Sabhal Mòr Ostaig graduate and former writer in residence honoured at Mòd 2022
A recent graduate of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and a former Writer in Residence at the College were among those honoured at the Royal National Mòd in Perth yesterday.
Sheena Amos, who graduated this year from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, was named Gaelic Learner of the Year, and Peter Mackay, who was the College’s Writer in Residence between 2011 and 2012, was named the Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach.
Sheena Amos was a student at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig during the academic year 2021–22, when she completed the one-year course CertHE Gaelic and Communication. She graduated this year with distinction and also received the Comunn na Gàidhlig Award for promoting Gaelic and its culture. Sheena is originally from the Black Isle and is a teacher at Portree High School, where she now teaches music through the medium of Gaelic.
Sheena said: “I feel honoured to be awarded this prize considering how many people are learning Gaelic at the moment. The other students in my class at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig all worked so diligently and enthusiastically, and our lecturers were very encouraging. Language is closely connected with community, and I know that without the fantastic support of the local people here on Skye, particularly from colleagues at Portree High School and Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh, I wouldn’t have learned Gaelic to this level. I would really encourage anyone living in a similar community who wants to learn Gaelic to give it a go, and to use the resources around them!”
Peter Mackay was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, and now resides in Edinburgh and works as a senior lecturer in literature at the University of St Andrews. He has published two books of poetry, which have collectively been shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the Year, Gaelic Book of the Year, and the Ruaraidh MacThòmais Prize.
Speaking about the award, Peter said: “It’s a great honour to be named the Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach, especially as next year – 2023 – will mark one hundred years since the first poet, James Thomson from Lewis, was named in this role. That’s one hundred years of footsteps to follow in, and live up to, not least those of Rody Gorman, the most recent holder of the role, who has done so much for Gaelic poetry over the years. It is also nice to be part of the Mòd. I’m a terrible singer, so never got to compete here; I’m very pleased to be sneaking into this extraordinary cèilidh by another door.”
Archie MacLean, Depute Director of Education at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, said:
“We at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are delighted and so proud of Sheena and Peter for their achievements in being honoured with these awards by An Comunn Gàidhealach. Sheena has made amazing progress in learning the language and is now using these skills to teach Music through the medium of Gaelic at Portree High School. Peter was with us at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig as Writer in Residence some years ago, and we are so delighted that he has now been recognised as Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach. It is an honour for us at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig that Sheena and Peter have been given these awards at the Royal National Mòd this year, and we wish them every success in their roles, which are so important for the future of Gaelic.”
