The Scottish College of "Sabhal Mor Ostaig" Hailed as Custodians of Scots Gaelic

Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, has congratulated the Sabhal Mor Ostaig, which roughly translates to "Teaching Barn", on its 40th birthday. The BBC quoted First Minister Salmond: " What started as no more than a barn and an idea 40 years ago, now stands as an established globally recognised Higher Education Institution charged with protecting, promoting and celebrating Scottish Gaelic.  It may not be our oldest university, but Sabhal Mor Ostaig has become custodian of Scotland's oldest language."  

The college is the only one of its kind in  Scotland which grants degrees taught entirely through the medium of Scots Gaelic and it is a partner in the University of the Highlands and Islands. The college describes itself on its website, linked below, as follows: " The College is a National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture and there are lots of learning opportunities for people with an interest in Gaelic, both at College and by distance learning."

From the College Website:

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig was founded in 1973 in old farm steadings at Ostaig in Sleat. While the initial aim was to establish a Gaelic library, the long term plan was for a Gaelic-medium college providing vocational further education for Gaelic speakers, in their own language and rural environment, while also giving the growing number of Gaelic enthusiasts the opportunity to learn the language. Additional Gaelic-related services and facilities such as a research centre were also envisaged at this early stage. In its relatively short history, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig has achieved and surpassed these core aims and continues to widen access to the Gaelic language and culture.

www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24131223