Tha obair gus a’ tòiseachadh air ionad cultarail Gàidhlig ann an Uibhist a Deas, a thathas an dùil cruthachadh timcheall air 40 cosnadh agus a bhrosnaicheas turasachd.
Fhuair an goireas Cnoc Soilleir ann an Dalabrog £1.1m bho HIE gus cuideachadh le bhith ag atharrachadh sgìre a tha làn de chultar agus a’ toirt maoin ùr don choimhearsnachd.
Tha a’ phròiseict na cho-iomairt eadar Colaiste a’ Chaisteil UHI agus Ceòlas Gàidhlig, a’ bhuidheann ealain is dualchais ann an Dalabrog.
Tha an sgìre air aithneachadh mar phrìomh choimhearsnachd airson ath-bheothachadh Gàidhlig ann an Alba agus tha àite cudromach aig Cnoc Soilleir ann a bhith a’ stiùireadh an leasachadh seo.
Tha an t-ionad ag amas air dualchas cultarail Gàidhlig nan eilean a bhrosnachadh agus a chomharrachadh le cothroman ionnsachaidh a thoirt seachad agus a’ cumail tachartasan is taisbeanaidhean.
Chaidh an cùmhnant togail a thoirt do MacInnes Brothers Ltd ann am Beinn a’ Bhaoghla gus an goireas ùr a thogail.
Thuirt Raonaid NicCoinnich, manaidsear sgìre bho HIE:
“Tha sinn ag obair le Cnoc Soilleir air na planaichean àrd-amasach aca airson ionad sàr-mhathas airson Gàidhlig a thogail le fòcas air ceòl Gàidhlig, dannsa agus dualchas cultarach. Bheir an goireas buannachdan dhan sgìre airson daoine a tha a’ fuireach ann agus bheir e cuideachd àite dhan choimhearsnachd airson ionnsachadh is leasachadh a dhèanamh agus tha sinn toilichte maoin-airgid a thoirt dhan phròiseict. Bheir an leasachadh grunn obraichean ùra, barrachd luchd-siubhail, agus ’s e so-mhaoin ùr a bhios ann airson a’ choimhearsnachd.”
Thuirt an leas Phrìomh Mhinistear, Iain Swinney:
“Tha mi toilichte fhaicinn gu bheil maoineachadh a-nis ann gus leigeil le pròiseact Cnoc Soilleir a dhol air adhart. Bheir an goireas ùr seo cothroman cosnaidh do dh’Uibhist a Deas agus brosnachadh is neartachadh e a’ Ghàidhlig aig iomadh ìre. Tha seo cuideachd na dheagh eisimpleir de obair com-pàirteachais agus bidh Riaghaltas na h-Alba fhathast a’ toirt taic làidir don phròiseict seo.”
Tha am pròiseact cuideachd a’ faighinn taic bho Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Fund, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Crìochnachaidh an obair anns an t-earrach 2021.
Work to start on £7m Gaelic cultural centre in the Outer Hebrides
Work is about to start on a £7m Gaelic cultural centre in South Uist, which is expected to create around 40 jobs and boost tourism.
The Cnoc Soilleir (meaning ‘Bright Hill’) facility in Daliburgh has been awarded £1.1m from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help transform an area rich in culture and provide a new asset to the community.
The campus is a joint venture between Lews Castle College UHI and Ceòlas Gaelic, the arts and heritage organisation in Daliburgh.
The area is recognised as a key community for the revitalisation of the Gaelic language in Scotland and Cnoc Soilleir has a significant role in leading this development.
The centre aims to promote and celebrate the Gaelic cultural heritage of the islands by providing unique learning opportunities and by hosting events and performances.
The construction contract has been awarded to Benbecula based MacInnes Brothers Ltd. to build the new two storey facility.
Rachel Mackenzie, area manager from HIE, said:
“We are working with Cnoc Soilleir in their ambitious project to create a centre for excellence for Gaelic music, dance and cultural heritage. The facility will create a dedicated centre in South Uist, which provides benefits for visitors and residents and will also be a place of learning and development. This is an exciting project that we are delighted to support.
“The project will bring many opportunities including new jobs, more visitors, and will transform an area rich in cultural heritage and provide a new asset for the community.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
“I am pleased to see funding is now in place to allow the Cnoc Soilleir project to go ahead. This new facility will provide South Uist with employment opportunities and promote and strengthen Gaelic at many levels.”
“This is also a great example of partnership working and the Scottish Government will remain a strong supporter of this project.”
The project also receives support from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Fund, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Work is due to be completed in the spring of 2021.