An Aberdeenshire dad is calling for parents to come forward to help support his dream to make Gaelic pre-school a reality.
Angelo Duncan is in the early stages of planning a Gaelic medium pre-school for children in Inverurie and is urging others interested to show their support.
Mr Duncan submitted an application for his daughter to learn Gaelic but this was rejected as five other families in the area with children the same age as his daughter would also need to express an interest for this to happen.
After sharing his frustrations on a Facebook post, he has now been in touch with the chief executive of the Moray Language Centre, Finlay Macleoid.
Mr Duncan believes there is a need for this in the area as “there are families in Inverurie having to travel to Aberdeen for their children to attend a Gaelic medium school”.
He said: “It’s important that we learn the language because otherwise it will be abandoned and forgotten about.
“It’s the last embodiment that shows we are Gaels.”
The father-of-one said he’s had this idea for a very long time.
He said: “As an Italian-Scot, I was bullied throughout my childhood and was made to feel by others that I wasn’t Scottish.
“I remember Gaelic was mocked when I was younger and a lot of that slander came from my family.
“With the experience I had growing up, I felt like I could connect a lot with the language.”
The 32-year-old recalls “a very hard time” he and other soldiers experienced in Afghanistan with the Army in 2011, which also inspired his interest in Gaelic.
He said: “We were at a very low point, suffering daily anxiety and stress, and a Fort William guy gave me his Ipod.
“It was the first time I had listened to a Gaelic singer. Her voice was so beautiful. Every time I hear White Swan, I feel a feeling of overwhelming peace.”
It’s hoped if more families express an interest, there will be a Gaelic parent and child group for birth to 3-year-old children and a nursery for 2 to 5 year old children.
However, there is a long term plan “for all age groups” to learn Gaelic.
After lockdown, Mr Duncan and Mr Macleoid plan to have an information meeting regarding all aspects of the proposals.
