EÒRPA INVESTIGATES THE FUTURE OF THE GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Wednesday 28 November 8.30pm on BBC ALBA Eòrpa reporter Darren Laing investigates what the future holds for the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the players who take part, in the next programme of the new series on BBC ALBA. No sport in Ireland has the following and prestige of the Gaelic Games - an amateur group of sports including Gaelic football and hurling, run by the GAA. A striking example of the GAA’s power and status can be found in Dublin’s Croke Park. Home of the GAA, it has room for over 80,000 fans and where full houses can be expected for the big inter-county games. One thing separates the GAA from other sporting organisations of a similar size, and that is its amateur status. Players can expect to receive nothing more than basic travel expenses and training support from their club and representatives at the Gaelic Players’ Association. With games now regularly televised live, and players training just as hard and as often as professional athletes, Eòrpa examines the debate as to whether players should be compensated more. Also in the programme Anne Lundon reports from Spain on the problems they facing in the Delta Ebra with Apple Snails, common to South America, that are eating their way through the rice crops which could devastate the rice production in the region. There is no concrete evidence as to how the snails were introducted into the eco-system, however attempts to eradicate them are proving very difficult. Both sides of the delta are now affected and there are fears that 2014 could be catastrophic for the rice producers. Produced by BBC Gàidhlig, Eòrpa is broadcast weekly on BBC ALBA at 8.30pm.

BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 1 December – Friday 14 December 2012

Title: PRO12 Live Rugby – Munster v Glasgow Live rugby action as Munster host Glasgow Warriors in the PRO12 competition at the Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick. Transmitted: Saturday 1 December Time: 7.40 – 9.35pm Title: 1872; A Rugby Rivalry / Caigeann na Callainn Sides representing Glasgow and Edinburgh first met in 1872 in the first ever inter-district clash in rugby. The programme looks at the history of the fixture and features contributions from many of the great names that have taken part over the years. Today the match has evolved into a hotly contested affair between the two professional teams that now exist in the Cities, and players from both sides will also explain just how intense the rivalry has become. Narrated by Hugh Dan MacLennan. Transmitted: Saturday 1 December Time: 9.35 – 10.05pm Title: Am Posadh Hiortach A drama-documentary examining life on St Kilda prior to the 1930 evacuation. Transmitted: Sunday 2 December Time: 10.00 – 11.00pm Title: Runrig – City of Lights A classic concert from 1990 featuring Gaelic rock band Runrig. Transmitted: Sunday 2 December Time: 11.00 – 11.55pm Title: Trusadh – The land raiders / Strì an Fhearainn Join writer Joni Buchanan as she explores the history behind the four landmark monuments which commemorate key land struggle events in Lewis. These events shook the establishment to its very core and resulted in new legislation that ultimately led directly to the recent land reforms. 2012 saw work start on the fourth of these, a stunning, new, landmark sculpture, Sùileachan - an innovative community project in Uig which commemorates the struggle of past generations against evictions and the efforts to repossess their land, and those who took direct action - the Reef Raiders. Amongst those featured is Donald John "Finn" Morrison in Uig, whose grandfather was one of the raiders; and historian, Dr Jim Hunter, who has written extensively on the history of the Clearances and Land Struggles, from the perspective of the Highland people. The renowned artist, Will MacLean, who designed all four monuments also explains what inspired him to each individual design. Transmitted: Monday 3 December Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm Title: Turas Tony / Tony’s Travels Actor and presenter Tony Kearney, formerly from BBC's 'River City', swaps the comfort of a television studio for another set of varied and challenging professions. In episode three of the series, Tony is put in charge of a bus load of tourists on the Isle of Lewis as he attempts to be their coach trip tour guide. Transmitted: Monday 3 December Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm Title: Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul – Meas air Chrannaibh / Angus Peter Campbell Angus Peter Campbell discusses his life, and his work, in a frank and open interview with Father Colin MacInnes. Starting with Angus Peter's roots in South Uist, he charts his early success as a journalist at Grampian TV, through turbulent years battling alcohol addiction, to his acclaimed success as a novelist, actor and poet. With performances from Mary Ann Kennedy, Michael Marra, Cathy MacDonald and AL Kennedy, this celebration of modern Gaelic writing is a treat not to be missed. Transmitted: Monday 3 December Time: 10:30 – 11.30pm Title: Ceilidh @ Blas / Blas Music Festival 2012 cèilidh@blas: music show, featuring Emily Smith, Vamm and Rachel Walker. Presented by Kathleen MacInnes and Fiona Dunn. Transmitted: Tuesday 4 December Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm Title: Eòrpa – European Current Affairs In this week's Eòrpa, the team report from Uist and Norway. Transmitted: Wednesday 5 December Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm Title: Dolina Born and brought up the youngest of seven children in the fishing community of Marvig on the east coast of Lewis, Dolina MacLennan became, within a few years of moving to Edinburgh in 1957, a mainstay of the Scottish folk revival of the 60s and 70s. Her Gaelic singing was a revelation and an inspiration to many while her writing for radio and her acting – perhaps particularly as the only Gael in 7:84's The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black Black Oil - contributed greatly to the developing culture of the Gàidhealtachd. In this archive-rich celebration of her career, Doli converses with Domhnall Uilleam Stiubhart and reminisces with family, friends, and associates in locations as different from one another as Marvig and Edinburgh's Waverley Bar but all of them integral to her many-faceted career. Transmitted: Thursday 6 December Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm Title: Air an Rathad - On the Road There's a lot of burning rubber in this week's show, as Calum Iain heads to Crail for a master class in Drifting. And we stay in Crail for more fun and frolics in Wacky Races. The scores are all equal so whoever wins this next challenge is setting the pace! Murray is on home ground as he test drives the Volvo XC60 in Lewis. Can it get him from A to B as comfortably and safely as he would like? And Fiona's very happy with Cudig's classic selection- it's the ever popular MG. Transmitted: Thursday 6 December Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm Title: Grampian – Toradh na Bliadhna Nostalgic look at back at Gaelic tv on STV and Grampian, with Norman Macleod and Patsi Mackenzie. Transmitted: Friday 7 December Time: 10:30 – 11.30pm Title: SPL Hearts v Aberdeen The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Hearts host Aberdeen at Tynecastle Stadium. Transmitted: Saturday 8 December Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm Title: Na Trads 2012 / Scottish Traditional Music Awards 2012 Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Scots Trad Music Awards is coming live to BBC ALBA for the first time. The great and the good of the Scottish traditional music and song community will be heading north to the Nevis Centre, Fort William. Hosted by Mary Ann Kennedy and Tony Kearney, the awards provide the annual opportunity for singers, musicians and the wider industry to come together and to celebrate those who have made an impact throughout 2012. Alongside the coveted 'gongs' a great line-up of artist will be performing, including The Treacherous Orchestra, Karine Polwart, Man's Ruin, and Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross will be paying a special tribute to the late, great Michael Marra. Transmitted: Saturday 8 December Time: 9.00 – 11.00pm Title: Ceilidh @ Blas / Blas Music Festival 2012 Kathleen Macinnes presents music from the Blas festival. Guesting on ceilidh@blas are the Battlefield Band, Emily Smith, Linda MacLeod, Blazin'Fiddles and Breabach. Transmitted: Tuesday 11 December Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm Title: Eorpa In this week's Eòrpa, the team report from Romania and Ireland. Transmitted: Wednesday 12 December Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm Title: Soillse - Pàirce Boubandjida Boubanjida a national park created in the 1960s in northern Cameroon, is a paradise of 220,000 acres for many species: antelopes, primates, wildcats and elephants… but it's an endangered paradise. Neglected for years, the park is being reborn thanks to the work of Paul Bour and his team. With the collaboration of the Park's manager and the inhabitants, the park's supervision is reinforced more and more each day. The awareness of the nearby village inhabitants is increasing and the concept of 'nature protection' is starting to be understood. Transmitted: Wednesday 12 December Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm Title: Air An Rathad / On the Road Murray takes on The Grizzly - 8 tons of American Monster truck, while Fiona is turning heads in the super light, eco friendly Renault Twizy. Cudig's classic car is the Rover 2000, and everyone 's lost the plot in this week's Wacky Races! Transmitted: Thursday 13 December Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm

WET WEATHER SURVEY SEEKS SHORT TERM HELP FOR FARMERS

Long term resilience also needed for changing climate Scottish farmers are seeking short-term assistance from Scottish Government and the banking sector to cope with this year’s record rainfall and disastrous harvest according to responses to NFU Scotland’s wet weather survey. However, longer-term measures that would leave Scottish farmers more resilient to the changing climate in the years ahead are also required. In an unprecedented level of response, more than 450 Scottish farmers have completed the Union’s survey in less than 10 days. The results were revealed by NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller at AgriScot, a major farming event taking place at Ingliston near Edinburgh today (21 November) where Mr Miller shared a platform with Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead. Speaking at AgriScot, Mr Miller said: “The unprecedented response to the survey simply highlights how awful a year 2012 has been for many Scottish farmers. It has also teased out the sort of assistance that would make a difference to those Scottish farming businesses struggling through the current winter and facing an uncertain spring. “Half of those who responded have already needed extra cash for their businesses and expect to have to take extra steps to improve their cash flow by the spring. For them, affordable access to credit and the waiving of arrangement fees were deemed to be useful or very useful to their businesses. We will pick that up with the Scottish clearing banks when we meet in private this afternoon. “With cashflow being such a concern for so many businesses, guarantees from the Scottish Government around the prompt payment of key support schemes – the Single Farm Payment in December and Less Favoured Areas support in March – would give important reassurances. Scotland has a good track record in achieving this. “However, we would like the Scottish Government to go further and specifically help those businesses who unfortunately may see their payments delayed into the New Year because they have been subject to inspection or query on their claim. Given the exceptional circumstances, we believe there is merit in Scottish Government directing additional resources to help settle the claims of those businesses facing delays as soon as possible. “Given the importance of support, virtually all farmers remain fearful of inspections and the impact that failure could have on their support payments. However, the toll that the rain has left on ground conditions means that it would be appropriate to grant an amnesty from weather-related cross compliance issues. This is something that nine out of ten respondents would appreciate. “To assist recovery in the short term, there was almost unanimous backing for any available Scottish Government assistance to be targeted at making drainage repairs and improvements and for reseeding, so that badly damaged pastures can be reinstated. “In the future, farmers believe long term resilience to volatile weather can be built into our farming systems by ensuring that rural development funding supports items such as land reinstatement, drainage, reseeding, upgrading gateways, crop storage and slurry storage. We hope to pick up with Scottish Government how such items can be incorporated into the next rural development plan. “What the survey has also done is clarify just how difficult 2012 has been. For those with crops, the relentless rain endured over many months have hammered crop yields and quality, driven significant costs into harvesting, left many crops still standing in the fields and winter seed in the shed unsown. “Using our survey results as a snapshot across the whole Scottish arable sector, one in five growers still have more than 10 percent of their cereals, maize or potatoes to harvest and a staggering one in ten arable respondents still had 50 percent or more of their cereals and maize in the field. “Half the growers who responded to the survey have failed to get all their winter crops planted and will have to carry that seed through to next autumn. “On livestock units, the issues have been early housing of stock, variable forage quality, higher feed costs and being forced to sell animals earlier than intended due to lack of feed. Two-thirds of respondents have had to buy more bedding and fodder than they had budgeted for and three-quarters of livestock keepers housed their stock earlier than normal. “All-in-all 2012 has been a desperately difficult and trying year for Scottish farmers. This survey shows that their is scope to provide short term assistance to get over this difficult period but also the opportunity longer-term to leave Scottish food and farming better placed to cope with such variable weather patterns."

Argyll and Bute sports coaches get ready, get set to become champions

SPORTS enthusiasts throughout Argyll and Bute have the opportunity to start honing their skills as Argyll and Bute Council opens bookings for the Coaching Champions programme on Friday 30 November. The award-winning sports coaching programme returns for 2013 with a refreshing new array of courses and opportunities for existing and new sports coaches. Coaching Champions is recognised across the country as the premium event for training in sports coaching, and attracted over 450 participants to the 2012 event. It has grown steadily over its six-year life to offer local opportunities for coaches, teachers, instructors, clubs, youth leaders and community volunteers to train in quality sports coaching. The majority of courses are provided for clubs and organisations training new coaches or for people wishing to train in a new sport. This foundation training ensures that children in Argyll and Bute get the best quality, most up-to-date coaching which is supported by sportscotland and the governing bodies of sport. Coaches require to learn more than just the content of their chosen sport. They need to be familiar with first aid, child protection, organisational skills, nutrition and how to be a good coach. These areas are covered in the Coaching Essentials section. Outdoor adventure sport requires leaders to be competent and confident of their own skills, and Argyll and Bute Council works with Stramash Outdoor Social Enterprise to provide a mixed programme to build these skills. Also included for the first time are Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Supervisor and Assessor courses where volunteers within this excellent programme can train under competent tutors and pass their skills on to local young people. Following last year’s success, this year’s Swim School has been extended, including sessions in Dunoon and Helensburgh on water polo, coaching swimming and adult/child specialist courses during February to April. Another great addition is the Coach Academy - a section specifically designed for experienced coaches and teachers to hone their skills and ensure the pathway they offer to their children and athletes is planned, appropriate and progressive. Two of the finest mentors have been enlisted to help, including Kelvin Giles, an Olympic rugby, tennis, golf and athletics coach, who will deliver a full day of skills development experience. There will also be a session with Tony Stanger, talent manager at the Scottish Institute of Sport and well known as a British Lion and Scottish rugby star. He will help coaches recognise what helps to develop talent in sport and how to recognise it. Other courses of note within the packed programme, reflecting the growth of sport in Argyll and Bute, are triathlon, netball, hockey, athletics, Nordic walking and archery, but the traditional sports of football, shinty, rugby, badminton, basketball and volleyball are not forgotten! Community groups, youth organisations and schools are particularly encouraged to look at the table tennis, netball, basketball and volleyball courses where a fantastic discount is on offer to encourage more playing of these sports in our area. With a new approach to the management of school sports facilities being encouraged by the Scottish Government and sportscotland, these sports and activities have great potential and need qualified coaches to help grow opportunities for young people. Argyll and Bute Council’s lead councillor for sport, Councillor Dougie Philand said that Coaching Champions was an opportunity not to be missed by anyone wishing to become a quality coach, or wanting to improve their skills. “This is a unique event in Scotland – no other local authority runs anything like it, and we’re proud of what it has achieved so far,” he said. “It reflects Argyll and Bute Council’s desire to increase participation in sports and physical activity, and combat social inequalities through getting people more active in our unique natural environment. “Coaching Champions meets the aims of our Sport and Physical Activity Strategy by increasing the number of coaches in Argyll and Bute, improving the quality of coaching on offer and encouraging a general boost in sports participation. “It has a number of distinct elements which will appeal to a wide range of people who are currently involved in sport or who would like to take the first step on the sports coaching ladder, and I would encourage anyone interested to sign up. It’s a fantastic event.” The event takes place in Oban over the weekend of 1 to 3 February 2013, and booking opens on Friday 30 November. Courses can fill up very quickly, so early booking is advised. Free minibus transport to Oban is available for participants from Dunoon, Campbeltown, Rothesay and Helensburgh (and anywhere en route during these journeys), however places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. During the weekend, those taking part will also be able to vote for their chosen Sports Coach and Volunteer of the Year in a number of categories. This peer recognition gives winners not only a memento of their achievement, but also qualifies them for the Scottish Sports Coach awards later in the year. A full list of the courses on offer, what they cost and how to apply is on Argyll and Bute Council’s website at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coaching champions All courses are subsidised and supported by Argyll and Bute Council and sportscotland. For further information, please contact sportscoaching@argyll-bute.gov.uk "If you’re interested in coaching the Positive Coaching way, would like to learn more about being a Positive Coaching parent or create a positive ethos in your club, get in touch with Nicola Hackett, Active Schools Manager, on 01369 708667 or email activeschools@argyll-bute.gov.uk"