Anne Lorne Gillies, from Oban, where the Royal National Mod is now under way, was named yesterday winner of this year’s Scottish Government Gaelic Ambassador of the Year Award.
Gaelic singer-songwriter Julie Fowlis received the first ambassador award at last year’s Mod in Falkirk.
John Macleod, president of An Comunn Gaidhealach, which organises the Mod, said: “Anne Lorne Gillies is a most worthy recipient of this prestigious award. She has made a huge contribution to the development of Gaelic language and culture throughout a distinguished career in the fields of education, the arts, broadcasting and publishing, with a local, national and international profile.”
Ms Gillies stood for the SNP in the Western Isles in 1997 and in European elections two years later.
She said: “It is an enormous honour to receive this award in my home town of Oban, where I myself was given the opportunity to learn Gaelic as a little girl and where I won my Mod gold medal. Ever since, I’ve tried to promote our language and culture in whatever ways I can. I hope this award will give me even greater opportunities to carry on this important work, both at home and abroad.”
Culture Minister Mike Russell yesterday announced £50,000 funding for Gaelic, speaking on the opening day of the Royal National Mod.
He was awarding £35,000 to appoint a Gaelic development officer to take forward plans for the 2010 Mod in Caithness and to support Gaelic learning in the area, where there has been fierce controversy and local opposition to bilingual road signs.
He also announced that Argyll and Bute Council will receive £15,000 pounds to increase the number of Gaelic courses in the local area and provide access to classes in the Ulpan system of language learning, which has been successfully used for other languages such as Welsh and Hebrew. Its emphasis is on speaking and listening rather than reading and writing, and it has now been adapted for Scottish Gaelic.
Mr Russell said: “The Scottish Government is committed to taking urgent action to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers. That is why I am investing a further £50,000 in projects which will support Gaelic education and development.
“The Mod’s new development officer will not only oversee preparations for next year’s celebrations but support Gaelic learning and development in Caithness and the surrounding areas. Argyll and Bute Council will use its award to boost the number of Gaelic speakers in the area by offering adult learning classes using the innovative Ulpan method.
“These investments recognise the important role local communities play in Gaelic learning and in building a strong and sustainable future for Gaelic.”
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