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Visit Scotland | Alba

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 Scotland’s national icons, such as the kilt and the ceilidh, have their roots in Gaelic communities and draw visitors from around the world.

  • 331% increase in popularity of Gaelic content on visitscotland.com (2018-2022)

  • visitors are 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 are searching for Gaelic on visitscotland.com were younger compared to average site users – 43% were under 35 years old

Funding support for this project was provided by Bòrd na Gàidhlig'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 GĂ idhlig. You can use these resources to:

  • increase your own knowledge and understanding of Gaelic

  • find resources to share with your visitors

  • develop your own Gaelic proposition

  • offer your visitors an immersive and transformative experience

The following are a few examples of how to use our resources:

  • provide information on Gaelic events (Celtic Connections, Fèisean etc), celebrations (such as Halloween or Beltane), or attractions in your area

  • translate local Gaelic placenames to give visitors a better understanding of the language and landscape

  • use Gaelic music, folklore, art or poetry in your business or marketing materials

  • offer some online learning classes if you have a staff member who knows some basics

 

  • 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

  • translate some of your traditional Scottish menu items into Gaelic

  • provide background to the Gaelic roots of Scottish icons, such as whisky or the bagpipes

  • 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.

Read about Westend B&B on westendbandb.co.uk.

B&B icon

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.

Read about Eilean Iarmain on eileaniarmain.co.uk.

Comfort illustration

3. Our Gaelic directory

4. Other Gaelic resources

Tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ dol air ais linntean. 'S 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. Tha i fhathast air a bruidhinn le timcheall air 60,000 Albannach.

Tha i cuideachd air a bruidhinn ann an Sealan Nuadh, Astràilia, agus ann an Ameireaga a Tuath far an deach coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh 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.

Tha i 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.

  • cleachdadh susbaint mun GhĂ idhlig suas 331% air visitscotland.com (2018-2022)

  • tha Ăšidh aig luchd-tadhail ann an sinnsrean GĂ idhealach, sgĂŹrean far a bheil GĂ idhlig ga bruidhinn agus anns an dualchas aice

  • bha ceathrar anns gach còignear a choimhead air susbaint mun GhĂ idhlig bho thaobh a-muigh na RĂŹoghachd Aonaichte

  • bha na daoine a bha a’ 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 dh’aois

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

1. GĂ idhlig agus an gnĂŹomhachas agad

Tha sinn air liosta de ghoireasan GĂ idhlig a cho-òrdanachadh le ar co-obraichean aig Bòrd na GĂ idhlig.  Faodaidh tu na goireasan seo a chleachdadh gus:

  • cuir ris an eòlas agus tuigse agad air a’ GhĂ idhlig
  • goireasan a lorg gus co-roinn leis an luchd-tadhail agad
  • rudan GĂ idhlig a chur air dòigh sa ghnĂŹomhachas agad fhèin
  • eòlas tarraingeach cruth-atharrachail a thoirt dhan luchd-tadhail agad

Seo beagan eisimpleirean air mar a dh’fhaodadh tu na goireasan a chleachdadh:

  • Aa toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu thachartasan GĂ idhlig (Celtic Connections, Fèisean is mar sin air adhart), amannan sònraichte den bhliadhna (mar eisimpleir Oidhche Shamhna no Bealltainn) no rudan co-cheangailte ri GĂ idhlig san sgĂŹre agad.
  • ag eadar-theangachadh ainmean-Ă ite GĂ idhlig ionadail gus am bi tuigse nas fheĂ rr aig an luchd-tadhail air a’ chĂ nan agus air a’ chruth-tĂŹre
  • a' cleachdadh ceòl, beul-aithris, ealain no bĂ rdachd sa ghnĂŹomhachas agad no ann an stuthan margaidheachd airson do ghnĂŹomhachais
  • a’ toirt seachad clasaichean GĂ idhlig air-loidhne ma tha neach-obrach agad aig a bheil beagan eòlais air a’ chĂ nan

 

  • a’ 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 a’ chlĂ r-bĂŹdh agaibh
  • a’ toirt seachad fiosrachadh mu na freumhan GĂ idhlig aig ĂŹomhaighean Albannach, leithid uisge-beatha agus a’ phĂŹob mhòr
  • a’ 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 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.

Leugh mu Westend B&B air westendbandb.co.uk (Beurla).

 

B&B icon

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.

Tha i mar phàirt riatanach de ghnÏomhachasan Taigh-òsta Eilean Iarmain, agus uisgeachan-beatha agus sineubharan Gàidhealach. Tha taigh-òsta faisg air Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Colaiste Ghàidhlig na h-Alba.

Tha e a’ toirt chothroman do luchd-tadhail tuigse nas doimhne fhaighinn air dualchas cànanach is cultarach beairteach na Gàidhlig. Tha an cànan na phàirt cho bhunaiteach den chruth-tìre air am bi iad a’ tadhal.

Tha an taigh-òsta 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.

Leugh mu Eilean Iarmain air eileaniarmain.co.uk (Beurla).

 

Comfort illustration

3. Ar goireasan GĂ idhlig

4. Goireasan GĂ idhlig eile

Related links