Luaidh ga dhèanamh air luchd-obrach Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain

Tha Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, air luaidh a dhèanamh air dithis a tha air an dreuchdan fhàgail ann an Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain às dèidh iomadh bliadhna.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Rothach: “Aig deireadh an t-seisein mu dheireadh, leig dithis an dreuchdan dhiubh ann an Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain agus cha bhiodh e ceart gun a bhith ag ainmeachadh is a’ comharrachadh an cuid saothair dhìcheallach. Bha Annie NicDhòmhnaill na Manaidsear air a’ chròileagan trì bliadhn’ deug air fhichead agus thòisich Mairead NicCoinnich goirid às a dèidh mar Phrìomh Neach-obrach Thràth-bhliadhnaichean.

“Thòisich an cròileagan an toiseach le sianar chloinne ann an Ionad-Coimhearsnachd Inbhir Pheofharain agus b’ e bràithrean Maireid a chuir air bhonn e gus foghlam sgoil-àraich Gàidhlig a thoirt dhan chloinn aca fhèin. ‘S ann le maoineachadh bho Chomhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich a thòisich an cròileagan agus rè nam bliadhnaichean tha ceudan de chloinn air a dhol tro Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig an dèidh dhaibh tòiseachadh ann an Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain. Nuair a thòisich àireamhan a’ fàs, ghluais iad gu àite dhaibh fhèin leis an ainm An Taigh Gàidhlig. An toiseach cha robh ach clann aois trì bliadhna a’ frithealadh a’ Chròileagain agus bha clann aois ceithir bliadhna a’ dol gu sgoil-àraich na sgoile.  

“Thar nam bliadhnaichean, tha an t-ionad air fàs agus a-nis tha tràth-ionnsachadh is cùram-chloinne maoinichte air a thabhann do chloinn aois dà, trì agus ceithir bliadhna ann an Inbhir Pheofharain agus sna sgìrean mun cuairt. Gu math tric ’s ann sa Chròileagan a chluinneas clann agus an teaghlaichean a’ Ghàidhlig an toiseach agus tha an àireamh chloinne a tha air a dhol air adhart gu Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig a-nis sna ceudan.

“Tha manaidsear ùr a-nis air an dreuchd a ghabhail agus a’ faighinn taic bho Luchd-obrach Thràth-bhliadhnaichean Gàidhlig – dithis dhiubh a bha a’ frithealadh a’ Chròileagain nuair a bha iad fhèin nan cloinn. Tha sinn taingeil gu bheil an Cròileagan fhathast ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd airson 1140 uairean de thràth-ionnsachadh is cùram-chloinne a lìbhrigeadh tro làn-bhogadh sa chànan.

“Tha sinn a’ guidhe cluaineas fada sona do dh’Annie is do Mhaireid. Mo bheannachd aig an dithis aca.”

Tributes paid to Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain staff

Chair of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee Cllr Calum Munro has paid tribute to two key members of Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain staff who retired recently.

Cllr Munro said: “At the end of last session, Cròileagan Inbhir Pheofharain saw two longstanding members of staff head off into retirement. Manager Annie Macdonald was at the helm of the Gaelic medium partner setting in Dingwall for 33 years, joined shortly after by Margaret Mackenzie as Senior Early Years Practitioner (EYP).

“It all started with six children in Dingwall Community Centre and was started by Margaret’s brothers as a means of providing Gaelic nursery education for their own children. Funding was initially provided by Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich. As numbers started to increase, they moved into their own space at An Taigh Gàidhlig. Initially Cròileagan only catered for 3-year-olds with 4-year-olds attending the school nursery.

“Over the years, the setting has grown and now provides funded early learning and childcare to 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds in Dingwall and the surrounding areas. The Cròileagan is often a child and their family’s first experience of Gaelic and the number of children who have then gone on to enter Gaelic medium education in primary school is now in the hundreds.

“A new manager has now taken up post and is supported by the team of Gaelic speaking EYPs, two of whom attended the Cròileagan themselves as children. We are grateful that Cròileagan continues to work in partnership with the Highland Council to deliver 1140 hours of early learning and children through a total immersion experience.

“We wish Annie and Margaret a long and happy retirement.”