THE story of how parents, teachers and campaigners transformed Gaelic education in Glasgow over four decades is set to be told on one of the biggest stages in Scottish culture.
A new film, Ar Cànan 's Ar Ceòl, will open the Royal National Mòd on Friday, charting the struggles, successes and determination that helped build Glasgow into the largest centre of Gaelic speakers outside the Western Isles.
Using archive footage and photographs spanning the last 40 years, the film tells the story of the activists, families, teachers and local authority workers who fought to establish and expand Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in the city.
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Among the stories featured is that of Helen MacNeil, whose efforts helped change not only the future of Gaelic education in Glasgow but also the course of her own family's life.
Although Helen's grandparents were Gaelic speakers from Barra, they died young and the family's connection to both the language and the island was lost.
Determined that her children would reconnect with that part of their heritage and identity, she became involved in the campaign for a dedicated Gaelic school and helped identify the building that would eventually become home to Gaelic education.
Her children went through GME and the impact is still being felt today. Her eldest daughter, Alison Richardson, is now headteacher at Calton Gaelic Primary School, while Helen's grandchildren have also been educated through Gaelic.
The film also features an interview with Donalda McComb, the first person in the world to lead a standalone Scottish Gaelic school catering for pupils from the age of three through to 18.
Widely credited with helping create the strong sense of community at Glasgow Gaelic School, McComb oversaw a period in which the school's academic performance regularly placed it among Scotland's top-performing secondary schools, helping convince more parents of the benefits of Gaelic education.
Other influential voices featured include statistician Mary Galbraith, who presented projections on the viability of a Gaelic secondary school to Glasgow City Council, Sìne MacLean, whose son attended the first Gaelic class at Sir John Maxwell School, and Elaine Michie, who despite not speaking Gaelic herself chose to send all four of her children through Gaelic education after being welcomed into the community.
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The film also highlights the work of pioneering Gaelic campaigners and educators including Mina Smith, Kenna Campbell and Boyd Robertson, whose efforts helped lay the foundations for Gaelic education in the city.
Producer and director Annie Cheape of Sgeul Media said: "The film that will be shown at the Mòd opening concert is really emotive, showing the passion needed to get GME to the point that it’s at today. It includes some brilliant memories and stories from former pupils and from parents who themselves had no Gaelic, but were determined for their children to have the language.
“Community, culture, language and identity are the main themes which come up again and again, but also how important the provision of GME has been for Gaelic.
"GME has made an invaluable contribution both to strengthening the language and raising awareness of it and we’re so proud to present it as part of the night.
“The story of forty years of GME in Glasgow has never really been told before and the Mòd provides a brilliant opportunity to tell that story whilst showcasing the incredible students past and present and their musical talents.”
The opening night will also celebrate the legacy of Gaelic education through music, with performances from former GME pupils who have gone on to become leading figures in Scottish traditional music.
Among those appearing are breakthrough trad act DLÙ, whose members attended Glasgow Gaelic schools, alongside an orchestra bringing together current and former GME pupils with established Scottish musicians.
Ar Cànan 's Ar Ceòl opens the Royal National Mòd at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday, October 9.
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