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 an seisean pàrlamaideach a-nis air tighinn gu crìch agus tha seo a’ toirt deagh chothrom dhuinn sùil a thoirt air mar a bhios sinn a’ conaltraidh sa Ghàidhlig sa Phàrlamaid ùire. Tha sinn airson faighinn a-mach ciamar a tha luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig airson cluinntinn bhon Phàrlamaid agus airson eadar-obrachadh rithe – tron chuairt-litir againn, … Leugh an corr de Beachdan gan sìreadh air cuairt-litir agus conaltradh Gàidhlig
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
Bho chionn ghoirid, bha mi ann an Lunnainn airson taistealachd roc is rèile – le beagan fortea cuideachd!
Às dèidh dhomh tadhal air Sràid nan Càball, rinn mi air Stèisean Aldgate an Ear gus an Underground a ghlacadh agus stad mi air an t-slighe aig comharra ionadail suaicheanta – the Aldgate Pump.
Pumpa AldgateAm Madadh-allaidh mu dheireadh an Lunnainn
Gu h-eachdraidheil, bha am pumpa air fhaicinn mar a’ chrìoch eadar Cathair Lunnainn agus Lunnainn an Ear. Nas cudromaiche na sin, tha deagh sgeulachd ann mu dheidhinn!
A rèir Wiki:
Served by one of London’s many underground streams, the water was praised for being “bright, sparkling, and cool, and of an agreeable taste”. These qualities were later found to be derived from decaying organic matter from adjoining graveyards, and the leaching of calcium from the bones of the dead in many new cemeteries in north London through which the stream ran from Hampstead
’S ann a bha muinntir an àite ag òl sùgh nan zombie!
Tha ceann madadh-allaidh air a’ phumpa cuideachd oir a rèir beul-aithris, ’s ann an seo a chaidh am madadh-allaidh mu dheireadh ann an Lunnainn a mharbhadh – ged nach eil luchd-eachdraidh a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil seo fìor idir.
Leis a sin bha an t-àm ann a dhol air safari rèile an latha. Tha mi a’ feuchainn ri dhol air gach rathad-iarainn san RA agus a rèir na làraich-lìn viaduct.world, tha mi air 52% den lìona a dhèanamh gu ruige seo (a’ gabhail a-steach Alba agus Èirinn a Tuath air fad agus mu 50% den Chuimrigh). Tha mi a’ feuchainn ris a h-uile rathad-iarainn a dhèanamh ann an Lunnainn a-nis agus tha mi air an Underground agus London Tramlink air fad a dhèanamh agus tha mi a-nis a’ cur crìoch air an Overground.
Chaidh ainmean ùra a chur air na loidhnichean Overground bho chionn ghoirid. Bha mi a’ dol air an loidhne air an robh am far-ainm “The Goblin line” roimhe – Gospel Oak – Barking Line”. A-nis, ‘s e an Suffragette Line a th’ oirre
Bha molaidhean eile agam airson ainmean nan loidhnichean, stèidhichte air a’ Chlash agus Big Audio Dynamite (an còmhla aig Mick Jones às dèidh a’ Chlash) ach cha deach gabhail riuth gu mì-fhortanach!
Bha mi ag èisteachd ris a’ Chlash air an trèana nuair a rinn mi air Gospel Oak gus an trèana Overground a ghlacadh.
Cha robh mi riamh air Loidhne nan Suffragette (no Loidhne Topper Headon mar a th’ agam air) roimhe agus bha ùidh mhòr agam san loidhne leis gun deach a leudachadh bho chionn bliadhna no dhà.
B’ àbhaist dhan loidhne a bhith a’ crìochnachadh ann am Barking, ach chaidh a leudachadh gu stèisean ùr Barking Riverside a dh’fhosgail ann an 2022.
Bha stèisean ùr a dhìth oir thathar a’ togail nam mìltean de thaighean ùra ann, air talamh fàs far an robh stèisean cumhachd Barking uair. Tha an rathad-iarainn ùr uile air drochaid àrd leis gum feum e a dhol thairis air a’ phrìomh rathad-iarainn aig Barking.
Stèisean Barking Riverside air latha fuar, fliuch geamraidhTrèana Overground aig Barking Riverside deiseil airson a dhol air ais gu Gospel Oak
Bha mi letheach slighe tron latha agus bha mi airson stad airson cofaidh ach a rèir coltais, tha meadhan a’ bhaile piosag air falbh bhon stèisean. Tha soidhnichean mòra air feadh an àite le “A place to be, become and belong” agus tha mi cinnteach gum bi sinn fìor uair no uaireigin ach an-dràsta, tha e a’ faireachdainn nach eil e idir deiseil agus tha e caran coltach ri baile spaideil ùr ann am meadhan Inbhir Ghrèinnse!
Leis gun robh e fuair is fliuch, chaidh mi air ais dhan stèisean agus fhuair mi an trèana gu Gospel Oak, far an do ghlac mi trèana eile gu Clapham Junction agus tè eile gu Barnes.
‘S ann ann am Barnes a chaidh an rionnag roc Marc Bolan a mharbhadh ann an 1977 ann an tubaist càr. Tha carragh-chuimhne a-nis ann far an d’ fhuair am Bolanach bàs agus ’s e “the Bolan Rock Shrine” a chanar ris air na soidhnichean agus air google maps.
Bha mi riamh deidheil air T-Rex, gu h-àraid nuair a bha iad rocmhor! Tha sinn builteach a bhith a’ smaoineachadh air a’ Bholanach mar sgrìobhadair òrain seach mar chluicheadair giotàir ach seall air a’ bhideo seo gus faicinn cho math ‘s a bha e!
’S e àite snog a th’ ann an le tiodhlacan beaga a dh’fhàg luchd-leantainn T-Rex à air feadh an t-saoghail, gu sònraichte ealachan (“Ride a White Swan”) agus losgannan (bhon òran “New York City”: “Did you ever see a woman coming out of New York City/With a frog in her hand?”)
Nis, bidh fios aig daoine a tha a’ leantainn a’ bhloga seo nach eil mi idir air an Kool Aid òl a thaobh AI. Dhearbhaich Marc Bolan fhèin gu bheil mi ceart a bhith amharrasach mu dheidhinn aon uair eile!
Ciamar? Bha an cluicheadair giotàr cliùiteach Peter Green (1946-2020) a stèidhich Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac mun aon aois ri Bolan, bha an dithis aca à Lunnainn an Ear agus bha an dithis aca nan Iùdhach agus iad an sàs ann an cèol sa bhaile aig an aon àm.
Ghooglaich mi “Did the musicians Marc Bolan and Peter Green know each other”.
Thuirt freagairt AI Google “There is no recorded evidence to suggest that Marc Bolan and Peter Green knew each other but they were involved in the London music scene at the same time so may have known each other”.
Bha trioblaid agam leis a’ choimpiutair is bha agam ri reboot a dhèanamh. Chuir mi an aon cheist a-staigh a-rithist agus thuirt freagairt AI Google:
“Yes, the musicians Marc Bolan and Peter Green did know each other…..” agus bha fiosrachadh a bharrachd ann mun dàimh eadorra.
A-steach dhan mhuir le AI.
Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, “Rattlesnake Shake”, 1970
Às dèidh cnuasachadh air Bolan is cho cudromach ’s a bha e dhomh, agus do chomhlain roc air a bheil mi dèidheil, ghlac mi an trèana gu Waterloo airson beagan spòrs mion-chànanach!
Air an t-slighe, fhuair mi an Waterloo and City Line, “an drèana” – loidhne bheag ach brèagha – gu Bank, is choisich mi gu Cannon Street gus an trèana a ghlacadh gu Blackheath. Tha “an drèana” car coltach ri Subway Ghlaschu, beag agus quirky.
Trèana Waterloo and City
Às dèidh dhomh coiseachd eadar Bank agus stèisean Cannon Street, ghlac mi an trèana gu Blackheath.
Carson a bha mi a’ dol an sin? Gus eachdraidh na Cùirne a chomharrachadh!
‘S ann an sin a rinn arm Shasainn a’ chùis air Ar-a-mach Còrnach 1497 agus chaidh plac a chur an àirde gus a chomharrachadh ann an 1997 gus 500 bliadhna a chomharrachadh.
Tha e a’ comharrachadh tachartas bronach ach tha e math Còrnais fhaicinn agus tha e daonnan na bhrosnachadh dhomh cho math ’s a tha ath-bheòthachadh na Còrnais a’ dol.
A’ bruidhinn air mion-chànanan, bha mi airson a dhol gu Twickenham far an do rugadh Dwelly gus dealbh a thogail den taigh san do rugadh e. Cheannaich mi lethbhreac den teisteanas breith aige agus rugadh e ann an Crown Crescent. Gu mì-fhortanach, ge-tà, cha b’ urrainn dhomh a lorg idir. Chan eil e ann tuilleadh a rèir coltais ach cha b’ urrainn dhomh a lorg air seann mhapaichean OS nas motha – ged a tha Crown Street agus taigh-seinnse “the Crown” ann. Feumaidh mi beagan a bharrachd rannsachaidh a dhèanamh!
Choisich mi tro phàirc àlainn Greenwich an uair sin a’ smaoineachadh air Dwelly agus Còranis agus ghlac mi an trèana air ais gu meadhan a’ bhaile airson biadh deochag agus an trèana dhachaigh.
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.
