An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Annual report (Comunn Gàidhealach) > Aithisg na bhliadhna

An Comunn Gaidhealach
N Q M
AITHISG NA BLIADHNA 1978/79
Annual Report
Nuair a bha sluagh ro lionmhor air a1 Ghaidhealtachd, cus a bharrachd na b'urrainn an teachd-
an-tir fhaighinn ann, dh'fheumadh moran a dhol a shireadh cosnaidh air falbh bhon duthaich
agus cha robh seo furasda as aonais na Beurla. Mar sin, bha e riatanach gun teagamh a' Bheurla
a thoirt a steach do na sgoiltean Gaidhealach. Ach cha robh an fheadhainn a bha a' riaghladh
an fhoghluim aig an am riaraichte seo a mhain a dheanamh. Is ann a rinn iad e 'na aobhar (no
'na leisgeul) foghlum 'nan canain fhein a dhiultadh do na Gaidheil a bha ag eirigh suas. Chaidh
a' Ghaidhlig anns an sgoil a thoirmeasg. Dh'aobharaich sin gu bheil a' Ghaidhlig ann an iomadh
cearnaidh an diugh a' dol a dholaidh no air seargadh buileach as. Thug am polasaidh ghrainneil
ud a chreidsinn eadhon air moran de na Gaidheal fhein nach robh luach mor sam bith anns a'
Ghaidhlig agus gur ann a chuireadh i moill air an oigridh a bha deonach adhartas a dheanamh anns
an t-saoghal.
Is fhada bhon a dhearbh na Gaidheil cho ealanta is a tha iad a' togail na Beurla, agus gu dearbha
cha deanadh duine againn an gnothach as a h-aonais an diugh. Ach, coltach ri moran anns an Roinn
Eorpa agus ann an duthchannan eile, tha na Gaidheil comasach air da chanain a chleachdadh, gun
aon te a' cur moill air an te eile, ach a' cuideachadh a cheile. Gidheadh tha an seann pholasaidh
fhathast a' cothachadh an aghaidh na Gaidhlig anns an sgoil agus is e sin suidheachadh a dh'fheumar
a cheartachadh.
Tha aobhar againn a nis a bhith dochasach gu bheil riaghladairean an fhoghluim a' gluasad beag
air bheag gu bhith nas deonaiche na bha iad riamh roimhe a coraichean dligheadh a thoirt don
Ghaidhlig sna sgoiltean ma dhearbhar dhaibh gur e sin da-rireadh toil nam parantan. Tha seo a'
fagail na cuise ann an ire mhath an urra ris na parantan. Ma leigeas iadsan fhaicinn gu bheil
iad ag iarraidh foghluim Gaidhlig air son an cuid chloinne, faodaidh e bhith gun urrainnear
fhathast canain agus dualchas nan Gaidheal a ghleidheadh tearainte air son nan ginealach a tha
ri teachd. Is ann air son adhartas a dheanamh a dh'ionnsaidh seo a tha an Comunn gu mor a'
stri.
GENERAL: One result of suffering a period of financial stringency is that An Comunn has been
compelled to concentrate on a careful selection of those issues which are judged the most vital
for securing a future for the Gaelic language and culture. The pointer to what we think these
should be is contained in the first objective of An Comunn as set out in our constitution namely,
"the teaching, learning and use of the Gaelic language". This objective argues the need:
i to give prime consideration to the claims of Gaelic on the educational services through
the various stages from nursery to primary and secondary schools and through to adult
education;
ii to win for Gaelic a higher status in the everyday life of the community and to get rid
of the obstacles that inhibit the free use which is its due; and
iii to join forces with the other agencies engaged in stemming the deterioration and erosion
of the spoken language in its homeland and so secure a firm base from which to win back
the areas that have been lost, or are being lost, to Gaelic.
Since the last A.G.M. we have issued for the information of members two News Letters recording
current national and regional activities, the second as recently as last month. For that
reason this Report is confined to a broad outline of major developments and policy trends in
course of the year.
EDUCATION: To make progress in the field of education we have continued to establish and
strengthen lines of communication with Central and Local Government and to generate active
support at community level, with special reference to canvassing parent opinion.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: We have already described how the original Parliamentary Gaelic Group
(whose support and advice continue to be of great value to us) has been expanded to an all-party
Gaelic lobby of fifty. In addition all four parties responded favourably to our request for
adoption and publication of a party Gaelic policy in time for the recent General Election. As
a result we now feel greatly strengthend and encouraged in making Submissions to the Scottish
Office and in pursuing discussions with S.E.D.