Gaelic cultural centre in South Uist officially opens

Supported by £7.6m in Scottish Government funding since 2017, Cnoc Soilleir is home to the joint venture partnership of Ceòlas Uibhist and UHI North, West and Hebrides, for their own activities and events, as well as providing facilities for a range of local and wider activities – including concerts, dancing, ceilidhs, conferences, seminars and community events for all age groups. It also serves as a focus for Gaelic arts across Scotland and on the international stage.

The centre was officially opened as the Scottish Government announced £1.5 million for local authorities working to establish Areas of Linguistic Significance. This funding will support selected local authorities to promote Gaelic language and culture. 

First Minister John Swinney said: 

“Gaelic language and traditional arts are a vital part of Scotland’s history, culture and identity – particularly in rural and island areas. 

“It is vital we do all we can to ensure it can thrive for generations to come, and across the country, we are working to protect and promote Gaelic as an official language of Scotland and an important part of our heritage. Our £1.5 million funding for local authorities will support them to promote Gaelic in a way that best suits their communities, helping sustain the language and its traditions for the future.

“Cnoc Soilleir is a world-class beacon of arts and culture that will help to do exactly that. As a centre for learning, Cnoc Soilleir’s strong Gaelic ethos makes it a real asset for language and traditional culture, for the benefit of people locally and visitors alike. The most recent phase of its development will ensure it can offer even more events and activities in the area and provide a focus for the wider Gaelic diaspora around the world, while also encouraging tourism and the economic benefits that brings.”

Joanna Peteranna, HIE’s director of area operations, said:

“Gaelic is at the heart of the identity, culture and communities of our region and we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to helping Gaelic culture thrive.

“We are delighted to have invested £2.1m in the second phase of Cnoc Soilleir, a nationally significant project that is creating a centre for Gaelic language, culture, music and heritage in South Uist. The development will strengthen opportunities for Gaelic learning, cultural participation and community activity, while helping to safeguard and promote the rich traditions of the area.

“Investments like this demonstrate the important role Gaelic plays in supporting vibrant communities and creating social, cultural and economic benefits across the Highlands and Islands. By working with partners, we can help ensure Gaelic continues to flourish for generations to come.”

Alex O’Henley, Chair of Cnoc Soilleir Ltd said: 

“This is a momentous day for Cnoc Soilleir, the people of South Uist and our partner organisations as we formally mark the culmination of a 26-year-old community dream. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our community and our funders, especially the Scottish Government, and the challenge for us now is to ensure this world-class facility serves as a beacon of light which safeguards and celebrates our language, music and culture while ensuring the torch is passed on to future generations.”

Ionad cultarail Gàidhlig ann an Uibhist a Deas air fhosgladh gu h-oifigeil

Chaidh Cnoc Soilleir ann an Uibhist a Deas – ionad cultarail a tha ag obair gus ealain is cultar na Gàidhlig (a’ gabhail a-steach ceòl, cànan is dannsa) a thaisbeanadh agus a bhrosnachadh – fhosgladh gu h-oifigeil  leis a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear John Swinney.

Le taic luach £7.6m ann bho 2017 ann an cruth maoineachaidh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba, tha Cnoc Soilleir na dhachaigh do Cheòlas Uibhist agus OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall a tha ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas le chèile. Tha iad a’ cleachdadh an ionaid airson na gnìomhan is tachartasan aca fhèin a chur air dòigh; tha iad cuideachd a’ toirt ghoireasan do dh’fharsaingeachd de ghnìomhan san sgìre ionadail agus nas fhaide air falbh – nam measg cuirmean-ciùil, dannsa, cèilidhean, co-labhairtean, seiminearan agus tachartasan coimhearsnachd do gach aois. A bharrachd air seo, tha an t-ionad mar àite-cruinneachaidh do dh’ealain na Gàidhlig bho air feadh na h-Alba agus air an àrd-ùrlar eadar-nàiseanta.

Chaidh an t-ionad fhosgladh gu h-oifigeil fhad ’s a bha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ foillseachadh £1.5 millean do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail a tha ag obair gus Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte a stèidheachadh. Bheir am maoineachadh seo taic do chuid a dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail le bhith a’ brosnachadh cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.

Thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear John Swinney na leanas: 

“Tha cànan agus ealain thraidiseanta na Gàidhlig aig cridhe eachdraidh, cultar is fèin-aithne na h-Alba – gu h-àraid ann an sgìrean dùthchail is eileanach.

“Tha e deatamach gun dèan sinn nas urrainn dhuinn airson a bhith cinnteach gun soirbhich iad fad ghinealaichean ri teachd, agus tha sinn ag obair air feadh na dùthcha airson Gàidhlig a dhìon agus a bhrosnachadh mar chànan oifigeil na h-Alba agus mar phàirt chudromach dhen dualchas againn. Leis a’ mhaoineachadh againn de £1.5 millean do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail, gheibh iad taic le bhith a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig san dòigh a fhreagras as fheàrr ris na coimhearsnachdan aca, airson ’s gun gabh an cànan agus na traidiseanan na lùib a ghlèidheadh dhan àm ri teachd.

“’S e Cnoc Soilleir sàr, sàr ionad ealain is cultair a chuidicheas le bhith a’ dèanamh an dearbh rud seo. Mar ionad-ionnsachaidh, tha spiorad làidir na Gàidhlig aig Cnoc Soilleir ga dhèanamh na àite air leth do chànan is cultar traidiseanta a-chùm math muinntir an àite agus, mar an ceudna, math an luchd-tadhail. Leis an ìre as ùire seo de dh’obair-leasachaidh, ’s cinnteach gun tabhainn e fiù ’s tuilleadh thachartasan is gnìomhan dhan sgìre ionadail, agus gum bi sliochd nas fharsainge nan Gàidheal air feadh an t-saoghail a’ cumail sùil air. Agus aig an aon àm, thèid turasachd agus na buannachdan eaconamach a thig na cois a bhrosnachadh cuideachd.

Thuirt Joanna Peteranna, Stiùiriche Obrachaidh Sgìreil aig HIE:

“Tha a’ Ghàidhlig aig cridhe dearbh-aithne, cultar agus coimhearsnachdan na sgìre againn, agus tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air dealas Riaghaltas na h-Alba gus cultar na Gàidhlig a chuideachadh a bhith a’ soirbheachadh.

“Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil sinn air £2.1m a thasgadh anns an dàrna ìre de Chnoc Soilleir, pròiseact le cudrom nàiseanta a tha a’ cruthachadh ionad airson cànan, cultar, ceòl agus dualchas na Gàidhlig ann an Uibhist a Deas. Neartaichidh an leasachadh cothroman airson ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig, com-pàirteachadh cultarach agus gnìomhachd choimhearsnachd, agus aig an aon àm cuidichidh e le bhith a’ dìon agus a’ brosnachadh beairteas traidiseanan na sgìre.

“Tha tasgaidhean mar seo a’ sealltainn na dreuchd chudromaich a tha aig a’ Ghàidhlig ann a bhith a’ toirt taic do choimhearsnachdan beòthail agus a’ cruthachadh bhuannachdan sòisealta, cultarach agus eaconamach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Le bhith ag obair còmhla ri com-pàirtichean, faodaidh sinn cuideachadh gus dèanamh cinnteach gun lean a’ Ghàidhlig oirre a’ soirbheachadh airson nan ginealaichean ri teachd.”

Thuirt Ailig O’Henley, Cathraiche Chnoc Soilleir Earr., na leanas:

“’S e latha air leth cudromach a tha seo do Chnoc Soilleir, muinntir Uibhist a Deas agus na buidhnean com-pàirteach againn, ’s sinn a’ comharrachadh gu h-oifigeil mar a chaidh bruadar coimhearsnachd a thoirt gu buil aig ceann 26 bliadhna. Cha robh sinn air a’ chùis a dhèanamh mura b’ e an taic a fhuair sinn bhon choimhearsnachd agus bhon luchd-mhaoineachaidh againn, gu h-àraid bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba. ’S e an dùbhlan a tha romhainn a-nis gun dèan sinn cinnteach gum bi an sàr-ghoireas seo mar lòchran a ghlèidheas agus a chomharraicheas ar cànan, ceòl is cultar – agus feumaidh gun tèid an dìleab a thoirt air adhart do ghinealaichean an ama ri teachd.”