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Airson Sgaoileadh sa Bhad

BRATH-NAIDHEACHD

SABHAL MÒR OSTAIG A' TOIRT AITHNE IS URRAM DO SHIANAR SHÀR GHÀIDHEAL

GAISGICH NA GÀIDHLIG A' FAIGHINN AITHNE BHON IONAD NÀISEANTA AIRSON CÀNAN IS CULTAR NA GÀIDHLIG

Chaidh an t-urram Sàr Ghàidheal a bhuileachadh air sianar dhaoine aig tachartas sònraichte aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, agus an t-Ionad Nàiseanta airson Cànan is Cultar na Gàidhlig a' comharrachadh an 50mh ceann-bliadhna aca am-bliadhna.

'S iad na Sàr Ghàidheil ùra: Lachlann MacIllÌosa nach maireann agus Cathaidh NicDhòmhnaill a fhuair an t-urram ann an 2020; Donalda NicFhionghain agus Donnchadh Fearghasdan (2021); agus Julie Fowlis agus Coinneach MacÌomhair (2022).

Am-bliadhna, chaidh sianar Shàr Ghàidheal ùra ainmeachadh air sgàth 's nach b' urrainnear coinneachadh airson na duaisean a thoirt seachad sna trì bliadhna a dh'fhalbh ri linn Covid. Chaidh an t-urram a stèidheachadh ann an 2008 gus aithne a thoirt do dhaoine a tha air cur gu mòr ri cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.

Thuirt Cathraiche Bòrd Stiùiridh Shabhal Mòr Ostaig, Aonghas MacLeòid:

"'S e urram a th' ann dha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig gun urrainn dhuinn aithne a thoirt do shianar Shàr Ghàidheal a tha air uiread a dhèanamh às leth agus airson cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig.

"Bha e sònraichte math a bhith cruinn còmhla a-rithist gus an t-urram seo a bhuileachadh air cuid de ghaisgich a' chànain. Tha gach duine aca air bratach na Gàidhlig a thogail an àirde tro iomadh meadhan is gnìomh agus bha sinn uabhasach toilichte gun robh teaghlach Lachaidh MhicIllÌosa nach maireann còmhla rinn gus an t-urram a ghabhail. Bha Lachaidh aig cridhe coimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig an Taobh Sear agus tha ionndrainn mhòr air.

"Am measg an t-sianair Shàr Ghàidheal a chaidh ainmeachadh, tha triùir chraoladairean agus nach iomchaidh sin sa bhliadhna a thathar a' comharrachadh 100 bliadhna bho chaidh a' chiad phrògram Gàidhlig a chraoladh air a' BhBC. Agus nach math a bhith a' dèanamh gàirdeachas ris na Sàr Ghàidheil uile sa bhliadhna shònraichte seo airson Sabhal Mòr Ostaig fhèin, agus sinn fhìn a' comharrachadh ar 50mh ceann-bliadhna."

Fiosrachadh mu gach Sàr Ghàidheal:

B' ann à Stafainn ann an ceann a tuath an Eilein Sgitheanaich a bha Lachlann MacIllÌosa nach maireann, no Lachaidh Gillies mar a b' fheàrr a dh'aithnichear e, a chaochail ann an 2022. Choisinn Lachaidh cliù dha fhèin leis a' bheairteas de dh'eòlas a bh' aige air iomadh diofar chuspair agus bhiodh e tric a' nochdadh air an rèidio agus an telebhisean. Tha ionndrainn mhòr air Lachaidh, a bha thar nam bliadhnaichean gu mòr an sàs sa choimhearsnachd aige, eadar an eaglais, croitearachd, iasgach agus iomadh taobh de dhualchas nan Gàidheal.

'S ann à Ùig ann an Leòdhas a tha Cathaidh NicDhòmhnaill bho thùs agus tha i na craoladair is riochdaire dà-chànanach a tha air cliù mòr a chosnadh dhi fhèin an lùib iomadh prògraim bho thòisich i aig roinn Ghàidhlig a' BhBC. Bidh Cathaidh ag obair air prògraman rèidio agus telebhisein le companaidhean leithid Caledonia TV, MacTV, agus BBC Gàidhlig, mar neach-aithris air prògraman leithid Sàr Sgeòil, am Mòd Nàiseanta agus Cèilidh na Bliadhn' Ùire. Anns na bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh, tha i air a bhith a' lìbhrigeadh "Sunday Morning with" dha Radio Scotland, agus a' dèanamh beagan obair-sgrìobhaidh.

Buinidh Donalda NicFhionghain dha na Hearadh. Tha i air a bhith ann an grunn dhreuchdan stiùiridh aig àrd-ìre aig BBC Scotland o thòisich i ann an 1987. Bha i na Stiùiriche air BBC Scotland eadar 2016 agus 2020, agus b' i a stiùir mar a chaidh an sianal ùr, BBC Scotland, a stèidheachadh ann an 2019 agus mar a chaidh an sianal Gàidhlig, BBC ALBA, a chur air chois ann an 2008, agus bha i os cionn craoladh Gàidhlig eadar 1996-2002. Tha i cuideachd air a bhith na ball air iomadach bòrd aig diofar bhuidhnean san roinn phoblaich agus bha i na Cathraiche air Bòrd Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

'S ann à Ìle a tha Donnchadh Fearghasdan bho thùs, ach tha e a-nis a' fuireach ann an Loch Aillse far an robh e na Cheannard air Àrd-sgoil a' Phluic airson iomadach bliadhna. Tha Donnchadh air a bhith an sàs ann an iomadh buidheann is iomairt Ghàidhlig thar nam bliadhnaichean, aig ìre ionadail agus nàiseanta. Bha e na Iar-Cheann-Suidhe air a' Chomunn Ghàidhealach agus na Iar-Chathraiche aig Comunn na Gàidhlig. Cuideachd, b' e Donnchadh a' chiad Chathraiche a bh' air Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Bha e am measg nan ciad bhall dhen bhuidhinn Clì airson luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig, agus tha e air an t-uabhas a dhèanamh airson cànan is cultar nan Gàidheal a chur air adhart.

Tha Julie Fowlis, a bha uair na h-oileanach aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, air aon de na seinneadairean traidiseanta as aithnichte à Alba agus i air ainm a chosnadh dhi fhèin mar shàr sheinneadair Gàidhlig is neach-ciùil. Buinidh Julie do dh'Uibhist a Tuath bho thùs agus tha i air duaisean is aithne a chosnadh dhi fhèin tron cheòl aice. Chaidh a h-ainmeachadh mar 'Sheinneadair Traidiseanta na Bliadhna' aig na Duaisean aig BBC Radio 2 airson Ceòl Traidiseanta, b' i a' chiad 'Tosgaire na Gàidhlig' aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus tha i air òrain Ghàidhlig a chur fa chomhair an t-sluaigh air feadh an t-saoghail agus i air seinn ann an àiteachan leithid: Talla Charnegie, New York, Talla Consairt Mozart ann an Vienna, Philharmonie de Paris, ann an Globe Shakespeare ann an Lunnainn agus aig fèis eadar-nàiseanta ann am Fez, Morocco.

Tha Coinneach MacÌomhair, no Coinneach Mòr mar as fheàrr a dh'aithnichear e, glè aithnichte mar neach-aithris rèidio a lìbhrig am prògram 'Prògram Choinnich' airson 29 bliadhna air BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Thòisich Coinneach, a bhuineas do Leòdhas, ann an craoladh sna 70an agus e an sàs ann an diofar phrògraman rèidio. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith an sàs ann an diofar bhuidhnean coimhearsnachd agus Gàidhlig, agus tha e air a bhith na Chathraiche air Urras Steòrnabhaigh agus air Comunn na Gàidhlig. Bha e cuideachd na Chomhairliche aig Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

DEIREADH

For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE

SABHAL MÒR OSTAIG RECOGNISES OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO GAELIC AND ITS CULTURE WITH SÀR GHÀIDHEAL AWARD

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR GAELIC LANGUAGE AND CULTURE HONOURS SIX CHAMPIONS OF THE LANGUAGE

Six new recipients of the Sàr Ghàidheal Fellowship have been honoured for their outstanding contribution to the Gaelic language and its culture at a special event at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The six new members of the Sàr Ghàidheal Fellowship are: the late Lachie Gillies and Cathy MacDonald who were named Sàr Ghàidheal in 2020; Donalda MacKinnon and Duncan Ferguson (2021); and Julie Fowlis and Kenneth MacIver (2022).

This year, six people were awarded the Sàr Ghàidheal honour, established in 2008, after the event was postponed for the last three years due to Covid.

The Chair of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's Board of Directors, Angus MacLeod, said:

"Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is honoured to be able to recognise the contributions of these six 'Sàr Ghàidheil' who have done so much for the language and its culture. We were especially pleased that we could gather in person once more to present the awards.

"Each of the recipients have been exemplary advocates and ambassadors for the language and none more so than the late Lachie Gillies, and we were most grateful that Lachie's family could be with us to receive his award. Lachie was at the heart of the Gaelic community in Staffin and he is greatly missed by all who knew him.

"Three of those who received the Sàr Ghàidheal award have made outstanding contributions to Gaelic through highly successful careers in broadcasting, which is most appropriate this year as the BBC commemorates 100 years of Gaelic broadcasting. Indeed, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig itself is marking its 50th anniversary and what more fitting way to celebrate it than by recognising the achievements of six champions of the language."

SÀR GHÀIDHEAL BIOGS:

Lachie Gillies, from Staffin in the north of Skye, passed away in 2022. Lachie is greatly missed by family and friends and all those who knew him. He frequently appeared on Gaelic radio and television programmes sharing his breadth of knowledge on a range of subjects. He was at the heart of his Gaelic-speaking community of Staffin, as a member of the local church, a crofter and a fisherman, and he had a life-long passion for Gaelic and its culture.

Cathy MacDonald, originally from Uig in Lewis, is a well-known broadcaster and producer, having worked on a wide variety of Gaelic and English radio and television programmes. Cathy began her career at the BBC's Gaelic department and now works freelance to produce and present a range of programming. Her latest collaborations include working with Caledonia TV, MacTV, and BBC Gàidhlig and presenting programmes such as Sàr Sgeòil, the Royal National Mòd and BBC ALBA's New Year Ceilidh. In recent years, Cathy has also presented "Sunday Morning with" on BBC Radio Scotland.

Donalda MacKinnon, originally from Harris, has worked in a number of high-profile managerial roles at BBC Scotland and was the Director of BBC Scotland between 2016 and 2020. During her time as Director, she oversaw the successful launch of the new BBC Scotland television channel in 2019, which created over 250 new posts. Donalda also oversaw the successful launch of BBC ALBA in 2008, creating many new jobs and opportunities for the development of the language. She was also Head of Gaelic Broadcasting at BBC Scotland between 1996-2002.

Duncan Ferguson is from Islay originally, but now stays in Lochalsh where he was the Headteacher at Plockton High School for many years. Duncan has been involved in many Gaelic organisations and initiatives over the years, both at local and national level. He was the Vice-President of the Comunn Gàidhealach and the Vice-Chair of Comunn na Gàidhlig. He was also the first Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the national Gaelic development body and he was a founding member of Clì, the Gaelic learners' organisation.

Julie Fowlis, a Sabhal Mòr Ostaig alumna, is one of the best-known traditional singers from Scotland and as a Gaelic singer and musician has been a prominent ambassador for the language. Julie is originally from North Uist and has won international acclaim and several awards for her music. She was named 'Folk Singer of the Year' at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2008, and was Scotland's inaugural 'Tosgaire na Gàidhlig' (National Gaelic Ambassador), an honour bestowed on her by the Scottish Government. She has brought Gaelic song to audiences across the globe, singing in places such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Mozart Concert Hall in Vienna, The Philharmonie de Paris, Shakespeare's Globe in London and the World Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco.

Kenneth MacIver, or Coinneach Mòr as he is best known, is a household name across Gaelic-speaking communities having presented his popular topical radio programme 'Prògram Choinnich' for 29 years on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Kenneth, from Lewis, began working in broadcasting in the 1970s. He has also taken an active role in his local community and has been a great supporter of Gaelic. He is a former Chair of the Stornoway Trust and Comunn na Gàidhlig, and he was also a Councillor at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

ENDS

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