Introduction / Toiseach

In the Western Isles, as throughout Scotland, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Gaelic language in recent years. The adoption of a bilingual policy by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has been a significant factor in this resurgence. Gaelic now has a status that it did not formerly enjoy, evidenced by the fact that it is not uncommon for Council meetings to be conducted entirely in Gaelic with simultaneous translation provided.

Probably the most important aspect of the language revival however is the provision of Gaelic-medium units within primary schools in many parts of Scotland, including several in the Western Isles. Although Gaelic has for many years been studied in schools, the new emphasis on Gaelic as a teaching medium helps to bring the language to a position of parity with English. More recently the Comhairle has designated a number of primary schools as Gaelic Schools, as opposed to Gaelic-medium units, to reflect the increase in pupils following Gaelic-medium education.

The high profile being given to Gaelic in the Western Isles is obvious to visitors when they see numerous Gaelic-only road signs. Residents, meanwhile, have welcomed the increasing use of the language in many aspects of their everyday lives from social and work-related matters to media coverage.

Summary of Findings for the Western Isles from the 2001 Scottish Census:

• In 2001, 72 per cent of people aged 3 and over had some Gaelic language ability – more than in any other local authority area or Gaelic area
• The number of Gaelic speakers fell by a fifth between 1991 and 2001. Numbers who could read Gaelic also fell substantially over the same period, as did the number able to write Gaelic
• In 2001, only 13% (the lowest among council areas) of people with some Gaelic language ability were able to understand spoken Gaelic but were unable to speak, read or write it
• 49 percent of those with some knowledge of Gaelic could speak, read and write it in 2001 – the highest of any of the Gaelic areas
• The number and percentage of people speaking Gaelic feel between 1991 and 2001 for all age groups. There was a dramatic drop of 53 per cent in the number of 15-24 year old speakers
• In 2001, 78 per cent of children in married couple families (where both the husband and the wife spoke Gaelic) also spoke the language
• The Barvas parish, in the north-west Lewis, had the highest proportion of Gaelic speakers in all of Scotland (75% in 2001 and 87 per cent in 1991)
• Migration between Eilean Siar and other areas of Scotland resulted in a loss of 161 Gaelic Speakers – more than 1 per cent of the Western Isles Gaelic speaking population

GAELIC SPEAKERS IN THE WESTERN ISLES - 2001 CENSUS
Age	Gaelic Speakers		Non-Gaelic Speakers
0-4	263	1.0 %	1,031	3.9 %
5-15	1,834	6.9 %	1,875	7.1 %
16-19	489	1.8 %	605	2.3 %
20-44	4,190	15.8 %	3,802	14.3 %
45-64	4,723	17.8 %	2,445	9.2 %
65-74	2,159	8.1 %	536	2.0 %
75+	2,184	8.2 %	366	1.4 %
	15,842	59.6 %	10,660	40.4 %

Source: 2001 Census on SCROL

According to the 2001 Census, only 1.2% of the total population in Scotland speaks Gaelic, around 58,650 people. 27% of these, some 15,842 people live in the Western Isles.

Statistics from the General Register Office Scotland on the percentage of Gaelic speakers in the Western Isles since the 1971 Census are detailed in the table below:

Speaks, Reads or Writes Gaelic as Percentage of Popn.Over 3yrs		Persons
2001	62%	16,049
1991	69%	19,546
1981	80%	23,589
1971	82%	23,205

Source: 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 Census

Although the numbers of those recorded by the Census as speaking Gaelic in the Western Isles population has declined over the last 40 years, interest in the Gaelic language as a whole has increased in recent years. Over 70% of the current population has some knowledge of the Gaelic language with over one-third of the population able to speak, read, write or understand Gaelic.

KNOWLEDGE OF GAELIC IN THE WESTERN ISLES – 2001 CENSUS
Speaks, reads and writes Gaelic	9,003	34.0 %
Speaks but neither reads nor writes Gaelic	4,018	15.2 %
Speaks and reads but cannot write Gaelic	2,790	10.5 %
Understands spoken Gaelic but cannot speak, read or write Gaelic	2,493	9.4 %
Reads but neither speaks nor writes Gaelic	165	0.6 %
Writes but neither speaks nor reads Gaelic	25	0.1 %
Reads and writes but does not speak Gaelic	137	0.5 %
Other combination of skills in Gaelic	31	0.1 %
	18,662	70.4 %
No knowledge of Gaelic	7,840	29.6 %
Total Population	26,502	100.0 %

Source: 2001Census on SCROL

The current interest in Gaelic reflects growing awareness of the effects of centuries of neglect. People in the Western Isles, as in other Gaelic-speaking areas, are fortunate in having access to an indigenous language and culture, which enriches their lives in many ways. The future can be regarded with optimism, given the official recognition of the advantages of multi-lingualism within the European Community, together with the establishment of a Scottish Parliament, which has recognised the importance of Gaelic by using Gaelic/English signage throughout the Parliament building. Furthermore appointment of Alasdair Morrison in the newly created post of ‘Minister for Gaelic’ in addition to his role as Minister for the Highlands and Islands will help to ensure government support for Gaelic.

PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION SPEAKING GAELIC BY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY AREA– 2001
Ness	70.7 %
Westside and Carloway	71.7 %
Broadbay	62.4 %
Point	55.9 %
Stornoway	44.4 %
Uig and Bernera	67.8 %
North Lochs	60.5 %
South Lochs	61.0 %
Harris and Scalpay	68.8 %
North Uist and Berneray	67.3 %
Benbecula	56.1 %
South Uist and Eriskay	71.2 %
Barra and Vatersay	67.7 %

Source: 2001 Census on SCROL