KATE FORBES: Hit Gaelic TV crime drama An t-Eilean has spawned international interest
Communities in Badenoch and Strathspey are immersed in Gaelic heritage and culture.
They are surrounded by Gaelic-named mountains and rivers, whilst young voices in the Gaelic Medium Unit sing old Gaelic ballads.
From nursery, through primary school and into High School, there are pupils in Badenoch and Strathspey studying through Gaelic Medium.
The numbers are of course considerably lower than in any of the centuries preceding this one.
To lose the language is to lose a vital aspect of the strath’s identity, culture and heritage. To preserve it is to create new opportunities for the next generation.
It is my immense privilege to be the Minister for Gaelic in the Scottish Government, and I take my responsibility to represent the past and focus on the future.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig (Gaelic Week) took place a fortnight ago.
One of the visits I made was to the BBC’s Pacific Quay studios, to meet a young Gaelic-speaker Meredith Brook who stars in BBC Alba’s brand new series An t-Eilean (The Island).
If you haven’t yet caught it, it’s a riveting new crime drama that perfectly captures the spirit of a new generation of culture and art in Gaelic.
It is the first exclusively-Gaelic crime drama by the BBC, and has already won a record number of viewers and has been sold to international broadcasters.
I’m delighted that a ground-breaking drama is attracting interest in Scotland’s native language and heritage – and that such interest is being sparked as far away as the other side of the world.
It creates opportunities for young Gaelic speakers coming through our primary and secondary Gaelic schools, including in the strath.
I announced a £1.8 million uplift for Gaelic media delivered through our budget for 2025-26, to enable Gaelic broadcasters to build on existing high-quality content and attract new audiences.
An t-Eilean’s success demonstrates how supporting a thriving Gaelic broadcasting sector can bring international interest to Scotland from all over the world.
Independent research finds that Gaelic media generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports 340 jobs across Scotland, many of them in the Highlands and Islands.
Nationally, the most recent census found that the number of people with language skills in Gaelic had increased from 2011 from 1.7% to 2.5%.
This is still far off the numbers of people in Wales with Welsh language skills – or in Ireland.
Beyond Seachdain na Gàidhlig, the Scottish Government is taking forward the Scottish Languages Bill which aims to strengthen Gaelic education and support investment into the language in areas where it is traditionally spoken.
That will focus on education, economic opportunities and reversing depopulation.
There are huge opportunities ahead for young (and old) Gaelic speakers, but the benefits are not isolated to Gaelic-speaking communities. It is about pride in place, confidence in identity and purposeful opportunities.
I am excited about what the future holds.
Kate Forbes (SNP) is MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Deputy First Minister for Scotland.
