Such was the success of the previous event another cèilidh was held at the Lobster Pot on Berneray in January, again with the intention, among other things, of encouraging Gaelic learners to come forward and put their new skills to use. There was a great variety of songs and tunes, with contributions from all round the room.

Duncan Mackinnon, in particular, was prevailed upon to sing several times in his supremely relaxed traditional style. One of the songs he delivered was his version of Òran a’ Vita.

You can hear it here:

Extracts from a printed version of the song are available here. The thing about “traditional” singing is that while it’s a living tradition it mutates and develops, constantly producing “new” versions of “old” songs. Learner-listeners are invited to compare Duncan’s version with the written one, and note the differences. How many additional verses does he sing? Do you notice any other changes?

And then from the sublime to the singalong – Archie’s Gaelic class give a sturdy rendition of a cèilidh favourite, Birlinn Ghoraidh Chròbhain.

Here’s the transcript. Why not join in in the privacy of your own home?

Nochd am pìos seo san “Scotsman” o chionn treiseag, a thug iomradh air Guthan nan Eilean am measg rudan eile.

You can hear an English summary here:

Or you can read a brief one by clicking on this link.

Benbecula-based project co-ordinator Gordon Wells has returned from a series of meetings in Barra with educators for all ages. He was invited over to attend an ESOL Welcome Point event at the Cothrom office in the Children’s Centre in Castlebay, but also took the opportunity to visit Castlebay School across the road, and the Barra campus of Lews Castle College around the corner. Gaelic teachers in the school were particularly interested in finding out more about the easy audio recording facility that Ipadio offers, and Gordon was happy to direct them to the guide that appears on the POOLS-T website. There is a direct link here to show language teachers and/or learners how to set up their own “DIY radio station”.

Here’s a sample piece, made over the telephone:

The Series One DVD/CD-Rom package was also distributed to all centres, with some spares left at the Cothrom office. It was encouraging to hear about learners’ progress through the college’s Ulpan courses. The Guthan nan Eilean online video clips may provide valuable supplementary listening practice for learners as they move up through the levels, and begin to encounter authentic speech in the community outside the classroom.