Tust Website Project

Sorley Maclean is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most influential literary figures and a poet of world stature and in recognition of this he was awarded the Queen’s Medal and number honorary degrees form universities here and overseas.
Sorley was born in Raasay, schooled in Skye, attended university inn Edinburgh and eventually returned to the Highlands as headmaster at Plockton High School.
After his death in 1996, Urras Shomhairle (the Sorley Maclean Trust) was set up to perpetuate the memory of his work, and promote the Gaelic language. Accordingly it seeks to encourage all aspects of Gaelic culture including promoting the study, appreciation and use of the Gaelic language. It also intends to commission and make available through information technology, oral and written Gaelic material of the highest quality.

Now, with the help of LEADER+, Urras Shomhairle is setting up the definitive Sorley Maclean web portal which aims to increase access to archive materials, publications and other related material. The site, which is to be bi-lingual, will allow sounds and images to be downloaded and permit users to communicate and report additional resources. LEADER+ was able to fund this project because it involves harnessing new technologies to increase access to and knowledge of important cultural and economic data. The Urras’s Chairperson, Rev. Archie Black is delighted with the support LEADER+ and others provided for the project. “We gratefully acknowledge LEADER+’s award of up to £18,000 for this web project. It will allow us to establish a project which, when it comes to fruition in September 2006, will be a user friendly, bilingual educational and cultural resource celebrating the life and legacy of one of Scotland's greatest poets.”
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College in south Skye, is coordinating the project and a specialist team has been assembled there ensure its smooth progress. One of the team is charged with the task of sourcing, collating and developing the site’s content while two others are building and managing the site.