A major photographic competition, administered by the Colmcille project, aimed at capturing the lives of speakers of Scottish or Irish Gaelic or of the life of the Scottish Gaidhealtachd/Irish Gaeltacht, has been launched by the Minister for Gaelic Michael Russell MSP.

A keen photographer himself, with a long-term interest in various aspects of the history of photography, as well as being accustomed to being at the sharp end of a lens in his Ministerial role, Mr. Russell will be one of the judges casting his eye over the entrants for the 2009 competition.

Prizes of up to £2,000 are available in the competition which is for either colour or monochrome photographs depicting any aspect of the life of speakers of Scottish or Irish Gaelic or of the life of the Scottish Gaidhealtachd/Irish Gaeltacht.

There will be five prize-winners in all, in two categories: ADULT (16+) First prize £2000 /€2200; Second prize £750/€ 850; Third prize £500/€ 565 and JUNIOR (5-15 on 31/08/09) First prize £ 500/€565: Second prize £ 250/€280. Each prize-winner will also receive a framed copy of the Tìr Cholm Chille map.

Launching the competition in Edinburgh, the Minister said: “This is an excellent initiative which will focus on some of the most interesting and attractive aspects of Scottish and Irish life including our landscape, culture and heritage.  I would like to commend Colmcille for taking forward this initiative.  Colmcille has an important role to play in promoting the shared Gaelic language and culture of Ireland and Scotland and this competition provides another opportunity to celebrate and promote this.  I look forward to hearing how the competition progresses and to judging the entries.”

Colmcille, (formerly Iomairt Cholm Chille, The Columba Initiative) is jointly managed by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaelige as part of their mainstream activities. Mairi Murray, Colmcille’s Development Officer in Scotland said: “Since we launched this competition in its first format three years ago, we have been hugely encouraged by the innovation and imagination shown by entrants. The competition offers people within the Gaelic communities of Scotland and Ireland a great opportunity to capture their own environments, work situations, family occasions and the magnificent environments in which we all communicate. It is a great opportunity for amateur photographers to have their work recognised and offered to a wider audience through the calendars and other materials we produce through Colmcille and I have no doubt that this year will offer as a great selection and a significant challenge for the judges.”

Photographic entries for the competition must be submitted by 6pm, Monday 31st August, 2009.

For further information about the contents of this news release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan on 0751 528 7040.

See:  www.colmcille.net

Background note:

Competition details (Summary)

All entries must be submitted in a digital format but can be digital or film captures. To ensure sufficient resolution for exhibition display purposes photographs must be a minimum resolution of 2500 x 1900 pixels taken by a 5MP camera or higher. Each photograph MUST be accompanied by a brief title or caption in Gàidhlig/Gaeilge but will not be judged on their Gàidhlig/Gaeilge usage. Each entrant must fill in an online registration form on the Colmcille website. There is no limit to the number of images submitted per applicant but an entry form MUST be completed for each entrant. Photographs must be submitted by 6pm Monday 31st August 2009. Entries for the competition may be made by going to the free Flickr account at www.flickr.com. Go to www.colmcille.net/photo-competition.htmlnot38hen@photos.flickr.com and they will be added through the Saol na nGael 2009 account. Only 1 photo should be attached per email. For help or queries please email saolnangael@googlemail.com and fill in an entry form including your Flickr user name, email address and telephone no. Alternatively  entrants may fill in an entry form and then simply email  photo(s) to

Employees or Board Members of Colmcille, Foras na Gaeilge, Bòrd na Gàidhlig or any members of their families are ineligible to enter.

“Pobal bríomhar idirghníomhach Gaelach idir Éirinn agus Albain”

“Coimhearsnachd bheothail, cho-obrachail a chruthachadh eadar Èirinn is Alba”

“a vibrant interactive community spanning Ireland and Scotland”