Gaelic launch at Annual Conference

At last month’s Annual Conference Gaelic was, for the first time in the Institute’s 136 year history, spoken in a formal session. In presenting his paper Environmental Health at the Edge/An Arainneachd aig an Oir Alasdair MacEachen used the words Madainn mhath dhuibh uile. Tha mi toilichte an cothrom seo fhaighinn an-diugh airson bruidhinn ruibh mun obair againn anns na h-Eileanan an Iar to open his presentation. One or two delegates had a slightly startled look about them! Translated into English, Alasdair’s opening was Good morning. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about our work in the Western Isles! Also launched at conference was the Gaelic portal on the Institute’s website along with The Essentials of Food Hygiene handbook in Gaelic. The Institute offers its sincere thanks to Alasdair’s wife Jean for undertaking the English to Gaelic translation of the handbook. Alasdair, a life-long Environmental Health Officer member of the Institute, is Head of Devolved Services (Uist and Barra) Western Isles Council/Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.