Who remembers Island Voices’ first ever films from the Craigard Centre in Lochmaddy, North Uist? Still among our favourites, short clips from these earliest recordings set the opening scenes for this compilation video tracing the project’s evolution from 2005 right up to 2026, as our 21st birthday approaches in September.
With over 500 videos now on the YouTube channel, it’s been no small task to pull together something short but representative. From Craigard the compilation moves quickly on through the Uist and Barra Children’s parliament and Roddy Red Tie’s croft to Am Pàipear’s feature story on the renowned Norman Maclean. It’s a small step from Norman’s diverse skills and talents to the project’s multilingual and international connections through webinars, documentary adaptations, and geographical and literary extensions across Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and still further afield in other island and mainland, rural and urban contexts. Coming full circle, samples of longer local recordings highlight the connected community base in which the project is rooted, and the film concludes with Norman recalling his own permanent return to the Hebrides in his trademark inimitable style – though Craigard’s Donald Mackinnon has the very last word!
We’ve had to leave a lot out, which wasn’t easy, but we’ve sampled material from ten of our collections in the hope that viewers may be inspired to dig deeper into any of these links, or indeed into other pages on this site!
These are the sources from which we’ve drawn for this compilation:
Over coming months leading up to September we’ll be looking to “tour” the full project at various locations – both Hebridean and across the mainland – and in various ways, in order to mark the twenty-one year milestone. September will also see the completion of a permanent open access Island Voices Multilingual Archive in the University of the Highlands and Islands, thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund!
This film is a taster, and testament to the willing “no bother!” co-operation of hundreds of participants over the years in this community project, from North Uist to North-East India and beyond. We hope it will stir memories and interest!
Ma bhios sibh ann an Dùn Èideann anns an Ògmhios, bidh mi aig an fhèis-leabhair Cymera a-rithist am bliadhna, air Dihaoine, an 5mh latha, far am bi mi a’ bruidhinn mun leabhar ùr agam, An Luingeas Dorcha air Fàire. Ma thèid a h-uile rud mar a tha dùil againn (corragan croiste), bidh an leabhar fhèin air ais bhon chlò-bhualadair ron latha sin agus ri cheannach aig a’ chuirm. Bidh mi air an àrd-ùrlar còmhla ris an ùghdar Scots Robin C.M. Duncan air panail fon tiotal: Wor(l)d Weaving. Cha do thachair mi a-riamh ri Robin, agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair mhòr ris. Tha e a’ dol a bhith inntinneach. Thigibh ann!
Carson a tha trèanaichean a’ stad cho tràth/carson a tha consairtean a’ crìochnachadh cho anmoch?
Tha thu ag iarraidh a dhol gu gig. Bidh an gig a’ tighinn gu crìch aig mu 11f. Bidh na trèanaichean uile agus a’ mhòr-chuid de na busaichean a’ stad mu 11f.
Ann an Glaschu, gach turas a tha gig mòr san SECC, tha na miltean mòra de chàraichean anns a’ bhaile gun fheum idir air agus tha iad a’ dùmhlachadh an M8 gu mòr a bharrachd air an CO2 uile.
Chunnaic mi cuideigin a’ gearan sna pàipearan naidheachd an latha roimhe agus ag ràdh “carson nach eil na busaichean is na trèanaichean a’ ruith nas anmoiche”. Ach bha mise riamh a’ smaoineachadh “carson nach tig consairtean gu crìch aig 10 seach 11 gus am faigh daoine dhachaigh air còmhdhail phoblach?”
Tha e daonnan nas fhasa Mohammed a thoirt dhan bheinn seach a’ bheinn a thoirt gu Mohammed! Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh san fharsaingeachd gum bu chòir trèanaichean ruith nas anmoiche air an oidhche, gu h-àraid seirbheisean eadar-chathrach, ach cha bhiodh cosgaise a bharrachd ann do ScotRail no na companaidhean bus nan robh na consairtean a’ tighinn gu crìch aig 10.
Shaoilinn gum biodh cumhachd aig comhairlean no an Riaghaltas gus rudeigin a dhèanamh mu dheidhinn uairean ceadachaidh gus seo a chur an comas.
Mar a chanas iad sa chànan eile, ‘s e “measan aig ìre iosail” a tha seo!
Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), sàr chuicheadair blues ann an Glaschu.
Carson nach eil barrachd co-òrdanachaidh ann eadar aiseagan is trèanaichean/busaichean?
Tha an dà chuid ScotRail agus na h-aithisgean air a’ Chosta an Iar san roinn phoblaich is mar sin, shaoileadh tu gum biodh na clàran-ama nas co-òrdanaichte. Agus ged a tha na companaidhean bus prìobhaideachd sa mhòr-chuid, tha tòrr a’ faighinn subsadaidh nach beag bhon Riaghaltas.
Agus fiù ‘s nuair a tha ceangal oifigeil ann air a’ chlàr-ama, gu tric, tha na trèanaichean no busaichean a tha “a’ ceangal” ri bàtaichean clàraichte gus tighinn a-steach dìreach 5 no 10 mhionaidean mus falbh na bàtaichean, ged a tha CalMac ag ràdh gum feum thu a bhith ann co-dhiù 15 no 30 mionaidean mus falbh an aiseag! Agus ma tha thu a’ dol fad nas slighe bho Inbhir Nis is Ullapul air a’ bhus no eadar Glaschu is Malaig air an trèana, tha e furasta fhèin 5 no 10 mionaidean a chall air an t-slighe. Is iomadh turas a bha agam ri ruith eadar stèisean agus port Mhalaig aig peilear mo bheatha agus aithisg an Eilein fhaighinn!
Carson a tha Wifi ScotRail cho fìor, fìor dhona?
Is e eadar-theangair a th’ annam agus tha mi feumach air wifi gus m’ obair a dhèanamh. Is toil leam a bhith ag obair air trèanaichean agus bidh an t-eadar-theangachadh a nì mi air an trèana a’ maoineachadh tòrr de na tursan trèana agam mum bi mi a’ sgrìobhadh an seo. Ach is dòcha 50% den àm, chan fhaigh mi air a’ Wifi air an laptop agam idir. Chan eil e gu diofar a bheil an trèana trang no cha mhòr falbh. Agus chan eil e gu diofar dè an loidhne a th’ ann nas motha. (Gu h-annasach, tha an wifi air Loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath eadar Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir Theòrsa/Inbhir Ùige tòrr nas fhèarr na air an loidhne eadar Glaschu is Dùn Èideann – agus bha fiù ‘s mus d’ fhuair iad Starlink air loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath).
Agus cha d’ fhuair mi wifi ScotRail *riamh* air m’ fhòn làimh! (Agus tha mi air a bhith a’ feuchainn fad 10 bliadhna is còrr a-nis le trì no ceithir diofar fhònaichean!)
Carson idir a tha daoine den bheachd gu bheil e OK graffiti a dhèanamh air trèanaichean?
Airson adhbhar air choireigin, tha daoine a tha ri graffiti den bheachd gu bheil e daonnan OK a bhith a’ cur graffiti air trèanaichean ann an suidheachadh sam bith.
Nithear cron gu leòr air trèanaichean àbhaisteach ach ged a tha e cosgail, tha airgead gu leòr aig Subway Ghlaschu agus ScotRail gus a chur ceart gu luath.
Ach tha e nas miosa do bhuidhnean aig nach eil cus airgid. Tha trioblaid mhòr aig rathaidean-iarainn glèidhte le graffiti. Agus bho chionn ghoirid, chaidh grunn sheann trèanaichean aig Glaschu Subway a cheannaich le gnìomhachasan, agus sgoiltean airson seòmraichen clas, seòmaichean obrach is eile. Taobh a-staigh beagan làithean, chaidh na càraichean ann am Finnieston, ri taobh Pàirc Pollok agus aig sgoil àraich ann an Glaschu an Ear a graffititheadh chun na h-ìre is gur dòcha nach tèid an cleachdadh tuilleadh.
Cha bhi daoine a’ dèanamh graffitti air càraichean no air busaichean (uill, air taobh a-muigh nam busaichean co-dhiù), ach ma dh’fhàgar trèana fad còig mionaidean, cuiridh amadan air choireigin peant air, fiù ‘s ma tha e follaiseach gun deach obair mhòr a dhèanamh oirre. Agus ged nach cuireadh muinntir a’ ghraffiti peant air uinneagan taighe, peantaidh iad air uinneagan trèana gun a bhith a’ smaoineachahd mu dheidhinn.
Graffiti – chan eil e mòr, chan eil e glic agus chan eil e èibhinn….
Carson a tha companaidhean rèile cho spìocach le lounges?
Ma cheananicheas tu tiocaid 1d clas, faodaidh tu a dhol a-steach gu lounge aig a’ chompanaidh rèile agad. Bidh àite suidhe is bòrd cofhurtail ann le tì is cofaidh an-asgaidh ann agus is dòcha beagan greimean bidh. Tha seo gu math feumail ma dh’fheumas tu obrachadh. Ach leis cho daor ’s a tha tiocaidean 1d clas, chan fhiach e mar as trice.
Ach fiù ‘s ma tha tiocaid 1d clas agad, feumaidh e a bhith leis a’ chompanaidh cheart. Chan eil lounge aig a h-uile companaidh a tha a’ ruith trèanaichean 1d clas anns a h-uile stèisean a bhios iad a’ frithealach. Ann an Glaschu Mheadhain, mar eisimpleir, ma cheannaicheas tu tiocaid Avanti, faodaidh tu an lounge a chleachdadh, ach ma cheannaicheas tu tiocaid Cross Country no TPE, tha thu “on to plums” mar a chanas iad sa chànan eile agus chan fhaigh thu a-steach idir.
Saoilidh mi gum bu chòir cothrom aig duine sam bith a cheannaicheas tiocaid 1d clas a dhol a-steach gu lounge sam bith.
Tha e OK tron latha oir tha bùitean cofaigh gu leòr ann faisg air stèisean mòr sam bith – ach ma tha thu a’ feitheimh ri trèana air an oidhche, chan eil e cho furasta.
’S e an Caledonian Sleeper an eisimpleir as miosa. Chan eil e math gu leòr gu bheil leabaidh agad air an trèana, feumaidh tiocaid double no club a bhith agad. Tuigidh mi nach eil rùm gu leòr ann airson a h-uile duine a bhios a’ dol air an trèana (tha rùm airson ach tha tiocaid sam bith le leabaidh air leth fhèin daor agus saoilidh mi gu bheil e spiocach gum feum thu còrr math is £200 a chosg airson faighinn a-staigh. Bha lounges aig a’ chadalaiche an Dùn Dè agus Luacharas(airson Cill Rìmhinn) ach dhùin iad bho chionn ghoirid mar thoradh air ìrean cleachdaidh ìosail. Ach nam biodh iad air duine sam bith a tha a’ siubhail à Dùn Dè no Cill Rìmhinn a leigeil a-staigh, bhiodh iad fhathast ann, tha mi cinnteach oir tha e fuar is fliuch is mì-chaillear aig na stèiseanan ud anmoch air an oidhche agus tha thu feumach is airidh air àite blàth.
A bheil ceist sam bith agad nach eil thu a’ tuigsinn mu chòmhdhail na h-Alba?
Tha Comataidh ag iarraidh gum bi guth Albannach nas làidire aig a’ BhBC agus gum bi iad a’ dèanamh comharrachadh nas soilleire air cumhachdan tiomnaichte ann an craoladh nan naidheachdan Feumaidh barrachd ghuthan Albannach a bhith aig a’ BhBC ag innse sgeulachdan Albannach, feumaidh iad a bhith nas soilleire mu chùisean tiomnaichte agus glèidhte nan … Leugh an corr de Fios naidheachd: Comataidh ag iarraidh guth Albannach nas treasa aig a’ BhBC
Dè do bheachd air na molaidhean a tha gan cur an cèill ann an dreachd Plana Atharrachadh Gnàth-thìde Riaghaltas na h-Alba? A bheil iad a’ dol fada gu leòr? A bheil iad mionaideach gu leòr? Dè an còrr a ghabhas dèanamh gus a bhith cinnteach gun ruig Alba a targaidean a thaobh cothromachadh-carboin? Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba … Leugh an corr de Taigh an Ròid a’ sireadh dreachd Plana Atharrachadh Gnàth-thìde Riaghaltas na h-Alba
B’ ann fada air ais anns an Iuchar 2024 a thàinig mi fhìn agus na riochdairean-ciùil, Ill Equipped agus J-Roc, ri chèile air a’ cho-chomann agam, the Institute of Applied Piracy, anns na beanntan anns an Leth-eilean Oilimpeach faisg air Seattle a dh’obair air an òran seo. Bha Anna Roc air a guth a chlàradh mar-thà anns an Aodann Bhàn anns an Eilean Sgitheanach anns a’ gheamhradh roimhe, agus bha Ill Equipped agus J-Rock air turas rathaid bho Shan Fran Siosgo, a’ tadhal oirnn, agus ghabh sinn an cothrom. Tha e fhathast a’ còrdadh rium gu mòr, ach tha e doirbh a lorg air an eadar-lìon a-nis. Mar sin, chuir mi suas air YouTube e an-diugh:
Island Voices gets “the key to the door” this year, having grown out of the 2-year European POOLS project that started in September 2005. We’ve come a long way since then, with some interesting twists and turns along the route, to where we now stand with over 500 videos on our YouTube channel, and this WordPress blog-cum-website hosting a similar total number of posts and pages. And we’re not finished yet!
500 is no small number, and we have various ambitions for 2026 to mark and memorialise our work since 2005, including a range of public events and/or exhibitions, as well as the creation of a secure and permanent archive of the recordings so far made. We will share news about these as the year progresses and plans are finalised. Cùm cluas ri claisneachd!
In the meantime we can look back to that first project of 2005-2007 to remind ourselves of how we started out, and reflect on how things developed out of the initial seedlings, whether within the original project, or perhaps on occasion as divergent offshoots with their own interesting history…
“Capture and Curation”
Gordon Wells was taken on as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Projects Officer in September 2005 to look after the college’s contribution to the POOLS project. This, among other things, entailed the production of 20 videos each in Gaelic and English, to exemplify how teachers of low-resourced languages could create materials for themselves.
For the first workshop, participants were urged to script short sketches that could be acted out and recorded. These would focus on a particular language learning point or situation. Gordon’s draft script focused on a common enough situation for beginner learners – booking a place on a holiday summer school. (In his scenario it was a school for learners of Gaelic language and music. Hmm, where did he get that idea?!)
Following further thought and discussion, however, the decision was made to focus instead on short documentaries about local events or venues, and interviews with real people.
There were various pull factors behind this choice. With documentaries in place of sketches, the creator could still compose a script which could be deliberately shaped for a particular language teaching purpose, but this narrative voiceover could easily be reproduced in another language while still using the same picture sequence – an attractive option for a bilingual community situation. And the interviews allowed the creator to present authentic speech in a complementary fashion – giving community members the chance to participate actively in the production, while letting learners hear the language as it is actually spoken in the community rather than through a teacher-filtered process. From a teaching point of view this also offered a flexible topic-based bundle of resources that would be adaptable for mixed level group activities.
There was also a push factor, it should be said, in terms of the production demands entailed. Presenting scripted sketches – mini-dramas in effect – also requires the active involvement of willing and convincing actors to produce decently watchable results. And that needs a good deal more investment of time and resources, for example in planning and rehearsal. We were looking for economy of effort through relatively quick and easy “user-friendly” options, rather than highest quality production standards.
So we hit on the basic Island Voices “language capture and curation” model at an early stage in the process, and reached our full quota of 40 videos on time and in budget. This became our first series of Island Voices.
“The rest is history”, it might be said, but for full detail you can check Gordon’s 2023 comprehensive account of all the adaptations and developments over the first 18 years of the continuing project, while also noting that a further three pages (Sgìre a’ Bhac, Extensions, and Shortcuts) have since been added to the collections.
“Interesting Offshoots”
The award of the 2007 European Language Label for the original Series One was a satisfying prize, and invigorating stimulus to keep the project going. At this stage the materials were all still just on hard disc, and we were happy to share them on a loop at Nunton Steadings in Benbecula for the 2007 season of Uist Art Association’s “Art on the Map” trail. That same year Gordon first ventured online with his personal blog, before Island Voices had yet established its own internet presence, and his first post was on Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean: background thinking, while his second reflected on the European Award for Languages: a perspective on “community languages”. Any interested readers may notice the twin preoccupations with speech and bilingualism already present, although the initially narrow focus on language teaching and learning was later to broaden out to more explicitly encompass and prioritise language use in the community.
Yet it also turned out that Gordon’s initially fruitless stab at sketch-writing was not to prove a complete dead end. When the BBC/SMO collaboration on “LearnGaelic” later arrived on the scene, his summer school scenario was re-drafted with professional help and given the polished finish with accomplished actor-presenters that it properly needed in the “Conversations” section. This was further complemented by three more sketches in the same didactic vein, each with accompanying transcript and subtitling options while focusing on particular language teaching points. These are still available to view – Summer school, Designing a logo, Podcast, and Blog – alongside many other materials on the LearnGaelic site.
So, arguably, an explicit language teaching perspective was never truly lost by Island Voices – it just needed to find a more appropriate place to make a supporting contribution!
2026
A retrospective look always has the benefit of hindsight, of course, when positive patterns are revealed whose emergence could not necessarily be predicted. Island Voices has certainly encountered occasionally challenging and unlooked for “surprises” along the road towards its 21st birthday. And as we enter 2026 it’s not difficult to discern potential obstacles that might hinder further progress as we drive forward with our multilingual mission.
But that’s no reason to stop or turn back. As we’ve had cause to learn – cha do dhùin doras nach do dh’fhosgail doras!
And so we likewise wish all our followers all the best for the New Year, with the strength and determination to rise to any challenges and seize all opportunities.
With the official coming into force of the Scottish Languages Act on St Andrew’s Day, it may be worth noting that Island Voices has been steadily gathering collections of recordings in Gaelic communities over past months and years. Not all of these have been separately publicised on the blog before now, so we’re pleased to announce that both the Stòras Beò and Shortcuts pages have been recently updated to incorporate newer recordings that had not yet been made when these collections were first placed online.
And in addition to Scottish languages, those with a “pan-Gaelic” interest should note in particular that the Irish content from Donegal, and particularly Galway, has been growing steadily of late, after making a slower start over Zoom during the pandemic, with engaging stories and songs in cosy domestic settings coming to the fore. These, plus additional Hebridean recordings in Scottish Gaelic can all be found now through added links on the Stòras Beò page, taking the current total number of recordings in this collection up to 68, all accompanied by wordlinked transcriptions.
Similarly, links to the recent conversation with Cathie Laing have also been added to the Shortcuts collection, so the total number of separate video clips on this page is now 52, each complemented with both YouTube subtitling and a Clilstore transcript.
No doubt debate will continue over whether or not “Gaeltacht” or “Area of Linguistic Significance” official designations can or will have effective impact on actual language practice in either Scotland or Ireland. In any event these recordings provide model resources for anyone seeking samples of grounded authentic speech in real-life action.
SRADAGAN SAN IARMAILT / SPARKS IN THE FIRMAMENT Ginealach Ùr Bhàrd Gàidhealach / A New Generation Of Gaelic Poets Francis Boutle Publishers announces the publication of Sradagan san Iarmailt / Sparks in the Firmament, a major new anthology bringing together the foremost Gaelic poets to have emerged since the turn of the millennium. This wide-ranging […]
