GAELIC PUPILS HAVE THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
News Release
For use - immediate
• Schoolchildren launch bi-lingual recipes
• Demand growing for Gaelic-English cook book
• Project will also raise money for charity
Pic caption - Calum Archie MacQuarrie (9) and Bethany Gleeson (9) from the Inverness Gaelic School prepare a meal using the new bilingual recipe book
What are you having for dinner tonight? If you fancy measgan muasgain to start, followed by toiteanan-muice ann an criomagan-arain, with cèic-chaise teoclaid dhùbailte for afters then some Inverness schoolchildren may be more help than Jamie Oliver or Delia Smith.
The enterprising youngsters at Bunsgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis (Inverness Gaelic School) have created a colourful and easy-to-use bi-lingual recipe book as part of a class project. It is believed it is the only fully bi-lingual Gaelic-English recipe book in print.
They have sold nearly 100 in a matter of weeks to parents and friends simply by word of mouth and now plan to print more to satisfy growing demand.
The Leabhar Reasabaidhean (Recipe Book) idea grew out of a project last year to create a class café for parents at the end of term. The 19 children in Primary 4-5, aged between eight and ten, submitted their favourite recipes and used online design aids to help put the book together with teacher Kirsty MacVicar.
The projects have helped the pupils learn some entrepreneurial skills, such as income and profit management, sales and marketing and design.
Mrs MacVicar said: “I very much wanted this to be a learning experience for the children and that they should be involved in the project from start to finish.
“They have had great fun collecting the recipes and developing the book. The finished article looks great and is proving really popular. We hope to start a second print run shortly to keep up with demand.”
The recipe book is priced £6.50 and proceeds are being divided between school funds and the ARCHIE Foundation which is building a new children’s unit at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The children voted to donate to the charity in memory of their schoolmate Keir MacGruer who died last year, aged eight, from a rare lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.
The book has been sponsored by IT company Fujitsu, the Gaelic development agency Comunn na Gaidhlig (CnaG), Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (the Gaelic Books Council) and supermarket chain Asda which is to sell the book in its Inverness store.
Kate Dunbar, a senior project manager with Fujitsu, whose son Calum, eight, helped create the book and submitted two recipes, said: “Fujitsu is delighted to help sponsor this exciting initiative as part of our work to help schools and the wider community in the Highlands.
“It’s important when learning Gaelic the children use the language in everyday situations. This has helped them do that and they have also had a great time putting the book together.”
Rosemary Ward, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “This is a really worthwhile school-based project that provides an opportunity for young people to see their writing efforts in print. We are keen to encourage activities in schools, and for young people generally, that will encourage writing skills in all genres.”
Comunn na Gàidhlig supported the book under the banner of Iomairt Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis (Inverness Gaelic Initiative). Iomairt Officer Shona Campbell said: "The Iomairt is all about providing opportunities for young Gaelic speakers to use the language in entertaining and fun ways beyond the classroom. The recipe book fitted the bill perfectly."
Joy Milne, community life champion at Asda Inverness, said: "We were delighted when Kirsty approached us with the opportunity to sponsor the recipe book. We fully support Scottish heritage and have had dual Gaelic/English signage at our Inverness store since the day it opened.
"The recipe book will be available in store and we're encouraging colleagues and customers to buy a copy and support the school's money raising efforts, particularly for such a worthy cause that is close to many of the children’s hearts."
The 24 recipes include measgan muasgain (prawn cocktail), toiteanan-muice ann an criomagan-arain (pork chops in breadcrumbs) and cèic-chaise teoclaid dhùbailte (double chocolate cheesecake) as well as fruit scones (sconaichean le measan) and pea pod soup (brot peasrach).
- The recipe book can be bought from Asda, the Inverness Gaelic School and from the Gaelic Books Council
For more information about Fujitsu contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
For Asda
Susanne Collin
Havas PR
0131 225 2313
Susanne.collin@havasww.com
For CNAG
Donald MacNeill, Chief Executive
01463 234138
domhnallmacneill@cnag.org.uk
For the Gaelic Books Council
Rosemary Ward, Director
0141 337 6211
rosemary@gaelicbooks.org
For Inverness Gaelic School
Gordon Fyfe
Highland Council
01463 702022
Gordon.fyfe@highland.gov.uk
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