The ‘Ar Dìleab’ project, which is funded by the European Union under the LEADER+ initiative, aims to make use of material in the Angus Macleod Archive to create an interactive Gaelic-language website. The content of the website will be suitable for fluent speakers in secondary schools, and it is hoped that it will be used both in the Western Isles and in other areas of Scotland.
Two Islands Book Trust researchers have been working on this project, in collaboration with the Education Department’s Multimedia Unit at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, since the beginning of 2010. They have developed five modules:
- Crofting
- Seaweed
- The Park Deer Raid
- Emigration in the 1920s
- Ceilidh-house Stories
Although these modules are all based to a greater or lesser extent on information to be found in the Angus Macleod Archive, many additional sources have been researched as well. In addition to information in text form, the website offers images, videos, sound files, website links and activities.
As one would expect, local history is at the core of the project, but several other subjects have been woven in to the modules, including folklore, geography, biology and economics, as well as the history of the wide world beyond the islands. Thus the project supports the Curriculum for Excellence, which prioritises interdisciplinary learning.
The Ar Dìleab website is expected to be launched early in 2012.
Ar Dìleab
Tha pròiseact ‘Ar Dìleab’, a th’ air a mhaoineachadh leis an Aonadh Eòrpach fo iomairt LEADER+, ag amas air stuth ann an Tasglann Aonghais Mhicleòid a chur gu feum gus làrach-lìn eadar-ghnìomhach Gàidhlig a chruthachadh. Bidh cuspair an làraich-lìn seo freagarrach dha fileantaich ann an àrd-sgoiltean, agus thathar an dòchas gun tèid a chleachdadh anns na h-Eileanan an Iar agus ann an ceàrnaidhean eile de dh’Alba.
Tha dithis rannsaichean aig Urras Leabhraichean nan Eilean air a bhith ag obair air a’ phròiseact seo, còmhla ri muinntir Ionad Ioma-mheadhan Roinn an Fhoghlaim aig Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, bho thoiseach 2010. Tha iad air còig modalan a chur ri chèile:
- Croitearachd
- Feamainn
- Creach Mhòr na Pàirce
- Eilthireachd anns na 1920an
- Sgeulachdan às an Taigh-chèilidh
Ged a tha na modalan seo uile bunaichte gu ìre bheag no mhòr air an fhiosrachadh a tha ri fhaotainn am broinn Tasglann Aonghais Mhicleòid, tha tòrr thùsan eile air an rannsachadh cuideachd. A bharrachd air fiosrachadh ann an cruth teacsa, tha an làrach-lìn a’ tairgse dhealbhan, bhideothan, chlàr-fuaim, cheanglaichean dha làraich-lìn eile, agus ghnìomhachdan.
Mar a bhiodh dùil, tha eachdraidh ionadail aig crìdhe a’ phròiseict, ach tha grunn chuspairean eile air am fighe a-steach dha na modalan, mar bheul-aithris, chruinn-eòlas, bhith-eòlas, eaconomas is eile, a bharrachd air eachdraidh an t-saoghail mhòir taobh a-muigh nan eilean. Le sin tha am pròiseact a’ toirt taic dhan Churraicealam airson Sàr-mhaitheas, a tha a’ cur prìomhachas air ionnsachadh eadar-dhiosaplaineach.
Thathar an dùil gun tèid an làrach-lìn a chur air bog tràth ann an 2012.