Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba Welcomes New Chair

Professor of Gaelic from the University of Edinburgh has been appointed as Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA), the national authority on Gaelic place-names in Scotland.

Professor Wilson McLeod, Researcher of Gaelic language policy and Gaelic literature, has taken over the position from Ruaraidh MacIntyre, Gaelic linguist from South Uist, who served as Chair for two years.

AÀA provides guidance to a wide variety of organisations for various purposes including bilingual and Gaelic road signs, commercial signs, maps, presentation and research, and receives core funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Born in Boston USA, Wilson has more than twenty years’ experience working in the higher education sector and is now Emeritus Professor of Gaelic at the University of Edinburgh. He has authored or edited fifteen books, most of them on Gaelic language and culture, including Gaelic in Modern Scotland: Policies, Movements, Ideologies (2020).

Wilson’s experience in language policy and legislation, university education and his passion for the Gaelic language, makes him the ideal candidate for Chair.

In accepting the post of Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba he said, “I am excited to contribute to AÀA’s important work in providing expert support for the representation of Gaelic in Scotland’s linguistic landscape.”

Jo MacDonald, of Highland Council, and Vice-chair of AÀA said, “The Highland Council greatly values Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba’s expertise on place-names and the detailed research that it undertakes of historic sources. We are delighted to welcome Professor Wilson McLeod to the post of Chair. As a distinguished scholar of Gaelic language and culture, Professor McLeod brings a wealth of experience and will be a great asset to the team. We would also like to thank Ruaraidh MacIntyre for his valuable contribution and commitment over the years. We look forward to building on our positive and productive working relationship with AÀA and its partner organisations.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, CEO, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “We welcome the news that Professor Wilson McLeod has been named as the new Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. AÀA undertake important work in the re-discovery and preservation of our Heritage and developing the use of Gaelic through the advice they provide to a wide range of organisations.  I’m sure professor McLeod will be very successful in his new role and look forward to seeing the impact he has on the organisation.”