“Fàilte don sgeulaiche ùr Ghàidhlig!” — Gàidhlig Storymaker starts exciting new role

Writer and broadcaster Kirsty MacDonald has been awarded the prestigious position of the inaugural Gàidhlig Storymaker.

The post was inspired by the Library’s current dual-language exhibition, ‘Sgeul | Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands’. Drawing from a centuries-old oral storytelling tradition, the role aims to promote Gaelic language through creative storytelling practice. 

MacDonald has more than 20 years of experience in creative cultural projects. As well as storytelling this includes directing, presenting and producing for television. With family links to North Uist she has a wealth of knowledge in using archival and cultural materials to tell compelling stories and engage diverse Gaelic audiences and communities. This focus has been at the heart of her work throughout her career.

She said:

“I’m excited be the Gàidhlig Storymaker for the National Library of Scotland. I'm looking forward to undertaking research, learning new stories, and sharing my Storymaker journey with you all over the next year.”

National Librarian, Amina Shah, said:

“The National Library of Scotland holds one the largest collections of Scottish Gaelic material in the world. As well as holding these collections for the nation, it’s also our job to bring these stories to life for new and diverse audiences. This exciting new role builds upon our current dual-language exhibition. Generously funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the role will support both the traditions and history of Gaelic storytelling as well as contemporary and modern themes.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, Bòrd na Gàidhlig Ceannard (CEO), said:

“Bòrd na Gàidhlig are pleased to provide funding to the National Library to establish this new role. Stories are so important in Gaelic culture, and we have a strong and profound storytelling heritage. We are excited to see the work Kirsty will create and are sure she will engage people from all over the country, and beyond, in our stories and culture, making use of her wealth of experience in the cultural arts.”     

MacDonald’s role will work to raise the profile of Gaelic throughout Scotland and will deliver a range of events and workshops in community settings around the country as well as at the National Library in Edinburgh and Glasgow. She will also develop her own creative practice in Gaelic. 

The 12-month Gàidhlig Storymaker position is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

 

“Fàilte don sgeulaiche ùr Ghàidhlig!” Sgeulaiche Gàidhlig a’ tòiseachadh air dreuchd ùr inntinneach

Chaidh an dreuchd chliùiteach mar a’ chiad Sgeulaiche Ghàidhlig a bhuileachadh air an sgrìobhadair agus craoladair Curstaidh NicDhòmhnaill.

Chaidh an dreuchd a bhrosnachadh le taisbeanadh dà-chànanach làithreach an Leabharlainn ‘Sgeul | Story: Sgeulachdan bho Ghaidhealtachd na h-Alba’. A’ tarraing air dualchas beul-aithris a tha a’ dol air ais fad linntean mòra, tha an dreuchd ag amas air a’ Ghàidhlig a bhrosnachadh tro sgeulachdan cruthachail. 

Tha còrr is 20 bliadhna de dh’eòlas aig Curstaidh ann am pròiseactan cultarach cruthachail. A bharrachd air sgeulachdan tha seo a’ gabhail a-steach stiùireadh, preasantadh agus riochdachadh airson telebhisean. Le ceanglaichean teaghlaich ri Uibhist a Tuath tha beairteas de dh’eòlas aice ann a bhith a’ cleachdadh stuthan tasglainn is cultarail gus sgeulachdan inntinneach innse agus airson a bhith ag obair le diofar luchd-èisteachd is coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig. Tha am fòcas seo air a bhith aig cridhe a cuid obrach fad a cùrsa-beatha.

Thuirt i:

“Tha mi air bhioran a bhith nam Sgeulaiche Gàidhlig airson Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ dèanamh rannsachadh, ag ionnsachadh sgeulachdan ùra, agus gur toirt leam air an turas agam mar Sgeulaiche fad bliadhna.”

Thuirt an Leabharlannaiche Nàiseanta Amina Shah:

“Tha fear de na cruinneachaidhean as motha san t-saoghal de stuth Gàidhlig na h-Alba aig Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba. A bharrachd air a bhith a’ cumail nan cruinneachaidhean dhan dùthaich, tha e mar dhleastanas oirnn na sgeulachdan sin a thoirt beò do luchd-èisteachd ùr agus eadar-mheasgte. Tha an dreuchd ùr inntinneach seo a’ togail air an taisbeanadh dhà-chànanach a th’ againn an-dràsta. Le maoineachadh fialaidh bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, bheir an dreuchd taic do dhualchas is eachdraidh seanchas na Gàidhlig a bharrachd air cuspairean co-aimsireil agus an latha an-diugh.”

Thuirt Ealasaid Dhòmhnallach, Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig:

“Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig air leth toilichte maoineachadh a thoirt dhan Leabharlann Nàiseanta agus an cuideachadh gus an dreuchd ùr seo a stèidheachadh. Tha sgeulachdan cho cudromach do chultar na Gàidhlig, agus tha dualchas brèagha, làidir againn a thaobh sgeulachdan. Tha sinn air bhioran an obair a nì Curstaidh san dreuchd seo fhaicinn agus tha sinn cinnteach gun tarraing i daoine bho air feadh na dùthcha, agus nas fhaide air falbh, an sàs sa chultar agus na sgeulachdan, a’ cleachdadh a beairteas eòlais anns na h-ealainean cultarail.”     

’S e an obair a bhios aig Curstaidh NicDhòmhnaill a bhith ag obair gus ìomhaigh na Gàidhlig a thogail air feadh na h-Alba agus a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh raon de thachartasan agus bùithtean-obrach ann an suidheachaidhean coimhearsnachd air feadh na dùthcha cho math ri a bhith gan cumail san Leabharlann Nàiseanta fhèin an Glaschu is an Dùn Èideann. Leasaichidh i cuideachd a cleachdadh cruthachail fhèin sa Ghàidhlig. 

Tha an dreuchd 12-mhìos mar Sgeulaiche Gàidhlig air a maoineachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig.