History of the Gaelic Language / Gàidhlig eachdraidh

Gaelic arrived in Scotland, from Ireland, around the 5th century, and developed to be used throughout most of Scotland even at the crowning of kings. From the 9th to the 13th centuries, the Viking presence influenced the language as is clearly evidenced in the Western Isles by numerous Norse place-names.

Although this may have had some effect on Gaelic, by far the most debilitating effects came much later when government policy and legislation as well as economic factors conspired to destroy the language.

By the 17th century, some Lowlanders had begun to associate the frequent discord between Highland clans with their use of Gaelic. The result of this attitude was that the government, in their Statutes of Iona (1609) recommended that English be substituted for Gaelic in order to reduce incivility and barbarity.

Furthermore, following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, an Act of Parliament was passed which prohibited the wearing of the Highland dress, the playing of bagpipes and the carrying of weapons. Although Gaelic was not specifically mentioned, the Disarming Act, as it was known, had a pernicious effect on the value, which people placed on their own language and culture.

Matters were not helped by the educational position regarding Gaelic. Prior to the Education Act of 1872, Gaelic education was a fairly haphazard affair. Certainly the churches made attempts to educate people in Gaelic, but this was done mainly that they could read the scriptures in their own language. The 1872 Act brought no improvement because it afforded no recognition to Gaelic. Indeed, formal recognition was not forthcoming until the Education Act of 1918 reached the statute books. Meanwhile teachers punished pupils for speaking Gaelic, even in the playground.

Although the official use of Gaelic continued to decline over the centuries, Gaelic was still the language of the community and continued to flourish in literature, music and religion. Until recently there were very few villages, which did not have their resident ‘Bard’, and although this mainly oral aspect of poetry has declined somewhat now, there is a new awakening in literature and music. The poetry of the late Sorley Maclean, for example, commands great respect in literary circles, while the Gaelic based music of modern bands such as Runrig and Capercaille enjoys much popularity throughout Scotland and beyond. Participation of Islanders at local and national Mods (festivals of song, drama and literature) continues to grow and the Royal National Mod has been held very successfully the Islands on two occasions in recent years.