*English follows Gaelic*
Leis gu bheil an t-seachdain seo a’ comharrachadh bliadhna on chaidh an Cearcall Còmhraidh Gàidhlig againn a chur air bhog, àite seachdaineil air-loidhne a bheir daoine còmhla gus cànan, coimhearsnachd agus cùram don phlanaid againn a chomharrachadh, tha Jonathan Angell, an t-Oifigear Foghlaim Gàidhlig againn a bhios a’ ruith nan còmhraidhean, a’ comharrachadh a’ chiad 12 mìosan soirbheachail.
With this week marking one year since the launch of our Gaelic Conversation Circle, a weekly online space bringing people together to celebrate language, community and care for our planet, Jonathan Angell, our Gaelic Education Officer who runs the conversations, celebrates a successful first 12 months.
Na thòisich mar bheachd beag mu bhith a’ toirt dhaoine còmhla tro chòmhradh Gàidhlig làitheil, tha e air fàs gu bhith na rudeigin eòlach is brosnachail gach seachdain, àite far am bi daoine a’ tighinn còmhla bho dhiofar àiteachan, a’ toirt leotha am feòrachas agus an t-eòlas fhèin. Bidh na seiseanan a’ ceangal ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig ri còmhraidhean nas fharsainge mu ghnàth-shìde, nàdar agus beatha na coimhearsnachd.
Gach Dimàirt aig 1f, bidh an Cearcall Còmhraidh a’ tòiseachadh ann an dòigh shocair, fhàilteachail. Bidh daoine a’ tighinn a-steach mean air mhean agus a’ socrachadh leis an “Dè as ùr” seachdaineil, cothrom air pìosan beaga bhon t-seachdain a roinn, eadar an t-sìde ann an diofar àiteachan, bruidhinn mu ghluasad taighe, a’ rannsachadh chànanan Ceilteach eile, no a’ bruidhinn mu thrèanadh gus a bhith na thidsear Tai Chi. Tha sinn gu sònraichte a’ coimhead air adhart ris a’ chiad leasan Tai Chi sa Ghàidhlig!
Thar na bliadhna a dh’fhalbh, tha faireachdainn socair, nàdarra air tighinn am bàrr. Tha fios aig daoine dè ris am faod iad dùileachadh, agus na bha coltach ri buidheann de dhaoine fa leth, tha e a-nis a’ faireachdainn nas motha mar àite roinnte.
Às dèidh sin, gluaisidh an còmhradh gu cuspair na seachdaine. Bidh cuspairean a’ tighinn am bàrr gu nàdarra tro chòmhradh agus meòrachadh pearsanta. An àite a bhith a’ fuireach aig ìre eas-chruthach, thèid na cuspairean seo a thoirt beò tro eòlasan dhaoine fhèin, sgeulachdan bho choimhearsnachdan ionadail, cuimhneachain air àiteachan, agus meòrachadh pearsanta air atharrachadh.
Bidh post-d seachdaineil a’ cuideachadh le ullachadh airson gach seisean, a’ roinn cuspair na seachdain ri teachd còmhla ri artaigilean iomchaidh agus briathrachas feumail. Tha seo a’ cuideachadh le bhith a’ leudachadh eòlais agus a’ cur taic ri tuigse ro gach còmhradh.
’S e aon de na taobhan as brìoghmhoire den Chearcall Còmhraidh na dàimhean a tha air cruthachadh, le mòran chom-pàirtichean a’ tilleadh seachdain às dèidh seachdain agus faireachdainn de dh’eòlas agus de chàirdeas a’ fàs thar ùine. Tha a’ bhuidheann cuideachd air sealltainn cho farsaing ’s a tha ruigsinneachd na Gàidhlig, le daoine a’ gabhail pàirt bho air feadh na h-Alba agus Sasainn, a bharrachd air dùthchannan eile leithid na Stàitean Aonaichte, Canada, a’ Ghearmailt agus an t-Seapan rud a tha a’ daingneachadh gur e cànan eadar-nàiseanta a th’ anns a’ Ghàidhlig.
Dhan fheadhainn aig a bheil ùidh ann a bhith a’ rannsachadh nas fhaide, gheibhear barrachd co-theacsa mu àite na Gàidhlig mar dhòigh air cànan, cultar agus dearbh-aithne a cheangal tron Iris do Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig, a tha a’ tabhann lèirsinn agus meòrachadh do luchd-ionnsachaidh aig gach ìre.
Mo thaing do Jennifer a thug beachd seachad mun Chearcall Còmhraidh thar na bliadhna a dh’fhalbh:
“Mòran taing airson nan cearcallan còmhraidh am bliadhna seo. Chòrd iad rium glan. Tha iad air a bhith spòrsail agus cuideachail. Tha thu coibhneil, foighidneach agus brosnachail.”
Fhad ’s a tha an Cearcall Còmhraidh a’ dol a-steach dhan dàrna bliadhna aige, tha e a’ leantainn air adhart a’ sealltainn mar as urrainn do chànan, coimhearsnachd agus mothachadh àrainneachdail a bhith ceangailte ri chèile ann an dòigh bhrìoghmhor. Nas motha na dìreach àite gus cànan ionnsachadh, tha e air fàs gu bhith na àite far am bi daoine a’ tighinn còmhla gach seachdain gus bruidhinn, èisteachd, ionnsachadh agus roinn.
Tha e air a bhith sgoinneil àite roinnte sàbhailte a bhith againn far am faod daoine Gàidhlig a rannsachadh còmhla agus beachdachadh air cùisean àrainneachdail tron chànan.
What began as a small idea of bringing people together through everyday Gaelic conversation has grown into something familiar and exciting each week, a space where people come together from different places, bringing their own curiosity and experiences. The sessions connect Gaelic language learning with wider conversations about climate, nature and community life.
Each Tuesday at 1pm the Conversation Circle begins in a relaxed and welcoming way. People arrive gradually and settle into the weekly Dè as ùr (“what’s new”), a chance to share small moments from the week, whether that’s comparing weather across places, talking about house moves, exploring other Celtic languages, or talking about training to become a Tai Chi teacher. I am especially looking forward to my first Gaelic Tai Chi lesson!
Over the past year, a quiet sense of ease has developed. People know what to expect, and what once felt like a group of individuals now feels more like a shared space.
From there, the conversation gently moves into the weekly theme. Topics unfold naturally through discussion and personal reflection. Rather than remaining abstract, these themes are brought to life through lived experience, stories from local communities, memories of places and personal reflections on change.
A weekly email helps prepare for each session, sharing the upcoming topic alongside relevant articles and useful vocabulary. This helps to broaden knowledge and scaffold understanding ahead of each conversation.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the Conversation Circle has been the relationships that have formed, with many participants returning week after week and a growing sense of familiarity building over time. The group has also shown how widespread Gaelic use is, with attendees from across Scotland and England, as well as from countries including the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan - demonstrating Gaelic’s reach as an internationally valued language.
For those interested in exploring further, additional context on the role of Gaelic as a way of connecting language, culture and identity can be found through the Zine for Gaelic Learners, which offers insight and reflection for learners at all stages.
Gaelic: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/media/j3pn1uie/gaelic-zine-feb-final-web.pdf
English: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/media/qwgoezwt/gaelic-english-zine-feb-final-web.pdf
One attendee reflected on their experience of the Conversation Circle over the past year:
“Mòran taing airson nan cearcallan còmhraidh am bliadhna seo. Chòrd iad rium glan. Tha iad air a bhith spòrsail agus cuideachail. Tha thu coibhneil, foighidneach agus brosnachail.”
(“Many thanks for the conversation circles this year. I really enjoyed them. They have been fun and helpful. You are kind, patient and encouraging.”)
As the Conversation Circle enters its second year, it continues to show how language, community, and environmental awareness can sit alongside one another in a meaningful way. More than just a language-learning space, it has become a place of connection - where people gather each week to speak, listen, learn and share.
It’s been brilliant to have this safe shared space for people to explore the Gaelic language together, and discuss environmental issues in this medium.
As we continue to promote the language through our other offerings at Keep Scotland Beautiful, I’m looking forward to continuing our work to celebrate Scottish Gaelic and another brilliant year of our Conversation Circle.
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