Am Ficheadamh Linn 's a h-Aon / The Twenty-First Century

Tha mi toilichte fhaicinn mar a bhios saoghal nan Gaidheal beag air bheag a' meudachadh a thaobh nan gnothach ris am bi sinn. Mar a théid sinn air adhart 'san fhicheadamh linn 's a h-aon, tha mi creidsinn gum bi cor na Gàidhlig gu math eisimeileach  air ciamar a ghabhas ( no nach gabhas ) sinn greim air na cothroman a bhios romhainn.

Ged is e rud air leth spòrsail an th' ann an luadh, bidh e duilich a dhearbhadh do dhaoine nach eil eòlach orra sin a chreidsinn! Ach ma chìthear sinn an sàs ann an gnìomhan air a bheil sluagh an t-saoghail na 's eòlaiche, faodar an ùigh a thogail fada na b' fhasa.

Mar sin tha mi toilcihte gu bheil a' Cholaisde Ghàidhlig suas ri dealbhan-cluich' a dheasachadh. Bidh dà bhuidhean co dhiùbh de dhaoine eile ag obair air dealbhan-cluiche air an eilean cuideachd. Ri mo chuid fhiosrachd 's e leasachadh ùr a tha seo. Chan eil fhios 'am air a leithid an dualchas Ghàidhealach ann an Ceap Breatainn riamh roimhe ach aon dealbh-cluich' a rinneadh air a' Chladach a Tuath anns na leth-cheudan 'san fhicheadamh linn.

Tha e math dhomh cuideachd fhaicinn mar a bhios an eadar-lìn 'ga cleachdadh airson na Gàidhlige. Bidh Acadamaidh Gàidhlig an Atlantaig gu ro-shoirbheachail a tairgsinn cùrsaichean air Skype fad thrithead seachdainn ás bliadhna, le sgoilearan á ceithir mór-thìr. Bidh làraich-lìn mar An Drochaid Eadarainn ann gus móran a chraobh-sgaoileadh 's a thoirt do 'n dà chuid luchd ionnsachaidh 'is fileantaich. Bidh mi fhìn agus daoin' eile a' cumail clasaichean prìobhaideach agus bidh clas òrain agam air Skype le grunn de dhaoine.

( Chaidh innse dhomh nach gabhadh sin deanamh 's mar sin… ma bhios sibh eòlach orm, aithnichidh sibh an sgeul! )

Ach chan eil sinn ach aig iomall a' chuain gun fhios againn fhathast dé cho domhainn 's a dh' fhaodas e bhith!

Tha iomadh àite air an eadar-lìn far am faodar Gàidhlig a leughadh agus a chluinntinn ach tha aon rud a dhìth oirnn fhathast – àite far am faod daoin' a bhith bruidhinn ri chéile 'sa Ghàidhlig. Nach e sin na tha a 's cudtromaiche – daoin' a bhith ri chòmnhradh ri chéile? Cha chreid mi gum biodh e duilich no ro chosgail a dheasachadh, agus nach ann feumail a bhiodh e? Nach deanadh e seòrsa de theaghlach dhe na daoine á caochladh àite? Nach e leasachadh mór a bhiodh ann do 'n luchd Gàidhealach air feadh an t-saoghail?

Agus chan e sin ach aon smuain…

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The Twenty-First Century

I am happy to see how the world of the Gaels is enlarging bit by bit in the context of the activities we are involved in. As we move ahead in the 21st century, I believe the staus of Gaelic will be dependent on how we take hold of (or don't take hold of) the opportunites that are before us.

Although a milling is a very enjoyable event, it's hard to convince some people who don't know of it to accept that! But if we are seen to be aprticipating in activities that people at large can appreciate, their interest can be raised much more easily.

Therefore I'm glad the Gaelic College is working on theatrical plays. There are also at least two other groups on the island working on them. To my knowledge, this is a new development. I don't know of the like ever being done in Gaelic tradition in Cape Breton, except for one play that was done on the North Shore in the 1950's.

I also like how the internet is being used for Gaelic. The Atlantic Gaelic Academy has been very successfully offering courses on Skype, thirty weeks per year, with students from four continents. Websites like The Bridge Between Us are broadcasting and giving a great deal to both learners and fluent speakers alike. I and others are doing private classes online, and I have a song class on Skype.

(I was told it couldn't be done so… if you know me, you'll recognize the tale!)

But we are still at the edge of the ocean, still not knowing how deep it can be!

There are many places on the internet where one can read and hear Gaelic, but there is one thing that we still need – a place where people can speak Gaelic with each other. Isn't that what's most important – that people be speaking together? I don't believe it would be difficult or expensive to set up, and wouldn't it be helpful? Wouldn't it make a kind of family of people from disparate places? Wouldn't it be a great benefit to Gaelic speakers throughout the world?

And that's only one idea….