8 hours ago
We'd like a Biadh Sona (that's a McDonald's Happy Meal in Gaelic)
Campaigners have called on McDonald's to let hungry Scots order their Big Macs in Gaelic.
Those visiting the fast food giant's restaurants north of the Border can order in Welsh but not in the language which has been spoken in Scotland for more than 1,500 years.
Customers can use the self-service screens to order a Brechdan McChicken, Dogn Mawr o Sglodion Tenau and Coffi Du Rheolaidd – Welsh for a McChicken sandwich, large fries and Americano – but not the equivalent in Gaelic.
Now campaigners have called on the firm to add Gaelic to the list of languages offered to customers using the kiosks.
Alasdair Laing, a spokesman for Gaelic campaign group Misneachd, said: 'If we can have Welsh in Scotland we should be able to have Gaelic in Wales and vice versa.
'These things are not difficult to do, it's just a case of the company bothering.'
The calls come after MSPs this week unanimously backed new powers aimed at encouraging the greater use of Gaelic and Scots.
As well as Welsh, the fast food chain's digital kiosks also let customers in Scotland order in Polish, Spanish, French and German.
Latest census statistics showed Gaelic is a growing language, with more than 130,000 having some skill in it in 2022, up by just over 43,000 compared to 2011.
Mr Laing called on the firm to introduce the option in the same way they had done with Welsh and with Gaeilge in Ireland.
The Scottish Government has been pushing Gaelic, with its use expanding in the public sector through use on police cars, trains and ambulances.
Mr Laing said: 'It needs to be supported and implemented in the private sector as well. If they can do it for Wales and Welsh, they can do it for Scotland and Gaelic.'
A McDonald's spokesman said: 'We constantly review the availability of all languages in our restaurants.'
