Anti-Gaelic comments in The Scotsman publications

For many years, The Scotsman publications has seen fit to publish letters and correspondence which put down Gaelic, usually citing "it's a waste of money" or "noone speaks it anymore". Despite the support of The Scotsman via its Gaelic column, the derogatory remarks in the letters columns have been going on for decades. Enough is enough. I'm all for freedom of speech and can completely accept that Gaelic isn't everyone's cup of tea, but the comments go well beyond mere criticism and are at a level that if it was Irish, Urdu or pretty much any other ethic group it would be an offence under race law and the Equalities act and the Scotsman would be censured by the Press Complaints Commission.

This post isn't about being pro or anti Gaelic. It's about freedom of speech and the associated responsibilities that go with it. I want a mature debate at a civilised level, not an ongoing drip drip of Gaelic hate remarks to stir things up and I want the National papers to accept that sometimes they get it wrong.

Please judge for yourselves


In the run up to this year's Mod, the following  letter was published

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/opinion/john-gibson-happy-to-leave-it-all-to-the-dogs-1-2558639

Please see the correspondence which follows

Correspondence to 29th October
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5730322/EEN291012.pdf

To follow this further, please follow Arthur Cormack on Twitter or on Facebook.

Many have said so already, but let me add to the praise which Art has received for doggedly pursuing The Scotsman group for reasonable answers to reasonable questions in such a magnificent and exemplary way.

If you feel similarly, the contact details for The Scotsman are in the letters.

Craig

Gaelic Ceilidh and singalong The Nell, London

See below for details

--
Sent from my mobile device, please excuse brevity and spelling
Craig Cockburn www.craigcockburn.com

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "thomas macaskill" <tommymaca@hotmail.com>
To:
Subject: Tuesday 23rd October, 2nd Gathering at The Nell
Date: Thu, Oct 4, 2012 17:29

 

---

London Gaelic Choir and Friends 2nd Gathering at the Nell of Old Drury

29 Catherine Street  City of London, Greater London WC2B 5JS  AT 7.30PM, WE WILL BE UPSTAIRS THE LAST ONE WAS A BLAST JOIN US IN 3 WEEKS TIME TO GIVE THE WEST END A GAELIC FLAVOUR The choir will sing; An Ataireachd Ard, Sine Bhan, Null do dh'Uidhist, A' Bheairt-Fhighe Ailsa will come with either Harp (Clarsach) or Fiddle, both if she can get help carrying them There will be some singers and possibly more instrumentalists, and maybe some mouth music Fingers crossed that the new Luadh group give us a wee blast too FINALLY DON'T FORGET THIS IS A FREE NIGHT facebook page now up and running search for London Gaelic Choir

Gaelic events in Edinburgh, October 2012

Tachartasan Gaidhlig an Dun Eideann - Damhair 2012

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John Macleod <john@andarach.com>
Date: 1 October 2012 09:01
Subject: Tachartasan Gaidhlig an Dun Eideann - Damhair 2012
To: john@andarach.com

A' chàirdean,

Liosta an cois seo, gu h-ìseal agus air PDF, mu thachartasan sa bhaile tron mhìos seo.  Cuiribh fios thugam ma tha tuilleadh agaibh ri chur rithe.

See below, and attached, for list of Gaelic events coming up in Edinburgh over the coming month.  Please let me know of any changes/additions for future circulations.

Gach dùrachd,

Iain

Monday 01.10.12 – 9.30am               Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert's, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk
Monday 01.10.12 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)Monday 01.10.12 –12.45pm              Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 45m), (Units 25 - 36) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 9.15am               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 73 - 84) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01-08) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 17-25) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 79 – 90) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 02.10.12 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 03.10.12 – 12.45pm        Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)
Wednesday 03.10.12 – 7.15pm          Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 119 - 130) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Wednesday 03.10.12 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)
Thursday 04.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 49 - 60) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Thursday 04.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 109 – 120) Tollcross Comm. Centre. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Thursday 04.10.12 – 7.15pm             Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road. (Cont: 07906 318561)
Friday 05.10.12 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)
Friday 05.10.11 – 8.30pm                  Bothan Dhùn Èideann – with Rona Lightfoot & Sineag Nic an t-Saoir, Canon's Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh. £5 (£3) (Contact: bothanduneideann@googlemail.com or 552 5998)
Saturday 06.10.12 – 12.45pm            Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)
Saturday 06.10.12 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).
Saturday 06.10.12 – 7.30pm              Comunn Tir nam Beann Ceilidh, Augustine United Church, 41-43 George IV Bridge, with Lothian Gaelic Choir and individual singers/musicians, Neil MacLure (pipes). (Cont: 467 5236)
Sunday 07.10.12 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)
Monday 08.10.12 – 9.30am               Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert's, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk
Monday 08.10.12 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)
Monday 08.10.12 –12.45pm              Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 45m), (Units 25 - 36) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 9.15am               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 73 - 84) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 09.10.11 – 1.00pm               Gaelic Lunch Club, Mercure Hotel, (formerly Mount Royal) Princes St.  Speaker: Donald William Stewart. (Cont: 07906 318561).
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 79 – 90) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01-08) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 17-25) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 09.10.12 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 10.10.12 – 12.45pm        Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)
Wednesday 10.10.12 – 7.15pm          Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 119 - 130) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Wednesday 10.10.12 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting Huse, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)
Thursday 11.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 49 - 60) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Thursday 11.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 109 – 120) Tollcross Comm. Centre. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Thursday 11.10.12 – 7.15pm             Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road. (Cont: 07906 318561)
Friday 12.10.12 – 7.00pm                  Gaelic Festival at Newbattle Abbey College, Newbattle, Dalkeith. Gaelic Family Ceilidh with Scottish & Irish musicians/singers. Free entrance. (Cont: 663 1921 or office@newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk)
Friday 12.10.12 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)
Saturday 13.10.12 – 10.00am            Gaelic Festival at Newbattle Abbey College, Newbattle, Dalkeith. Morning – Come & Try Gaelic/Children's Songs/ Storytelling. Afternoon – Workshops/Edinburgh Gaelic Choir/ Ceilidh Dancing. (Cont: 663 1921 or office@newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk)
Saturday 13.10.12 – 12.45pm            Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)
Saturday 13.10.12 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).
Sunday 14.10.12 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)
Monday 15.10.12 – 9.30am               Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert's, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk
Monday 15.10.12 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)
Monday 16.10.12 –12.45pm              Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 45m), (Units 25 - 36) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 16.10.12 – 9.15am               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 73 - 84) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 16.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Tuesday 16.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 79 – 90) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 16.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01-08) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 16.10.12 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 17.10.12 – 12.45pm        Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)
Wednesday 17.10.12 – 7.15pm          Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 119 - 130) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Wednesday 17.10.12 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting Huse, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)
Thursday 18.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 49 - 60) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Thursday 18.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 109 – 120) Tollcross Comm. Centre. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Friday 19.10.12 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)
Saturday 20.10.12 – 12.45pm            Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)
Saturday 20.10.12 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).
Sunday 21.10.12 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)
Monday 22.10.12 – 9.30am               Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert's, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk
Monday 22.10.12 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)
Monday 23.10.12 –12.45pm              Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 45m), (Units 25 - 36) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 9.15am               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 73 - 84) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) ollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 79 – 90) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01-08) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 17-25) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 23.10.12 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 24.10.12 – 12.45pm        Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)
Wednesday 24.10.12 – 7.15pm          Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 119 - 130) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Wednesday 24.10.12 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting Huse, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)
Thursday 25.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 49 - 60) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Thursday 25.10.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 109 – 120) Tollcross Comm. Centre. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Thursday 25.10.12 – 7.15pm             Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road. (Cont: 07906 318561)
Friday 26.10.12 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)
Saturday 27.10.12 – 12.45pm            Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)
Saturday 27.10.12 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).
Sunday 28.10.12 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)
Monday 29.10.12 – 9.30am               Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert's, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk
Monday 29.10.12 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)
Monday 29.10.12 –12.45pm              Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 45m), (Units 25 - 36) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 9.15am               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 73 - 84) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) ollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 79 – 90) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01-08) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 7.00pm               Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 17-25) Newbattle Abbey College. Ends 06.11.12. (Cont: www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk) 
Tuesday 30.10.12 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 31.10.12 – 12.45pm        Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)
Wednesday 31.10.12 – 7.15pm          Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 119 - 130) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Wednesday 31.10.12 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting Huse, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)
Thursday 01.11.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 49 - 60) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) 
Thursday 01.11.12 – 7.00pm             Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 109 – 120) Tollcross Comm. Centre. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)
Thursday 01.11.12 – 7.15pm             Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road. (Cont: 07906 318561)
Friday 02.11.12 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)
Friday 02.11.11 – 8.30pm                  Bothan Dhùn Èideann – with Gillian McKenzie & friends, Canon's Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh. £5 (£3) (Contact: bothanduneideann@googlemail.com or 552 5998)
Saturday 03.11.12 – 12.45pm            Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)
Saturday 03.11.12 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

       

Scotland and the Olympics

I am a bit fed up with the highly successful London 2012 Olympics being used as a political football to justify that Scotland should not be independent.

Let me put the Olympics into context. The Olympians and Paralympians, no matter what part of the UK they were from did an outstanding job. As a nationalist I was supporting Team GB. I would have preferred to support Team Scotland but I accepted the rules. I was particularly pleased to see Scottish athletes do so well and as a lad from Dunblane myself I particularly supported Andy Murray.

Turning now to the analogy which is often made between TeamGB in Sport and TeamUK in politics, let us remind ourselves of a few facts. During the period 1928 to 1996 TeamGB competed at the summer Olympics and yes we had The Union of 1707 backing us. During that period in which London hosted the games in 1948 the best gold total we managed was 6 in any of them. Better together? 16 Olympic games and as recently as 1996 we got ONE yes ONE gold medal. All this under The Union and "Better Together". We had stunning athletes - Sally Gunnell, Denise Lewis, Tessa Sanderson, Liz McColgan, Chris Boardman but just one Gold from 300 competitors and we had the Union and Better Together. None of it made any difference. One Gold. This year, 29 Golds. Same Union. Tories in power in 1996, Tories in power in 2012. The Union clearly made no difference. Where was it for our athletes between 1928 and 1996?

What made a difference was the National Lottery as a vehicle for raising money for sport and a ruthless focus on sports we were good at and likely to win medals at. You could say the union gave us the national lottery but I would argue this was not a prerequisite for raising money for sport - euromillions could do the same or shock horror the government could decide to fund sport adequately so that not only do we produce world class athletes but we encourage children to be interested in sport as part of an active healthy lifestyle rather than a diet of fish and chips and watching overpaid footballers on TV. What made a difference wasn't the union, it was there all during 1928 to 1996, it was putting an appropriate amount of money towards sport. Just as we had great athletes during those fallow years but poor facilities and funding holding them back, we have the same situation in Scotland now. Oil money wasted in England. Scotland's wealth wasted on Trident. Scotland's energy wealth having to fund illegal wars rather than investing in the Scottish economy, Scotland's future and Scotland's sport.

Scotland is predominately a left of centre political country, we have a different ethic than the predominantly right of centre England. This causes conflicts of priorities and holds us back, like the Team GB athletes were held back for 60+ years under the so called Better Together Union. It wasn't better for them then , it isn't better for us now. Scotland has its own priorities - an oil fund like Norway, renewable energy, a health service and educational system that is free. England has different priorities. Sure we have things in common, but together we are pulling in different directions and pulling us both down. That is why better together is a myth. Just as team GB turned itself around from one gold medal, Scotland and England will politically grow after separation and become more apart than they will achieve together. If there is one lesson from the Olympics it is not that the union made us stronger, it is that a proper sense of priorities and vision to bring them about made us achieve more. I believe Scotland has the right priorities - social justice, equality, opportunity, culture, economic growth and democracy. Only with independence can we take full advantage of these priorities and achieve our full potential and our vision. There is no vision coming from "Better Together" other than more of the same. More of the same isn't good enough, we can do more if we believe in better.

Support Yes Scotland. Play your part in taking Scotland forward as a confident nation and achieve something worthwhile to be proud of and tell your children and grandchildren about.

Craig

Independence argument

Suppose the Act of Union had never happened, Scotland was still an independent country and the vote we were taking in two years' time was not on whether we should leave the Union but on whether we should join it.

"In that scenario, what would be the case for the Union? Your main Parliament will move hundreds of miles away and your MPs will be in a small minority. You will have a Government you didn't vote for.

"You will hand over all your oil and gas revenues to the London Treasury. The biggest nuclear arsenal in western Europe will be based on the River Clyde, 30 miles from your largest city.

"An austerity budget will be imposed from London, cutting jobs and threatening public services, instead of Scotland being responsible for raising and spending its own taxes. You will join a country whose health and education services are rapidly being privatised." -- Blair Jenkins OBE, CEO of Yes Scotland

The five levels of project management reporting

A quick healthcheck for people interested in project management reporting.

Level 1. Project has a plan and the plan indicates no corrective action is required to meet the dates in the plan. By "plan" I mean anything ranging from a short time box or sprint, right through to a detailed plan encompassing many months. Commonly called Green

Level 2. Project has a plan, but there is some risk to meeting dates, scope, quality or cost. Corrective action needs to be taken to ensure these are met, however this corrective action can be easily met with project resources. Commonly called Amber.

Level 3. Project has a plan, but cannot meet dates, scope, quality or cost without escalation. One of the 4 project criteria (dates, scope, quality or cost) is unlikely to be met. Commonly called Red.

Level 4: Project has no plan, but there is a definite timescale for when this will be available. A normal situation when a project is setting up. A very bad situation for when the project is well underway. Let's call this Purple.

Level 5: Project has no plan and there is no timescale for getting it. This means noone has any certainty about what will be delivered when at what cost etc. Moreover if there isn't enough time/people to build even a high level plan you seriously have to wonder who is going to be spare to actually do the work. Let's call this black.

My historical experience with recruitment agencies is that they often work in the black zone. "We have no feedback on your application, we believe this is probably because someone is on holiday (probably a guess), we don't know when they will be back and we don't know when after that we will get any feedback". So no plan to getting a plan then, definitely black. Must do better.

For more innovation in recruitment, see www.movejobs.com. Changing the face of recruitment, seeking 20K in seed finance.

Gaelic signs

A response to the narrow minded letter writers of The Herald and The Scotsman who protest against bilingual signs.

I was born in Scotland and grew up in Dunblane, Perthshire. Like many parts of Scotland outside the Highlands, there were native Gaelic speakers living in Dunblane. One of them, my teacher, was a crowned Mod Bard originally from Glencoe. Having been denied the opportunity to learn Gaelic in school because apparently there was "no demand" yet there was sufficient demand to run a class of 4 for Russian and a class of 4 for Latin, the same teacher ended up teaching me in Essex of all places. 


Only then did I begin to pronounce properly and understand the nearest hill name to the house where I spent my childhood - uamh bheag. To those who say "there is no history of Gaelic here". Look around you at the personal names and place names right across Scotland including Balerno, Duns and Dalmeny in the Lothians. From a family that lived in Lothian and Berwickshire for 23 continuous generations before me I don't particularly care how many of them spoke Gaelic or didn't because I am forward looking, not back. However, there's a fair chance that when my ancestor was knighted by King Alexander III, the King was likely a Gaelic speaker. I don't confine Gaelic by a past where its decline has been largely confined by apathy, persecution and ethnic cleansing. We can't change, the past but we can shape the future. I look forward to a positive future when the Gaelic native speakers going through Gaelic medium education across Scotland become fluent adult speakers. I look forward to a time when Scots don't dismiss part of their heritage just because it hasn't been spoken widely on the street in living memory as such arguments can also be used to ban ethic minorities from moving in and of holding back a progressive and dynamic nation. "Not traditional here" is the view of right wing extremists, not of a forward thinking modern nation.


I find the English road signs in the Highlands a distraction because as a Gaelic speaker all I see is badly spelt corrupted Gaelic calling itself "English". I also don't understand why they are in a different colour, in Wales the bilingual signs have the town name in the same font and colour for both the native language and the one from England. Having learnt Gaelic to reasonable fluency, I look back on the time when I was just a monoglot speaker and realise now how much I missed. The placenames I couldn't understand, the songs I missed out on, the shocking embarrassment and ignorance of climbing a hill and not knowing how to pronounce the name of it, the perspective of the people who founded Scotland, the perspective of my country's history from a Scottish or Highland point of view rather than an English one. These things are taken as acceptable by so many Scots, simply because it has been that way by tradition. See Runrig's fichead bliadna (with translation below) for what Highland history looks like. Were you taught that in school?


It may be a language spoken by a few, but Gaelic language and culture are probably the biggest single thing which clearly differentiates Scotland from England. It is the cultural foundation stone on which our nation was founded and which resonates through our history to the present and beyond. Many Gaelic icons such as the kilt, bagpipes and whisky now are national icons representing all of Scotland. Gaelic may be few in number, mostly due to historical political persecution and forced clearances, but cultural icons are not defined by mere numbers alone - repeated surveys have shown that the majority of Scots as a whole, Gaelic speakers or otherwise, believe Gaelic is important for the nation as a whole and should be supported by the nation as a whole. 


Gaelic needs two main pillars of support to survive. It needs political will to enact legislation that removes the barriers to Gaelic's growth and provide the legislative and financial support for Gaelic to not be held back. However, alongside this it needs the social will amongst Scots to want to support the language in the same way that the Welsh do in Wales, the French speakers do in Canada. Scottish Gaelic was the third most widely spoken mother tongue in British North America in the 1850's - spoken by 200,000 people but now even in formerly Gaelic speaking areas, the few Gaelic speakers left now are vastly outnumbered by French speakers. State support for a language combined with national will amongst the people will turn a language around, no matter how long it has been in decline.


If Gaelic dies out in Scotland it dies out everywhere. It is our responsibility to take the language forward for the next generation and not to let a minority of monoglot English speakers say "Gaelic has no place here", we embraced devolution yet that had no political precedent in Scotland. Multilingualism is to be welcomed and we in Scotland are lucky to have Gaelic, Scots as well as English to call our own. The bilingual street signs and road signs are just a small token, it is when we have a proper understanding of Gaelic and a population that can fully appreciate it, that we will really have moved forward.

Yes Scotland multilingual logo

An alternative, multilingual unofficial logo I put together for the Yes Scotland campaign

The Gaelic is pronounced "smah-shin" and means "that is good". There is no single word in Gaelic for "Yes", this phrase is the origin of the English word "smashing" meaning "good" or "I agree".

UK Internet List 20 year anniversary

In June 1992 I started the UK's first guide to getting online. It's 20 years old today

See also
http://blog.siliconglen.com/2002/06/uk-internet-list.html and Facebook timeline, 1992

Music for the London Olympics

The list of music for the opening ceremony for the London Olympics has been released. It is a list which misses an opportunity in front of an audience of about a billion.

This is the London Olympics, the UK is the host nation and the national team is team GB. The concept of England does not exist in the Olympics yet looking at the list of music there is not much more diversity in musical taste than you would find in a home counties pub juke box or the iPod of someone who didn't get out much.

The UK is home to 7 indigenous languages, (English, Scots, Welsh, Irish, Scots Gaelic, Cornish, British Sign Language) yet I can see only one of these represented in the list, to the complete exclusion of all the others.

The UK is also home to a wide variety of musical styles, and you might have thought even Mull of Kintyre or Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes would get a look in, something on the Northumbrian pipes or a brass band from England. It's mostly pop music from the last 50 years. So much for over a 1000 years of musical and linguistic diversity being showcased. I like pop music too, but not to the complete exclusion of everything else.

The torch did a really great job of including the whole UK, it's a pity the opening ceremony, seen by many more did not have such a wide cultural remit. The Cambridge folk festival does a better job of showcasing a wide variety of music from across the UK.

I expect though that the Irish won't be complaining. London does not speak for Ireland and hopefully soon after Yes Scotland, then Scotland won't have to complain either.

I leave you with this music from the Disney/Pixar film Brave. They sought fit to showcase Scottish music to an international audience. Somehow it's good enough to have music particular to Scotland in an international film but not in a London based Olympics. I was offered a job running the IT for the Olympics opening ceremony. It's too bad I got a better offer, perhaps I could have bent a few ears.

The music for the opening ceremony only serves to portray the UK as a narrow, mono-cultural land, something that of course isn't true at all, unless you favour the BNP view of the world.

Craig

BBC iPlayer and Gaelic. Must do better

Dear BBC. 

I am a licencepayer who lives in the UK. Your attempt at an iPlayer service for Gaelic is a disgrace. 

1. The iPlayer itself is only available in English, a Gaelic version would not require much effort.  Open source free software has already been translated free of charge by volunteers. The same could apply to your software. Thanks for providing a Gaelic version of the iPlayer website but remembering my choice via a cookie would be helpful.

2. The iPlayer service needs to be better for the non satellite/cable users who cannot get BBC Alba on Freeview. Anyone outside of Scotland still can't get BBC Alba on Freeview.

3. When I looked just now pretty much the entire back catalog of Gaelic programmes consisted of programmes for children, learners, gardening or sport. Where are the music programmes ? Where are the news programmes? Where are the factual programmes? 

4. I might have been able to record "An La" but there was no "future record" or "series record" facility. I can do a "series record" for English programmes such as Trooping the colour which is on once a year, but not for a daily news programme to catch up and watch in the evening? Why?

5. Watching anything on an android device with flash installed? Site is hopeless! I have chrome, I have flash, your site says I don't have flash. I request the desktop site and I get "your mobile isn't supported". There's no "download and watch later option" when you do get it to work. Did you test this? You don't even mention tablets or phones on your supported browser list. Shocking.

6. None of the Eorpa programmes can be watched. Why? This is one of the best examples of Gaelic broadcasting. Your standard "See our FAQ" doesn't actually explain the specific reason why this internationally acclaimed programme isn't available to download. It's as if you want the people who are able to get it to actually put it on youtube for the benefit of everyone else. Your policy is indirect censorship

7. When I am on the BBC site I can filter for "Scotland" but can't subfilter for Gaelic within this. Why is this? Do you think the Scots are one homogeneous audience?

8. You're probably not obliged to provide input into the national plan for Gaelic, broadcasting not being a devolved subject, but it would be helpful if you detailed what your strategy was in relation to Gaelic as the media (particularly the excellent Radio nan Gaidheal and BBC Alba if you are lucky enough to receive them) are one of the key parts of the Gaelic revival.

9. The Piping Live programme, which I eventually found, has an English title and English description. Sorry, this made me think it was actually in English. Would it be possible to actually have Gaelic names for Gaelic programmes? Only when you click on more information do you get a hint it might be in Gaelic.

10. Since Gaelic is a language of Scotland, how about using the colour of the Saltire to represent the channel rather than a rather dull grey? This is what tourist attractions which have Gaelic audio guides such as the Clan Donald centre on Skye do. When was dull grey the national colour?

11. I click on a Gaelic news programme and your recommendation engine then thinks I should watch Top Gear in English. Some work required? How about a "top watched" on the Gaelic channel - this should be easy to implement, like so many things on your English medium news site there is a "most read/shared" facility. Missing from the Gaelic equivalent. This should be a simple plug in, can't you reuse on the Gaelic news site and for Gaelic iPlayer content?

12. The excellent Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (all 674 weekly episodes) is available here on your podcast site but not on your iplayer site. Please make the iPlayer site consistent. Even a link to the podcast site would help.

I still believe that Gaelic should be promoted (not "Gaelic roots should be unearthed", that sounds like pulling a plant up and killing it). This includes you doing your bit too.

many thanks

Craig Cockburn

Gaelic Events in Edinburgh – June 2012

Please contact John Macleod john@andarach.com to receive these updates by email

Friday 01.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 01 - 24 – Beginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Friday 01.06.12 – 7.00pm Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)

Friday 01.06.12 – 7.30pm “The Idiot at the Wall” – a play by Elspeth Turner (Some Gaelic content) Based in The Hebrides 1919. The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh. Tickets £10/£8/ (Cont: 650 4673 or www.eusalive.co.uk). Further performances on 7th , 8th & 9th June.

Friday 01.06.11 – 8.30pm Bothan Dhùn Èideann – with Norrie Maciver, Canon’s Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh. £5 (£3) (Contact: bothanduneideann@googlemail.com or 552 5998)

Saturday 02.06.12 – 12.45pm Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)

Saturday 02.06.12 – 3.30pm Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 03.06.12 – 12.30pm Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 04.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 25 - 48 – Postbeginners)
Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Monday 04.06.12 – 9.30am Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert’s, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk

Monday 04.06.12 – 11.00am Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 48 - 72 – Intermediate) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (10.04 -15.05)

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 18 - Beginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Post-beginners) Tynecastle High School, McLeod St.

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 73 – 78) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Tuesday 05.06.12 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 06.06.12 – 12.45pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Og-mhios)

Wednesday 06.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 114 - 118) Final Day. Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Wednesday 06.06.12 – 7.15pm Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 43-48) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (19.04-24.05)

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 25 – 42 - Postbeginners)
Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 10 - Beginners) Boroughmuir High School, Viewforth.

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.15pm Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 97 - 108) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Thursday 07.06.12 – 7.30pm “The Idiot at the Wall” – a play by Elspeth Turner (Some Gaelic content) Based in The Hebrides 1919. The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh. Tickets £10/£8/ (Cont: 650
4673 or www.eusalive.co.uk). Further performances on 8th & 9th June.

Friday 08.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 01 - 24 – Beginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Friday 08.06.12 – 7.00pm Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)

Friday 08.06.12 – 7.30pm “The Idiot at the Wall” – a play by Elspeth Turner (Some Gaelic content) Based in The Hebrides 1919. The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh. Tickets £10/£8/ (Cont: 650
4673 or www.eusalive.co.uk).

Saturday 09.06.12 – 12.45pm Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)

Saturday 09.06.12 – 3.30pm Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Saturday 09.06.12 – 7.30pm Edinburgh Argyll Association – Ceilidh at St. John’s Church Hall, Lothian Road. With Arthur Cormack (Mod Gold Medallist), Andrew McIntyre (Pipes). MC – Dolina Maclennan. (Cont: 0131 453 5766)

Saturday 09.06.12 – 7.30pm “The Idiot at the Wall” – a play by Elspeth Turner (Some Gaelic content) Based in The Hebrides 1919. The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh. Tickets £10/£8/ (Cont: 650
4673 or www.eusalive.co.uk).

Sunday 10.06.12 – 12.30pm Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 11.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 25 - 48 – Postbeginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Monday 11.06.12 – 9.30am Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert’s, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk

Monday 11.06.12 – 11.00am Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 48 - 72 – Intermediate) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Tuesday 12.06.11 – 1.00pm Gaelic Lunch Club, Mercure Hotel, (formerly Mount Royal) Princes St. Speaker: Prof. Rob Dunbar. (Cont: 07906 318561).

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (10.04 -15.05)

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 18 - Beginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Post-beginners) Tynecastle High School, McLeod St.

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 73 – 78) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Tuesday 12.06.12 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 13.06.12 – 12.45pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)

Wednesday 13.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 114 - 118) Final Day. Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Wednesday 13.06.12 – 7.15pm Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)

Thursday 14.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 43-48) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (19.04-24.05)

Thursday 14.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 25 – 42 - Postbeginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Thursday 14.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 10 - Beginners) Boroughmuir High School, Viewforth.

Thursday 14.06.12 – 7.15pm Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Thursday 14.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 97 - 108)
Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Friday 15.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 01 - 24 – Beginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Friday 15.06.12 – 7.00pm Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)

Saturday 16.06.12 – 12.45pm Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)

Saturday 16.06.12 – 3.30pm Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 17.06.12 – 12.30pm Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 18.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 25 - 48 – Postbeginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Monday 18.06.12 – 9.30am Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert’s, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk

Monday 18.06.12 – 11.00am Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 48 - 72 – Intermediate) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (10.04 -15.05)

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 18 - Beginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Post-beginners) Tynecastle High School, McLeod St.

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 73 – 78) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Tuesday 19.06.12 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 20.06.12 – 12.45pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Og-mhios)

Wednesday 20.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 114 - 118) Final Day. Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont:mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Wednesday 20.06.12 – 7.15pm Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)

Thursday 21.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 43-48) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (19.04-24.05)

Thursday 21.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 25 – 42 - Postbeginners)
Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Thursday 21.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 10 - Beginners) Boroughmuir High School, Viewforth.

Thursday 21.06.12 – 7.15pm Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary
School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Thursday 21.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 97 - 108) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Friday 22.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 01 - 24 – Beginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Friday 22.06.12 – 7.00pm Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)

Saturday 23.06.12 – 12.45pm Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)

Saturday 23.06.12 – 3.30pm Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 24.06.12 – 12.30pm Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 25.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 25 - 48 – Postbeginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Monday 25.06.12 – 9.30am Yaketi-yak Gaelic conversation session, Cuthbert’s, Fountainbridge. (1hr) (Cont: 07826 555134 or mail@yaketyyak-languagecafe.co.uk

Monday 25.06.12 – 11.00am Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 48 - 72 – Intermediate) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 19-24) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (10.04 -15.05)

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 18 - Beginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Post-beginners) Tynecastle High School, McLeod St.

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 73 – 78) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Tuesday 26.06.12 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Joe Wright. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 27.06.12 – 12.45pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 37-48) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (gu Ogmhios)

Wednesday 27.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 114 - 118) Final Day. Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Wednesday 27.06.12 – 7.15pm Coisir Dhun Eideann weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 0777 855 1294)

Thursday 28.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 43-48) Drummond High School, Bellevue Place. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk) (19.04-24.05)

Thursday 28.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 25 – 42 - Postbeginners) Broughton High School, Comely Bank Ave,.

Thursday 28.06.12 – 7.00pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hrs), (Units 01 – 10 - Beginners) Boroughmuir High School, Viewforth.

Thursday 28.06.12 – 7.15pm Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Thursday 28.06.12 – 7.15pm Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (1hr 30m), (Units 97 - 108) Final Day. Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk)

Friday 29.06.12 – 9.15am Ulpan Gaelic Learning course (2hr), (Units 01 - 24 – Beginners) Tollcross Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge.

Friday 29.06.12 – 7.00pm Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. (Cont: 221 5800)

Saturday 30.06.12 – 12.45pm Féis Dhùn Èideann Trad music/Gaelic Song/Step Dance Classes – Tollcross Comm Centre. (Cont: Gillian MacDonald 07514 386925 or feisdhuneideann@feisean.org)

Saturday 30.06.12 – 3.30pm Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two
Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont: mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk 200th anniversary service

The General Assembly Gaelic Service will be held at
Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk
on
SUNDAY 20th MAY 2012 at 12.30pm

This Service will be conducted by The Reverend Kenneth Macdonald of Glasgow.

The Moderator of the General Assembly will attend and will give the Benediction at the end of the Service.
It is intended to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the death of the famous Gaelic Bard, Duncan Ban Macintyre (Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir) at the end of this Service. The Bard is buried in the Cemetery at Greyfriars.

An Invitation to this Service is given to the whole congregation and to any members and adherents of any other Church/Congregation.

It is hoped that the Gaelic Congregation will bring friends and acquaintances, especially from the Gaelic world, primarily to worship but also to welcome our honoured guests and to put Gaelic Ministry and Worship "on the map ".