There can be few better accounts of Gaelic medium education in the Western Isles than a student who is currently on their educational journey.

One such student is first-year Nicolson Institute pupil Aibhlin MacGregor-Beaton, who pinpoints weekly primary school music lessons with Iain ‘Costello’ MacIver as inspiring her love for the language.

Speaking out in the latest of a string of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar firsthand accounts endorsing Gaelic, Aibhilin says Gaelic medium education has given her a “huge number of opportunities.”

In her testimonial, she comments: “When I was in primary school, we received weekly Gaelic singing lessons from Iain ‘Costello’ MacIver.  I absolutely loved this and started competing at local Mods from the age of five.  I learnt to read, write and count through the medium of Gaelic, and now that I am in secondary school, many of my subjects are through the medium of Gaelic.”

The Gaelic language and culture now form an “incredibly important part” of her life, especially Gaelic music. 

 “I often sing at ceilidhs, compete at the Mod and also play the guitar, piano and fiddle.  Being a fluent Gaelic speaker has given me some wonderful opportunities, such as performing with Alice MacMillan and Face the West, as well as performing in a ceilidh band as part of the Teenage Fèis,” Aibhlin recalls.

Beyond music, Gaelic medium education has also enabled Aibhlin to develop her conversational skills, as evidenced by her winning ‘Dìleab an t-Siorraidh’, a competition for P7 pupils in oral fluency.

And her confident use of the language has also helped Aibhlin get her foot in the door of the Gaelic media world.

“Recently, I have received my very first paycheck for voice-over work on a Gaelic cartoon which will air on BBC Alba in the New Year,” Aibhlin reveals,

“I hope that I will get to take part in other television and music work, and I am so very thankful that Gaelic Medium Education has given me the skills to participate in these things.”

Image credit - CnES