Mod chiefs call for lively debate on the relevance of Gaelic

Published on Tuesday 16 March 2010 19:45

MONTHS before the Gaelic showpiece, the Royal National Mod, people in Caithness are being asked whether the language plays a part in the area's culture.

A public debate will be held this month in Wick to give residents their say on the role of Gaelic, English, Scots and Norse in their lives now and in the past.

The event is being staged by organisers of Md Ghallaibh 2010 (Caithness Mod), in October, the first time Gaelic's premier festival will be held in the county. It is estimated that more than 8,000 people will visit Caithness during the Mod, bringing an estimated economic benefit of 1.5 million.

But it will come against a backdrop of antipathy towards the language in some quarters, with many councillors claiming Gaelic is not spoken locally and have criticised spending on Gaelic development and bilingual road signs.

Raymond Bremner, convener of the organising committee, said: "There appears to be a wide range of views on whether embracing Gaelic culture in Caithness is relevant. We felt it was time to ask members of the local community what they think."

The meeting on 27 March will be hosted by broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, whose mother's family are from Wick.

She said: "I hope that the local community will not hold back so we can have a lively, honest and constructive debate."

Arthur Cormack, chairman of Brd na Gidhlig, the national Gaelic development agency, said: "We always welcome the opportunity to debate Gaelic issues, and we look forward to a constructive discussion."

Councillors in Caithness have sought to exclude the county from a Highland-wide policy of erecting bilingual English-Gaelic road signs, and argue the area has more Norse traditions than Gaelic, with places like Lybster named by the Vikings.

But Gaelic activists say prominent Caithness landmarks, including Dounreay, Dunbeath and Mey, have Gaelic names.