Gaelic Ambassador of the Year Award made at launch of Royal National Mὸd.
BBC presenter Kirsteen MacDonald has won the prestigious Gaelic Ambassador Award 2014 on the opening night of the Royal National Mὸd.
Inverness born Kirsteen was presented with her prize by Minister for Scotland’s Languages Alasdair Allan at the opening reception of the annual celebration of Gaelic culture at the Town House.
The former Millburn Academy pupil is well known as a broadcaster on shows spanning radio and television, including Dè a-nis?, An Là and Seachd Là on BBC Alba and as BBC Scotland’s first Gaelic speaking weather presenter.
The Minister said:
“Receiving accolades at the Mὸd is a regular occurrence for Kirsteen as a previous winner of the Gold Medal, the Traditional Medal and the Oban Times Medal. She has also plenty of experience on the other side of proceedings as the host of last year’s Gaelic Awards.
“Kirsteen is not only a familiar face on television but has also been an incredible advocate of the benefits of speaking and being educated in Gaelic. If we are really committed to preserving and celebrating Gaelic culture, it is young speakers that we need to reach out to and encourage.
“I am delighted to present Kirsteen with this beautiful award, crafted by talented local silversmith Alan Baillie, in recognition of her support for Gaelic and the encouragement she has given to others to follow in her footsteps and use their bilingualism to enhance their career and achieve their ambitions.”
An Comunn Gàidhealach President John Macleod said:
“Kirsteen is a worthy recipient of the Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award, made with the support of the Scottish Government. She is a superb role model particularly for the younger generation of Gaelic speakers, having been educated in Gaelic, won the very highest awards for Gaelic singing, and presented children’s and adult’s programmes on BBC channels as well as bilingually hosting high-profile events.
“She is a great example of the cultural and broadcasting opportunities that are available to today’s bilingual youngsters, having used her range of skills to promote Gaelic language and culture at the highest level. Her achievements and her continuing commitment to her adopted language proves that the current resurgence of Gaelic can successfully cross generational boundaries, and it gives us great pleasure to identify her for this prestigious award at the 2014 Royal National Mòd in her home city.”
Kirsteen MacDonald added: “I am honoured and humbled to be receiving this prestigious award. Being recognised as the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Ambassador is something very special to me as the language has been a huge part of my life, from Gaelic Medium Education to using it on a daily basis in my place of work and in many other aspects of my life too. I would like to thank An Comunn Gàidhealach and the Scottish Government for this award and would like to dedicate it to all the people who have helped me learn the language over the years”
The Gaelic Ambassador of the Year was first presented in 2008. Each year an artist living in, or near to, the host town or city is chosen to design and create the award. Kirsteen’s award was created by silversmith Alan Baillie. Examples of Alan’s work can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Background
Previous winners of the Gaelic Ambassador of the Year Award are:
2013 John Norman Macleod
2012 Ruairidh Maclean
2011 Donald Martin
2010 Allan Campbell
2009 Anne Lorne Gillies
2008 Julie Fowlis
For more information on the Royal National Mὸd visit www.acgmod.org/
Contact
Kirsty Atkinson – 07736 281 684
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