Bòrd na Gàidhlig air slighe gu structair ùr

Bòrd na Gàidhlig air slighe gu structair ùr


Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig, a’ phrìomh bhuidheann leasachaidh poblach le uallach airson na Gàidhlig air buidheann-taice stiùiridh àrd-ìre agus eadar-amaile (BSTAE) fhastadh a chuideachadh le teachd-a-mach deisealachadh cur-an-gnìomh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig. Bidh a’ bhuidheann cuideachd a’ dèiligeadh ri atharraichean a tha rin cur an-sàs ann an structair agus modhan-obrach a’ Bhùird.

Dhearbh am Bòrd cuideachd ged nach deach aca air Ceannard ùr fhasdadh nauir a chaidh sin a shireadh bho chionn ghoirid, gun tèid an dreuchd sin a lìonadh, a-measg dhreuchdan ùra eile, ’nuair a bhios cruth ùr air structair a’ Bhùird.

Tha triùir air a’ bhuidhinn taice eadar-amail – Dòmhnall Màrtainn a tha a’ fuireach ann an Steòrnabhagh, Jo NicDhòmhnaill a tha a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu agus Ùisdean MacIllInnein a tha a’ fuireach ann an Inbhirkip ann an Inbhir Chluaidh.

Thuirt Cathraiche a’ Bhùird Art MacCarmaig: “Bidh an triùir seo ag obair mar thaic agus mar ghoireas stòrais aig àrd-ìre anns a’ gheàrr-ùine a tha romhainn, fhad ’sa tha an structair aig a’ Bhòrd ag atharrachadh agus mar a tha sinn a’ fasdadh luchd-obrach ùra a bhios ’gar toirt air adhart anns an ùine-fhada. Tha mi a’ dol a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheil obair a’ Bhùird a leantainn gu h-èifeachdach an uair a tha sin a’ tachairt agus gum bi piseach a’ sìor thighinn air cùisean. Bu chòir astar agus èifeachdas na buidhne thoirt air adhart ceum air cheum agus feumaidh an luchd-obrach a th’againn taic a tha iomchaidh mar a tha sin a’ tachairt. Tha sinn air sgioba a thoirt còmhla a tha fìor eòlach ann an diofar raointean obrach agus tha mi deimhinne gun toir iad deagh thaic dhan Bhòrd agus gun daingnich iad gach leasachadh a tha a dhìth, le piseach air modhan-obrach is eile a chaidh a bhunaiteachadh air a’ bhliadhna a chaidh seachad.

Tha dùil gum bi a’ bhuidheann-stiùiridh taice an-sàs airson suas gu 9 mìosan agus aig deireadh na h-ùine sin gum bi an structair ùr againn agus gum bi sinn air Bòrd na Gàidhlig a neartachadh ann an dòigh freagarrach a bheir leasachadh na Gàidhlig air adhart. Tha e cudromach gu bheil structairean ceart againn agus gu leòr de luchd-obrach le sgilean iomchaidh ach an tèid againn air rùintean coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig a choileanadh agus cuideachd amasan Riaghaltais na h-Alba, a th’air an cur romhainn gu soilleir.”

Thuirt Ministear na Gàidhlig MÌcheil Russell BPA: “Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig air bun-stèidh làidir aig fìor chridhe na tha sinne a’ sùileachadh an Alba. Tha a’ chuideachd a tha seo eadar Jo, Dòmhnall agus Ùisdean a’ toirt beairteas neart is eòlais chun Bhùird. ’S ann air sgàth sin a tha mi cho toilichte gu bheil buidheann dhen leithid air aontachadh cuideachadh le ath-dhealbh is ath-chruthachadh a’ Bhùird aig àm a tha air leth cudromach. Tha fiughar agam ri bhith coinneachadh riutha agus a bhith ag obair còmhla riutha fhèin is Art MacCarmaig anns na mìosan romhainn.”


BUinidh Dòmhnall Màrtainn do na Hearadh agus tha e a-nis a’ fuireach ann an Leòdhas. Tha e ’na Chathraiche air Ùghdarras a’ Chlò Mhòir agus tha e na Leas-Mhorair Ionaid a’ Chrùin anns na h-Eileanan Siar. Tha e cuideachd anns a’ chathair air a’ bhuidhinn foillseachaidh Gàidhlig Acair, agus na bhall de bhuidheann leasachaidh Plana Gàidhlig OGE. Bha e roimhe seo na Àrd-Oifigear air Comunn na Gàidhlig agus ’na Iar-Cheannard air Roinn Rianachd Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar. Tha e an-dràsta ’na bhall de Bhòrd Stiùiridh MG Alba agus bha e roimhe seo ’na bhall de dh’Urrasairean Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, le eòlas farsaing cuideachd air a bhith ag obair do bhuidhnean poblach eile a bharrachd air sin.
Boinidh Jo NicDhòmhnaill do dh’Eilean Leòdhais agus tha i an-diugh a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu. An dèidh bliadhnaichean a chur seachad ag obair ann an raointean farsainn de phrògraman a’ BhBC, tha Jo NicDhòmhnaill a-nis ag obair air a ceann fhèin do dhiofar bhuidhnean, ’nam measg am BBC. Mas do dh’fhàg i am BBC, bha i os cionn BBC Gàidhlig, le 120 luchd-obrach ag obair ann an trì meadhanan, a’ frithealadh seirbheisean reidio agus telebhisein, an dà chuid do BBC Alba agus do BBC2, agus an lìonraidh Gàidhlig bbcalba.co.uk. Bha i ’na ball dhen bhuidhinn MAGOG ann an 2002 a chomhairlich an Riaghaltas aig an àm air ro-innleachdan airson leasachaidh na Gàidhlig. Tha i air a bhith anns a’ chathair air buidheann foillseachaidh Gàidhlig ag obair dhan Bhòrd agus tha i cuideachd na ball de dh’Urras Shomhairle.
Tha Ùisdean MacIllInnein à Caol a’ Ghearasdain, ach boinidh a chuideachd do na Hearadh. Tha e air a bhith an-sàs ann an obair leasachaidh Gàidhlig son iomadh bliadhna an dèidh trèanadh mar neach-teagasg agus a bhith ag obair dhan BhBC agus pàipearan Naidheachd. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith ag obair air pròiseactan stiùiridh mar eòlaiche agus tha e an dràsta na bhall de bhòrd-stiùiridh MG Alba. Bha e roimhe seo na Rùnaire air Comann Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis agus Urras Brosnachaidh na Gàidhlig agus tha mòran eòlach air tro chuid-obrach mar chraoladair agus neach-eachdraidh spòrs, agus gu sònraichte ann an saoghal na camanachd. Bha e cuideachd roimhe seo ag obair na Stiùiriche Choluadair aig CalMac fad sheachd bliadhna. Tha e cuideachd fhathast na bhall de dh’Urras Shomhairle.



Bòrd na Gàidhlig begins
restructuring process

Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body promoting and developing Gaelic, has appointed an interim senior support team (ISST) to increase its capacity to implement the National Plan for Gaelic and to supervise planned changes in its structure and operations.

The Bòrd has also confirmed that while the recent process for the recruitment of a Ceannard (Chief Executive) for Bòrd na Gàidhlig resulted in no appointment being confirmed, the process will be continued and the post will be filled, along with new positions, as part of the ongoing restructuring plans.

Confirming the appointment of Donald Martin from Stornoway, Jo MacDonald from Glasgow and Hugh Dan MacLennan from Inverkip, Bòrd Cathraiche (Chair) Arthur Cormack said: “The interim senior support team is being put in place to increase capacity and as supporting resources for the short term, while changes to the structure of the organisation will result in permanent appointments through an open recruitment programme in the longer term. I want to ensure that Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s delivery and effectiveness continue to improve and quicken pace and that the current staff are properly supported during the restructuring process. The team that the Bòrd has put in place is made up of very experienced individuals and I am confident that they will support the organisation and sustain continuous improvement in its operations and working practices already established in the past 12 months.

The team will be in place for up to 9 months. By the end of that period I would expect that the new structure will be in place and that we will have strengthened the organisation in order to take Gaelic development forward. It is important that we have the right structures and adequate personnel in place to fulfil the aspirations of the Gaelic community and the clear ambitions of the Scottish Government for the language.”

Minister for Gaelic Michael Russell MSP said: “A strong Bòrd na Gàidhlig is at the heart of our ambitions for Gaelic in Scotland. Collectively Hugh Dan, Donald and Jo bring a wealth of experience to the Bòrd. That is why I am pleased these talented individuals have agreed to steer the Bòrd and its staff through this important period of restructuring. I look forward to working with Arthur Cormack and the rest of his team in the months ahead.”



Donald Martin is a Gaelic speaker from Harris, living in Lewis. He is currently Chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority and has been Depute Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles. He is also Chair of Gaelic publishers Acair and a member of the Project Board planning UHI’s Gaelic Plan. He is a former Chief Executive of the Gaelic development agency Comunn na Gàidhlig and depute Director of Administration with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council. He is also currently a Board member of the Gaelic television Channel MG Alba and has previously been a Trustee of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, with extensive experience of other public offices.
Jo Macdonald is a Gaelic speaker from the island of Lewis. During a career spent largely with the BBC she worked mainly in factual and education programming. Before leaving the BBC at the end of 2008 she was Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, a tri-media department employing about 120 staff, whose output includes the national Gaelic radio service BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, a wide range of television programming for the new Gaelic channel BBC Alba and for BBC2, and the Gaelic website bbcalba.co.uk. She was a member of the MAGOG group whose 2002 report to Scottish ministers recommended the establishment of a body which would take a strategic approach to Gaelic Development activities. She currently does some freelance work for the BBC and has chaired Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s Publishing strategy planning group. She is a member of the Urras Shomhairle Gaelic Trust.
Hugh Dan MacLennan is a Gaelic speaker from Caol near Fort William with his family roots in Harris. He has extensive experience of working with Gaelic organisations and in project management as a consultant and is currently a Board member of the Gaelic television channel MG Alba. He is a former Secretary of the Gaelic Society of Inverness and Urras Brosnachaidh na Gàidhlig. He is a well known broadcaster, author and sports historian and was formerly Communications Director with the ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne. He is a member of the Urras Shomhairle Gaelic Trust.