Comataidh na Gàidhlig a’ moladh aithisg Fèis Bhlas

Tha Comhairlichean na Gàidhealtachd air fàilte a chur air aithisg mhionaideach mu Fhèis Bhlas a chaidh a chumail san t-Sultain 2023.

Thug an aithisg am follais gum b’ e seo an 19mh Fèis Bhlas a bha Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a lìbhrigeadh, agus eadar seo agus Fèisean ionadail, gun robh tionndadh-airgid £3.247 millean air a bhith ann, a’ toirt taic do 94.9 dreuchd co-ionann ri làn-ùine.

Thug Buill Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd fa-near gun do thog Fèisean nan Gàidheal, tro 2022–23, ceangal le còrr is 89,000 neach agus gun robh faisg air 4,600 neach air a bhith an làthair aig tachartasan Blas. Bha 46 Fèisean air còrr is 7,500 neach a chom-pàirteachadh ann an 129 taisbeanaidhean, 22 coimiseanan ùra agus 132 bùithtean-obrach.

Ann an 2022/2023, thug maoineachadh agus taic eile bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd cothrom do dh’Fhèisean nan Gàidheal maoineachadh a bharrachd a tharraing bho bhuidhnean eile a leithid Alba Chruthachail, Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus airson a’ chiad uair, Iomairt Cholm Cille.

Thug Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig na Comhairle, an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, iomradh air cuid de bhuannachdan Fèis Bhlas agus an com-pàirteachas aice le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Thuirt e: “Tha taic airson Fèis Bhlas a’ dol air ais gu 1994 agus tha mi toilichte gum b’ urrainn dhan Chomhairle taic a chumail a’ dol ann an 2023.

“Tha cuid de na buannachdan cultarach is cànain aig Fèis Bhlas agus aig na Fèisean eile, a bha air an comharrachadh san aithisg seo, a’ toirt taic làidir do na cothroman a tha aig daoine a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh sna coimhearsnachdan aca agus a’ leudachadh nan cothroman foghlaim aca sa Ghàidhlig. Tha na coimhearsnachdan againn a’ cur fàilte mhòr air an naidheachd gu bheil buaidh ionmhasail Fèis Bhlas a’ toirt seachad £12 airson gach £1.”

Dh’innis an aithisg cuideachd gun do ràinig tachartasan Fèisean nan Gàidheal mu 300 coimhearsnachd air feadh na h-Alba a bharrachd air luchd-èisteachd thall thairis, le 19 Fèisean stèidhichte ann an sgìre na Gàidhealtachd.

Gaelic Committee commends Blas Festival report

Highland Councillors have welcomed a detailed report on the Blas Festival held in September 2023.

The report highlighted that in its 19th year, the combined turnover of the Blas Festival delivered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal and local Fèisean was £3.247 million supporting 94.9 full time equivalent posts.

Members of the Council’s Gaelic Committee noted that the work of Fèisean nan Gàidheal during 2022-23 engaged over 89,000 people and that just under 4,600 people attended Blas events. Forty-six Fèisean involved over 7,500 people in 129 performances, 22 new commissions and 132 workshop sessions.

In 2022/2023, Highland Council funding and support-in-kind enabled Fèisean nan Gàidheal to attract additional funding from other organisations including Creative Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and for the first time Iomairt Cholm Cille.

Chair of the Council’s Gaelic Committee Cllr Calum Munro highlighted some of the continued benefits of the Blas Festival and its partnership with The Highland Council, he said: “Support for the Blas Festival initially goes back to 1994 and I am pleased that the Council was able to provide a level of continued support in 2023.

“Some of the cultural and linguistic benefits of the Blas Festival and Fèisean highlighted to us in this report strongly support the opportunities for people to use Gaelic in their communities and extend their educational opportunities in Gaelic. The economic impact of the Blas Festival providing leverage of £12 spent for every £1 is greatly welcomed in our communities.”

The report also detailed that Fèisean nan Gàidheal events reached around 300 communities across Scotland and audiences abroad with 19 Fèisean located in the Highland region.