Ceilear! - GASD Funded Residency
This project received GASD funding from the Residency strand for £3,500.
Background
The project aimed at a renaissance of adult group singing in Gaelic in the Lochaber area. Local musician and singer Mary Ann Kennedy worked with village community groups to attract non Gaelic speakers and learners and encourage them to take up the language through participating as singers.
The project takes place in two villages of different in character, Acharacle being one of the remaining Gaelic heartlands of Lochaber, and Ballachulish being a place where Gaelic essentially holds only a historical significance and indeed meets with some considerable resistance from many residents. The singing groups have however created a valid focus for the music and the language in each community and there is finally a feeling that the project is here to stay. This is no small achievement for a project that was created from no previous provision and opportunity.
The Project
Ceilear has now been running on an alternative fortnightly basis in Acharacle and Ballachulish since January 2007, and moved to weekly meetings in each village in April 2007. There is a core of around 32 participants with around 20 other participants who take part on an occasional basis.
Participants include native speakers, learners and those with no Gaelic, and range from those interested primarily in making music to parents of children attending Croileagain or Gaelic-medium education. The ethos of the project is an inclusive one, but one that allows the use of Gaelic – from a conversational level or in ensuring that participants understand the words and background of a song or become familiar with basic phrases and words.
The Impact
The return of Gaelic song to Ballachulish after a long absence, strengthening of the interest and provision for adults to participate in Acharacle. Provision of an adult project in both areas. An unexpected bonus was the formation of a rural Gaelic Choir who entered the Mod this year, providing an adult choral presence from Lochaber. Introduction to the language for non Gaelic speaking participants and audiences, plus a chance for learners and native speakers to regularly use the language.
