Welcome to Sgoil Bhàrdachd na Comraich which is the Bealach group's main contribution to the range of ALPS projects initiated by the joint application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Bealach was set up in Applecross in 2004 to help support and encourage the use of Gàidhlig. As a group we don't endorse or encourage any views as far as Gàidhlig is concerned but prefer to concentrate our resources on the language itself. In that way we hope to be of value to anyone with an interest in Gàidhlig, from non-speaker to native speaker. Projects we have set up and supported in this area have included a pre-school group, arts and crafts, drama, live music and entertainment, local history, a DVD project, adult Gàidhlig classes and discussion groups, our own local Fèis a' Bhealaich and more.

When we were invited to participate in the the Applecross Landscape Partnership Scheme we decided to develop a project that would have the potential to last beyond the initial three-year funding phase. We wanted something with a chance of bringing a new vitality to a language in a place where it has guided the stones into the walls which keep us warm and dry, and where every yard of fertile turf has at one time turned to its sound. It has skipped across still water from Poll Creadha to Creag Darach for the mac-talla to return. We also decided to try out something different. Not that there is anything new about a Bardic School in the Gàidhealtachd. Applecross itself was once a top destination for the travelling Bards of Alba and Èirinn. We wanted something that might complement the other Gàidhlig arts and disciplines now being taught in Scotland, including Ross-shire.

The idea has captured people's imaginations even because of the very nature of the place, hard to reach, but lingering. I want to thank all those who have helped to support the idea and to bring it on as far as it has already come. It is very much hoped that this opportunity will in turn lead to a venue for a new and interesting journey. Here we have the land and the language. Now we can even arrange to have the bards, but when the people arrive and take part we will have a Sgoil Bhàrdachd.

Derek MacLennan,

Chairman, Bealach

January 2011

Fàilte gu Sgoil-bhàrdachd na Comraich a chuir am buidheann Bealach a-steach mar am prìomh thabhartas don t-sreath de phròisectean ALPS a dh' èirich a co-thagradh ri Maoin Crannchar an Dualchais.

Chaidh Bealach a stèidheachadh air A' Chomraich anns a' bhliadhna 2004 a chum taic agus misneachadh a thoirt do chleachdadh na Gàidhlig. Mar bhuidheann, chan eil sinn a' cur ar n-aonta no ar taic ri beachdan àraid sam bith a-thaobh na Gàidhlig, a' roghnachadh ar gualainn a chur ris a' chànan i fhèin. Anns an dòigh seo tha sinn a' sùileachadh gum bi seo fèumail do neach sam bìth le ùidh anns a' Ghàidhlig bhon fheadhainn aig nach eil i gu fìleantaich. Am measg phròiseactan a chuir sinn suas agus dhan tug sinn cuideachadh anns a' choimhearsnachd seo tha cròileagan, na h-ealain agus ceàrdalachd, dràma, ceòl laithreach agus oirfideas, eachdraidh an àite, pròisect DVD, clasaichean Gàidhlig do dh' inbhich agus buidhnean còmhraidh, an Fhèis ionadail againn fhìn, Fèis a' Bhealaich agus mòran eile.

Air dhuinn cuireadh fhaotainn pàirt a ghabhail ann an Sgeama Companas Dealbh-tìre na Comraich, chuir sinn romhainn pròisect a thoirt gu ìre a mhaireadh seachad air na trì bliadhna bho thoiseach an ìre maoineachadh. Bha sinn ag iarraidh rudeiginn a bheireadh spionnadh as ùr don chànan ann an ionad far an do leag i sìos na dearbh chlachan a-steach do na ballachan a tha gar cumail blàth agus seasgair agus far an cuala gach slat de a ceapan torrach briodal a beòil. Tha i air sùrdag a thoirt thar uisge balbh bho Pholl Crèadha gu Creag Darach, a dh' ionnsaigh am faodadh a mac-talla tilleadh.

Chuir sinn romhainn cuideachd rudeiginn eadar-dhealaichte fheuchainn. Chan e gu bheil dad ùr mu dheidhinn sgoil-dhuanaireachd air Ghàidhealtachd. Bha A' Chomraich i fhèin na priomh cheann-uidhe aig filidhean Alba is Eirinn. Bha rud air chor-eiginn a dhìth oirnn a chuireadh ris na h-ealain agus ri foghlam Gàidhlig eile 'ga theagasg an Alba an ceartuair, a' gabhail a-steach Siorrachd Rois. Tha a' bheachd air aire an t-sluaigh a ghlacadh dìreach air sgath dearbh ghnè an àite, doirbh faighinn 'ga ionnsaigh ach far an dèan thu màirneal.

Bu toigh leam taing chridheil a thoirt do gach neach a chuir an taic ris a' bheachd agus a chuidich ri thoirt air adhart don ìre aig a bheil e an dràsda. Is e ar dùil is ar dòchas gu lean an cothrom seo ceum air cheum gu àite tòiseachaidh turuis nodha is inntinneach. Tha againn an seo an tìr is an cànan. A- nis faodaidh sinn eadhon làthaireachd nam bàrd a chur air doigh ach an uair a thig na daoine agus a ghabhas iad pàirt, gu cinnteach bidh Sgoil Bhàrdachd againn.

Deirig MacGill-Fhinnein

Fear-cathrach, Bealach

Am Faoilleach 2011

 

 

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