Name: Aodh Mac Ruairí

Area: Community – Colmcille schemes

Locations: Gweedore

Role I work as an executive officer organising and administrating Colmcille funding schemes. Colmcille schemes aim to foster a relationship between Scottish Gaelic language communities and Irish Gaelic language communities and to strengthen those communities through this relationship. The Bursary Scheme gives applicants who speak fluent Irish an opportunity to go to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye to learn Scottish Gaelic.

What aspect of the work do you most enjoy? I greatly appreciate dealing with the various groups that benefit from the schemes. I really enjoy being able to facilitate the various projects we are usually engaged with.

How does your work support the promotion of the Irish language? Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic are central to the work of Colmcille and the schemes encourage interest and development in the two languages. The schemes create long term partnerships between groups who have a particular interest in the two Gaelic languages. Gairmscoil Chú Uladh in Donegal and Àrd-sgoil a' Phluic in Scotland are examples of this kind of partnership which is longterm and language based.

The Bursary Scheme greatly supports the promotion of the two Gaelic languages and often participants in the scheme go on to create other worthwhile language based projects. Féile na Gealaí (Festival of the Moon) is an example of a language based project which is improving every year.

What are the plans in your area in the future?

At present Colmcille are working with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, language planning officers, and community groups to undertake projects for the Colmcille commemoration year, Colmcille 1500. It is 1500 years since Saint Colmcille was born and his life and heritage will be celebrated between 7 December 2020 and 7 December 2021. The Colmcille.net site has been completely redesigned, and there is a new logo and a separate page for the commemoration.