Tha seisean ùr na Pàrlamaid fo sheòl a-nis agus tha tòrr againn ri aithris mu ghnothaichean pàrlamaideach gu h-ìosal. 

A new parliamentary session is now underway, and we have plenty to report on below regarding parliamentary business. 

Tha sinn air a bhith trang a’ cruthachadh susbaint sa Ghàidhlig, agus am measg seo, tha tionndadh ùraichte den bhidio bheò-dhealbhach againn mun eadar-dhealachadh eadar Pàrlamaid na h-Alba agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Agus na dìochuimhnich gu bheil am postair Gàidhlig againn de thoraidhean taghaidh 2026 ri fhaighinn air-loidhne, no tron phost. Tha am fios naidheachd againn mu thuras Comataidh nan Cùisean Dùthchail gu Loch Àlainn bho chionn ghoirid ri fhaighinn sa Ghàidhlig cuideachd. 

We have been busy creating Gaelic content, including an updated version of our animated video explaining the difference between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. Don’t forget either that our Gaelic poster showing the 2026 election results is available online or through the post. Our press release regarding the Rural Affairs Committee’s recent visit to Lochaline is also available in Gaelic. 

A’ bruidhinn air turas na comataidh, bha iad ann an Àird Tòirinis agus ann an earrann an luchd-ionnsachaidh, tha sinn a’ coimhead air an ainm seo – agus air eisimpleirean eile de dh’ainmean-àite ath-aithriseach agus air carson a tha ainmean mar seo ann. 

Speaking of the committee’s visit, they were in Ardtornish as part of this and in the learners' section, we take a look at this – and at other examples of repetitive place names – and explore why such names exist. 

Mu dheireadh, na dìochuimhnich gu bheil gealltanas sa Phlana Ghàidhlig againn a bhith a’ beachdachadh air sgrìobhainnean nach eil sa Ghàidhlig eadar-theangachadh ma tha daoine gan iarraidh. Cuir fios thugainn aig an t-seòladh àbhaisteach ma tha thu airson lethbhreac Gàidhlig iarraidh de rud sam bith.

Finally, please remember that our Gaelic Plan includes a commitment to consider translating documents not currently in Gaelic if there is a request for them. Contact us at the usual address if you would like to request a Gaelic copy of anything.

Tha a’ chuairt-litir air a sgrìobhadh le Alasdair agus Mark, Oifigearan Leasachaidh Gàidhlig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Faodaidh sibh beachdan a chur thugainn le post-d gu gaidhlig@parliament.scot

The newsletter is written by Alasdair and Mark, the Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic Development Officers. You can get in touch with us with your feedback by emailing gaidhlig@parliament.scot 

The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee recently visited Morvern on a research trip to gain a deeper understanding about some of the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities directly from local people. You can read the Gaelic news release about the visit.  

One of the places visited was the Ardtornish Estate. In Gaelic, this is Àird Tòirinis. Ardtornish Point is a scenic headland jutting into the Sound of Mull and according to place-names expert Iain Mac an Tàilleir, in his book Bho Pheairt gu Hiort, the nis element is a Gaelicisation of a Norse word meaning point, followed by àird meaning point in Gaelic, followed by point in English for good measure. So Artornish Point is headland headland headland! 

This can happen when a name comes from one language and a descriptive word is added in another later on when the language spoken by a community has changed and the original meaning is no longer understood. This process is fascinating as it tells us about the linguistic development of an area and how it has changed with time.  

Another good example is Knockhill in Fife, famous for motor racing. Knock is from the Gaelic word cnoc meaning hill, followed now by the English hill. 

Another example of Norse origin is Loch Watten in Caithness. This comes from vatn meaning water or loch. In Gaelic this became Loch Bhatan and in English Loch Watten meaning “loch loch”. This element is also common in the many loch names in the Western Isles featuring the -bhat element at the end.  

This doesn’t only happen with Gaelic, of course. The Scots word law, meaning a rounded hill can be seen in Dundee Law, Berwick Law in East Lothian, Largo Law in Fife and Broad Law in the Borders. You often hear people refer to the Law in Dundee as Law Hill – “hill hill” – as the meaning of the word law has become less widely understood over the years.  

One name which some people wrongly assume to fall into this category is Loch Lochy. To a non-Gaelic speaker it looks like lazy naming – perhaps like Lochy McLoch-face along the lines of Boaty McBoatface. However, the "lochy" doesn’t come from the same source as loch. In Gaelic it is Loch Lòchaidh meaning loch of the dark water.  

While we are doing Highland loch myth-busting, Loch Long is also worth looking at. The word Long doesn’t refer to the length of the loch but rather comes from the Gaelic word long meaning ship as it is a navigable loch capable of taking large vessels.  

Can you think of any other names like this in Scotland or elsewhere? Let us know at the usual email address.

Photo: Yottanesia - Own work, CC BY 3.0.

Coinneamh na Pàrlamaid, Dimàirt 1 Sultain 2006

Am Prògram Riaghlaidh 2026 gu 2031

Chaidh iomradh a thoirt air planaichean an Riaghaltais gus leudachadh a thoirt air cothroman do chloinn gus cànanan ionnsachadh, a' gabhail a-steach Gàidhlig agus Scots.

Leugh aithisg oifigeil na coinneimh.

Comataidh an Fhoghlaim agus na Gàidhlig, Dimàirt 8 Sultain 2026 

Aig a' choinneimh seo, far an robhar a' gabhail fianais bho Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim, Cultar agus Gàidhlig, chaidh grunn iomraidhean a thoirt air a' Ghàidhlig co-cheangailte ri planaichean an Riaghaltais airson foghlam Gàidhlig (foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus Gàidhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh), leasachadh na Gàidhlig san fharsaingeachd agus chaidh iomradh a thoirt air Scots agus BSL cuideachd. 

Leugh aithisg oifigeil coinneamh na comataidh.

Coinneamh Comataidh na Roinn Eòrpa, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar, Dimàirt 8 Sultain 2026 

Aig a' choinneimh seo, far an robhar a' gabhail fianais bho Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim, Cultar agus Gàidhlig, chaidh grunn iomraidhean a thoirt air a' Ghàidhlig: àite na Gàidhlig is na Scots sa chompanaidh cluich nàiseanta ùr a thathar a' moladh airson ceòl traidiseanta; ceanglaichean eadar dleastanasan a' Mhinisteir a thaobh foghlam agus cultair; an drama Gàidhlig "An t-Eilean". 

Leugh aithisg oifigeil coinneamh na comataidh.

Gluasad

S7M-00999

Community Heritage and Economic Development in South Harris

That the Parliament welcomes the £1.2 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the redevelopment of the Hebrides People Visitor Centre in Northton, South Harris, as part of an £8.25 million investment package; recognises the importance of the community-owned centre in preserving and celebrating the history, genealogy, Gaelic language and cultural heritage of the Outer Hebrides; notes the plans for expanded visitor facilities, interactive exhibitions, Gaelic classes and educational and community engagement programmes, with a particular focus on young people, families and those with limited access to transport; believes that community-led heritage projects can play an important role in strengthening local identity, supporting tourism, creating economic opportunities and encouraging young people to engage with their local heritage; recognises the potential benefits of the redevelopment for South Harris and the wider Outer Hebrides; congratulates the Northton Heritage Trust, its volunteers and partners on securing this significant investment, and calls for greater recognition and support for community-led heritage and cultural projects across the Highlands and Islands.
 
- Victor Currie BPA

Le ùmhlachd do dh'aonta na Pàrlamaid, bidh gnothaichean an t-Seòmair mar a leanas an an ath sheachdain: 

Dimàirt 15 Sultain

Ceistean a' Phrìomh Mhinisteir (Cùl-bheingearan)
Deasbad Riaghaltas na h-Alba: A’ cur casg air fòirneart an aghaidh bhoireannaich airson Alba a tha a cheart cho sàbhailte do na h-Uile
 
Diciadain 16 Sultain

Ceistean Portfolio, Ceartas; Slàinte agus Cùram
Deasbad Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba: an Eaconamaidh
Deasbad Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba: Cùisean Taobh A-muigh

 
Diardaoin 17 Sultain

Ceistean a' Phrìomh Mhinisteir (Ceannardan Pàrtaidh)
Deasbad Riaghalas na h-Alba: A' cur an aghaidh na droch buaidh aig mì-fhios a thaobh slàinte
Aithris Mhinistreil: Ferguson Marine: Tasgadh planaichte agus an obair aca san àm ri teachd
 
Faodar coimhead beò air TBh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba cuideachd.