Gaelic in the News today- Gaelic Medium education a parents right?

An important debate for Gaelic took place today in the Scottish Parliament. Should every parent have the legal right to have their children receive a Gaelic medium education?
I have been in the lucky position of having that option for my children to e educated through the medium of Gaelic- our local school provided that option for us, at least for child 2 and 3. But we had to fight for it. And it has been worth every drop of sweat, blood and many tears. I have no hesitation in recommending GME for any family- not only because of the cultural and linguistic benefits but also for the more broad mainstream education benefits. Learning another language opens a childs mind, they soak things up like no adult can. It is easier for a child to learn another language, that has been proven.
So this whole debate is not just about the economics of the matter- we shoudl also remember that the heart of any populace is formed by the identity of a People- and if we dont have our languages and cultures, then we are missing part of our identity - that which forms who and what we are. We must remember also that we are LUCKY to have our own indigenous language - so many countries have lost that, their own tongues submerged by English. There are economic benefits ofr Gaelic too of course- tourism for one, with the many 1000s of tourists who ocme to Scotland to soak up that Gaelic culture.
So for that culture to survive, there has to be education - and it has been proven over and again that children who have come through GME suffer NO ill effects from not learning to read and write english till they are in p3/4. Indeed my sons kept abreast - and overtook- their mainstream peers in more than one subject- in primary and secondary education.
So please, support GME- we're lucky to have that option - please dont waste all the time and effort by so many parents over the years, including myself, who have fought to have that right.

Scotland's close relationship with Andalucia!

Did you know that Scotland actually has a very close and historically important connection to Andalucia? Have you heard of the town of Teba? No, well, you should. Teba is a small town not far from Ronda , high in the Andalucian hills. It was here in 1330, that King Alfonso x1 was endeavouring to take the town of Teba from the occupying Moors. It so happened that the Scot Sir James Douglas, better known as Black Douglas was travelling on The Crusades, taking the heart of King Robert the Bruce, to give cheer to the soldiers. As he travelled through Spain, he lent his armies support to King Alfonso. During the battle , Black Douglas was killed but not before he threw Bruce's heart into the midst of the Moor forces, in a silver casket. The casket was retrieved and returned to Melrose Abbey. The following year the Earl of Selkirk also engaged the Moorish forces in Teba and left behind a slab of marble which now is incorporated into a large monument in the middle of the towns square.
It is a very strange feeling to come across this little piece of Scotland in the middle of the Andalucian plains- especially when you arrive on the exact anniversary of the battle....Aug 25th.... without knowing beforehand, the exact date.........

A Gael in Spain stays Mainly on the train......strikes allowing...

Getting organised for the Gaelic Song & Language course I am running in Andalucia, Spain , at the end of this month. 'Gaidhlig Thall Thairis' takes place in the tiny village of Juzcar from 28 April to May 2nd and myself and Rhoda Meek will be teaching Song and Gaelic in surroundings more likely to house the odd flamenco dancer or finca owner, than a shivering, white faced person with a distinctive accent reminiscent of jute mills or the Byres Road in Glasgow...........


But before we can get there , we have to GET THERE.......and thats not always easy from the Scottish Highlands. It takes me longer to get to the airport to fly to Malaga, than it does for the actual flight. Folk in the South sometimes forget how difficult travel can be for us- my travel plans over the winter, to gigs, concerts etc have been interrupted on several occasions because of a) weather and b) strikes. Life is costly enough these days without losing several £s because of missed journeys. Also , dont forget that the likelihood is that I will have had to go 'down' the night before and stay in a hotel just to avoid any danger of a traffic delay or flood, pestilence and all the other reasons Farce Railscot give for delays......... So that budget flight has suddenly assumed proportions equal to a first class ticket toMelbourne.... Watch this space......





Gaelic Phrase for Today - I am fed up of it! Tha mise seachd sgith leis! pronounced- Tha mishuh sh-ach-k ski laysh!

http://www.fionamackenzie.org/Events

Learning Scottish Gaelic in Spain

Heres a wee piece on the Secret Andalucia site about the connections between Andalucia and Scotland- and the forthcoming Gaelic Course in Andalucia. E mil me for more details of this exciting opportunity to learn Gaelic and Gaelic Songin a beultiful, warm, lemon fragrant part of Spain!
http://www.secretandalucia.com/guadiaro-valley/news/419-flamenco-in-a-kilt.html

Hotel Bandolero- venue of Gaelic Course, Spring 2010

Heres the venue of the Gaelic Course as described below. Complete with Scottish Saltires of course to signify the Gaels are in residence!

Learn Gaelic Song , Language & Acting Under the Lemon Trees!

Plans just firmed up for this years Gaidhlig Thall Thairis Course in Andalucia, Spain. Come and learn Gaelic- at your own pace and level- Gaelic Song, again at a pace to suit you, acting - and you can even improve your Spanish in all subjects if you so wish to , too! w ehave 3 tutors, myself, Gillebride Macmillan and Rhoda Meek. The course takes place in Juzcar, near Ronda, between 29 April through to 2 May. Details of this holiday woth a difference can be found at
http://www.fionamackenzie.org/Events

Learn Scottish Gaelic and Gaelic Song in the Sun!

Fancy having a Spring Break in the Sun and learn something new at the same time - or brush up on older skills? Join myself and Uist singer and tutor Gillebride Macmillan in the beautiful surroundings of the Alto Genal, deep in the heart of lovely Andalucia, Spain. Learn Gaelic, improve your Spanish (Gillebride is a fluent Spanish speaker as well as Gaelic) , learn some beautiful Gaelic songs, even if you're not a singer, and learn something of the Andalucian culture, cuisine and countryside at the same time. April 28th - May 2nd 2010, Juzcar, Andalucia, 1 1/2 hours from Malaga. Fully inclusive, travel excepted. More details . Siuthad! Join us for some fun, food and ferias!

http://www.fionamackenzie.org/Events