Ghabh cuirm àite a-raoir (Diciadain 15mh Cèitean) san Lanntair, Steòrnabhagh, le tiocaidean air a son air an reic gu lèir. B’ e cuirm Dìleab: Morair Leverhulme a bh’ ann, an treas tè de cheithir cuirmean a tha a’ gabhail àite ann an 2024, agus bha sgoilearan Àrd-sgoil MhicNeacail an sàs innte. Bha barrachd air 40 sgoilear foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig air an àrd-ùrlar, tòrr dhiubh a bha an sàs an-uiridh sna bun-sgoiltean dùthchail mar phàirt de Dhìleab: Metagama.
Chaidh an sgriobt a sgrìobhadh le Aonghas Mac ’Illinnein agus Coinneach Mòr MacÌomhair, a bha nan luchd-aithris air an oidhche cuideachd, agus a dh’obraich gu dlùth le sgoilearan air pìosan eachdraidheil agus seanchas na cuirme mar phàirt den deasachadh air a son.
Thuirt Evelyn Coull NicLeòid, Roinn an Fhoghlaim sa Chomhairle,
“Tha e gu math brosnachail gu bheil na tha sin de sgoilearan airson a bhith an sàs sa chuirm aig Àrd-sgoil MhicNeacail, agus tha e na dhearbhadh air an obair ionmholta a tha an sgioba tàlantach againn air a dhèanamh bho thoiseach na bliadhna le bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh teagasg fìor-eòlaiche dar sgoiltean. Bha e gu h-àraid brosnachail na h-uimhir de sgoilearan àrd-sgoile fhaicinn a’ sealltainn ùidh làidir nar cultar agus eachdraidh, agus tha pròiseact Dìleab ag amas air cothroman a thoirt do sgoilearan sreath mòr de sgilean ionnsachadh. Tha mi airson taing a thoirt dha luchd-obrach is sgoilearan na sgoile airson cho dealasach ’s a bha iad, is airson an obair chruaidh a rinn iad – bha e na thoileachas mòr dhomh a bhith ag obair còmhla riutha gus a’ chuirm a thoirt gu buil.”
Thuirt Lindsey NicCoinnich, neach-teagaisg na Gàidhlig ann an Àrd-sgoil MhicNeacail, a bha an sàs gu mòr ann an lìbhrigeadh na cuirme:
“Tha e iongantach fhaicinn na tha na sgoilearan air a choileanadh ann an ùine gu math goirid. Tha iad air obair air leth a dhèanamh bhon a thòisich am pròiseact, agus bu chòir dhan sgoil a bhith moiteil asta, agus bu choir dhaibh a bhith moiteil asta fhèin. Tha e sònraichte math a leithid de theagasg stèidhichte air Dìleab a ghabhail a-steach sa churraicealam agus tha mi cinnteach às gun do chòrd e ris na sgoilearan gu mòr agus gun d’fhuair iad buannachdan às.”
Nicolson Pupils Triumph in Dileab: Leverhulme Production
A performance took place last night (Wednesday 15th May) at An Lanntair, Stornoway, to a sold-out audience. The Dìleab: Leverhulme production was the third in four performances taking place in 2024 and this time featured pupils from the Nicolson Institute. The production saw over 40 Gaelic medium pupils take to the stage, many of whom had been involved last year in the rural primary schools as part of Dìleab: Metagama.
The script was written by Angus MacLennan and Coinneach Mòr MacIver and they also featured as narrators on the evening as well as engaging with pupils in the historical and storytelling elements in the run up to the production.
Evelyn Coull MacLeod, from the Education Department of the Comhairle, said:
“The sheer number of pupils wanting to get involved in the Nicolson production is incredibly heartening, and a testament to the amount of work which has been undertaken since the start of the year by our strong and talented team, who have been delivering inputs to our schools. It was particularly encouraging to see so many secondary pupils showing an active interest in our culture and history and the Dìleab project strives to give opportunities to pupils to develop a wide range of skills. I would like to thank the staff and pupils of the school for their enthusiasm and hard work – it truly was a pleasure to work with them in bringing this to fruition.”
Lindsey Mackenzie, Gaelic Teacher in the Nicolson Institute, who has been instrumental in the delivery of the Nicolson production, added:
“It is amazing to see what the pupils have accomplished in a very short space of time. They have worked tirelessly and have been a credit to the school and to themselves throughout this process. It is great to be able to include inputs like Dìleab in our curriculum and I am certain that the pupils have thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from this experience.”