During the Easter holidays 2010, Stòras Uibhist hosted their inaugural residential week of Gàidhlig learning and conversation at Grogarry Lodge. Students from all over the country and from as far as America and Canada came to participate in this unique opportunity to spend a week in South Uist and its surrounding communities, enhancing and developing their use of Gàidhlig through a total immersion programme, and sampling a hospitality experience which is second to none.

The course was aimed at intermediate level learners, providing informal group tuition in the mornings followed by afternoon and evening activities involving members of the community. (See schedule below) The activities were designed to enable students to experience aspects of current and historical island life as well as the chance to hear Gàidhlig spoken in its native tongue.

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday	Tutorial	Croft visit and Kildonan Museum / Comunn Eachdraidh talk	Traditional Dancing Lessons
Tuesday	Tutorial	Golf lessons and nature walk round machair at the recently restored Askernish Golf Course	Music sessions in local hotels
Wednesday	Tutorial	Talk by a local author incorporating a walk to the east side of Benbecula	Ceilidh night at the Lodge
Thursday	Tutorial	Visit to Eriskay and short walk on the south end of South Uist	Free time before the active day ahead!
Friday	Tutorial on board a boat trip to Mingulay with Sea Angling

We were lucky enough to have had a number of musicians and singers amongst the group who helped provide some of the evening entertainment! Archie Campbell, tutor for the week, remained with the group for the afternoon and evening activities, also joined by members of Stòras Uibhist staff, a local guide, local Bàrd, our own bus driver and other Gàidhlig speaking members of the local community. The regular contact with local individuals throughout the week proved particularly valuable to the students in providing ‘one to one’ conversation opportunities.

Overall, students enjoyed a challenging, informative and action packed week of Gàidhlig and cultural immersion, based in the supreme comfort and hospitality of the idyllic Grogarry Lodge.

Watch this space for news of further Stòras Gàidhlig events!

Visit www.flickr.com/photos/storasgaidhligapril2010/ to see some photos from the Stòras Gàidhlig Easter ‘10 event.

We would like to thank the students, local community and visitors who supported and participated in the week’s activities and helped to make it such a success.

We would like to thank Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for their support and financial assistance towards this event.

For further details please contact Deirdre MacEachen by e-mail or on 01878 700101.

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