Semi-finalists Announced for the Loganair Secondary Gaelic Debating Competition

10 November 2023 at 15:37:53

Sgiobaidhean an Iar-chuairt Dheireannach air ainmeachadh

'S ann suas dha na speuran a rinn sgoilearan bho air feadh Alba an slighe gu ruige baile Steòrnabhaigh an t-seachdain seo gus pàirt a ghabhail ann an farpais Deasbad Loganair nan Àrd-sgoiltean Ghàidlig. B' ann ann an Talla a' Bhaile, ann an Steòrnabhagh, a ghabh a' chiad agus an darna cuairt den fharpais chliùiteach seo àite nas tràithe air an t-seachdain. Bha dùbhlan mòr mu choinneamh na britheamhan; Joy Dunlop agus Aonghas Mac'Illinnein agus Iain MacAmhlaigh.  Ach chaidh aca air ceithir sgiobaidhean deug a lùghdachadh sìos gu ceithir sgiobaidhean.  Is iad na sgiobaidhean a thèid troimhe chun na h-iar chuairtean deireannach a ghabhas àite ann an Dùn Èideann, Sgoil Sir E. Scott B, Sgoil Sir E. Scott A, Àrd-Sgoil Phort Rìgh agus Àrd-Sgoil Sheumais Gilleasbaig.

'S ann aig an Ionad Sgeulachdan Albannach ann an Dùn Èideann a bhios na h- iar-chuairtean dheireannach a' gabhail àite air Diciadain 29 Samhain 2023.  Thèid a' chuairt mu dheireadh a chumail ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba an oidhche an dèidh sin, Diardaoin 30 Samhain, agus bi seo ri chluinntinn beò air BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.

Thuirt Luke Lovegrove, Àrd Oifigear Coimeirsealta, Loganair: "Bha e na thlachd dhuinn sgoilearan a sgèith a Steòrnabhagh.  Tha sinn toilichte taic a chumail agus tha sinn gu mòr a' faicinn cho cudromach sa tha an Deasbad ann a bhith a' leasachadh sgilean cànain".

Thuirt Joy Dunlop, as leth na britheamhan: "Mu mhath leam meal a naidheachd a chur air gach farpaiseach a ghabh pàirt thàiris air an dà là  chaidh seachad.  Bha e follaiseach gun deach mòran obair ullachaidh a dhèanamh agus bha e na thlachd dhuinn uile a bhith ag èisteachd ri deasbadan a bha nan adhbhar smaoineachaidh ach a thug dhuinn gàire no dhà cuideachd.  Cha robh e idir furasta ceithir sgiobaidhean deug a lùghdachadh sìos gu ceithir ach tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil gach sgioba air sgilean a leasachadh, tlachd a ghabhail bho bhith a' gabhail pàirt agus tha sinn an dòchas mòran dhiubh fhaicinn a' tilleadh air ais chun Deasbad anns na bliadhnaichean a tha air thoiseach oirnn".

Semi-finalists announced for the Loganair Secondary Gaelic Debating Competition

Pupils from across Scotland took to the skies this week to make their way to Stornoway for the preliminary rounds of the Loganair Secondary Gaelic Debating competition. The Town Hall in Stornoway was the setting for the first and second rounds of the prestigious competition which made a welcome return after a three year hiatus. The judges; Joy Dunlop, Angus MacLennan and Iain MacAulay certainly had their work cut out whittling fourteen teams down to four.  The four teams who have reached the semi-final stages of this year's competition are Sir E. Scott School B, Sir E. Scott School A, Portree High School and James Gillespie High School.  

The first semi-final draw will see Sir E. Scott School B against Sir E. Scott School A. In the second semi-final, Portree High School will be debating against James Gillespie High School.

The semi-finals will be held in the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh on Wednesday the 29th November 2023.  The Final will be held the following evening in the Scottish Parliament and will be broadcasted live on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.

Luke Lovegrove, Chief Commercial Officer, Loganair, said: "It was a pleasure to fly pupils to Stornoway as the Loganair National Gaelic Schools Debat. We're proud to be supporting this initiative and the important contribution it makes to Gaelic language learning."

Commenting on the two days of competitions, judge Joy Dunlop, added: "On behalf of the judges I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams who took part in the debates over the last two days.  It was apparent that a huge amount of preparatory work had taken place and all competitors are to be commended for the excellent entertainment and thought provoking debates they showcased.  It was never going to be an easy decision for us to reach but we hope that each and every one of the competitors will have gained valuable lifelong skills by taking part and hope to see many return again for future Deasbads".