Gaidhlig bookshop

[SeamusAlba]

Im interested in starting a Gaidhlig bookshop in Edinburgh to help promote the Scottish language and to act as a hub for all Gaidhlig activities throughout Scotland. I went for a business interview today (alas to little avail. I knew it was going badly when the woman interviewing me used the pronounciation "gaylic" for Gaidhlig and it went rapidly downhill from there.)

If anyone would be interested in taking part in a venture to set up a social enterprise Gaidhlig shop in Edinburgh, please let me know as Im completely inexperienced at this and daunted/dejected by my "business meeting".

[wullie m]

Is there not still a second hand book dealer in Edinburgh specialising in Gaelic books, I think his name was MacCormack? he worked from home and issued catalogues, I'm going back twenty years.

[SeamusAlba]

Thanks for the reply Wullie. Ive found nothing so far by googling. Its a difficult time at the moment for bookshops, but Im keen to see a Gaidhlig one in Edinburgh.

[Polwarth]

The Gaelic Books Council, based in Glasgow, may be able to give advice

https://lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicb...rchantmanager/

[MagsHeb]

Re your interest in starting a Gaidhlig bookshop in Edinburgh to help promote the Scottish language.
The first thing I would put in the shop would be resources to support parents bringing up bilingual children

Then I would have live Gaelic taster sessions.

Re your aspiration to act as a hub for all Gaidhlig activities throughout Scotland.There is a need to co-ordinate all the Gaelic Learning Opportunities throught out Scotland, this has been recommended in a Bord na Gaidhlig funded report recently.

[SJLInnerHebride]

Hi SeamusAlba

Good idea, and I agree with previous responses about resources for parents. Stocking the range published by Acair would be a good start, and Birlinn.

The secondhand bookdealer is Domhniall MacCormack (spelling may be incorrect as I'm not a Gaelic speaker) and he is still issuing catalogues, but is not on the web. I have a couple of his catalogues somewhere at home and if you send me a PM, when I get home, I'll look up these and can give you how to contact him.

I'm away from base at present but run a bookshop myself and am happy to give you some information via PM on the ups and downs and perhaps it'll help.Sadly bookshops are closing at a more rapid rate than they are opening and that's a shame for inveterate bookworms like me! Use 'em or lose 'em folks...

[wullie m]

SJL, the book trade is on the rocks. In Glasgow there is now one major outlet in Sauchiehall Street, Scottish books have been moved upstairs, they fill one bookcase. There's loads of stuff on Richard III, Henry V, Cromwell etc' and I asked who buys this stuff, the lassie answered , nobody, most goes back, it's central buying down south which sends it up. The secondhand book trade is about as bad, formerly loads of shops, some great characters owned them, McGarry in Paisley, Bob McCutcheon in Stirling, Smith's,St Vincent Street, the wee Indian guy at the top of West Nile Street who gave you tea once he knew you! very sad. Edinburgh, I didn't know so well, there used to be Elizabeth Strong at the top of Leith Walk and Thin's. The owner of one of the last Glasgow bookshops, Caledonian, is getting out after thirty odd years, I think the place will mostly be selling coffee in future, kids, she said, just don't collect books now! And yet more youngsters attend university than ever before. Another shop off Gibson Street is still buying books in, hoping for an upturn in trade, the shop is packed to the ceiling with them, you have difficulty getting in! what gives. The internet might be good for finding something quickly/cheap but it's no substitute for an old well stuffed, dusty establishment, whose owner hopefully, hasn't too encyclopedic a knowledge of the business! Sic Transit Gloria! wullie.