Mu dheidhinn • About

This resource was developed by Renfrewshire Music Service through Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) funding. Working in conjunction with renowned performer Joy Dunlop who delivers Gaelic singing classes in our primary schools, we have devised an online teaching resource that will be accessible to all schools.

The aim of the resource was to allow more schools to learn and enjoy Gaelic. As part of our YMI funding, we are able to deliver in-person sessions for a number of schools each year. Targeted at primary schools, although suitable for all levels of learning, this resource includes audio, visual, and accompanying written text for 10 Songs. There are stories, historic background and phonetics included in the supporting text along with useful links. Classroom teachers can use this to teach whole classes about Scottish and Gaelic culture through the medium of song. We believe this resource to be one of the first of its kind for second language Gaelic speakers, and we look forward to hearing more Gaelic Song in our schools and offering our young people an opportunity to learn and express themselves through music.

Renfrewshire Music Service would like to thank all those involved who made the making of this resource possible for their time and expertise including:

• Joy Dunlop – Gaelic Song & Website Content

• Ron Jappy – Music Accompaniment

• Andrew Dickie, Craig McDonald & Aisha Oyedepo – Recording

---

Joy Dunlop

Crowned Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the 2015 Pan Celtic Festival, Joy Dunlop is a Gaelic singer from Argyll, Scotland. Joy’s singing career is the result of a life–long fascination with Scotland’s traditional music and has led her all over the world; from major Celtic festivals to touring the UK, Europe, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. Nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year 2016, 2011 & 2010, she has also won both the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal. Through her singing, she showcases Gaelic music and song in a contemporary way that always remains true to its roots.

A fluent Gaelic speaker, Joy’s confidence and skill as an interpreter of tradition rests on a deep and thorough knowledge of Gaelic language and culture, from the folkloric to the scholarly.  She is enthusiastic and generous in sharing her culture across many arenas; teaching Gaelic language, singing and step-dance classes for a range of institutions from grassroots to tertiary education level.  Throughout her teaching, Joy is passionate about promoting Gaelic as a dynamic, living language and culture.

In addition to singing and teaching, Joy is also a popular BBC ALBA weather presenter and also makes frequent guest appearances on both BBC ALBA and Radio nan Gàidheal.