24 Feb 2025
The University of Glasgow, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, today announced the launch of Gaelic Connect, an innovative digital platform designed to strengthen the city’s Gaelic-speaking community.
The web app, unveiled at the start of Seachdain na Gàidhlig/World Gaelic Week, has been created to help develop Gaelic networks across the city and will mark a significant milestone in Glasgow’s commitment to becoming a leading city for Gaelic language and culture.
Gaelic Connect provides an interactive digital hub that allows those wishing to embrace the Gaelic language to connect with a community of Gaelic speakers, learners and enthusiasts. Whether it’s an informal cèilidh at a local pub, a game of Gaelic scrabble in a cosy café or a formal language meet up, the app has been designed to keep people in the loop.
The web app includes gamification features that reward users for speaking Gaelic in real-life settings, along with access to learning resources and community forums. These features are designed to encourage regular language use and foster a stronger sense of community among Glasgow's Gaelic speakers.
Developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and software developers at the University of Glasgow, the project builds on extensive community research and feedback.
Professor Bernadette O’Rourke, Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Glasgow’s School of Modern Languages and Culture, said: “Language thrives when it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life. For speakers of Gaelic and other minoritised languages, having accessible spaces where they can naturally use their language - whether it’s chatting over coffee or simply going about their day - is absolutely vital.
“With Gaelic Connect, we’re not creating artificial environments but rather empowering the Gaelic community to find and create these spaces organically.”
The new initiative is part of Glasgow City Council’s Aon Glaschu (One Glasgow) project, which aims to promote Gaelic language growth throughout the city. As part of this project, a digital hub for Gaelic in Glasgow was envisioned which has now come one step closer to fruition with today’s launch of Gaelic Connect.
The project remains ongoing, with multiple phases envisioned to constantly improve the web app based on user feedback and community needs. The research team also hope to use data from the app to provide information to bodies like Glasgow City Council on how Gaelic is used in the city, and what other services may be needed.
Cormac Quinn, Corporate Policy Manager, Glasgow City Council said: “Gaelic Connect will give the city’s Gaelic community easier access to find and nurture accessible spaces to meet and create comfortable environments to develop their love of language.
“We have a long and proud partnership with the University of Glasgow and colleagues will continue to work collaboratively to maintain and develop the council’s commitment to the Gaelic language in Glasgow.”
The web app will be available for download on all major mobile platforms, serving various users including:
The project is also a direct response to the language provision needs of Glasgow’s Gaelic-speaking community.
In 2022, a survey was conducted by a team led by Professor O’Rourke and DK MacPhee, in collaboration with Glasgow City Council, to identify speakers’ needs and priorities for Gaelic usage in the city. Key among these needs and priorities for Glasgow’s Gaelic speakers and learners was the need for more opportunities for informal Gaelic usage and more information about where to find out about such opportunities.
In collaboration with Glasgow City Council, the University of Glasgow tested a proof-of-concept for a map-based app to track and navigate places where Gaelic is encouraged and used, which received positive responses and strong support from key stakeholders and the wider Gaelic-speaking community.
It is hoped that the new Gaelic Connect digital hub will enable speakers and learners of Gaelic in Glasgow to find events and spaces to use Gaelic and develop a community network of other enthusiasts. Future plans include adapting the platform to support other minority language communities across the UK and Ireland, including Welsh speakers in Cardiff and Irish Gaelic speakers in Dublin and Belfast.
