The 2015 National Schools Gaelic Debate begins tomorrow, Tuesday (3rd November) . Twenty teams from eighteen schools will be taking part in this year’s competition. The four teams with the highest points will progress to the semi-final stages which will take place in Edinburgh at the end of November. The final will be broadcasted live from the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday the 25th of November.
Chairperson of the BT Scotland National Gaelic Schools’ Debate Management Committee, Calum Iain MacLeod, commented:
“I would actively encourage members of the public to go along and support the 2015 Debate. Through the course of the first two rounds in Stornoway we see some excellent debates – a showcase of the strength of the debating and communication skills of our Gaelic speaking youngsters. I would like to express our gratitude to all the funders of the competition, without that support the competition would simply not have been able to go ahead this year ”.
The 2015 Debate is funded by: Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, Skills Development Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, The Highland Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Glasgow City Council, SCILT (Scotland’s National Centre for Languages), Education Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council. Additional support in kind is provided by BBC Alba, MG ALBA, Comunn na Gàidhlig, Pròiseact nan Ealan and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Le Deasbad Nàiseanta nan Àrd-sgoiltean 2015 air fàire, tha sgoilearan bho air feadh na dùthcha trang ag ullachadh mu choinneamh an fharpais chliùiteach seo. Tha fichead sgoil bho ochd sgoiltean deug a’ gabhail pàirt ann am farpais na bliadhna seo.
Bidh cùisean a’ tòiseachadh amàireach (3 Samhain) ann am prìomh oifisean na Comhairle agus Diciadain (4mh) anns An Lanntair ann an Steòrnabhagh. Tha beagan de dh’atharrachadh air cruth na farpais am bliadhna seo agus gach sgioba a’ faighinn dà chothrom deasbad thairis an dà là. Tha fàilte chridheil air daoine a thighinn gu seòmar deasbaid na Comhairle ann an Steòrnabhagh airson an deasbaireachd a’ tòiseachadh aig 1f agus a-rithist aig 6.30f.agus a-rithist air an Diciadain far am bidh an dàrna cuairt a’ tòiseachadh san Lanntair aig 10m. agus a-rithist aig 2f. ’S iad na ceithir sgiobaidhean le na comharran is àirde thairis an dà là a thèid troimhe gu na cuairtean deireannach ann an Dùn Èideann. Bidh a’ chuairt dheireannach a’ tighinn thugaibh beò, bho Phàrlamaid na h-Alba, air BBC Radio nan Gàidheal air Diciadain 25 Samhain.
Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Rianachd Deasbad Nàiseanta nan Sgoiltean Ghàidhlig, Calum Iain MacLeòid:
“Mholainn do neach sam bith a dhol a dh’ èisteachd ri Deasbad 2015 agus taic a thoirt dhan òigridh. Gach bliadhna tha sinn a’ faicinn deasbadan a tha air leth tarraingeach – a tha na dheagh thaisbeanadh air na sgilean làidir a tha aig sgoilearan ann an conaltradh agus deasbad. Tha mi airson taing mhòr a thoirt do na luchd maoineachaidh againn As aonais an taice sin cha bhiodh e air a bhith comasach dhuinne an tachartas seo a chumail am bliadhna seo.”