Obair-ghrèis Mhòr na h-Alba (2) – eachraidh nan Albannach

Am mìos sa chaidh chuir sinn sùil air cuid de na pannalan a tha ceangailte ri taobh an ear na h-Alba: an turas seo bidh sinn a sealltainn air taghadh ìomhaighean à eachdraidh na h-Alba san fharsaingeachd. An rud a tha cho tarraingeach san obair-ghrèis, ‘s e am measgachadh de thachartasan agus cuspairean a tha ri fhaicinn innte – tha politigs, saidheans, creideamh, cultar, nuadh-innleachdan agus foghlam uile ann, ach tha uinneagan ann cuideachd air dòigh beatha daoine na h-Alba fhèin air feadh nan linntean, le mòran dealbhan beaga taitneach agus beò-ghlacmhor ri taobh nan prìomh-chuspairean.

Chì sinn na gaisgich mar am Brusach agus Uilleam Uallas, agus iomadh rìgh agus banrigh, ach iasgairean is croitearan is luchd-obrach ola cuideachd. Tha na h-Albannaich ann a fhuair an cliù thall-thairis – taisgealaichean mar Dr John Rae ann an Canada a Tuath no Livingstone ann an Afraga, saighdearan agus luchd-malairt anns na h-Innseachan agus miseanaraidhean ann an Sìona. Agus chì sinn mar a dh’fhuiling an sluagh fon Phlaigh Dhuibh (agus na deargannan a’ leumadaich air na radain), fo chogaidhean agus fo na Fuadaichean.

Bha an creideamh riamh cudromach ann an Alba – tha Naomh Calum Cille ri fhaicinn, agus John Knox, agus cuideachd na Cumhnantaich agus ìomhaighean an Dealachaidh. Tha ar cultar ioma-fhillte ann – Gàidhlig agus Scots, bàrdachd is ealain is feallsanachd, agus dealbhan luchd-ciùil agus ionnsramaidean ann air feadh na h-obrach-grèis.

Seo taghadh beag de na pannalan, agus chithear mòran ìomhaighean eile air làrach-linn na h-Obrach-grèis Mòire: http://www.scotlandstapestry.com/ agus anns an leabhar àlainn a tha ri cheannach an sin, ach ma bhios cothrom idir agaibh san àm ri teachd, feumaidh sibh an rud fhèin fhaicinn. Is fhiach e e. Tha plan ann togalach sònraichte a thogail dhi, sna Crìochan, agus anns an eadar-àm bidh taisbeanaidhean ann ann an àiteachean eadar-dhealaichte. (m.e. New Lanark 20.10 – 22.11.2014)

Great Tapestry of Scotland (2) – History of the Scots

Last month I had a look at some of the panels which had links to the North East; this time we’ll be looking at a selection of images from broader Scottish history. The thing that’s so fascinating about the Tapestry is the mixture of events and themes that can be seen in it – politics, science, religion, culture, inventions and education are all there, but there are also windows on the way of life of ordinary Scots themselves down through the centuries, with many delightful, captivating details alongside the main subjects.

We see the heroes like Bruce and Wallace, and plenty of kings and queens, but also fishermen, crofters and oil workers. There are the Scots who made their names abroad, explorers like Dr John Rae in Northern Canada or Livingstone in Africa, soldiers and merchants in India, and missionaries in China. And we see how the ordinary people suffered under the Black Death (and the fleas jumping on the rats), wars and the Clearances.

Faith has always been important in Scotland – St Columba can be seen, and John Knox, and also the Covenanters and scenes from the Disruption. Our rich and varied culture is also shown – Gaelic and Scots, poetry and art and philosophy, and pictures of musicians and instruments all over the Tapestry.

This is a tiny selection of the panels, and you’ll see a lot of other images on the Tapestry’s own website: http://www.scotlandstapestry.com/ and in the beautiful book you can buy there, but if you have a chance at all, you have to go and see the real thing. It’s really worth it. There is a plan to house it in a specially-built museum in the Borders, but until then it will be displayed in various locations (next in New Lanark, 20.10 – 22.11.14).