MG ALBA, the Gaelic digital media service, is delighted to announce today (Thursday) that it is continuing to support this year’s BT Gaelic Schools’ Debating Competition, confirming its commitment to the Gaelic community, language development, education and youth-focused projects.
Alasdair Morrison, chair of MG ALBA, was one of the founding associates of the competition back in 1999 and was a judge on the first panel. Mr Morrison was present at the launch of the competition’s new website http://www.deasbadbtalba.com/ which took place today at the Western Isles Council building, Stornoway.
Mr Morrison said: “The BT Gaelic Schools’ Debating Competition is an important date in the Gaelic community calendar and I am delighted to be supporting the event again this year. MG ALBA’s involvement signals our commitment to the Gaelic community and the debates play a big role in our promotional campaign to help raise awareness for the Gaelic language and its cultural influence in education.
“MG ALBA has been supporting this competition since its inception in 1999 and I am delighted to be renewing my association with this esteemed academic event. I look forward to working closely with the National Gaelic School’s Debate Management Committee in the run up to and during the competition.”
Agnes Rennie, Chair of Western Isles Council’s Gaelic Committee said: “The BT Gaelic Schools Debate project has been a huge process since it was established in 1999. It has given Gaelic speaking secondary school pupils throughout Scotland the opportunity to come together and hone their debating skills and their communication skills in general. This website will allow those involved in the BT Gaelic Schools Debate to access information and material relating to the project, and the Council is grateful for the continuing and generous financial support from BT Scotland”.
Calum Iain Macleod, Director of Development at Comunn na Gàidhlig and chairman of the National Gaelic Schools’ Debate Management Committee said, “I am delighted that all the experiences gained over the years of the competition are now accessible to everyone through the website, which will be a useful tool for young people participating in debating competitions and for students undertaking subjects in Gaelic. We are grateful to BT Scotland and our other sponsors for their continuing support.”
The BT Scotland National Schools’ Debate is open to senior secondary Gaelic-speaking students from all parts of the country and it gives them an opportunity to meet and debate issues of local, national and international relevance.
This year’s heats take place on 5/6 November in An Lanntair arts centre, Stornoway. The semi finals are on 19 November culminating with the finals on 20 November where two teams will be able to demonstrate their debating and linguistic skills before an audience in the Scottish Parliament.
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For further information please contact Ramsay Smith at Media House on 0141 220 6040 / 07788 414 856 or email: ramsay@mediahouse.co.uk
Notes to editors:
MG ALBA, in partnership with the BBC, is launching BBC ALBA, which will
be available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110 from 19 September
2008.
BBC ALBA is expected to become available on cable in due course. Subject to review by the BBC Trust, BBC ALBA will become available on Freeview after digital switchover in 2010. For more information on accessing BBC ALBA visit our website: www.mglba.com.
MG ALBA and the BBC have established a partnership to deliver digital television, radio and online services in Gaelic. The BBC ALBA service will broadcast under a BBC licence. To find out more about how the partnership works visit www.mgalba.com.
MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service), which is funded by the Scottish Government and regulated by Ofcom. MG ALBA stands for Meadhanan Gàidhlig Alba, or Gaelic Media Scotland
11 September 2008