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Tha mi fhathast a’ togail chriomagan às an làraich-lìn ‘Sgeul na Gàidhlig aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu’. Chuir an Comunn Oiseanach athchuinge don riaghaltas ann an ochd ceud deug, trithead ʼs a naoi (1839). Bha iad ag iarraidh gum biodh a’ Ghàidhlig air a teagasg san oilthigh. Cha d’ fhuair iad taic sam bith. 

Ann an ochd ceud deug, naochad ʼs a ceithir (1894), fhuair an t-oilthigh airgead dìleib airson sreath òraidean ‘Ceilteach’ a chumail ann. Airson còig bliadhna, shuidh an t-oilthigh air an airgead. Cha do rinn iad dad leis. Mu dheireadh, chuir oileanaich athchuinge gu Cùirt an Oilthigh mun ghnothach. 

Bliadhna an dèidh sin, thug an neach-saidheans, an t-Àrd-ollamh Mànus MacGhill’Eain, sreath de dheich òraidean seachad air cuspairean Ceilteach. ʼS ann às an Eilean Sgitheanach a bha MacGhill’Eain, agus bha Gàidhlig aige.

Ann an naoi ceud deug is sia (1906), chaidh an t-Oll. Urr. Deòrsa MacEanruig fhastadh mar òraidiche làn-thìde. Bha cothrom aig oileanaich cùrsaichean Ceilteach a dhèanamh mar phàirt de cheum oilthigh. Gu mì-fhortanach, chaochail MacEanruig ann an naoi ceud deug ʼs a dhà-dheug (1912). Bha e dìreach ceathrad ʼs a sia bliadhna a dh’aois.

Às a dhèidh, thàinig an t-Oll. Urr. Deòrsa Calder. Bha esan na òraidiche gu naoi ceud deug, trithead ʼs a còig (1935). An uair sin, bha Seumas MacIlleMhìcheil MacBhàtair, mac an sgoileir ainmeil Uilleam MacBhàtair, ann airson trì bliadhna. Às a dhèidh, thàinig Aonghas MacMhathain à Uibhist a Tuath. Bha esan san oilthigh airson fichead bliadhna. 

Ann an naoi ceud deug, caogad ʼs a sia (1956) chaidh Aonghas a dhèanamh na Àrd-ollamh. An dèidh strì a thòisich còrr is ceud bliadhna roimhe, bha Cathair Cheilteach ann an Glaschu. Tha daoine ainmeil air a bhith anns an dreuchd – Ruairidh MacThòmais, Dòmhnall MacAmhlaigh, Cathair Ó Dochartaigh agus Tòmas Clancy. 

Ann an dà mhìle ʼs a deich (2010), chaidh Cathair Ghàidhlig a chur air dòigh cuideachd. Bhon uair sin, tha an t-Àrd-oll. Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh air a bhith anns a’ Chathair. Nuair a tha sinn a’ coimhead air ais, tha e fìor ri ràdh gu bheil piseach mòr air tighinn air suidheachadh na Gàidhlig ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

I’m still picking up crumbs from the website ‘The Gaelic Story at the University of Glasgow’. The Ossianic Society sent a petition to the government in 1839. They were wanting Gaelic to be taught [that Gaelic would be taught] at the university. They got no support.

In 1894, the university received a legacy for hosting a series of ‘Celtic’ lectures. For five years, the university sat on the money. They did nothing with it. Eventually, students sent a petition to the University Court about the matter.

A year after that, the scientist, Professor Magnus Maclean, delivered a series of ten lectures on Celtic subjects. It’s from Skye that Maclean hailed, and he was a Gaelic-speaker.

In 1906, the Rev. Dr. George Henderson was employed as a full-time lecturer. The students had an opportunity to do Celtic courses as part of a university degree. Unfortunately, Henderson died in 1912. He was only 46 years of age.

After him came the Rev. Dr. George Calder. He was a lecturer until 1935. Then James Carmichael Watson, the son of the famous scholar, William [J.] Watson, was there for three years. After him came Angus Matheson from North Uist. He was at the university for twenty years.

In 1956, Angus was made a professor. After a struggle that began more than a hundred years before, there was a Celtic Chair in Glasgow. Famous people have been in the job – Derick Thomson, Donald MacAulay, Cathair Ó Dochartaigh and Thomas Clancy.

In 2010, a Gaelic Chair was also established. Since then, Prof. Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh has been in the chair. When we are looking back, it is true to say that the situation of Gaelic at the University of Glasgow is much improved.