Visit Scotland | Alba

0 min read

Leugh an duilleag seo ann an Gàidhlig

The Gaelic language dates back centuries and is the founding language of Scotland, associated with a rich heritage of music, folklore and culture.

Most of modern-Scotland once spoke Gaelic and it is still spoken today by around 60,000 Scots and across the globe in New Zealand, Australia, and regions in North America where Gaelic communities were established after 18th and 19th century waves of emigration.

Gaelic has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages. It plays a vibrant role in the modern world, featuring in the hugely popular TV series Outlander, as well as in other radio, television and theatre productions. Many of Scotland’s national icons, such as the kilt and the ceilidh, have their roots in Gaelic communities and draw visitors from around the world.

Our recent research, The lure of Scottish Gaelic, found an increasing interest in Gaelic language and culture from visitors to VisitScotland.com than previous years:

  • 70% increase in popularity of Gaelic content on VisitScotland.com (2018-2019)
  • Visitors interested in Gaelic origins, areas spoken and heritage
  • Four in five users who viewed Gaelic content on VisitScotland.com were from outside the UK
  • Visitors searching for Gaelic on VisitScotland.com were younger compared to average site users – 43% were under 35 years old

On this webpage, you can find out more about: 

Gaelic and your business

To help you to harness this increasing global interest in our national language, we have coordinated a directory of Gaelic resources in partnership with our colleagues at Bòrd na Gàidhlig. You can utilise these resources to:

  • Increase your own knowledge and understanding of Gaelic
  • Find resources to share with your visitors
  • Develop your own Gaelic proposition

Here are just a few examples of how you might want to utilise the resources to offer your visitors an immersive and transformative experience:

  • Providing information on Gaelic events (Celtic Connections, Fèisean etc), celebrations (such as Halloween or Beltane) or attractions in your area
  • Teaching your staff basic Gaelic phrases to offer visitors a taste of the language and giving visitors some key phrases they can use when visiting
  • Translating local Gaelic placenames to give visitors a better understanding of the language and landscape
  • Using Gaelic music, folklore, art or poetry in your business or marketing materials
  • Offering some online learning classes if you have a staff member who knows some basics
  • Translating some of your traditional Scottish menu items into Gaelic
  • Providing background to the Gaelic roots of Scottish icons, such as whisky or the bagpipes
  • Using bilingual signs, room names or job titles in your organisation

Gaelic 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 Gàidhlig 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 and as an integral part of the businesses of Hotel Eilean Larmain, the Gaelic whiskies and the Gaelic gins. It is located close to the Gaelic University of Scotland, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

    They offer opportunities for visitors to gain a closer understanding and insight into the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Gaelic that is so intrinsically a part of the landscape that they all come to visit. They see potential to grow strong and long-standing relationships with visitors, increasing the percentage of return visits.

Gaelic directory | VisitScotland Gaelic resources

Gaelic language and history 

Read more information on the Gaelic language and its history, watch and share our Scottish Gaelic explained video or find out more about local Gaelic history and heritage in our regional eGuides:

VisitScotland.com events listings

On our consumer website, you can view Gaelic themed events and festivals being held across Scotland. Promote your own Gaelic event or festival to millions of potential visitors by submitting your event to our online listing service

Other Gaelic resources

Learn Gaelic online

  • LearnGaelic – Beginners, Intermediate and Proficient speaker levels on the LearnGaelic website
  • Duolingo – Learn online and through an app for beginners. Nearly 5 million people are subscribed to learn Gaelic on Duolingo and you can find out more on the Duolingo website. 
  • GaelicCourses.com – Online bespoke classes from North Uist

Gaelic dictionaries and vocabularies

  • Am Faclair Beag - offers an online Gaelic Dictionary 
  • Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA) (Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland) is the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names in Scotland and provides a free resource on the Gaelic forms of place-names on the Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba website 
  • Faclair Nàdair SNH - Scotland's Nature Agency has an online dictionary of Gaelic nature words on the NatureScot website 
  • Faclair Gàidhlig Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba - the Historic Environment Scotland website has a Gaelic thesaurus available in the learning section 
  • As well as lessons, LearnGaelic also offers a dictionary with example phrases in the LearnGaelic dictionary

Gaelic in tourism

  • The Creangalg Gàidhlig toolkit is for tourism businesses and includes more information on the Gaelic language, its history, events, accommodation and more
  • Video: HIE Speak Scotland | Tune into Tourism - Talking 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

About Gaelic

Gaelic literature

Gaelic culture

Natural heritage

Built heritage

  • Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has a range of Gaelic resources, including: 
    • Gaelic for Outlanders – short video lessons in a range of subjects such as introducing yourself to climate change
    • Gaelic resources such as videos and Gaelic versions of places and people guides which can be found on the HES website
    • The Seallam! Visitor Centre on the Isle of Harris features exhibitions on the Hebrides and their Gaelic culture. 

Gaelic tourist guides

Gaelic-focused centres

Funding support for this project was provided by Bòrd na Gàidhlig Gaelic Language Act Implementation.

Useful resources

Bòrd na Gàidhlig (Funding)

www.gaidhlig.scot

BBC ALBA

www.bbc.co.uk/alba

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/

Goireasan Gàidhlig

Tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ dol air ais linntean agus is i cànan stèidheachaidh na h-Alba, a tha co-cheangailte ri dualchas beairteach de cheòl, beul-aithris agus cultar.

Bha Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn tron mhòr-chuid de dh’Alba an latha an-diugh agus tha i fhathast air a bruidhinn le timcheall air 60,000 Albannach agus le daoine eile air feadh na cruinne ann an Sealan Nuadh, Astràilia, agus àiteachan ann an Ameireaga a Tuath far an deach coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh às dèidh eilthireachd san 18mh agus 19mh linn.

Chaidh a’ Ghàidhlig a ghlèidheadh tro litreachas, ealain agus beul-aithris tro na linntean. Tha pàirt bheòthail aice ann an saoghal an latha an-diugh, a’ 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-ìomhaighean nàiseanta, mar eisimpleir am fèileadh agus an cèilidh, ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig agus bidh iad a’ tarraing dhaoine bho air feadh an t-saoghail.

Sheall an rannsachadh againn bho chionn ghoirid, The lure of Scottish Gaelic, gun robh an ùidh aig luchd-tadhail do VisitScotland.com  sa Ghàidhlig air fàs an taca ri bliadhnaichean roimhe:

  • Cleachdadh susbaint mun Ghàidhlig suas 70% air VisitScotland.com (2018-2019)
  • Tha ùidh aig luchd-tadhail ann an sinnsrean Gàidhealach, sgìrean far a bheil Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn agus anns an dualchas aice
  • Bha ceathrar anns gach còignear a choimhead air susbaint mun Ghàidhlig bho thaobh a-muigh na Rìoghachd Aonaichte
  • Bha na daoine a bha a’ lorg fios mun Ghàidhlig air VisitScotland.com nas òige na luchd-cleachdaidh cuibheasach na làraich - bha 43% nas òige na 35 bliadhna a dh’aois. 

 

Gàidhlig agus an gnìomhachas agad

Gus do chuideachadh le bhith a’ dèanamh feum den ùidh chruinneil a tha a’ sìor fhàs anns a’ chànan nàiseanta againn, tha sinn air liosta de ghoireasan Gàidhlig a cho-òrdanachadh le ar co-obraichean aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig.  Faodaidh tu na goireasan seo a chleachdadh gus:

  • Cuir ris an eòlas agus tuigse agad air a’ Ghàidhlig
  • Goireasan a lorg gus co-roinn leis an luchd-tadhail agad
  • Rudan Gàidhlig a chur air dòigh sa ghnìomhachas agad fhèin

Seo beagan eisimpleirean air mar a dh’fhaodadh tu na goireasan a chleachdadh gus eòlas tarraingeach cruth-atharrachail a thoirt dhan luchd-tadhail agad:

  • A’ toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu thachartasan Gàidhlig (Celtic Connections, Fèisean is mar sin air adhart), amannan sònraichte den bhliadhna (mar eisimpleir Oidhche Shamhna no Bealltainn) no rudan co-cheangailte ri Gàidhlig san sgìre agad.
  • A’ teagasg abairtean Gàidhlig bunaiteach dhan luchd-obrach agad gus blas den chànan a thabhann do luchd-tadhail agus gus prìomh abairtean a thoirt dhaibh as urrainn dhaibh a chleachdadh nuair a thadhlas iad
  • Ag eadar-theangachadh ainmean-àite Gàidhlig ionadail gus am bi tuigse nas fheàrr aig an luchd-tadhail air a’ chànan agus air a’ chruth-tìre
  • A' cleachdadh ceòl, beul-aithris, ealain no bàrdachd sa ghnìomhachas agad no ann an stuthan margaidheachd airson do ghnìomhachais
  • A’ toirt seachad clasaichean Gàidhlig air-loidhne ma tha neach-obrach agad aig a bheil beagan eòlais air a’ chànan
  • Ag eadar-theangachadh cuid de na rudan traidiseanta Albannach air a’ chlàr-bìdh agaibh
  • A’ toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu na freumhan Gàidhlig aig ìomhaighean Albannach, leithid uisge-beatha agus a’ phìob mhòr
  • A’ cleachdadh soidhnichean dà-chànanach, ainmean sheòmraichean no tiotalan obrach taobh a-staigh na buidhne agad

Sgrùdaidhean Cùise

  • Westend B&B

    Tha Westend B&B suidhichte ann an Eilean Leòdhais air talamh croitearachd. Tro sheusan an t-samhraidh, bidh Magaidh Nic a’ Ghobhainn a’ cur fàilte air luchd-tadhail ann an Leabaidh is Breacaist a’ Westend agus ag obair mar threòraiche do luchd-tadhail air cuairtean-mara. Tha Gàidhlig aig Magaidh bhon ghlùin agus bidh i a’ cur seachad a’ chòrr den bhliadhna a’ rannsachadh agus a’ clàradh mu dhualchas Innse Gall.

    Is fìor thoil le Magaidh a bhith a’ co-roinn a h-eòlas air cultar na Gàidhlig le luchd-tadhail bho thaobh a-muigh na RA - tha ùidh daonnan aca sa Ghàidhlig. Thòisich i le bhith a’ toirt seachad seiseanan ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig air-loidhne tron ghlasadh-sìos agus tha iad a-nis mar phàirt den ghnìomhachas aice. San àm ri teachd, bidh Magaidh a’ toirt seachad ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus cuid oidhche aig Westend B&B gus seusan an luchd-turais a leudachadh.

  • 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 Ghàidhlig - a thòisich Sir Iain Noble nach maireann - ann an coimhearsnachdan ionadail, foghlam, an àrainneachd obrach agus mar phàirt riatanach de ghnìomhachasan Taigh-òsta Eilean Iarmain, agus uisgeachan-beatha agus sineubharan Gàidhealach. Tha e faisg air Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Colaiste Ghàidhlig na h-Alba

    Tha iad a’ toirt chothroman do luchd-tadhail tuigse agus sealladh nas doimhne fhaighinn air dualchas cànanach is cultarach beairteach na Gàidhlig a tha na phàirt cho bhunaiteach den chruth-tìre air am bi iad a’ tadhal. Tha iad a’ faicinn comas a bhith a' fàs dhàimhean làidir agus seasmhach le luchd-tadhail, ag àrdachadh an àireamh sa cheud de luchd-tadhail a thig air ais.

Iùl Gàidhlig | Goireasan Gàidhlig VisitScotland

A' Ghàidhlig agus a h-eachdraidh

Leugh mun Ghàidhlig agus a h-eachdraidh, coimhead air agus co-roinn a’ bhidio againn “Scottish Gaelic explained”, faigh barrachd fiosrachaidh mu eachdraidh is dualchas Gàidhlig ionadail anns na Leabhraichean-iùil roinneil againn.

Liostaichean thachartasan aig VisitScotland

Goireasan Gàidhlig eile

Ionnsaich Gàidhlig air-loidhne

  • LearnGaelic - tha ìrean ann do luchd-tòiseachaidh, eadar-mheadhanaich agus luchd-ionnsachaidh adhartach 
  • Duolingo – Ionnsaich Gàidhlig air-loidhne tro app.  Luchd-tòiseachaidh  Tha cha mhòr leth mhillean duine air clàradh gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh 
  • GaelicCourses.com – Cùrsaichean Gàidhlig sònraichte à Uibhist a Tuath 

Faclairean agus liostaichean briathrachais Gàidhlig

Gàidhlig ann an turasachd

  • Goireas Gàidhlig CeangalG airson gnìomhachas na turasachd 
  • Bhideo: HIE Speak Scotland | Tune into Tourism - A' bruidhinn mu cho cudromach 's a tha na cànanan dualchasach againn ann a bhith a' tàladh, agus a' toirt turas air leth do luchd-turais. Sgrùdaidhean Cùise bho dhaoine a tha air ùr-thòiseachadh gu gnìomhachasan stèidhichte 

Mun Ghàidhlig

Litreachas na Gàidhlig

  • Comhairle nan Leabhraichean - Goireas/bùth air-loidhne airson litreachas Gàidhlig de gach seòrsa  
  • Acair Eta companaidh neo-phrothaid a nì leabhraichean Gàidhlig, Beurla agus dà-chànanach                
  • DASG, Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic 

Cultar na Gàidhlig

  • Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches - 40,000 + clàraidhean beòil bho na 1930an air adhart – sgeulachdan, òrain, ceòl, bàrdachd agus fiosrachadh    
  • Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba - cruinneachadh Gàidhlig farsaing     
  • Glaschu - iomairt mu bhith a’ comharrachadh agus a’ sgaoileadh cultar na Gàidhlig taobh a-staigh Ghlaschu 
  • Seachdain na Gàidhlig – Fèis Ghàidhlig Dhùn Èideann    
  • An Comunn Gàidhealach – a’ bhuidheann a ruitheas am  Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (fèis Ghàidhlig bhliadhnail)   
  • Fèisean nan Gàidheal – buidheann a bhios a’ co-òrdanachadh Ionnsachadh Gàidhlig do dh’Òigridh cho math ri Cèilidh air Chuairt agus Fèis Blas
  • Ceòlas – solaraiche cànain is cultair ann an Uibhist a Deas    

Dualchas Nàdarra  

Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba 

An àrainneachd thogte

Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba:

Treòraichean-turais le Gàidhlig

Ionadan Co-cheangailte ris a' Ghàidhlig

Fhuair am pròiseact seo taic-airgid bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig tro Mhaoin Buileachaidh Achd na Gàidhlig (GLAIF).

Goireasan feumail eile

Bòrd na Gàidhlig (Maoineachadh)

www.gaidhlig.scot

BBC ALBA

www.bbc.co.uk/alba

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds

Related links

Plana Gàidhlig

Information on the Gaelic language’s vital role in Scottish tourism and what we’re doing to protect its sustainability in the long-term.