£60k boost to help Gaelic tongue survive

Published on 13/10/2012 01:27

THE Scottish Government announced a £60,000 investment in the Gaelic language as the 109th Royal National Mod got under way in Dunoon yesterday.

Education secretary Michael Russell said the money would go towards early-year support, a Gaelic book scheme and scholarships for Gaelic students based in Nova Scotia, Canada.

He said: “We all have a duty to help the Gaelic language to survive.

“It is not something the Scottish Government or Bord na Gaidhlig (the Gaelic promotion board) can achieve alone.

“It is time for the people in Scotland who have the language skills to take every opportunity to use it in everyday life and encourage others to follow suit. Let’s use it or lose it.”

At the Mod today the annual shinty match will see Kyles Athletic play Bute.

The fiddlers rally will also take place over the weekend, with hundreds of musicians demonstrating their skills.

Argyll and Bute Council leader Roddy McCuish said: “Whenever the Mod is hosted in Argyll and Bute we feel it is coming home, as our history is closely entwined with the Mod.

“The first ever festival was held in Oban in 1892.”