For our next reprint, Alison Lang looks back to when Edinburgh was eagerly awaiting improvements for Gaelic, such as the opening of the new Gaelic Primary School, and possible improvements for Scotland, as the vote on Scottish independence was coming up. This is a timely reprint, as Alison’s article in the just-released March 2015 issue provides an update, especially on the latter.

Tha Dùn Èideann na bhaile a’ feitheamh. Air dè? Nan cuireadh tu a’ cheist air duine àbhaisteach ann an Sràid a’ Phrionnsa is math dh’fhaoidte gun canadh e, “Air na tramaichean,” a’ gearan mun sgeama chòmhdhail ùr a tha air meadhan a’ bhaile a chur troimhe chèile fad còig bliadhna a-nis. Neo is dòcha gum biodh neach-turais a’ tomhas, “Air an Fhèis Eadar-nàiseanta?” Agus chanadh luchdpoileataigs – cuid aca, co-dhiù – “Air neoeisimeileachd…”

Edinburgh is a city that’s waiting. What for? If you were to ask the ordinary man in Princes Street he might say, “For the trams,” complaining about the new transport scheme that’s been causing chaos in the city centre for five years now. Or perhaps a tourist would venture, “For the International Festival?” And politicians – some of them, anyway – might say, “For independence…”