Gaelic speaking pupils have until 15 February to apply to spend a week immersed in Gaelic culture. Up to 16 places are available to high school aged pupils to spend five days staying at the historic Gearrannan Blackhouse village on the Isle of Lewis as part of Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s 5 Latha event.

Now in its second year, 5 Latha will take place between April 8th to 13th and give pupils the opportunity to immerse themselves in a community where Gaelic is used naturally and in which crofting, fishing and the Harris Tweed industry play an important part in the lives of its residents. Each day participants will have the opportunity to gain a hands-on experience of traditional works, spending time with experienced individuals who will show them what is involved in their daily routines from lambing, looking after cattle, fishing, peat cutting to producing Harris Tweed. The participants will also have the opportunity to learn some traditional recipes through practical cookery sessions using locally sourced ingredients.

Though a musical ability is not essential to attend 5 Latha, there will be music and song workshops throughout the week which will be delivered by two of our finest musicians; well known fiddler Iain MacFarlane (Blazin Fiddles) and Gaelic singer Norrie MacIver (Mànran).

Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science, and Scotland’s Languages, visited the project during its first year. He said: “5 Latha is a fantastic opportunity for fluent Gaelic speakers, offering pupils from across Scotland the chance to learn new traditional skills whilst spending a week living on a island steeped in Gaelic heritage and culture. Where better to learn these new skills than in a Gaelic speaking community where such traditions are still so prevalent today?

“It was wonderful to see how much the first group of pupils enjoyed 5 Latha last year and I would like to congratulate Fèisean nan Gàidheal on the ongoing commitment to the project. It shows how our investment in Gaelic is creating exciting opportunities for people of all ages and is helping to secure a sustainable future for Gaelic while recognising the importance of Gaelic speaking communities.

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to use their Gaelic language skills and develop them further in an interesting, creative and fun environment at the same time as they will pick up skills from experts based in a Gaelic community. The community in the West Side of Lewis was extremely supportive of the event when it was established last year and we are looking forward to returning to Gearrannan where we got a great welcome.”

As Calum Alex MacMillan, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Development Manager explained: “Our idea was to give young people the chance to get involved with a Gaelic-speaking community and to learn about the activities which were, and still are, important in Highland life, using Gaelic all the time. This worked out very well for us last year and we had applications from many more people than we could accommodate. So we are expecting a good response this time round.

The call for applications to take part in 5 Latha comes ahead of a summit in Edinburgh on February 20th looking at Gaelic Medium Education.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal is grateful to Bòrd nan Gàidhlig and Highlands & Islands Enterprise for assistance with 5 Latha.

For more information please contact Calum Alex Macmillan on 01463 225559 or calum@feisean.org.

An application form is available here http://www.feisean.org/downloads/Foirm%20Iarrtais%20-%20Application%20Form%205%20Latha.pdf

5 Latha a’ tilleadh a Leòdhas

Bidh cothrom air leth air ògridh a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlg an cuid sgilean a leudachadh tron tachartas 5 Latha aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Bidh seo a’ dol air adhart a-rithist am-bliadhna aig Na Gearrannan, Eilean Leòdhais eadar 8 agus 13 Giblean 2013.

Gheibh suas ri sia-deug com-pàirtiche, aois àrd-sgoile, a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig an cothrom còig latha a chur seachad ann an coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig far a bheil obair chroitearachd, iasgach agus obair a’ Chlò Hearaich na phàirt mhòr de bheatha muinntir na sgìre. Gach latha bidh com-pàirtichean a’ tadhail air daoine aig a bheil sàr eòlas air an obair aca ‘s gheibh iad an cothrom ionnsachadh mu na diofar ghnìomhan a tha an sàs annta, bho chaoraich aig àm breith nan uan, buain na mònadh, ag iasgach aig mùir, trusadh maorach agus beagan mu chòcaireachd, ag ionnsachadh fad na h-ùine bho dhaoine sa choimhearsnachd.

Ged nach fheum comas ciùil a bhith aig com-pàirtichean airson 5 Latha a fhrithealadh, bidh sinn a’ tabhann cothroman sònraichte ceòl is òrain ionnsachadh bho shàr luchd-ciùil na Gàidhlig cuideachd, nam measg am fìdhlear ainmeil Iain MacPhàrlain (Blazin Fiddles) agus an seinneadar Gàidhlig Norrie MacÌomhair (Mànran).

Thadhail An t-Oll Alasdair Allan, Ministear airson Ionnsachadh, Saidheans agus Cànain Alba air an tachartas an-uiridh. Thuirt e: “‘S e cothrom air leth a th’ ann an 5 Latha do luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig, ‘s e a’ toirt cothrom do sgoilearan bho air feadh Alba sgilean traidiseanta ùra ionnsachadh ‘s iad a’ fuireach ann an eilean a tha air a bhogadh ann an dualchas na Gàidhlig. Chan eil suidheachdh nas fheàrr na coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig airson nan sgilean ùra seo ionnsachadh, far a bheil iad fhathast am follais san latha an-diugh.

“Bha e air leth tlachdmhor fhaicinn cho math ‘s a chòrd cùisean aig 5 Latha ris a’ chiad bhuidhinn an-uiridh agus bu mhath leam meala-naidheachd a chur air Fèisean nan Gàidheal airson an tachartais seo a chumail a’ dol. Tha seo a’ dearbhadh mar a tha maoineachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson na Gàidhlig a’ cruthachadh chothroman do dhaoine de gach aois agus aig a’ cheart àm ag aithneachadh àite nan coimhearsnachdan Gàidhealach ann a bhith a’ coileanadh seo.”

Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal: “‘S e cothrom anabarrach math a tha seo do dh’òigridh an cuid sgilean Gàidhlig a chleachdach agus an leasachadh ann an suidheachadh inntinneach, cruthachail, spòrsail aig an aon àm sa tha iad a’ togail sgilean eile bho eòlaichean ann an coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig. Bha muinntir Taobh Siar Leòdhais air leth taiceil dhan tachartas nuair a stèidhich sinn 5 Latha an-uiridh agus tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair a dhol air ais dha na Gearrannan far an d’ fhuair sinn fàilte chridheil roimhe.”

Mhìnich Calum Ailig Mac a’ Mhaolain, Manaidsear Leasachaidh Fèisean nan Gàidheal: “Bha beachd againn cothrom a thoirt do dhaoine òga a bhith mar phàirt de choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig agus a bhith ag ionnsachadh mu na h-obraichean a bha, agus a tha fhathast, cudromach ann am beatha nan Gàidheal, a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig far an t-siubhail. Dh’obraich cùisean uabhasach math an-uiridh le barrachd òigridh ag iarraidh àite na b’ urrainn dhuinn a ghabhail. Tha dùil againn ri tuilleadh iarrtais am-bliadhna.”

Tha an gairm gu 5 Latha a’ tighinn air thoiseach air co-labhairt mu Fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a bhios a’ dol air adhart ann an Dùn Èideann air 20mh Gearran.

Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal taingeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig agus Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean airson taic le 5 Latha.

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal