Deasbad Nàiseanta Loganair nan Àrd-sgoiltean Ghàidhlig 2023

04 December 2023 at 14:49:50

Ghabh a' chuairt dheireannach de Dheasbad Loganair nan Àrd-sgoiltean Ghàidhlig 2023 àite air Diardaoin 30mh Samhain aig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.  B' iad na sgiobaidhean a bha a' gabhail pàirt, Sgoil Sir E Scott B agus  Àrd-sgoil Sheumais Ghilleasbuig.

Airson a' mholaidh bha Elie Ceit NicIain agus Isla Scott à Sgoil Sir E Scott agus an aghaidh a' mholaidh bha Fionnlagh Penman agus Mata Wright à Dùn Èideann.  Gu dearbha bha là trang dha rìreabh aig an dà sgioba is iad ag ullachadh mu choinneamh farpais a tha air a bhith ruith bho 1999.  Bha obair chruaidh mu choinneamh nam britheamhan; Iain MacAmhlaigh, Joy Dunlop agus Aonghas MacIllinnein.  Ach chaidh an oidhche le sgoilearan Sgoil Sir E Scott B!

Bha cuideachd an Duais airson an Òraidiche as Fhèarr ri thoirt seachad agus 's e Mata Wright a ghlèidh an sgiath air a' bhliadhna seo.  Is i Iona NicRisnidh a thug seachad an duais as leth a' BhBC.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, a thug seachad a' phrìomh dhuais aig a' Phàrlamaid: 

"Bha Deasbad Nàiseanta na bliadhna sa sàr-mhath ann an iomadh dòigh, eadar àrd-sgoiltean air feadh na h-Alba a bhith a' togail ceangal le chèile gu mar a chaidh an tachartas a stiùireadh is a chur air dòigh, agus cuideachd an co-obrachadh eadar ùghdarrasan ionadail agus roinn a' ghnothachais. Tha mi fìor thoilichte gun do bhuannaich Sgoil Sir E Scott agus gu bheil iad a' toirt na duaise dhachaigh dha na h-eileanan."

Lean e air adhart, "Tha na sgoilearan nan sàr thosgairean Gàidhlig is cultair, chan ann a-mhàin dhan sgoil is dhan eilean aca, ach dhan Ghàidhealtachd air fad. Bu mhath leam an cothrom a ghabhail taing a thoirt do na sgiobaidhean is do na tidsearan àrd-sgoile air feadh na h-Alba a ghabh pàirt san tachartas Ghàidhlig chliùiteach seo agus tha sinn an dòchas ur faicinn an-ath-bhliadhna."

Thuirt Evelyn Coull NicLeòid as leth Comataidh Rianachd Deasbad Nàiseanta nan Àrd-sgoiltean,

"Bu mhath leam gu sònraichte taing a thoirt do na buidhnean a leanas airson maoineachadh a thoirt seachad dhuinn air a' bhliadhna seo:  Loganair, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba, Foghlam Alba, Comhairle Baile Ghlaschu agus Ùghdarras Teisteanas na h-Alba.  An-dèidh soirbheachas do Sgoil Sir E Scott agus sàr ìre de dheasbad tron fharpais air fad tha sinn a' coimhead air adhart gu 2024!".

Thuirt Aonghas MacIllinnein as leth na britheamhan:

"Mar bhritheamhan, bha sinn air leth toilichte le ìre an deasbaid am bliadhna.  Cuspairean ìnntinneach, sgoilearan air an deagh dheasachadh aig luchd-teagaisg agus pàrantan, sgiobaidhean bho sgìrean dùthchail agus bhailtean mòra a' gabhail pàirt agus e follaiseach gu bheil ùidh agus uaill shònraichte aca uile anns a' Ghàidhlig.  

Ar beannachd aig Sgoil Sir E Scott B a bhuannaich an fharpais. Bha iad gu math airidh air ach bu chòir dha na trì sgiobaidhean eile a ràinig an ìre seo a bhith gu math uasal àsda fhèin cuideachd.  Chùm iad ceann a' mhaide ri chèile! Canaidh mòran de na bha an sàs anns an Deasbad thar nam bliadhnaichean gur e càil cho feumail a thaobh leasachadh sgilean sa rinn iad riamh. Tha min dòchas gur e sin a bheachd dham bi sibhse  Bha e na fhìor thlachd a bhith na luib. Mar a bh' anns an òran, 'Cò ris nach còrdadh e?' 

Chuir Luke Lovegrove, Prìomh Oifigear Coimeirsealta Loganair:

"Bha e na thoileachas dhuinn taic a thoirt do Dheasbad Nàiseanta nan Sgoiltean Ghàidhlig a-rithist am-bliadhna. Tha e na adhbhar mhisneachd dhuinn a' Ghàidhlig a thaisbeanadh mar eileamaid dheatamach de dhualchas na h-Alba."

Loganair National Gaelic Schools Debate 2023

The final of the 2023 Loganair Gaelic Debate took place at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday the 29^th of November.  The teams taking part in this year's final were James Gillespie High School and Sir E Scott B.

Debating for the motion were Sir E Scott and against the motion were James Gillespie High School. Both teams certainly had a busy day preparing ahead of the prestigious competition which began in 1999.  Judges Iain MacAulay, Joy Dunlop and Angus MacLennan had a difficult task in reaching a decision as both teams were very strong.  However, the night went with.  The prize was given by Councillor Calum Munro, Chair of the Gaelic Committee at Highland Council.

Also up for grabs was the Best Speaker award and this year's the recipient was Matthew Wright from James Gillespie High School.  Matthew was presented with the award by Iona MacRitchie from BBC Craoladh nan Gàidheal.

Cllr Calum Munro, Chair of the Highland Council Gaelic Committee said,

"This year's Deasbad Nàiseanta (National Debate) was excellent in many ways, including the engagement of Secondary Schools' across Scotland, the management and organisation of the event, and also the collaboration and partnership working between local authorities and the business sector. I am absolutely delighted that Sir E Scott School are the winners and are taking the award home to Harris.  He continued, "The pupils are excellent Gaelic and cultural ambassadors.  I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the teams, and teachers in secondary schools across Scotland who took part in this prestigious Gaelic initiative and hopefully see you all next year."

On behalf of the judges, Angus MacLennan said: "As judges, we were delighted with the standard of the debate this year. Interesting topics, pupils well prepared by teachers and parents, teams from rural areas and big cities taking part and it is obvious that they all have a special interest and pride in Gaelic.

Congratulations to Sir E Scott B School who won the competition. They really deserved it but the other three teams that reached this stage should be very proud of themselves too. They stuck together! Many of those who have been involved in the Debate over the years will say that it is fantastic for developing their skills."

Evelyn Coull MacLeod on behalf of the National Gaelic Schools' Debate Management Committee, added: "Following a three year hiatus we were delighted to have been able to secure funding to enable us to continue.  I would, in particular, like to thank the following for their contribution: Loganair, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, Education Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, The Scottish Qualifications Authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, The Highland Council and Glasgow City Council.  Congratulations to Sir E Scott B who emerged as the worthy winners, a high level of competition was set and we look forward to another year of interesting and thought-provoking debates in 2024."

Luke Lovegrove, Chief Commercial Officer at Loganair added:

"It's been our pleasure to support the National Gaelic Schools' Debate again this year, which so brilliantly showcases Gaelic as a crucial element of Scottish heritage. Well done to all of the teams who took part for your hard work and dedication throughout the competition."