naidheachdan mygaelic.commygaelic.com news

Skye-based journalist and translator Alasdair H Caimbeul is this year’s Gaelic Journalist of the Year. Alasdair (36) received his award at the annual ceremony in Glasgow last night (Thursday, April 23). Rosemary Ward, Acting Chief Executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body in Scotland responsible for promoting Gaelic development, which sponsors the prize, said: “Alasdair’s work is of a very high standard and covers a range of national and local issues. He has also been a key figure in the development of the new website mygaelic.com and is now one of our most experienced and talented journalists. I am delighted with his award and also the effort made by second-placed Andreas Wolff, who has shown with his own mastery of languages just what a talented individual he is.” Five Gaelic writers were shortlisted in the awards: Aonghas P Caimbeul (West Highland Free Press), Alasdair H Caimbeul, Joy Dunlop (An Gàidheal Ùr), Niall O’ Gallacher (BBC Alba) and Andreas Wolff (Scottish Catholic Observer). Andreas (34), who is from Berlin, completed a law course in Germany and went to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye where he completed an Honours degree course in Gaelic. He speaks nine languages and is now a video journalist with BBC Alba. He has been writing his column in the Catholic Observer since 2008. This is Alasdair Caimbeul’s second recent award, having scooped the prize for Gaelic journalism at the Highlands and Islands Media awards in Nairn in February. Rosemary Ward added: “This is a prestigious competition which brings Gaelic journalism into the mainstream of the top awards. The overall standard of the entries was very encouraging and I hope that the success of our two winners will provide encouragement for others so that we can develop the burgeoning talent now working in Gaelic journalism on a wide range of platforms.”

The Scottish Daily Newspaper Society's Scottish Press Awards are now in their 30th year and are firmly established as the top awards for the industry in Scotland. They not only offer a reward to the winners but also drive home the importance of excellence within Scottish journalism. The Gaelic Journalist of the Year award is made to the writer who submits the three best pieces written in Gaelic, including news, features, columns, and series which have appeared through the past year in a newspaper or magazine. The pieces must be in Gaelic and no more than three may be submitted.

For further information on this news release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan on 0751 528 7040.