Visit Scotland | Alba

Leugh an duilleag seo ann an Gàidhlig.

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.

In this article:

1. Gaelic and your business

We have coordinated a directory of Gaelic resources in partnership with our colleagues at Bòrd na Gàidhlig. 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 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.

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

Local Gaelic history and heritage

visitscotland.com/gaelic

Read more information on the Gaelic language and its history.

Gaelic explained video

youtube.com

Watch and share our Scottish Gaelic explained video.

View Gaelic events

visitscotland.com/info

View Gaelic themed events and festivals being held across Scotland.

Promote Gaelic events

visitscotland.com/submit-event

Promote your own Gaelic event or festival to millions of potential visitors by submitting your event to our online…

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 Ghàidhlig suas 331% air visitscotland.com (2018-2022)

  • 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

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

In this article:

1. Gàidhlig agus an gnìomhachas agad

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
  • 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 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.
  • 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

 

  • 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 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

2. 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.

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 ghnìomhachasan 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 Gàidhlig

Eachdraidh is dualchas Gàidhlig ionadail

visitscotland.com/gaelic

Faigh barrachd fiosrachaidh mu eachdraidh is dualchas Gàidhlig ionadail (Beurla).

Bhidio “Gaelic explained”

youtube.com

Coimhead air agus co-roinn a’ bhidio againn “Scottish Gaelic explained” (Beurla).

Faigh a-mach mu thachartasan Gàidhlig

visitscotland.com/info

Faigh a-mach mu thachartasan is fèisean Gàidhlig air feadh na h-Alba (Beurla).

Brosnaich tachartas Gàidhlig

visitscotland.com/submit-event

Brosnaich an tachartas no fèis Gàidhlig agad do na milleanan de dhaoine. Faigh a-mach mu liostaichean thachartasan…

4. Goireasan Gàidhlig eile

Related links

Culture and heritage

Our culture and heritage are a core aspect of Scotland’s tourism offering. Find useful insights on cultural tourism, including interest in the Gaelic…