Scotland’s proud island heritage is being given new life through fresh government support for Gaelic language, culture and history.
First Minister John Swinney has announced more than half a million pounds in funding to support key cultural projects rooted in the Gaelic heartlands.
In North Uist, the former Carinish Old School will undergo a remarkable transformation thanks to a £360,000 investment in the hands of the North Uist Historical Society.
The funds will help create two new exhibition spaces and expand the centre’s capacity for storing and researching local collections.
Once complete, the site will serve not only as a local heritage hub but also as a beacon of Gaelic learning, offering community access to artefacts, storytelling, language, and activities that connect past with present.
Down in South Uist, another £200,000 is being awarded to help deliver the second phase of development at Cnoc Soilleir, the island’s thriving centre for Gaelic arts and traditional culture.
The new funding will support the creation of a performance hall designed to host music, dance and theatre that celebrates Gaelic heritage in all its forms.
This new stage will be the heart of a centre that continues to inspire both residents and visitors, proving how cultural celebration and economic vitality often go hand in hand.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Swinney called the projects vital to the language’s future.
“Safeguarding the Gaelic language, preserving local heritage and giving culture the chance to flourish are all central to the future success of Scotland’s remarkable islands,” he said.
He praised both Carinish Old School and Cnoc Soilleir as living examples of how community-led culture can shape national pride and rural resilience.
“Projects like North Uist Historical Society’s renovation of Carinish Old School are key not only to the language’s revitalisation but to the growth of rural island economies,” he said.
“We see this happening across the islands, local people coming together to preserve historical assets and bring them back into use, we need to do what we can to support their efforts.”
Mr Swinney added that returning to Cnoc Soilleir would be a personal highlight.
He called the centre “one of the recognised Gaelic success stories of recent times” and said it served as “a guiding light” for traditional culture and community-driven creativity in South Uist.
From storytelling to singing, and from old photographs to modern performance, these island projects are built to celebrate the spirit of the Gaels and give future generations the chance to find their own voice in it.
