Many non-Gaelic speakers are interested in the language, want to learn it, try to learn it but give up, largely throughlack of support.

The Gaelic 2012 initiative is designed to help the bridging of that gap where many folk get lost.

It is organised by a group of people who describe themsevles as ‘… a group of people who are interested in Gaelic language learning. Some of us want to learn Gaelic ourselves. Some of us want to help others learn Gaelic. Some of us have tried to learn Gaelic in the past, but have found it difficult to find the right amount of support.’

The idea has also been born from research results showing that most people learn better collectively than alone, with the initiators realising that onlone networking can create a lively collective of this kind.

Anyone determined to mark 2012 by learning Gaelic and who wold find this initiative a valuable way of doing it, is welcome to:

• enter their email address at the foot of the introductory website page here
• email gaelic2012info@gmail.com

BBC ALBA catches the thrills and spills of life on the road for one of Scotland’s favourite ceilidh bands. The Vatersay Boys from the Barra archipelago in the Western Isles. Their home island is, of course, now way up the wish list of tourist destinations because of the runaway television series hit last winter  – An Island Parish and with its beach runway now the world’s most desired landing.

The Vatersay Boys gave the Gaelic channel exclusive access in the lead-up to their gig at Glasgow’s legendary Barrowlands Ballroom in December 2011.

On Hogmanay, BBC ALBA viewers will have the chance to join band members Michael, Donnie, Andy and Joe at this gig – Balaich Bhatarsaigh @ Na Barrowlands – and see some of the country’s best-loved ceilidh music played to a capacity crowd who just don’t stop dancing.

Then, on the following Thursday, January 5, the channel will screen Beware the Vatersay Boys – Balaich Bhatarsaigh, a one-hour documentary charting life with the band in the six months before that gig.

The lens follow the band during their everyday lives – including in their work in a variety of jobs as postman, bin man and fisherman – and the microphones pick up on what motivates the band and what they think of each other.

However, it is on tour when things really start to liven up. The first gig captured is an energetic afternoon set at the band’s local pub in Castlebay – which is followed by an even livelier evening gig in the main tent at Barra Fest.

Despite the band having access to four managers, viewers will see that things don’t always run to schedule. (Late? Vatyousay?) Gigs can also be organised at a minute’s notice – as witnessed with a Barra to Aberdeen to Shetland tour which is changed overnight for a gig in Glasgow.

As well as the planned concerts, the Vatersay Boys are also well known for playing impromptu sets, as demonstrated in the bar on the ferry where they entertain passengers on their journey to play at the Big Bannock festival in Shetland.

Despite travelling the length and breadth of Scotland, the band remain keen to maintain their roots, which is demonstrated at a local ceilidh in the Vatersay village hall, where drummer and band leader Donnie MacNeil explains the true ethos of the band.

The programme foillows the boys into the recording studio on Vatersay – owned by Donnie’s brother, former Simple Minds keyboard player, Mick MacNeil, who acts as their resident sound engineer.

Finally, the band packs up and heads for the Barrowlands gig with the road to Glasgow encapsulating their tour spirit – plenty of banter with a few unexpected twists and turns.

Both Balaich Bhatarsaigh @ Na Barrowlands and Beware the Vatersay Boys – Balaich Bhatarsaigh were produced by Nick Low and Helena Gallagher of Demus/HG Productions for BBC ALBA.

Helena, who spent significant time on the road with the band, said: “When we started following the Vatersay Boys for this documentary, we soon discovered ‘the plan is there is never a plan. Life on the road with them was never boring. They are a true musical phenomenon and a band that all Scottish music fans should be proud of.’

• Balaich Bhatarsaigh @ Na Barrowlands will screen on BBC ALBA on Saturday 31st December 2011 at 21.30.
• Beware the Vatersay Boys –Balaich Bhatarsaigh will screen on BBC ALBA on Thursday 5th January 2012 at 21.00.

The photographs above show The Vatersay Boys in action at the Barrowlands in December 2011. They are by copyright holder Julie Broadfoot and are reproduced here by permission.

This Wednesday – 21st December 2011 – it’s right out there again, confronting a subject few would ever have imagined the Gaelic media even mentioning – paedophilia.

In the latest programme of the channel’s current affairs series, Eòrpa, Darren Laing reports from Germany on an innovative project designed to deal with paedophiles.

Those who feel that they have paedophile tendencies are encouraged to seek therapy anonymously in specialised centres, even if they have never committed a paedophile act.

However – and perhaps inevitably – the project has met with some criticism from those who feel that it would be better to spend the money on victims of paedophilia. Petra, a former victim of child abuse, is seen saying: ‘I do not approve of the project at all. I consider the project a trivialization of sexual violence. They make use of the language of perpetrators. They talk about ‘love’ towards children even though a criminal act is happening instead.’

Dr. Max Stadler, of the German Ministry of Justice, says: ‘Obviously sex offenders have to be prosecuted but this prosecution might be too late for the victims. Therefore it is better to develop a strategy of prevention which keeps potential perpetrators from committing a crime such as abusing children or watching child pornography on the internet.’

While it is to be expected that such a programme will be controversial, whatever addresses problems of any kind at source has to be worth serious consideration.

This episode of Eorpa airs on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 21st December 2011 at  8.30pm.

It is tracking the route and the diverse work and services of the Tribuna, a triple decker river boat that, for one week every month, sails into the Amazon delta of Amapa State from the provincial capital of Macapa, to river communities in places where there are no roads and travel is slow and expensive.

On its bow, the Tribuna declares ‘Justice sails in’ – and it does, bringing a judicial service alongside doctors, dentists and social workers. They all live aboard the Tribuna during each trip, sleeping in hammocks on the open decks. While the river court sits, the other service professionals on the boat set about solving physical, health and social problems.

This is a specific solution to a very specific place – the bewildering and immense geography of the Amazon delta and the remote communities it supports.

For the last 13 years, Judge Sueli Pini  and her colleagues in ‘The Justice Boat’ have been dispensing common sense justice on matters like ownership, divorce, alimony payments, marriages – she once married three generations of the same family at the same time; and very occasionally, murders. When necessary, the entire court pitches up into the jungle to visit the scene of the crime.

Often – 90% she says – Judge Pini’s interventions are in disputes that can be solved by her persuasion of the combatants to shake hands and forget it.

Sometimes, though, the cases are quite comples. Back in 2001, in Sucuriju, a 700 strong village divided equally between Catholics and Protestants, the river court solved a serious religious dispute.

Each side had been using loudspeakers to blast out thier own propaganda at the other side – both at the same time, creating a mad and permanent cacophany. The river judge’s solution was simply to timetable separate slots for the broadcasts, cutting the noise levels by half.

A perpetual problem is caused by water buffaloes who, during droughts, cross rivers in to a neighbours territory, and then create havoc among crops.

The judgments laid down by the river court are enforced by local police or community elders and, of course, next month the boat will be back again.

This intriguing programme details a distinctive culture and a flexible solution to elemnts of its administration. One to watch.

FilmG is MG ALBA’s Gaelic online shorts competition aimed at uncovering new talent and ideas for BBC ALBA. The competition is open to anybody over 12 to make a three to five minute short film in Gaelic. It is also open to students and to communities, with specific prizes appropriate to each category.

There is now only one month to go until the closing date for the 2012 FilmG – but the competition organisers say that this is still plenty of time to make a short film of this duration – and of course it is.

So if you’ve not heard of it before or if you’ve not got a move on – sometimes the best ideas come when you’re under the gun.

This year FilmG is expecting to receive more films than ever, especially in the 12-17 year old category> This is the one the FilmG workshop team has been targeting to start building a talent pool of emerging film makers. The team has been visiting schools throughout the country helping classes to make their films.

Last year the competition attracted 71 entries with 34 in the adult competition and 37 in the 12-17 category.

The films being entered by schools are full of murder, mystery, suspense and, as always, a touch of comedy. The entry from Plockton High School includes a monkey creating his own line of cleaning products; whilst Lochaber High School are filming their own Gaelic Dragon’s Den starring Father Christmas. That’s one  business plan we’d like to see.

This year, more entries are also expected in the ‘best student film’ award, where many budding film makers have been inspired by the ‘On the Threshold’ theme  – a territory they inhabit as they study and plan for their futures.  And there is., of course, the fantastic prize of one month’s work experience with a production company. That’s a certain CV booster.

Community groups are also encouraged to get involved – with a £1,000 prize for the winning entry in the ‘best community film’ award. Uist Drama Group is one group which has been encouraged by FilmG to swap stage for screen to make a short entry for this year’s competition.

Floraidh Forrest from FilmG says: ‘Year on year FilmG has successfully attracted more film entries from all over the country and beyond and this year’s competition looks set for receiving a record number of entries.

‘Each year we have been greatly encouraged by the level of interest and enthusiasm for the competition across all categories and the degree of creativity in the Gaelic film making sector. If you’re still thinking about entering there is still plenty of time to start with one month to go before the closing date and many online resources still available to help you on your way.’

The films promise to be as high a standard as ever and all will be available to view online once the competition closes. The winning films will be announced at the FilmG Awards ceremony which we can now reveal will be at the Fruitmarket in Glasgow on the 9th March 2012.

If you’re still trying to find inspiration then you can view all short-listed and winning films from previous years available online.

To be in with a chance of winning some great prizes as well as being able to attend the fabulous awards ceremony, all you need to do is make a 3-5 minute short film in Gaelic and enter it via the FilmG website -  by 6 January 2012.

If you are not a Gaelic speaker, help is available through TalantG, where Gaelic speakers are willing to assist with translations, voice-overs and acting.

And in terms of Argyll activity in making films for FilmG  – The FilmG team have been at Tobermory High School and Tiree High School helping them with entries and are working with Islay this week and next.

Stand by for a Christmas Food & Craft Fayre with stalls full of gifts and treats,  a tearoom with home baking, a ‘Buskers’ Stage’ showcasing lots of local talent and a free children’s lantern making workshop.

Entry is by donation (they’ll take 20p but why not give the Burgh Hall a Christmas present and make it a donation towards its future for the town?).

Lights on

At 16.30 the action moves outside as the Burgh Hall takes the lead in organising Dunoon’s Christmas Lights Switch-on.

Compered by Alex Pollock, Dunoon Primary School Choir and Sandband Primary School Gaelic Choir and others let it rip for the festive season.  And that;s before you get to hot
chocolate and a mince pie or shortbread to add fuel to this most festive of family celebrations.

You can help

The Burgh Hall would be glad of donations of items for the tombola or some home baking for the tearoom. The pleasure of good home baking never fails.

Donations can be dropped off at the Burgh Hall any time the doors are open – or on the day.

And – anyone caring to give time in helping in the tearoom or to prepare and serve the hot chocolate would be welcome with seasonally open arms.

The theme of the 2011 Lantern Parade at Lochgilphead on Guy Fawkes Day,Saturday 5th November, is pretty clear from the bonfire structure already defending the approaches to The Corran at the head of Loch Gilp: Under the Sea. The Mid Argyll, Round Table have, again, come up with the goods.

The Parade – and with a theme like this, there have to be some stunning lanterns emerging from the imaginations (and hands) of the participants – comes down the main street of Lochgilphead to Colchester Square and swings right along the front to the green opposite The Corran for the bonfire and fireworks.

In Colchester Square there is the additional delight of spectacular images projected – this year onto the two gables that face into the square – at the Coriander Indian restaurant and at Lloyds Pharmacy.

The photographic project, Snapberry – was pioneered last year by Scottish Natural Heritage with Lochgilphead High School whose pupils take the photographs which, in 2011, are from the lovely Taynish Nature Reserve between Lochgilphead and Tayvallich. BB C ALBA went out to Taynish to film the photographers at work and will be in Lochgilphead on Saturday night to catch the parade. They’ll be transmitting a programme on the entire event later on the year – we’ll keep you posted.

BBC ALBA is good at catching creative energies and promoting them. With journalist and cameraman Andreas Wolff a regular feature of any interesting local events around the Highlands and Islands., it’s developing into what feels like a first class community television channel.

Street lights go out in Lochgilphead at 6.00pm on Saturday and come back on at 7.30pm – the projected images and the lanterns look fabulous.

Projectionist David Organ, from Edinbuurgh’s Presentation House,who did such a splendid job last year, will be on the cherry picker again. THe photographers are form Lochgilphead High school’s fourth year who took part in the 2011 Snapberry project with Caroline Anderson from Scottish Natural Heritage. Alongside thei9r images will be some of SNH\’s own from their renowned photographer, Lorne Gill. He has contributed images of the natural world  below the water – in tune with the 2011 theme dfor the event.

Trish Collins and the team at the heart of the event have been working theoirs and everyone’s fingers to the bone for ages now, getting the lanterns ready for Saturday. They never disappoint and always catch your breath.

This is a ‘Be There’ event, rain or moon.

Full details are that the evening will begin with Campbeltown Brass band playing in Colchester square from 6pm.  There will also be images projected on to the walls of the buildings within the square and they are from the snapberry project.  The parade itself will begin with everyone mustering at the the reporters office in Manse Brae and the parade will start at 1830hours.  It proceeds along Union Street, Brodie Crescent, Manse Brae and then down Argyll Street into Poltalloch Street where the crowd will stop to watch the wonderful fireworks display by the Round Table.

The mental health condition, Bipolar has become increasingly known in recent years with many celebrities and public figures talking openly about the illness.  

In America, statistics show that 1% of the population suffers from it. It is unlikely that any one of us does not know someone witr the condition or, indeed, experiences it ourselves.
 
As part of its Trusadh series, BBC ALBA is transmitting a moving documentary, Suas is sìos nam Inntinn : Bipolar & Me, on Monday 24th October at 9.00pm

In the programme, 29 year-old Rhoda Meek, who has strong family links to the Island of Tiree (but now lives in the Glasgow area), takes viewers on a personal pole to pole journey. Rhoda gives viewers insights into living with the illness as well as exploring the many stigmas that those with mental health problems experience.
 
Hearing from others who have experienced mental health problems, Rhoda learns how they have managed to cope with difficulties. Amongst those that she speaks to is her father, Professor Donald Meek, as well as the psychologist Dr Rachel MacLeod.
 
Rhoda Meek has suffered from depression since she was a teenager. At 19 she was a presenter on the children’s programme, Dè a-nis?  Bubbly and with a ‘give anything a go’ attitude, you would never have known that beneath the surface, she was battling with depression through these years.

This is because the other pole of the condition is an almost hyperactive outgoingness where nothing is a problem and everything is a challenge that can be overcome.
 
Two years ago, Rhoda found herself having intense mood swings, going from being in a great mood to becoming extremely irritable, it was then she was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder.
 
According to the Mental Health Foundation, mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, however, despite this high prevalence, Rhoda is all too aware of the fear that often surrounds the illness.
 
The programme will look at how difficult it is for people to accept that they, or a family member, are experiencing mental health problems, and how hard it is to acknowledge and to speak out.

‘Otherness’ is never easy for anyone but accommodating the ‘other’ constructively, inclusively and with understanding is the mark of self confident and open society.
 

The service was launched at an event held at the Royal National Mòd in Stornoway and is the result of a unique collaboration between Bòrd na Gàidhlig, MG ALBA, the BBC, the Board of Celtic Studies Scotland and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. LearnGaelic.net has also received financial support from the Scottish Government.
 
The core aim of the website is to present enhanced Gaelic learning resources in a single online portal where, through time, learners of all ages and abilities can source the help they require when learning the language.
 
The website is split up into three broad areas of content for adult learners focusing on beginners, intermediate and advanced, with a further three sections for young learners at stages under five, primary and secondary school, with detailed guidance for parents, carers and teachers.
 
The website draws together newly commissioned content including a brand new online dictionary and thesaurus, a searchable Gaelic terminology database and guidance on Gaelic grammar, all of which are essential tools for learners and users of Gaelic. Additional language tools are also available such as spellcheckers and web browsers.
 
A range of existing resources that offer quality Gaelic learning materials have also been incorporated into the website including more than 400 video clips from the popular television series Speaking our Language. Information about the Gaelic language and culture is also available through links with new resources recently launched by the Open University.
 
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning and Skills (with responsibility for Gaelic & Scots) was in attendance to endorse the new website, and said: ‘The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant and sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland, and with recent research showing high levels of interest in where and how people can learn the language, initiatives like LearnGaelic.net must be welcomed.  As a Gaelic learner myself, I warmly welcome these new resources.
 
‘The site should have something for everyone – beginners, youngsters and teachers – and I expect it to become an important resource in Gaelic education.’
 
A dedicated freephone helpline will also be made available from Friday 21 October which will allow users to gain expert advice, directed to appropriate resources pertinent to their individual needs, as well as being assessed on their level of fluency.
 
In addition, for those also keen to learn Gaelic on a face-to-face basis, full details are available on where people can find Gaelic classes and courses in their own areas.  

Until we see the site, we won’t know the answer to this, but an important missing link seems to be in the speaking of the language.
Most of those keen to learn the language are eager to be able to speak it and – critically, to understand what they hear when Gaelic speakers use it.

How many of us have spent time digesting a phrase book on a plane on the way to somewhere whose language is utterly unfamiliar to us – and forgotten that we may well learn to ask the key questions – but we won’t have a clue what the answers mean?
 

While the channel says that the presenter then examines the parallels between the Italian situation and ‘countries in the north and the south of the EU’, it’s our guess that one of these parallels may be that between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

BBC ALBA asks if there are positive lessons to be learned from how Italy deals with its economic and cultural divides – or if such divisions pose an insurmountable barrier to economic success, putting both Italy and the Eurozone at risk?

The programme hears from some residents in Italy on their attitudes to the current economic division.

Massimiliano Bacillieri, a lawyer from Bologna in the north of Italy, says: ‘I am already sorry we have to support the south of Italy. Imagine having to support a country that isn’t ours. But what alternative do we have? I want to see if the south of Italy – if they don’t get any help – will they roll up their sleeves and get to work for themselves?’

While this attitude may not be uncharacteristic, there is something spiritually impoverished about it, where John Donne’s famous ‘No man is an island…’ puts us in touch with the largeness of mankind.

When the communist regimes of eastern Europe fell with the Berlin Wall in 1989, what was then West Germany rolled up its sleeves, was inclusive and took responsibility for the east. There was something inspirational about this, something which did not stop to count the cost.

There is a difference between the will to self-determination and the maintaining of the consciousness Donne declaims in the statement in the same passage: :”I am a part of mankind’.

The programme also seems to look at the personal circumstances of those on the losing side of economic recession. Martino Bitetti, currently not working, from Bari in the south of Italy, says: ‘We have had some difficulties – economic ones, first of all, but also morally – because to get to a certain age and be put out of a company and out of the working population is one of the worst things that can happen to a person.’

Then, in a logic we cannot as yet, quite grasp, the programme is said also to see Darren Laing using information from a BBC Freedom of Information request to examine the implications of some early Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects in Scotland.  Seven instances have been found where the land lease extends up to 105 years longer than the initial operating contract.

Economist Jim Cuthbert, looking at the findings of a study into the origins of PFI, says: ‘Advice was given from the treasury that giving a long initial lease like this helped with the process of getting the project off the government’s books. Secondly, it was felt that this kind of long lease and the break clauses attached to these long leases helped to bind the public sector in.’

This looks to us like two programmes rather than one and that examining the iniquitous PFI, later PPP, financing arrangements is one that would reward an in depth study and widespread broadcasting. This is an issue we all need to know a lot more about because this beast has not gone away.

We’ll be watching the programme to see how it actually holds together.

When, a couple of weeks ago, we published an article on BBC ALBA’s upcoming series, Turas Tony, which sees Tony Kearney from Scotland’s soap opera, River City, take on a series of tough real-life challenges, we noted that one of the four was in Tiree.

Coinciding with the 2010 Tiree Wave Classic, with the Atlantic island full to  bursting with boardsailors, Kearney became manager of the Gott Bay Hotel. We understand that the term ‘Learning curve’ did not come close.

Several readers asked us to let them know when the Tiree show would be aired.

It’s been chosen to start the series and will be shown this coming Monday, 19th September 2011.

Tony Kearney is shown in the photograph above, at the hotel, with some of its staff and guardian exotic visitors.

Trusadh – The Big Day (Trusadh La Mor Na Bainnse), airs tonight at 9.00pm.

Taking its usual and refreshing left field angle, BBC ALBA focuses not on what we all know was takign place at Westminster Abbey on 29th April this year, but what everyone else in the country was up to on that day – althoug they do focus on folk either immersing themselves in or consciously rejecting the event.

It would ave been interesting to check out those working on the day in jobs far removed from the great spectacle of London en fete, from the complex emotions of watching the son of a young woman who had been sacrificed to archaism and, in her own way triumphed over it, take what is clearly his own way to a life that has learned positively from hers.

Billed as an insightful and touching documentary, this finds out what a very diverse groups of people across the country were doing on the royal wedding day – and, in doing so, gives a snapshot of modern attitudes towards the royals.

After several months of media frenzy, the big day arrived and Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate Middleton. However, a number of others had also marked the 29th April to be their special day and after months, and in some cases, years of planning, found themselves sharing their wedding day in a way they could never have imagined.

One such couple were Finlay MacDermid from Scalpay and Anisha McNicol from Inverness.

During the run up to their big day in Inverness, as wedding fever gripped the nation, the documentary follows their journey from the dress and kilt fittings, to the nerves and excitement of the big day itself.

Anisha wasn’t at all bothered about sharing her big day with William and Kate. – and her mother had a canny Scots take on the coincidence. ‘I think it’s quite a nice thing, and Mum said that maybe in 50 years time when they’ve got their 50th wedding anniversary we might be invited to Buckingham Palace. So that might not be a bad thing’.

Margaret MacMillan from Lewis has been an avid collector of royal memorabilia for many years, and feels that the Royal wedding is all about family. ‘It draws people together into family units, and makes them feel family orientated – and that’s the good thing about it at this downturn time. It gives people a boost and will give the economy a boost.’

Others though don’t agree. Amongst them, media commentator, Iain MacIver said: ‘There are huge costs involved – not just for the wedding,which they say will cost £50 million, but it will cost the economy £5 billion. Whereas at the same time there are public service cuts including home care services. It makes no sense.’

While there were street parties happening across the length and breadth of the country to celebrate the big day, there were few happening in Scotland.

The anti-monarchy group, Republic, also held their own ‘not the royal wedding’ alternative street party in London. Marjory Smith and Maureen Wallace travelled from Nairn to make their feelings know. ‘Republic decided they didn’t want to give ground to the monarchists and said this is our country as well’, explained Marjory. ‘And we’re not going to let you take the place over and say Britain loves the monarchy because Britain doesn’t’,Maureen added: ‘For a lot of people it’s just another celebrity wedding.’

However, as the events of the day unfolded, many took the opportunity to celebrate in their own way at home in front of the television.

Amongst them were mother and daughter, Anna MacLeod and Maryann MacIver in Lewis, who got dressed up especially for the occasion. Maryann explained that her mother had always been fond of the royal family and that has influenced her too.  She also feels the lack of street parties in Scotland wasn’t indicative of the true feelings in the country and that there were lots of small events like theirs happening in people’s homes. ‘I think that in our hearts, especially the younger generation, that they like this a lot. But they don’t want others to know how much they like this family. We’re like that as Scots too.’

Scotland also did the ‘alternative’ approach with more eclat than most.

A community group in Harris in Leac a’ Lì took the opportunity to have their own colourful, alternative mock wedding and party with over 100 attending and raising funds for their local hall. Local character, Archie Gillies, who had the rather unusual role of bridesmaid to play, said ‘We had a great day! It was just as good as theirs, and our soup was better than they had in Buckingham Palace’.

NOTE: BBC ALBA is available on the following platforms:

• Freeview channel 8 (from 8th June 2011)
• Virgin Media channel 188
• Sky channel 168
• Freesat channel 110
• Live on BBC iPlayer
• 10 hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media

Catching up with the 2011 Woolfest – or Feis Cothlam – at Kintaline farm in Benderloch in North Lorn saw a glorious afternoon today (21st july 2011).

Lorn looked stunning, with the Falls of Lora boiling white in the navy waters of Loch Etive below the Connel Bridge on the way north. And the LORN (Local Origin Rural Network) event was positively idyllic – a celebration of every aspect of sheep and other woolly jumpers,

The admirably comprehensive yet relaxed organisation started with a genially manned car park (Cameron – Cammy – Dempster from Dunbeg). The surprise was the beautifully manicured grass paths that meandered through to the market, past a sheep shearing demonstration and some spectacular hens to a welter of stalls of all kinds.

In the still warm air the voices of the Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh (Inverclyde Waulking Singers hung and resonated. They represented one of the far ends of the sheep cycle – waulking the tweed, a finishing process accompanied by songs derived from the rhythm of the work involved – the roll, slide and thump of the women’s hands on the table as they work the cloth.

These Gaelic waulkers have been to the LORN market before, to Auchindrain, Scotland’s last preserved  highland farm township and to Bunessan on Mull. They’re on Mull again soon – this time singing at Duart Castle, on the north east corner of the island. Then they’re off to Poland, their first invitation abroad, to Llublin. and they’re back in Auchindrain towards the end of the summer.

One of their number, Innes – a spinner, deals with wool at an earlier stage than the woven tweed

Elsewhere there were carding and wool crafts of all kinds. A major surprise was how tough Llama wool is. One imagines it will be soft – but no, it packs a stout punch useful in cold climes. For soft – try alpaca, endlessly tactile and they say it wears unbelievably well. There was a glorious felted hat one visitor tried on. We hope she bought it. It looked wonderful, offering shelter and fun at the same time.

There was jewellery; tie die silks; food to cook (with demonstrations), eat and buy (and yes – mutton and lamb featured strongly); decorated wooden boxes laid out like a mosaic; local smoked salmon, plants and support services for carers, recyclers and renewable energy enthusiasts.

There was a record breaking crowd of around 2,000 people, with, as well as those who were dropped off and walked in,  220 cars in the car park during the day. The previous record for cars was 100 – which gives you some idea of just what a cracker of an event this was.

Donald Dempster from Dalmally, who did the sheep shearing exhibitions, is a nephew of Cameron Dempster who mans the car park for the LORN events. Cameron pulled in a favour to secure his nephew’s services for the event.

Never having seen a sheep sheared before, watching Donald was almost surreal. Gentle and quick – but not so quick as to upset the Jacob’s ewe, who remained tranquil and disturbed throughout, he skilfully created two sheep where he’d started with one – and he even sheared its tail – a real surprise.

Cameron said that Jacob’s sheep have been crossed with Blue-faced Leicesters and produce amazingly soft fleeces that almost do not need spinning. There were an array of them in one of the stalls area and they felt irresistible.

This entire event was wholly beguiling – very professionally presented and run, it looked great, sounded great, tasted great, smelled great, felt great – the best possible shop window for the idea as well as the reality of local produce and crafts.

And the heart of the matter – the sheep and the wool, were unforgettable.

On the way back to the car park, a glance over a wooden bridge on the close-cropped grass path showed a little pond in the stream, bringing an exhalation of contented breath.

The LORN market is as close to the idyll of rural life as most can even imagine.

Woolfest  is an annual special event but the two LORN markets run each month at Kintaline Farm are just as special. They may not have all of the ancillary events but they have the setting, the stalls, the produce, the crafts and the local food to eat on the spot.

Soillse: Cowboy Kids of Dublin is about the phenomenon peculiar to specific areas of the Irish city – urban cowboys. Don’t expect stetsons and rodeos in the street – quite – but prepare for an eyeopener of a culture.

Something like 3,500 wandering horses live in Dublin. Only 500 of them are used for any kind of work.

So where are the other 3,000?

Answer: In long deprived suburbs like Ballymun, the focus for Into the West (and Amazon have it).

No fewer than 3,000 horses, ponies and donkeys are to be found in Ballymun. So what’s the score. See the BBC ALBA show and find out.

Whether they ride the elevators in the slum tower blocks as as in the famous scene from Into the West – who knows, but this, somehow, has got to be tale of unusual relationships for urban children,

Traditionally, Dublin street kids are very much eyes-wide-open, with a particular independence that life has forced upon them – always mesmeric.

For the children who own the horses, they are genuine treasures, kept carefully and competitively in poor stables. Secret races are held and while waiting for the big day of the race, the young cowboys of Dublin find in their animal a reason for living that is better than anything else they’ve got.

Quite what happens with 3,000 horses, ponies and donkeys will have to be seen to be believed – and will be a moment for the necessary suspension of disbelief. This really is how it is.

NOTE: BBC ALBA is available on the following platforms:

• Freeview 8
• Virgin Media 188
• Sky 168
• Freesat 110
• Live on BBC iPlayer
• 10 hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media

It has played a major role in rural Scottish life for generations. To this day, the history and cultural heritage of hunting and shooting for sport generates a vital income, especially during the busy Autumn to Winter season. And non-traditional seasonal activities such as clay pigeon shooting are also on the increase.

Now the Gaelic television channel,  BBC ALBA, is presenting a programme looking at the various roles of the gun in Scottish society.

It meets those who shoot for sport. It finds out about how the police implement and control the issuing of firearm certificates at a local level. It discovers that the art of gun making is still very much a lucrative part of rural Scottish life today – and meets some of these craftsmen at work.

Debate continues to surround gun legislation in Scotland though, following the horrors of Dunblane and more recent atrocities, including Derek Bird’s rolling massacre in Cumbria last year. These incidents have added to the stigma of all gun holders in society, irrespective of their reason, or right to have a gun.

The programme: Trusadh – Gunnaichean ann an Alba / Guns in Scotland is aired on  Monday 11th July
from 9.00pm-10.00pm.

Village shops are the beating heart of any rural community, many combined with a post office service.

They have held this central role in communities for generations, with almost every village having its own at one time.

However, this has changed dramatically over the years and a BBC ALBA documentary: Trusadh: Buth a’ Bhaile/Village Shops -  will explore the reasons why and highlight the vital role that those which still survive, play in remote communities.

In the stunning, remote district of Uig in the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, the thriving shop is owned by the community themselves. The programme introduces those who run it, including local, Uig born and raised, Donald John Robertson, or Finn as he’s better known, who delivers supplies to the scattered townships in the area in the shop van.

The Uig community co-operative shop, 40 miles from Stornoway, injects money back into the community through salaries as well as providing an essential service in supplying food, fuel and tourism facilities, including a commercial laundry service.

The shop committee meets four times a year and has been advising other communities on how to set up community co-operatives.

Out on his daily delivery run Finn (Donald John Robertson) remarks: ‘The van was donated by someone in England, he gave it to the shop, which was very good of him.  I’d say he was a secret millionaire.

‘Some come into the shop but others phone in with their order, or email. Plenty of people can’t get to the shop but the van can get to their door. More often than not there’s a cup of tea waiting.’

In Laggan, in the Cairngorms National Park, the local village shop is very much a lifeline for the area, with the nearest town, Fort William, an hour’s drive away.

Many people know the shop, Laggan Stores, as ‘McKechnies’ from the Monarch of the Glen television series. Locals say: ‘If you can’t buy it in Laggan Stores, you don’t need it.’  From fresh fish to wild bird food – it’s all there.

Jo Cumming and Ian Hall are the current owners who took it over from the community eight years ago in a ‘mad moment’.  They pride themselves on being open 8.30am to 8pm. Seven days a week.

Iain Seoras Rockliffe – ‘Rocky’ (pictured top) – goes there once a day for the ‘social side’ of things. Iain says: ‘There are some brilliant characters here. This [shop] is what keeps us going. This is what holds communities together. A small shop is like a way of life.’

For many like the islanders of Eigg, getting supplies to the shop via ferry is one of their biggest challenges but on another Hebridean island, Eriskay, a causeway was built in 2002 which many thought would be the end of the local island shop. It’s been anything but though, with a unique bus service making all the difference.

Bus user Mairi MacInnes says:  ‘You see these old ladies. This is the day we do our shopping.  It’s a social event! We all have a good chat.’  Another bus user, Peigi MacInnes says: ‘You can get everything you need, from a needle to an anchor. You can get everything here.’

The programme also visits the award winning ‘Mither Tongue’ in Keith, Aberdeenshire which is not a typical village shop, selling gifts and cards for every occasion, all celebrating the Scots dialect, and demonstrating how communities can be defined in many ways.

The programme, neatly moving nostalgia and sentiment into hard’headed and businesslike community sustainability, Trusadh: Buth a’ Bhaile/Village Shops. will be aired on Monday 27th  June at 9.00pm.

This is yet another immediately attractive piece of programming from the ever-surprising BBC ALBA.

NOTE: BBC ALBA is available on the following platforms: Freeview channel 8 (from 8th June 2011); Virgin Media channel 188; Sky channel 168; Freesat channel 110; Live on BBC iPlayer; 10 hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media.

The six different dance companies appearing in Dannsa, presented by dance enthusiasts Anne Morrison and Kevin Walker, are:

• the Heavy Smokers, a street-dancing crew from Livingston
• the teenage girls of the Fusion dance class in Aberdeen;
• the asylum seekers and refugees of the Maryhill Integration Network in Glasgow;
• the over sixties at Dance Base in Edinburgh;
• the aspiring hopefuls from The Space at Dundee College, home of the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in Dundee
• Ballet West school in Taynuilt in Lorn in Argyll.

All groups along with their teachers and choreographers, face the challenge of putting a special dance piece together for a show which will see the six groups showcasing their talents on the same stage for one night only.

This end of series performance special at the Tramway Theatre in Glasgow will not only see the groups performing their own dance pieces but, renowned Scottish contemporary choreographer, Andy Howitt, will have the demanding task of incorporating all six groups for the grand finale.

The series meets some of the dancers who share their life challenges and inspirations for dance as well as their aspirations. Some see what they do as the road to the professional dance world; some as a weekly hobby.

Ballet West has pupils from all over the UK. Episode three of Dannsa follows Duncan and Sarah from Ballet West (left), two young aspiring ballet dancers preparing for their ballet Genée exams and who have faced and overcome similar personal obstacles to dance and through dance.

Duncan says: ‘Primary school was the worst for me, I was the only boy who did ballet, and at that time. I got a lot of stick from the other boys. You’re gay, you’re a girl, you wear tights – and back then, it really affects you, especially if you’re the only one in my school…

‘It’s a bit pathetic really, to bully someone because of what they do, but then I went to dance school and it was a lot better, it’s a lot easier when you’re around people who enjoy dancing as well.’

Sarah says: ‘I went to primary school, I did my year seven, and when I went to secondary school, I was really badly bullied and didn’t really get on with the people in my school. Things happened but it made me want to dance, because it was the only way.

‘I could just go to a dance school, and let it all out. I was put in a locker (at secondary school), had my hair burnt, had my hair cut, was called names, so I don’t have much confidence in myself, much self belief, it really crushed me.’

With six groups, six different dance styles, one live dance show, Dannsa presents an exciting and unique series offering viewers a snapshot of dance and illustrates that as a nation, Scotland is dancing.

The first ten half hour programmes follow inspirational characters from the diverse dance groups reflecting the passion and commitment embodied by dancers throughout the country. The spectacular live show from the Tramway will be shown in its entirety as part of the 90 minute series finale.

During that show, presenter Anne Morrison performs a live dance act with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers at the grand finale filmed at the Tramway.

Dannsa starts on BBC ALBA on Monday 13th June at 22.00 and each consecutive Monday thereafter.

Every household in Scotland will be able to enjoy the series as BBC ALBA is now available on Freeview channel 8. The channel was also recently made available on Virgin Media’s cable channel 188 and is also available on Sky channel 168 and Freesat 110.

The photographs show choreographer Andy Howitt, presenter Anne Morrison and presenter Kevin Walker, at Ballet West; and Sarah and Duncan from the school.

Today marks the end of a campaign fought from the birth of Scotland’s innovative Gaelic language television channel, BBC ALBA.

Every household in Scotland can watch BBC ALBA today (Wednesday 8th June 2011) as it launches on the Freeview platform from 5pm this evening.

BBC ALBA going live on Freeview channel 8 today, greatly increases accessibility for all viewers across Scotland.

The channel was also recently made available on Virgin Media’s Cable channel 188.

Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA, says: ‘MG ALBA, along with our partners at the BBC, have worked tirelessly towards this moment. It is fantastic that the channel will be on Freeview as of today.

‘We have been grateful for the support from the BBC Trust as well as that received from politicians in Holyrood and Westminster.

‘We should be immensely proud of the creative talent that Scotland has to offer and are delighted that through BBC ALBA we are able to nurture new talent and encourage a raft of innovative ideas for Gaelic production. We look forward to bringing both Gaelic and non-Gaelic viewers an exciting package of programming that we are greatly proud of and are delighted that it can now be enjoyed by everyone throughout Scotland.’

Margo MacDonald MSP will tonight host a parliamentary reception in support of BBC ALBA. Welcoming its launch on Freeview. Margo says: ‘This development should do more to persuade non-Gaelic- speaking Scots of the worth of the language and culture of the Gàidhealtachd than any previous attempt to promote understanding and appreciation of Gaelic’s rich heritage. Gaelic may be an old language but its contribution to contemporary culture will be greatly enhanced by its use of new technologies.’

Alasdair Allan MSP says: ‘This is a very important step forward for BBC ALBA and I am very pleased that the channel will now have access to Freeview.  Many people have campaigned to make this happen for a long time and the Scottish Government has backed the plan from the start.

‘BBC ALBA has made an important contribution to broadcasting in Scotland and has also strengthened the profile and use of Gaelic.  The whole of Scotland should now have access to BBC ALBA’s programmes and this will help support a fresh generation of Gaelic speakers and enrich our cultural life.’

Celebrities and personalities associated with the channel – including actor and film-maker Peter Mullan – got behind the channel’s Freeview launch by endorsing the ‘Open Your Eyes’ to BBC ALBA campaign. Peter Mullan says: ‘The channel has been a great boost for the creative sector in Scotland and long may it continue.’

BBC ALBA has made a positive contribution to Scottish broadcasting and the country’s creative industries with around half of all programme hours produced in Scotland by independent producers being commissioned for BBC ALBA. The channel’s programmes are produced by a range of independent production companies as well as from the BBC and STV.

The channel also plays a key role in promoting the Gaelic language as well as supporting language learning through broadcasting programmes for learners and those interested in Gaelic language and culture.

In addition, MG ALBA and the BBC, together with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other partners, are developing new online resources for Gaelic learners, along with funding from the Scottish Government. The new learners’ website is due to launch in October this year.

For Argyll has consistently noted the quality, invention and spectrum of programming on BBC ALBA and its attractions for non-Gaelic as well as for Gaelic speakers.

This is a channel for anyone with an interest in good quality programme-making on unexpected topics, always interesting, sometimes quirky, often delightful and never ghettoised.

We celebrate this unique channel’s successful determination to get its Freeview service and we look forward to seeing even more of its confident programming, trusting in the intrinsic interest of the subjects it chooses.

We congratulate all concerned in this significant development, opening access to the channel much more widely to interested viewers.

And its got Palo Nutini live at Rockness

The much anticipated Scottish summer music festivals are fast approaching and with RockNess kicking off the season, BBC ALBA  – to be newly on Freeview,  has announced its exclusive television broadcast package which will cover live acts and highlights from this year’s festival.

Live coverage of main stage performances will include sets from Paolo Nutini and Magnetic Man plus highlights throughout the weekend long festival with coverage of Kasabian, Glasvegas, The Wombats plus many more.

Two special music programmes coming live from the beautiful banks of Loch Ness will be broadcast on BBC ALBA, each two hours long, during the festival weekend on Saturday 11th June from 9pm till 11pm and Sunday 12th June from 10pm till midnight.

Every household in Scotland will be able to enjoy RockNess 2011 as BBC ALBA will be available on Freeview channel 8 from 8th June. The channel was also recently made available on Virgin Media’s cable channel 188 and is also available on Sky channel 168 and Freesat 110.

Coverage of the festival programmes will also be available to view via the BBC iPlayer.

The festival package will also allow viewers to enjoy some of the acoustic sessions from the various festival stages including the likes of Frightened Rabbit, and sets from talented DJs Annie Mac and Zane Lowe are also in the mix.

RockNess 2011 will be hosted by Andrew Robertson and Emma MacInnes who present the popular music series Rapal, bringing viewers exclusive interviews with some of the top bands and acts featured throughout RockNess 2011.

So for those who aren’t attending the festival in person or for those who want to relive the experience, BBC ALBA’s exclusive and eclectic package is the place to go.

Recreating the Waulking Day

Table thumping and a traditional Gaelic community sing-a-long is the order of the day when a group of women recreate a traditional ‘Waulking Day’ at the Auchindrain Township on 28 May.

Sponsored by Springbank Distillery of Campbeltown, the Inverclyde Waulking Group or Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh – pictured below at work in Auchindrain -  are going to recreate the day when the women of the township undertook the task of finishing newly woven woollen cloth by soaking it and thumping it to shrink and soften it.

Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh specialises in the traditional Gaelic songs which accompanied the work.

Bob Clark, Development Manager at Auchindrain (or Achadh an Droighinn – the field of the thorn tree, between Inveraray and Furnace n Loch Fyne) ) says: ‘This is not the pretty side of Highland life. This is about a group of working class women getting together to carry out what was essentially an industrial process.

‘The Waulking Day was a day the women looked forward to, a day when important work was done, in good company, with plenty of fun, singing and gossip’.

Waulking songs are quite unique, a precious heritage of song giving an insight into all aspects of life in days gone by. Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh seek to keep the songs alive and to present them in the context of the work for which they were composed.

The Waulking Day will take place at Auchindrain Township on Saturday 28th May 2011, from 11.00 to 16.00.

A whisky tasting session, featuring Springbank whisky will also be taking place at 13.30 (over 18s only).

Normal admission charges apply.

This week sees the launch of Gleusta – starting on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 6th April 2011 at 18.30.

Gleusta is billed as ‘a new, fast-moving studio game show’, featuring teams from different primary schools throughout Scotland.

Along with some special guests, the teams go head to head facing several different challenges in order to win the coveted Gleusta prize.

Produced by Sealladh TV at the Fas studio at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye’s Sound of Sleat,Gleusta begins with pupils from Back Primary School, Lewis squaring up to  a team from Balivanich Primary from Benbecula, further south, across the Sound of Harris, in the chain of the Western Isles.

Mod Gold Medallists Joy Dunlop and Darren MacLean are on hand to help the teams out.

Gleusta’s two young presenters are Steven MacIver from Wester Ross and Liz Pyper from Edinburgh. Steven comes from Royal National Mod success while Liz has made her name in the FilmG Gaelic Shorts competition, organized by MG ALBA.

Other schools featured during the 8 week series are Fort William RC Primary, Iochdar Primary (South Uist), Airidhantuim Primary School (Isle of Lewis), Leverhulme Primary School (Isle of Harris), Portree Primary (Isle of Skye), Mallaig Primary School. Stornoway Primary (Isle of Lewis), Tollcross Primary from Edinburgh, Barvas Primary (Isle of Lewis), Sandbank Primary School, (near Dunoon), Staffin Primary (Isle of Skye), Glasgow Gaelic School, Dingwall Primary and Sleat Primary (Isle of Skye).

The series begins on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 6 April at 18.30 with each programme being repeated the following Saturday.

BBC ALBA is currently available on Digital Satellite, on Sky 168, Freesat 110 and live on BBC iPlayer. 10 hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Cable. BBC ALBA will be made available on Freeview later this year. For further information see the BBC ALBA website.