The Gaelic World: Land and Lore
six evenings of Gaelic language and culture, online with The Shieling Collective
Gaelic is the indigenous language of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The language opens up the land and culture in unique ways, and the Gaelic worldview is carried and passed on through song, story and the naming of the natural environment.
From descriptive plant names to waulking songs, ancient myth to turns of phrase, the Gaelic language is key to the native culture of the Highlands. Learn even a little of the language and the land starts to read differently.
Over six Thursday evenings this winter, six tutors from the Gaelic world present a distinct thread of Gaelic Land and Lore: the landscape and its plants, song, myth and story, the turning of the seasons, blessings, and everyday conversation. Every session teaches Gaelic words and phrases , as well as worldview and culture.
Who it's for
This course is open to complete beginners, and may be of interest to improvers and fluent Gaels too. It's open to Highlanders, Lowlanders, anyone curious about Gaelic language and heritage, and the Scottish diaspora wherever they may have ended up.
When and where
Thursdays, 12 November to 17 December 2026
7pm to 8.30pm UK time (2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific)
Online, on Zoom
Recordings will be available throughout the duration of the course
The sessions
Hosted by Dougie Mackay
NOV 12 - Isica NicMoire: An Introduction to Gaelic
NOV 19 - Christina Stewart: Gaelic Song & Oral Tradition
NOV 26 - Adhamh O’Broin: Gaelic Cosmology and Carrying Tradition
DEC 03 - Ruiaridh Maclean: Gaelic Myth & Story: Characters and Tales of the Fianna in the Scottish Gàidhealtachd
DEC 10 - Caoimhe Keohane: Gaelic Landscape & Lore
DEC 17 - Closing Session
What you'll come away with
Greetings and everyday phrases you can use
At least one song learned together
A feel for Gaelic names in nature
Familiarity with distinct Gaelic Song type
A sense of Gaelic myth, lore and Cosmology
Ways of further accessing Highland culture and Gaelic language
Price
Sliding scale for all six sessions. Pay what you can.
£60 if money's tight
£80 standard
£100 if you can support
(Note, this course is being run to help raise funds for a Highland based Land and Culture project, The Shieling Collective)
Places are limited