Badenoch and Strathspey is runner-up Gaelic Community of the Year

A community project representing Badenoch and Strathspey has received third prize as Gaelic Community of the Year for 2010.

The competition was run by Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) as part of the Gaelic development contract they are delivering on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). ‘SINNE” was awarded third prize of £500 for the work they are doing to develop Gaelic in Badenoch and Strathspey. First prize went to the district of Staffin, in the north east of Skye. Solas in North Uist was awarded the second prize of £1,500.

This is the first year the competition has been run, but despite that over eleven communities and community groups submitted bids, from across the Highlands and islands.

Submissions were assessed against a range of measures including:

The bids were assessed by a panel of judges including CnaG staff and representatives from HIE and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Highland Councillor and local supporter of SINNE Jaci Douglas said: “I am really delighted to see that all the hard work and effort that has been going on within Badenoch and Strathspey has been recognised by the competition. There is a huge amount of things going on already and this will help the groups and organisations build on that work to increase the use of Gaelic language and culture across the area.”

Donald MacNeill, CnaG chief executive said: “It was very difficult to choose between the submissions. They all deserve recognition and it was hard to select the second and third award winners. We hope to run the competition again next year, and the other groups and communities should be encouraged to try again on that occasion.”

-Ends-