On behalf of Meetup Gàidhlig Ghlaschu, our
secretary has taken on the role of Project Manager with Lesmahagow
Development Trust in a bid to bring Gaelic back to his hometown.
"Learning Gaelic in Lesmahagow" is a project supported by Bòrd na
Gàidhlig and will offer beginner level Gaelic lessons in the Resource
Centre, 40 Abbeygreen starting on the 2nd October and running for eight weeks.
Working in collaboration with Clì Gàidhlig,
the Ùlpan lessons focus on conversational Gaelic and the cost will be
£240 for the whole beginner course. Numbers on each course will be
restricted to ensure all students receive a high level of support during
classes. To enrol for the classes contact Methchild Graeme at Clì
Gàidhlig on 01463 226 710 or Email ulpan@cli.org.uk.
Although
the cost for the full course is £240 funding assistance of up to £200
may be available from ILA Scotland. To apply for ILA funding please call
0808 100 1090 before submitting your booking form for a place on the
course. Lesmahagow Development Trust will be happy to help those
interested in the course to apply for this funding. Further details of
this project are available from http://www.lesmahagowdevtrust.com
or by calling Jamie (07583655022) or Liz (07962181956). A 24hr
voicemail facility (0844 58 555 35) has been set up to leave your
details if you’d like someone to contact you about the lessons or any
further Gaelic projects.
People
have been speaking Gaelic in Lesmahagow since before King David I’s
Charter of 1142AD. The village originally belonged to the ancient
Britons, it was then owned by the Picts up until the end of their
kingdom (Pictland) when the Gaelic Scots took control of the
territories.[1] Gaelic was being spoken in Lesmahagow before an English garrison was planted in Lanark
The name of the village also derives from Gaelic. ‘Les’ is derived from Lios
meaning garden or enclosure. Some say ‘mahagow’ derives from MoChuda
the patron saint of the village, however others believe that it derives
from another saint called MoFhégu – both names may also even refer to
the same person! Even today there are a few speakers continuing the
tradition.
Bòrd
na Gàidhlig, the statutory body set up to legislate Gaelic policy is
soon to serve South Lanarkshire Council with a Notice to produce a
Gaelic Plan in line with the National Plan for Gaelic. These Gaelic
lessons will provide an opportunity for Lesmahagow to lead by example in
preparing for these changes. If the numbers interested in learning
Gaelic are sufficient, we may look at the possibility of running further
Gaelic projects and possibly even explore the feasibility of becoming a
Centre of Gaelic Excellence for the Lowlands.
Any further projects we consider would be based on the possibility of
providing increased employment, tourism and media opportunities to
Lesmahagow and Clydesdale as a whole.
Project Manager Jamie Wallace said: “I
would like for South Lanarkshire Council to be aware of our current
development of Gaelic in Lesmahagow and South Lanarkshire and I would
hope we could work together to develop the Gaelic Language Plan.”
[1] Source: The Scots Magazine, ‘An Account of the Parish of Lesmahagow’pp1-6, (Vol XXXV, January, 1773) http://books.google.co.uk/books/download/The_Scots_magazine.pdf?id=wS4oAAAAYAAJ&output=pdf&sig=ACfU3U1RV-sMYP0V8ythaeJF6BfEBgc-ig
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