Agenda item

By Councillor Macinnes - Street Names Honouring Gaelic in Edinburgh - Ainmean Sràide a' toirt urram don Ghàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann

“Council:

Notes that this city and Council are rightly proud of the success of Gaelic Medium Education in Edinburgh, representing as it does, a strong connecting line to the culture, community and language of a significant part of Scotland and to the presence of Gaelic in Scotland’s capital city. But as anyone with a passing knowledge of Gaelic’s history will know, the importance of the Gaelic language and culture was not always recognised so well. There were many years, notably in the middle decades of the 20^th century, when investment and recognition were thin on the ground.

There were, however, many individuals, who made Edinburgh their home, and who worked extremely hard to keep those links to Gaelic alive and well in Edinburgh. Their efforts, through performance, song, storytelling and discussion, formed the basis for a lively and welcoming Gaelic-speaking community and culture in Edinburgh.

Agrees that recognising the effort of these individuals is appropriate as we continue to build upon their contribution to the cultural life of our city.

Recognises that for the young people currently benefitting from Gaelic education it is important to see their language recognised and supported in this wider sense.

Requests that our choices in the naming of new streets should include some of these key figures as early as possible and that when these names are applied there should be media information provided to explain the reasons and background to this decision. There should be also be an opportunity for additional names to be proposed and added to that list.

Comhairle:

A’ toirt fa-near gu bheil am baile-mòr seo agus a’ Chomhairle  pròiseil à soirbheachas Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann, a’ riochdachadh mar a tha e, ceangail làidir ri cultar, coimhearsnachd agus cànan pàirt de dh’Alba agus ri làthaireachd na Gàidhlig ann am prìomh bhaile na h-Alba. Ach, mar a bhios fios agaibhse aig a bheil eòlas air eachdraidh na Gàidhlig, cha robhar an-còmhnaidh ag aithneachadh cho cudromach sa bha cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig. Bha mòran bhliadhnaichean ann, gu sònraichte anns na deicheadan meadhan den 20mh linn, nuair nach robh moran aithne agus tasgadh air a thoirt dhan Ghàidhlig.

Bha, ge-tà, mòran dhaoine a rinn an dachaidh ann an Dùn Èideann, agus a dh’obraich gu cruaidh gus na ceanglaichean sin ris a’ Ghàidhlig a chumail beò ann an Dùn Èideann. Bha na h-oidhirpean aca, tro chluichd, òrain, seanchas agus deasbaireachd, nam bun-stèidh airson coimhearsnachd agus cultar Gàidhlig a bha beothail agus aoigheil ann an Dùn Èideann.

Ag aontachadh gu bheil e iomchaidh a bhith ag aithneachadh oidhirp nan daoine sin agus a’ cumail oirnn a’ togail air na chur iad ri beatha chultarail ar baile-mòr.

Ag aithneachadh gu bheil e cudromach don òigridh a tha an-dràsda a’ faighinn buannachd à foghlam Gàidhlig a bhith ag aithneachadh a’ chànain aca agus toirt taic dhith mar seo.

Iarrtasan gum bu chòir na roghainnean againn ann a bhith ag ainmeachadh shràidean ùra a bhith a’ toirt a-steach cuid de na prìomh dhaoine sin cho luath sa ’s urrainn dhuinn agus nuair a thèid na h-ainmean sin a chur an sàs gum bu chòir fiosrachadh meadhanan a thoirt seachad gus adhbharan agus cùl-fhiosrachadh a’ cho-dhùnaidh seo a mhìneachadh. Bu chòir cothrom a bhith ann cuideachd ainmean a bharrachd a mholadh agus a chur ris an liosta sin.

Ceangalgu liosta de eachdraidhean-beatha

List of Names:

Joan MacKenzie 1929 - 2007SeonagNicCoinnich

Donald MacKinnon 1839-1914 Dòmhnall MacFhionghuin

Sorley MacLean (1911 – 1996) SomhairleMacGillEain.”