Today's trip down memory lane takes us back 15 years to when pupils had a go at learning Gaelic.

Here's how we told the story in the Reporter on Wednesday, February 18, 2004...

CHILDREN have put away their English books and taken on a new tongue — by having lessons in Gaelic.

As part of the West Dunbartonshire Gaelic festival, or Feis Dhun Breatainn an Iar, four schools in the area have been visited by a Gaelic teacher to try and get them interested in their native language.

Workshops are also being held in the evenings, at the Concord Community Education Centre, along with tuition on traditional Gaelic instruments.

Kate Kerr, the Gaelic teacher who has been visiting schools to teach children Gaelic as part of the festival said it is important that children get some experience of Gaelic.

She said: “We need to make them aware of their heritage and the fact that Gaelic is part of their culture and that it is not as difficult as everybody thinks it is.

“I will be teaching them the basic language — hello, how are you, numbers and colours and how to talk about their family, the weather and food.

“We will be doing some Gaelic songs too. I can’t really bog them down too much!”

Billy MacWhirter from the Concord CE Centre, who can speak some Gaelic, feels it is important for children to learn too.

He said: “It’s part of our culture. There wouldn’t be a Scotland as distinct as this without that in our history.

“There are a lot of people who come from Gaelic roots in this area. Gaelic has fallen to its lowest ever usage.

“Something like 59,000 people can read, speak and write it and about 90,000 can read or speak it only.”

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The primary schools involved are Haldane, Aitkenbar, Bonhill and Braehead.

Sarah Swain visited Primary Six children in Aitkenbar Primary School to see how their lessons have been going.

Catherine Johnston, aged nine, said: “It was good because we got to sing songs. “It was a little bit hard.”

Catherine said her class were taught about Scottish history when they celebrated Burns night recently when they sang traditional songs.

She would most like to learn French because her mum can speak the language so they could practice together. Next year she will be able to when her class begin learning it at school.

Megan Roberts liked Mrs Kerr, the Gaelic teacher.

She said: “She was really nice.”

Her favourite part of the lesson was learning the song about the face and being able to name all the parts in Gaelic.

Megan thinks school children should be taught the ancient language.

She said: “It’s easier, especially if you get a test!”

She would most like to learn Welsh because her gran is Welsh.

James Leitch was told what his Gaelic name would be — Seamus. He is not too keen though and would prefer to stick to James!

He said the class had just started a topic on Scottish History so will be learning all about Gaelic.

James would most like to learn Spanish so that he can talk to the locals when he goes on holiday to Spain this summer.

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Lana Kindlyside also loves the way Gaelic sounds and enjoyed singing the songs. She has also taken part in the fiddle and accordion workshops at the Concord Centre.

She said: “I would like to learn German— my uncle can speak some.”

Lana also liked Mrs Kerr the teacher.

Jordan Barrett would be happy to swap his favourite lesson of maths for Gaelic.

He said: “Because it’s fun and easier to learn.”

He thinks they should have the lessons every week. The only thing he didn’t like was the singing!

He can remember how to say : “My name is Jordan,” in the language.

Andrew Oliver — or should we say Andra as it is his Gaelic name — said he likes to say the Gaelic words— though he said the only thing is that he finds them hard to remember.

He would really like to learn Spanish because he used to live in Gibraltar when his dad worked there but has enjoyed the lessons so far.