Our Faculty

Scott Morrison is co-founder and Ceannard Sgoile (Head of School) of Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir.  Scott has been studying Gaelic for over 16 years. His teachers have included: Nick Freer, Liam Cassidy, Michael MacKay, Angus MacLeod (of Cape Breton), Professor Richard Cox, Dr. Meg Bateman, Professor John MacTaylor (all of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic College), and traditional singer/teacher Gillebride MacMillan (of South Uist).

Mr. Morrison has been teaching his four children Gaelic since he started learning back in 2003. His teaching credits include: a two-week bodhràn course at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton Nova Scotia in 2006, Instructor/regional representative for the Atlantic Gaelic Academy 2011-2013, VP and President of An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach  (The American Scottish Gaelic Society) 2011-2014, workshop instructor/organizer for the Northern Arizona Celtic Society’s Immersion Weekend in Flagstaff (2013), and numerous private lessons on-line via Skype.  He earned a B.A. in Gaelic Language and Culture from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye in December 2018 through their distance learning program.

An accomplished musician, Mr. Morrison teaches percussion and Celtic Traditional music in his studio called Rimshots. In particular, he teaches the Bodhràn, the Tin Whistle, the Bones, and the Spoons. Mr. Morrison also sings many Gaelic songs (learned from Gillebride) and won the men’s traditional singing contest in the US National Mòd in 2011. Mr. Morrison has also won numerous awards at previous Mòds for Gaelic poetry writing, poetry recitation, and story telling including the coveted Argyll Cup for outstanding scholarship three times.

Òmar Bhochanan | Amber Buchanan is a partner and consultant in Inside Out, a Gàidhlig and yoga teacher, a weaver, and a Gaelic activist.  She  lives on the Bras d’Or lake in Grass Cove, Mi’kma’ki | Cape Breton Island with her daughter Sadie. Amber teaches Gàidhlig language and traditional cultural practices both in community and at Baile Nan Gàidheal | Highland Village Museum. Òmar has also been building connections with Gaels and Cape Breton’s Indigenous people, the Mi’kmaq, noticing similarities and celebrating uniqueness with the intention to forge peace, friendship and collective resilience.

“ . . .  the reclamation of one’s ancestral language and culture has the power to transform and connect us to ourselves, one another, our ancestors, the earth and the greater web of life.” ~ Òmar Bhochanan

Àdhamh Dàmaireach | Adam Dahmer got involved in Gaelic when he arrived in Scotland in 2014, to do a master’s degree in Celtic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Eight years later, he has a doctorate in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh, and now he teaches Gaelic as it was taught to him. Although he is originally from Kentucky (where he and his wife founded SPLANG!, a Gaelic promotion group in Louisville), he currently lives in Canada.  Adam serves on the Board of Trustees of An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach  (The American Scottish Gaelic Society), and teaches Scottish Gaelic at Eastern Tennessee State University in the Appalachian Studies department It is his honor and pleasure to be an online teacher at Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir!

Eòghann Mac an t-saoir| Ewan Macintyre will be covering Robert Bingham’s classes for the remainder of the school year as Robert has received orders for duty on a ship. We are very excited to have such a creative person as Ewan join our community.

Susan Tougas started her Scottish Gaelic journey with Thomas Leigh at the Callanish School of Celtic Arts in 2016.  She made several summer trips to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye and, through their long-distance program, earned her Certificate of Higher Education (Honours) in 2021.  She has also studied online with Colaisde na Gàidhlig.  Currently, she is continuing her Gaelic studies at Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir.

Susan is a Rhode Island native but has made her home in Vermont for almost thirty years where she enjoys hiking, genealogy, and writing.