A NEW group has been set up in North Ayrshire to help children learn Gaelic from an early age.

Based in West Kilbride, the group meets twice a week and is going from strength to strength after being launched earlier this year.

Now they are looking for new members to head along to enjoy friendship, fun and the chance to learn a new language.

No experience at all is necessary and there is no pressure on anyone heading along.

Andrew Macdonald helped to set up the group and he said: “The North Ayrshire Gaelic Toddler Group was set up by a group of local families from West Kilbride and Ardrossan, as we found there was no Gaelic early years resources for our children in North Ayrshire.

“We discovered that Kilmarnock was the nearest Gaelic toddler group to us, which was too far for most people to attend on a regular basis. If our group is a success, we are keen to ultimately pursue a Gaelic Medium Education path for our children in the form of a Gaelic nursery and primary - this will also be a first for North Ayrshire.

Our group has been running for 9 weeks and we have built up a steady following since then. All parents and carers are invited to come along and there is no expectation of the level of Gaelic. It’s is a fun, relaxed environment for children to play and learn. The parents and carers are also invited to join in and our tutor goes over Gaelic songs and everyday words. The children have a snack and parents can enjoy tea or coffee. Our group runs Tuesday and Thursdays 10-12 in the Barony Centre, West Kilbride.