Pupils at Portree High School were treated to an end of term cultural feast with a one-day Meanbh-Fhèis, or Mini-Fèis.

The event was organised by the Gaelic Department of Portree High School who, with funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, were able to bring in Fèisean nan Gàidheal to offer music, dance and drama classes for all S2 pupils. Those fluent in the language received tuition entirely in Gaelic, while those in the Gaelic learners classes were taught bilingually. On offer were classes in Tin Whistle, Gaelic Song, Gaelic Drama and Step Dance with tutors Calum Macmillan, Dougie Beck, Angus Macleod, Calum McConnell, Ellen MacDonald, Debbie MacKay and Tara Rankin.

The afternoon saw the Fèis tutors joining forces with some of Portree High School’s pupils for a concert featuring Gaelic song, music, drama and step-dance, as well as Gaelic Bingo! And there was a special guest appearance – much appreciated by the audience of pupils – by Norrie MacIver of Gaelic supergroup, Mànran, who treated the young people to several songs with which they were familiar including Latha Math, Norrie’s own composition that was a hit for the band last year.

This is the second time that Portree High School, which recently won the Gaelic Language and Culture category at the Daily Record Scottish Education Awards, have offered this kind of event. Ruairidh MacVicar, Principal Teacher of Gaelic at the school said: “We wanted to organise a cultural event in school which would be accessible to both fluent Gàidhlig speakers and Gaelic learners and we have had a tremendous day with a very high level of enthusiasm and participation from the pupils. The tutors tailored their classes to the level of ability in the language and all pupils were made to feel a part of the event, both in the morning workshops and in the very entertaining afternoon concert. We are very grateful to Bòrd na Gàidhlig who assisted us with funding for the event and to Fèisean nan Gàidheal for providing the tutors and the expertise to make the day possible. This is our second very successful Meanbh-Fhèis and we hope that with continued support and co-operation, we can establish it as an annual event. ”

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal said that the organisation was delighted to work with schools in strengthening Gaelic cultural activities. He said: “As part of our agreements with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, HIE and Creative Scotland we have undertaken to work with local Gaelic Initiatives. Schools are central to what is going on in communities. Fèisean nan Gàidheal has plans for a new Gaelic Arts in Education Service, Fèisgoil, and events such as the Meanbh-Fhèis we have organised twice now for Portree High School could be run in any school in Scotland, helping to deliver the outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence and the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan published today. The activities we offer afford further opportunities for young people to use their Gaelic language skills in an informal setting, thus assisting Gaelic medium education, and they also engage Gaelic learners with the language and culture, perhaps for the first time.”

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Sgoilearan a’ gabhail pàirt ann an cur-seachadan cultarail

Chuir sgoilearan na h-àrd-sgoile am Port Rìgh fàilte air deireadh na bliadhna sgoile aca le Meanbh-Fhèis a mhair fad latha, gan cur an sunnd airson an t-samhraidh.

Chaidh an tachartas a chur air dòigh le Roinn Gàidhlig na h-Àrd-sgoile, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig. Chaidh Fèisean nan Gàidheal fhastadh airson clasaichean a lìbhrigeadh ann an ceòl, dannsa agus dràma dhan a h-uile duine anns an dàrna bliadhna (S2). Bha na clasaichean airson fileantaich air an cumail sa Ghàidhlig agus bha clasaichean dà-chànanach gan tairgse dhan luchd-ionnsachaidh. Am measg na bha air a’ chlàr bha oideachadh air an fhìdeig bhig, òrain Ghàidhlig, dràma agus dannsa-ceum, fo stiùir sgioba le Calum MacMhaoilein, Dougie Beck, Aonghas Macleòid, Calum McConnell, Ellen Dhòmhnallach, Debbie NicAoidh agus Tara Rankin.

Thàinig luchd-oideachaidh na Fèise còmhla ri cuid de na sgoilearan feasgar son cuirm le òrain Ghàidhlig, ceòl agus dannsa-ceum a chur air dòigh, agus a bharrachd air sin, gu h-annasach, Bingo tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig! Gun fhiost’ do na sgoilearan, bha cuireadh air a thoirt do Norrie MacÌomhair, seinneadair a’ chòmhlain ainmeil Mànran, agus chaidh fàilte chridheil a chur air nuair a sheinn e grunn de na h-òrain as ainmeile aig a’ chòmhlan, nam measg Latha Math, a sgrìobh Norrie fhèin, agus a shoirbhich cho math dhan chòmhlan an-uiridh.

Seo an dàrna turas a tha Àrd-sgoil Phortrìgh air a leithid seo de latha a chur air adhart. Bho chionn ghoirid, ghlèidh an sgoil duais na Gàidhlig ann an Duaisean Nàiseanta Foghlaim na h-Alba aig an Daily Record.

Thuirt Ruairidh Mac a’ Phiocair, Ceannard Roinn na Gàidhlig san sgoil: “Bha sinn airson tachartas a chur air dòigh far am faigheadh luchd-ionnsachaidh agus fileantaich an aon chothrom pàirt a ghabhail agus tha fìor dheagh latha air a bhith againn. Bha e follaiseach gun do chòrd e ri daoine agus gun robh iad ro dheònach a dhol an sàs sna clasaichean agus sa chuirm. Chaidh aig an luchd-oideachaidh air na clasaichean a thairgse aig diofar ìrean a rèir comas na cloinne. Tha sinn air leth taingeil airson taic Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus do dh’Fhèisean nan Gàidheal airson luchd-oideachaidh agus gach nì a tharraing ri chèile ann an dòigh cho tlachdmhor. Seo an dàrna Meanbh-Fhèis agus tha sinn an dòchas, le taic bho na buidhnean eile, gun lean sinn oirnn agus gun tèid a’ Mheanbh-Fhèis a stèidheachadh mar thachartas bliadhnail.”

Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal, gun robh e air leth toilichte gum b’ urrainn don bhuidheann taic a chumail ri tachartasan cultarail ann an sgoiltean. Thuirt e: “Mar phàirt de na cùmhnantan a th’ againn le Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus Alba Chruthachail, tha sinn gu bhith a’ co-obrachadh le Iomairtean Gàidhlig ionadail. Tha na sgoiltean aig cridhe gach coimhearsnachd. Tha planaichean againn mar bhuidheann airson seirbheis iomairt ealain tro fhoghlam fo bhratach Fèisgoil. Dh’fhaodamaid leithid Meanbh-Fhèis Phort Rìgh a lìbhrigeadh ann an sgoil sam bith air feadh na dùthcha agus bhiodh sin a’ cuideachadh le bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh amasan a’ Churaicealaim airson Sàr-mhaitheis cho math ri amasan a’ Phlana Cànain Nàiseanta Gàidhlig a chaidh fhoillseachadh an-diugh. Tha na tha sinn a’ tairgse a’ cur ri foghlam Gàidhlig ann a bhith a’ toirt deagh chothroman do dh’òigridh an cuid Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh ann an suidheachaidhean neo-fhoirmeil. Tha na Meanbh-Fhèisean cuideachd fìor tharraingeach do luchd-ionnsachaidh, a’ fosgladh sùilean agus cluasan chloinne do shaoghal na Gàidhlig, ann an cuide de shuidheachaidhean airson a’ chiad uair.”

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal