B’ e tachartas a bha seo a thug oileanaich a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig bho air feadh na dùthcha cruinn còmhla ann an Leòdhas bho Dhiciadain 8mh gu Didòmhnaich 12mh den Ghiblean.

Thòisich an Comann ann an 2023 aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus lean e ann an 2024 ach cha deach cùisean air adhart ann an 2025 ri linn dìth maoineachaidh.

Tha na h-oileanaich an dòchas, le bhith ag ath-stèidheachadh a’ Chomainn, gun tig leudachadh agus àbhaisteachadh air bruidhinn na Gàidhlig nam measg, agus gum fàs co-obrachadh is conaltradh eadar colaistean is oilthighean na h-Alba a thaobh a’ chànain. 

Thàinig buannachd cuideachd do ghnìomhachasan an eilein tron turas leis na chaidh a chosg air biadh, deoch, àite-fuirich, còmhdhail agus gu leòr eile.

Thathar an dòchas gun tèid oileanaich a bhrosnachadh gu slighean-obrach sna h-eileanan, agus gum faigh muinntir nan eilean fhèin – gu h-àraid an òigridh – togail agus misneachadh ri linn a bhith a’ faicinn uimhir a dh’inbhich òga bho gach ceàrnaidh dhen dùthaich a’ gabhail ùidh anns a’ chànan.

Am measg rudan eile, bha na leanas a’ dol:

• Consairt san Lanntair a’ taisbeanadh comasan ciùil nan oileanach

• Cothrom fastaidh aig Colaiste a’ Chaisteil le buidhnean is gnìomhachasan nan eilean

• Turas dualchais ann an Iar-thuath Leòdhais (seisean seinn nan salm còmhla ri Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac, sgrìob gu taighean-òsta is àitichean-sòisealta na sgìre, agus mu dheireadh cèilidh coimhearsnachd ann an Talla Coimhearsnachd Sgìre Àirigh an Tuim)

• Coinneamh nan oileanach airson comataidh a stèidheachadh agus an Comann a dhèanamh leantainneach

• Tursan Spòrs Gàidhlig air a’ bhlàr a-muigh.

Chaidh bruidhinn na Gàidhlig a chumail aig cridhe gach rud a bha a’ dol.

Tha a h-uile duine a bha an sàs san turas airson taing a thoirt do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig is Comhairle nan Eilean Siar a thug seachad taic-airgid dhan turas.

Taing mhòr cuideachd dhan a h-uile duine a bha an sàs ann a bhith a’ cur air dòigh an tachartais, nam measg: Spòrs Gàidhlig, UHI a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall, Alison Campbell Clark aig Plana Gàidhlig Iar-thuath Leòdhais, Ionad Coimhearsnachd Sgìre Àirigh an Tuim, agus gu sònraichte do Sean MacLeòid aig an Lanntair a bha gu mòr an sàs ann a bhith a’ cur air dòigh ’s a’ lìbhrigeadh an turais cuide ri Sgioba Gàidhlig na Comhairle agus na h-oileanaich fhèin.

Mu dheireadh, taing dhan a’ choimhearsnachd san fharsaingeachd a chuir fàilte bhlàth Ghàidhealach air buill a’ Chomainn Nàiseanta.

Comann Nàiseanta nan Oileanach – National Convention for Gaelic-speaking students

Comann Nàiseanta nan Oileanach (CNNO) brought students who are fluent in Gaelic from across the country together in Lewis from Wednesday 8th to Sunday the 12th of April.

The Comann was first established in 2023 at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye and continued to grow in numbers and reach when it was held again in 2024.

The annual convention didn’t go ahead in 2025 due to lack of funding.

The students hope that by re-establishing CNNO, the speaking of Gaelic will be increased and normalised amongst the current generation of students (and across generations), and that communication and collaboration will grow between colleges and universities across Scotland in relation to Gaelic matters.

The event also benefited the economy across the island by contributing to local businesses and organisations through the purchase of food, drink, accommodation, travel and much more.

It is hoped that through participation in the event, students will be encouraged to pursue career paths in the Western Isles, and that islanders themselves, especially young people will be inspired by the number of young adults from across Scotland (and beyond) who are speaking and taking pride in the language.

Some of the activities which the students participated in were:

• a concert in An Lanntair showcasing students’ musical talents

• a potential recruitment opportunity at Lewis Castle College with businesses and organisations across the Western Isles

• a heritage tour of North-West Lewis (Gaelic psalm-singing session with Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac, visit to local hotels and social clubs, finishing with a community cèilidh in the Clan MacQuarry Community Centre)

• a meeting to establish a committee and to secure the future of the Comann

• outdoor activities with Spòrs Gàidhlig.

The speaking of Gaelic was kept at the heart of everything that took place.

All participants would like to thank Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Bòrd na Gàidhlig for financial contributions and the wider community for giving CNNO such a warm Hebridean welcome.

Thanks also to all who were involved in organising the event, including: Spòrs Gàidhlig, UHI North West & Hebrides, Alison Campbell Clark from Plana Gàidhlig Iar-thuath Leòdhais, the Clan MacQuarrie community centre, and in particular to Sean Macleod at An Lanntair who was instrumental in organising and running the event in collaboration with Sgioba na Gàidhlig (CNES Gaelic Team) and the students themselves.