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Western Isles to celebrate 40 years of Gaelic medium education

News imageGetty Images A road through a community of white-walled homes in Lewis. In the distance the top of a hills is visible behind a bank of fog.Getty Images
Gaelic medium education has grown across the islands since 1986

The 40th anniversary of Gaelic medium education (GME) in the Western Isles is to be marked with a series of events.

Local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar plans to hold exhibitions, performances and storytelling under the banner of GME@40.

GME began in the Western Isles in August 1986 when the first unit opened in Breasclete, in Lewis, with just four pupils.

Today 759 pupils across the islands are educated through the medium of Gaelic.

Planning for the celebrations is in its early stages, but is expected to include a partnership with archives organisation Tasglann nan Eilean Siar on the history of GME.

The comhairle's Gaelic committee chairman Donald MacSween said there had been growth and improvement of Gaelic over the past four decades.

He said: "There were four pupils 40 years ago, and I could probably name them for you.

"Now there's 759, and that number is really difficult to comprehend."

He added: "Sometimes we, as islanders, look to the mainland and think we want to be more like them.

"But often we forget the fact that they look at us and are envious of many of the things that we have. One thing that we do really well is Gaelic education."

Reporting by local democracy journalist Peter Urpeth.