Song portal launch marks the start of World Gaelic Week

A new Gaelic song portal on the Tobar na Dualchais / Kist o Riches website now hosts more than 700 songs, recordings, lyrics and biographical notes, and was launched to coincide with World Gaelic Week.

A new Gaelic song portal has been launched within the Tobar na Dualchais / Kist o Riches website to mark the start of World Gaelic Week. It brings together more than 700 songs, audio recordings, lyrics and biographical information about singers and composers. The material was previously available on the BBC's Bliadhna nan Òran / Year of Songs site. Project partners, including the University of Edinburgh, supported the transfer to help preserve the files for the future. Key facts: - The portal contains more than 700 songs, audio recordings, lyrics and biographical information. - The collection was previously hosted on the BBC's Bliadhna nan Òran / Year of Songs website. - The move to Tobar na Dualchais / Kist o Riches will include a complete refresh and provision for adding more songs. - TAD director Floraidh Forrest said the transfer, with support from the University of Edinburgh, will help preserve the files for many years to come. - Margaret Mary Murray of the BBC said they were delighted the material had found a new home and that it will enable audiences to discover and rediscover the resource. - TAD received development funding from the Scottish government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig, and the Gaelic Language Promotion Trust, and World Gaelic Week runs until 1 March with hundreds of related events worldwide. Summary: The portal centralises a substantial archive of Gaelic songs and related material and makes those resources available as World Gaelic Week takes place. The project is reported to include a full refresh of the former BBC collection and plans to add further songs. Exact timelines for additional updates are undetermined at this time.