Sabhal Mòr Ostaig was founded in 1973 in old farm steadings at Ostaig in Sleat.
While the initi al aim was to establish a Gaelic library, the long term plan was for a Gaelic-medium college providing vocati onal further educati on for Gaelic speakers, in their own language and rural environment, while also giving the growing number of Gaelic enthusiasts the opportunity to learn the language.