Greenock trip Wednesday 5th June 2024
Gaelic Development Activity.
The trip was proposed at the SUAS meeting on Thursday 5th October 2023, and discussed at subsequent meetings. There was keen interest in a visit to Greenock, as this would provide an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Gaelic-speaking population of Inverclyde.
On Wednesday 5th June 2024, 9 SUAS members/ Gaelic learners accompanied by the Gaelic Learning Worker, visited Inverclyde Council’s Watt Institution in Greenock, comprising the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, the Watt Memorial Library and the local archive service.
The group received a warm welcome from the Archivist, Lorraine Murray, and her colleagues, and were introduced to Mr Andrew Pearson, local historian and Gaelic learner, and Ms Isobel Kyle, of Inverclyde Gaelic Learners’ Group.
Mr Pearson spoke about the history of Greenock, its industries, the Gaelic and ancient British or Brythonic place names in the area, and the settlement of Gaelic speakers, most of whom came from Argyll and were called Campbell!
Ms Kyle spoke about the history of the Highlanders’ Academy, a school founded to educate Gaelic-speaking children in English! The Academy later became home to Inverclyde’s Gaelic Medium Education (GME) unit.
The Academy’s successor school, Whinhill Primary School, now includes the GME. Ms Kyle introduced a short video produced by the school’s Gaelic unit, in which pupils had a central role. The Head Teacher explained in the video that in addition to the Gaelic unit, all pupils in the school, from Primary 5, had the opportunity to learn some Gaelic.
Ms Kyle also informed the group that Inverclyde is extending Gaelic Medium Education to Secondary Education this year.
The chat with Mr Pearson and Ms Kyle continued over lunch. Some Suas members exchanged contact details with them, with a view to sharing ideas and experience of Gaelic development.
Cost of trip: there was no fee charged by the Watt Institution or their guest
speakers. Members used their own transport, and paid for their own lunches (plus the guest speakers).
It was proposed a donation should be made to the Watt Institution in recognition of their work. £30 was donated to Inverclyde Council for the Watt Institution.
The Watt Institution posted news of the visit on Facebook: see screenshot below or follow https://www.facebook.com/wattinstitution/ post for 5 June 2024 if you have a Facebook account.
Reported by Christine Macivor