Gaelic website officially launched
BY GREG MCNEIL
The Cape Breton Post
IONA — A Google of Gaelic and inquiries on the ancient language through other Internet search engines is now generating an informative and exciting local web hit.
Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My mother's language) — a new website with video and audio recordings of Gaelic speakers from around Cape Breton — was launched recently at the Highland Village Museum in Iona.
The Internet resource features 26 native Gaelic speakers uttering everyday idiomatic Gaelic in the dialect of their community.
Shamus MacDonald, a co-ordinator and supervisor on the project, called the site an educational tool for anyone interesting in learning Gaelic.
"Right now there are hundreds of adults actively engaged in learning Gaelic through community immersion courses. That is really the reason for this collection, to give those people learning Gaelic in community courses some material they can work with at home. And give instructors some material they can bring into classes, too."
The website has been three years in the making and is already generating a lot of interest, he said.
"As far as videos of Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia, this is the only site of its kind.
"It is also the only site of its kind to showcase contemporary recordings of Nova Scotian Gaelic speakers. In that regard it is pretty unique."
Gaelic history and a selection of Gaelic songs recorded from the Iona Gaelic singers is also available on the site.
Cainnt mo Mhàthar is a project of Comhairle na Gàidhlig, in partnership with the Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach and the Centre for Cape Breton Studies at Cape Breton University.
The project was supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture On-line and the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs.
The launch featured a demonstration of how the site works, the opportunity to listen to recordings and watch the videos now on the site, and then tea.
Visit www.cainntmomhathar.com for more details.