News

Edinburgh awaits Gaelic TV

The nation's new Gaelic channel is set to launch on 19th September, and there's a growing sense of excitement in the Capital. Events are planned that will bring the community together to mark this historic occasion.

Delivering quality Gaelic broadcasting throughout every evening, including new dramas, news, weather and top sporting events, BBC Alba will bring Gaelic home to all of Scotland. Where will you be at this life defining moment?

City's Plan: Countdown Begins

Edinburgh Council must now produce its Gaelic plan, having been issued with official notification from Bòrd na Gàidhlig at the end of June.

Set to launch around the end of 2008 following a period of public consultation, the current draft of the plan is ambitious, aiming to support and develop Gaelic as a major asset within Edinburgh for the benefit of all in the city.

Gaelic Edinburgh's new home

At last, Gaelic Edinburgh has a home - within the building that houses Fountainbridge Library.

The new Gaelic community office is in a bright spacious upstairs room. It is available now for meetings, and will be developed over the next few weeks and months. It is planned to staff the office at prearranged times so that anyone can drop in.

The office has its own kitchen and toilets, so can be much more than just a working space. There are opportunities for use as a drop-in centre, to display publicity materials, for keeping stocks of publications, etc. Two of the walls are lined with bookshelves, and we hope these can be used to display Gaelic books, CDs and other materials.

It is located opposite the Fountainpark leisure complex – opposite the underpass (Telfer Subway) to Dalry, in the same building as Fountainbridge Library. Entrance is through the first floor door marked Publishing Scotland. Proper signage is being prepared, and opening times will be decided soon.

The phone number is 228 5035, and this is now the number to call for any general enquiries about Gaelic in Edinburgh. The address is The Gaelic Community Office, 137 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 1BG. The e-mail address is fios@DunEideann.net.

20 Years of Gaelic at Tollcross

Gaelic-medium education in Edinburgh is 20 years old this August. A series of events to mark this and other anniversaries lasting well into 2009 kicked of with a special gathering a few weeks ago, Reminiscences.

As numbers enrolling in the Gaelic nursery and Gaelic primary intake at Tollcross climb steeply, the success of Gaelic-medium education is clear. Twenty years on from the establishment of the very first primary 1 class at Tollcross in 1988, parents, staff, pupils and former pupils of Tollcross and James Gillespie’s High School are looking back and celebrating the many achievements across the years.

Reminiscences, was a chance for current and former parents, staff and pupils to bring along and enjoy photos, videos and stories from the past 20 years. This was a heart-warming look back to the beginnings of a story that has so much meaning for all of us. The material contributed is currently being compiled into an inspirational exhibition to go on public display later in the year, and a commemorative CD-Rom.

The exhibition curators are still looking for further contributions, particularly photos of classes further up the school, and souvenirs and pictures of school events and excursions. If you are able to look out something intersting, please send it to us for forwarding.