A team of Scottish Gaelic speakers have embarked on an educational trip to Nova Scotia to strengthen cultural ties with the allied province.

Celebrating Mìos nan Gàidheal, also known as ‘Gaelic Nova Scotia Month’, the team behind SpeakGaelic – MG ALBA’s Scottish Gaelic learning brand – will travel around the province of Nova Scotia to learn from locals and promote the language to those both new to and fluentin Gaelic.

Over the 10-day trip, SpeakGaelic will visit Halifax, Antigonish, Mabou, Judique, Iona and Sydney to build relationships with the diaspora of Gaels in Canada, celebrating the similarities – and differences – of the unique culture and way of life overseas. Sharing insights and showcasing the resources available, it is hoped the trip will help create a new network of Gaelic-speaking contacts on the other side of the Atlantic.

SpeakGaelic online producer Mirren Buchanan, who coordinated the overseas project, said: “Gaelic is not just a language but a culture endowed with a rich heritage of music, folklore and anthropology, and so it’s such an exciting opportunity for us to visit the Scottish Gaelic communities in Nova Scotia to see how this translates, and plays out, in their daily lives.

“With amazing SpeakGaelic resources now at our fingertips – and available to those around the world – we hope we can attract and inspire learners and speakers of all ages in Nova Scotia to take up, or brush up, on their Gaelic language skills.”

Sionainn MacMullin, from the Office of Gaelic Affairs at Cape Breton Council, said: “May is Mìos nan Gàidheal in Nova Scotia which is a time to celebrate and promote awareness of the history, culture, language, contributions, and achievements of Gaels across the province, supported by the Office of Gaelic Affairs and Comhairle na Gàidhlig | Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia. 

“This year’s theme is ‘Gàidhealach nar Cridhe | Gaelic at Heart!’ – so what better way to highlight the history and heritage of Gaelic, which is very much alive today, than with the support of the SpeakGaelic team who will be showcasing just how easy it is to get involved in the language and culture. We hope the series of workshops and events we have planned across the province will encourage all Nova Scotians to engage with Gaelic during the month of May and beyond.”

SpeakGaelic aims to transform the uptake and usage of Gaelic by providing a clear and integrated structure for Gaelic language learning – the most comprehensive approach seen in a generation.

As well as supporting complete beginners, the materials support Gaelic speakers at different levels of fluency to gain confidence to ‘SpeakGaelic’. The exciting and ambitious learning resource offers users in Canada, and across the world, a variety of services from self-guided online learning to media content available through YouTube and social media.

Find out more about SpeakGaelic and start your Scottish Gaelic journey today at https://speakgaelic.scot/.