[Tionndadh Gàidhlig]

On a fine day on Sunday 1 December, Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann hosted a guided walking tour around sites of Gaelic importance all located within a short distance of each other in Edinburgh’s Old Town. The tour was led by Wilson McLeod (Emeritus Professor of Gaelic, Edinburgh University).

The history of Gaelic churches in the city, which have been such an important part of the Gaelic story in Edinburgh, was explained: from the first purpose-built Gaelic chapel behind the Grassmarket (now marked at Johnstone Terrace) in 1769 and its replacement on Horse Wynd (now Chambers Street), which could hold more than 1000 worshippers, to the current Gaelic congregation at Greyfriars Kirk.

We heard about the Gaelic treasures which can be seen in the National Museum – such as the Red Book of Clanranald and the famous Lewis Chessmen – and also about the precious collection of Gaelic books and manuscripts held in the National Library.

We also visited the grave of the famous Gaelic poet Duncan Bàn Macintyre in the Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the site of his family home at Roxburgh Court off the High Street, as well as Makars’ court, where six famous Gaelic writers are commemorated. On the way we found the Bank Street window commemorating John Stuart Blackie – who led a successful campaign to establish the Chair of Celtic at the University, at the end of the 19th century – and the Black Watch Memorial on the Mound.

We hope to hold further events highlighting the history of Gaelic and Gaels in Edinburgh in the future. And you can also follow your own self-directed Gaelic tour, using the recently-created bilingual resource covering Gaelic sites and Gaelic place-names in the city: Edinburgh’s Gaelic Footprints.