Julie Fowlis, the acclaimed traditional singer and instrumentalist is the first recipient of the Scottish Government's new Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award (Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna).
A native of North Uist, Julie received her award today from Culture Minister Linda Fabiani, ahead of the official launch by First Minister Alex Salmond of The Royal National Mòd 2008 (Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail) in Falkirk.
This new award is for the individual, group or organisation whose efforts are judged to have done most over the year to increase the status and profile of Gaelic at home or abroad. It is the first time the Scottish Government has sponsored an award at The Mòd.
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"Julie Fowlis is a worthy recipient of our Gaelic Ambassador award. She continues to take her own brand of wonderful Gaelic singing and songwriting to new audiences in Scotland, and all over the world.
"Gaelic and The Royal National Mòd strengthen the distinctive cultural life of Scotland and are a reminder of our country's rich linguistic and musical heritage.
"The Scottish Government is committed to securing a successful, sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland and I'm therefore delighted we're sponsoring this award at The Mòd - an award which will contribute to the wider, ongoing efforts to increase the profile of Gaelic across the whole of Scotland.''
John Macleod, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, which organises Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail each year, said:
"We are delighted to have the support of the Scottish Government in sponsoring this prestigious award.
"Julie is a most appropriate choice to be its first recipient. As well as being such a talented singer and musician, her warm personality and public profile make her a great ambassador for her native language and such a popular role-model for our young singers and musicians. Her recent concerts in the US and in Germany have taken Gaelic singing to new international heights. She is a real star in the Gaelic world."
This year's Mòd (now to be referred to as Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, or Am Mòd for short), was allocated to Falkirk in 2005 following a successful bid to host the event from the local organising committee.
The Mòd 2008 is themed 'The Mod is Coming Home' - a reference to the fact that the concept of the Highland Gathering is considered to have originated in Falkirk when Highland drovers and cattle dealers would converge on the town to buy and sell their livestock.
The current BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, Julie Fowlis sings only in Scottish Gaelic and has toured the world bringing ancient songs from the Hebridean Islands to new audiences. She is also an accomplished musician, playing Highland bagpipes, small pipes, whistles, oboe, cor anglais, and the button-key accordion. The Scots Trad Music Awards have twice voted her 'Gaelic Singer of the Year' (2005 & 2007), and her album Cuilidh 'Album of the Year' in 2007. She won the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award in 2006 for Best Emerging Artist (the first Gaelic singer ever to be nominated). She has sung with the group 'Dòchas', formed while she studied music at the RSAMD.
A key commitment of the Scottish Government is to increase the place of Gaelic in education, to improve the status of the Gaelic language throughout Scotland and to support Gaelic speaking communities.
The Scottish Government provides £12.4million funding to MG ALBA, the organisation producing BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC.