Four lucky Gaelic speakers were putting the finishing touches to their radio features last Saturday when they completed a new course in radio broadcasting at Moray Firth Radio.

Thanks to funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Moray Firth Media Trust, the training arm of MFR, delivered its first Gaelic-only radio broadcasting course specifically for fluent speakers. The idea for the course came from Angus Macleod, Comunn na Gàidhlig, who had trained on their VQ course some years ago and Project Manager Liz McIntyre at Moray Firth Media Trust.

“We have always been interested in developing new Gaelic broadcasters as there are so few opportunities in the Highlands to develop talent in radio broadcasting, let alone broadcasters in our native language. We offer an annual placement at the radio station to develop new bilingual programmes at MFR but wanted to deliver shorter courses to bring on new broadcasters who will enter the media sector using their Gaelic language skills.” said Liz McIntyre. “Equally important, we wanted to deliver the courses fully in Gaelic, and not in English, which we have achieved. It’s a first for us!”

Thanks to Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Moray Firth Media Trust, the four budding broadcasters, Kate Forbes and Cara Coburn from Dingwall, Eilidh Rankine from Skye and Shona Macmillan from the Isle of Lewis, have learned about interviewing, writing for radio and presentation over the three-day course and plan to share their views of their experience live on John Matheson’s All Scottish show in the future.

Morag Stewart, course trainer has been encouraged by the interest of young women in the media. She said, “They’ve been so enthusiastic and they all have a flair for writing and a passion for Gaelic. Hopefully this course will serve as a pilot for other courses – I feel there is a great deal which can be done through radio to develop a range of skills among young Gaelic speakers”

Adding his support is Peter Peacock MSP. "This is an excellent example of a local business giving real, practical help to those wishing to work in the Gaelic medium. Broadcasting is an area which offers job opportunities to Gaelic speakers and Moray Firth Media Trust is to be congratulated on developing this exciting specialist course," he said.

MFR Managing Director, Danny Gallagher, commenting on the success of the course said:  “As a local radio station, MFR is committed to putting something back into the community and pleased to be a catalyst for the development of Gaelic language radio in the Highlands. I look forward to meeting the next generation of Gaelic broadcasters at our radio station.”

For more information contact

Morag Stewart, Media Course Trainer on 0779 647 4062

Liz McIntyre, Project Manager, Moray Firth Media Trust on 01463 22 44 33