[Tionndadh Gàidhlig]

On Saturday 25 April a full house gathered at the National Library for a programme of short films in Gaelic and Irish, centred round Edinburgh filmmaker, Róise Nic an Bheatha’s Le Chéile (‘Together’). All of the films deal in different ways with ‘togetherness’, and how we are connected to each other, particularly through language.

The programme opened with a showing of the groundbreaking Gaelic/Irish rap ‘Meas Mór’ (‘big respect’), and 2025 sensation, by a group from Edinburgh’s Gaelic primary Taobh na Pàirce working with a group of Irish-speaking children from Cork. The project was led by Edinburgh’s Tinderbox Collective and the rap plays with the similarities and differences between Irish and Scottish Gaelic in a celebration of language, culture, and friendship. We heard from participants about how much they had enjoyed performing, finding out about the similarities between Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and how they are continuing Gaelic rapping now this project is finished.

Le Chéile, the first narrative short film in Irish and Gaelic, took us on a journey with an Irish-speaking Celtic supporter and a Gaelic-speaking Rangers supporter as they encounter each other on the bus home from a match. After initial uncertainty, they find an unexpected connection to each other through their shared linguistic connection. Róise’s award-winning film was released in 2024, and has been shown at festivals around the world, but this was its Edinburgh premiere. See the trailer here.

After the film we heard from Róise, in conversation with Gaelic poet Babs Macgregor, about making the film, its reception in Scotland and elsewhere, and her plans for the future – as well as the difficulties of sourcing a red bus for the filming!

The programme was rounded off with a showing of another of Róise’s films, A’ Cluich which garnered Best Comedy and the Technical Excellence award at 2025’s FilmG Awards – and also told a story of ‘togetherness’ as two musicians compete for a prime spot on an Edinburgh street.

Thank you to the National Library of Scotland for their generous support of this event.