COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing explored some of the Gaelic names in her constituency when a special stall was set up in the Scottish Parliament.

The MSP met recently with representatives from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, who had the stall in the Scottish Parliament Lobby promoting the fact that the 2019 has been designated the Year of Indigenous Languages by the UN.

Speaking following the discussion, Ms Ewing stated her support for the Gaelic language and highlighted the number of Fife place names with Gaelic roots many from the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.

Ms Ewing said: “The United Nations has designated 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages in order to raise awareness of them, not only to benefit the speakers of these languages, but also for others to appreciate the important contribution they make to our world’s rich cultural diversity.

“So, I was delighted to see a stall from Bòrd na Gàidhlig in the Scottish Parliament, highlighting Gaelic’s place as one of our own country’s indigenous languages.

“Many might assume that Gaelic heritage relates solely to the highlands and islands but, in fact, Fife is full of Gaelic place names, including communities throughout my constituency. Benarty is the high hill, Ballingry is the Garden Town, Inverkeithing the mouth of the Keithing burn and Lochgelly and Lochore refer, respectively, to the white and golden lochs".

She added: “Indeed, the name of my whole constituency may come from the Gaelic words Coilltean Beithe, which means Birch Woods.

“A knowledge of Gaelic opens up a whole new world of understanding the geography and nature of the places in which we live.

“Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage but it is also an important component of our nation’s present and our future. I am delighted to be identified as a supporter of the language.”

Ms Ewing is pictured at the Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s stall in the Scottish Parliament.