhlig aig ĂŹrean ionadail, nĂ iseanta agus eadar-nĂ iseanta.
Fèisean
Faigh barrachd fiosrachaidh mun cho-òrdanachadh ionnsachadh GĂ idhlig do dhâòigridh cho math ri cèilidh air chuairt agus Fèis Blas.
Coimisean na Coilltearachd Alba
Postair aca mu aibidil na GĂ idhlig. Tha 18 litrichean na h-aibidil ann - tha iad uile co-cheangailte ri craobhan.
An Ăirigh
Tha iad ag adhartachadh cur-seachadan agus cultar na GĂ idhlig air aâ bhlĂ r a-muigh.
PĂ irc NĂ iseanta aâ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
Tha mapa agus bileag mu ainmean-Ă ite aig a' phĂ irc.
Ărainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba (bhidio)
Leasanan bhidio air diofar chuspairean bho bhith ag rà dh cò thusa gu atharrachadh na gnà th-shÏde.
Ărainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba
Goireas GĂ idhlig a' gabhail a-steach bhideothan agus tionndaidhean GĂ idhlig de dhâiĂšilean mu dhaoine is Ă iteachan.
Hebrides People
Tha ionad luchd-tadhail, Seallam!, air na Hearadh aige fèillean-taisbeanaidh mu innse gall agus an cultar Gà idhlig.
Ădhamh Ă Broin
Faigh barrachd fiosrachaidh mun chomhairliche GĂ idhlig na h-Alba.
An lanntair
Faigh a-mach an là rach-lÏn le barrachd fiosrachaidh mu mhòr-ionad airson cruthachalachd is nan ealainean ann an Steòrnabhagh, Leòdhas, Innse Gall.
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig colaiste
Tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaigcolaiste ionad nà iseanta airson na Gà idhlig agus a Cultar. Clasaichean agus foghlam air astar.
Taigh Chearsabhagh
Tha taigh-tasgaidh agus ionad ealain air Uibhist a Tuath, Innse Gall.
Bòrd na Gà idhlig (maoineachadh)
Airson am fios as Úra air sgeamaichean maoineachaidh Bòrd na Gà idhlig.