seaboardgàidhlig

bilingual blog dà-chànanach

Seo blasad beag den album ùr aig The Shee, còmhlan-ciùil boireann gu math sònraichte. Tha dualchasan eadar-dhealaichte aig gach caileag, innealan-ciùil diofraichte, sgilean eadar-dhealaichte, ach tha an aon dìoghras aca airson an stuth tradiseanta ath-bheothachadh agus rudan ùra a chur ris. Agus tha ar caileag à Machair Rois, Olivia Ross chòir, nam measg cuideachd. Co-roinn!

This is a wee taster for The Shee’s new album. The Shee is a very special band – all girls, different traditions, different instruments, different skills, but the same passion for invigorating the old and complementing it with the new. And our own Seaboard girl Olivia Ross is one of them. Share!

http://youtu.be/oYhxr908jJ0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gàidhlig san Àrainneachd – Loch Ma-Ruibhe agus Beinn Eighe

Gleann Dochartaich, Loch Ma-Ruibhe – Glen Docherty, Loch Maree

  

Ruairidh a’ mìneachadh – R. explaining

 

 

Am mìos sa chaidh bha mi fortanach a bhith air cuairt stiùraichte ann an Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Bheinn Eighe air bruach Loch Ma-Ruibhe, còmhla ri Ruairidh MacIlleathainn na fhear-iùil. Chaidh a cur air dòigh le Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba gus  sealltainn air Gàidhlig san àrainneachd, air ainmean lusan is chraobhan gu h-àiridh, agus ainmean-àite ionadail cuideachd. Bha na mìneachaidhean sa Bheurla, agus mar sin bha a’ chuairt fosgailte do dhuine sam bith aig an robh ùidh. Bha latha blàth is grianach againn, gun a bhith ro theth, agus bha an turas fhèin bho Ros an Ear gu Loch Ma-Ruibhe air leth brèagha cuideachd.

Tha eachdraidh ainm Loch Ma-Ruibhe fhèin inntinneach. Leis gu bheil am baile Cheann Loch Iù aig ceann an loch, bhiodh dùil againn gur e Loch Iùbh a bhiodh ann, agus ‘s e sin an t-ainm a bha air an loch da-rìribh gus an 17mh linn. Ach bha Loch Iùbh eile ann mar-thà, an loch-mara air a bheil sinn eòlach an-diugh, agus thug Loch Maruibhe ainm bho eilean beag san loch, Eilean Maruibhe, far an robh tobhta de chaibeal a stèidhich am manach Èireannach, Maolrubha, san t-seachdamh linn.

 

An t-Sleaghach – Slioch

Tha ainmean nam beanntan freagarrach cuideachd.  Tha Beinn Eighe air ainmeachadh airson a chrutha, a tha coltach ri eighe thrì-thaobhach, agus a mhullaichean airson an datha – A’ Chreag Dhubh, no An Ruadh-stac Beag – no na craobhan – Meall a’ Ghiuthais.  ‘S e ‘sleagh’ a th’ ann am freumh an t-Sleaghaich, beinn fhollaiseach eile ri taobh Loch Ma-Ruibhe, ‘s dòcha bhon chruth aice cuideachd – tha aon sealladh ainmeil ann far a bheil a’ bheinn coltach ri pasgan shleaghan, no shaighdean, gu h-àiridh sa gheamhradh.

Thòisich sinn ar cuairt air bruach an Loch,  ann am pàirc-chàraichean luchd-tadhail “Coille na Glas Leitir” – ainm freagarrach eile, leis na craobhan a tha measail air uisge, mar bheithe agus fheàrna (tùs an ainm ‘Fearn’ againne ann an Ros an Ear). Tha na freumhan fada toinnte na feàrna rim faicainn air uachdar a’ chladaich, am measg nan clachan, is iad gu math cudromach an aghaidh bleith talmhainn. Ach cha b’ fhada gus an d’ rainig sinn na giuthais Albannach, is iadsan na craobhan as ainmeile aig Beinn Eighe. Tha iad am measg na craobhan as aosta san dùthaich; ‘s urrainn dhaibh a bhith còrr is 350 bliadhna a dh’aois, mar chuid de na craobhan-sìl an

giuthas Albannach – Caledonian pine

seo, agus ràinig iad Alba 8200 bliadhna air ais. ‘S e stòras prìseil a th’ anns na h-eisimpleirean ann an Tèarmann Bheinn Eighe oir tha iad air crìonadh ann an àitichean eile tro bhuaidh dhaoine fad linntean.

‘S e ‘coille boglaich’ a’ th’ anns na pàirtean nas ìsle de Choille na Glas Leitir, agus ‘s e seo seòrsa àrainneachd nach eil glè chumanta tuilleadh ann am Breatainn (seach anns na dùthchannan Lochlannach) – stòras cudromach eile aig Tèarmann Bheinn Eighe. Chunnaic sinn mòran còinnich deirg ‘spagnum’,  riatanach airson mòine agus feumail mar bhann lota (a chaidh a chleachdadh sna Cogaidhean), agus lusan boglaich beaga mar ròs an t-solais. Ged a tha seo cho beag is cho bòidheach, ‘s e seòrsa meanbh-Venus Flytrap a th’ ann – ithidh e biastagan. Bu toil leinn nam b’ e meanbh-chuilleagan a dh’itheadh iad…  Bha pailteas de lusan boglaich eile ann cuideachd – am bliochan buidhe, sìoda na monaidh (ainm brèagha air seòrsa canaich nas mìne), agus fiù ‘s mogairlean boglaich beaga geala.

fraoch Frangach – cross-leaved heath

Ach tha lusan nas treasa le blàthan no dearcan a’ fàs sa choille cuideachd. Tha na trì seòrsaichean fraoich rin lorg –  fraoch cumanta, fraoch a’ bhadain agus fraoch Frangach, agus lus nan dearc agus lus nam braoileag- am fear seo nas chumanta anns an t-Suain, mar ‘lingonberry’. Agus (gu math pailt am bliadhna, purpaidh is geal) lusan nam Ban-Sìth – lus cumhachdach, fàidheanta as urrainn do leigheas no do mharbhadh. Chaidh barrachd is aon chailleach bhochd a chur gu bàs mar bhana-bhuidseach is i air an tomhas ceàrr a ghabhail.

Air ais air bruach an loch bha lusan nan lòintean ann – an neòinean, a bhios làn-fhòsgailte aig àm ‘noon’, bho ‘Nones’ (9 uairean às dèidh briseadh an latha, a rèir an latha eaglaiseil), seamragan dearga is geala, le an duilleagan trì-fillte a chleachd Naomh Pàdraig gus an Trianaid a mhìneachadh dha na Ceiltich,  buidheag an t-samhraidh, cho buidhe ri ìm, am Beàrnan-Brìde leis na duilleagan cabach, agus mòran, mòran eile.

Sheall a’ chuairt dhuinn gu bheil gu leòr ri fhaicinn san àrainneachd nàdarrach timcheall oirnn, fiù ‘s air ceàrnaidh gu math beag – ma bhios fios agad càit an lorgadh tu agus gu h-àraidh ma bhios tu ann an àite gun cus de bhuaidh dhaoine, mar Thèarmann Nàdair Bheinn Eighe. Tha thu a’ faireachdainn nas ceangailte dhan tìr, tha thu ga thuigsinn nas fheàrr, nuair a chluinneas tu na sgeulachdan, an eachdraidh no na cleachdaidhean air cùl nan ainmean uile sin. Airson sin tha sinn fada ann an comain Ruairidh, a dh’innis uiread dhuinn cho dìoghrasach, is a h-uile rud cho tarraingeach.

Fèis Rois

Agus aon rud eile ris nach robh dùil againn air ar cuairt – bho àite gu àite am meadhan na coille chuala sinn ceòl tlachdmhor air a’ phìob no air a’ chlàrsaich, agus seinn, agus cò sin ach luchd-ciùil òg Fèis Rois a thog na h-innealan-ciùil aca tron phreaslach gus tlachd  – is barrachd Gàidhlig san àrainneachd – a thoirt dhuinn. Thug sin ciall eile do ‘Chèilidhean air Cuairt’… Agus bha fiù ‘s caileag à Manachainn Rois ann!

Ach cha robh sinn aig deireadh an latha fhathast – bha barbecue uabhasach blasta a’ feitheamh rinn aig Ionad-tadhail Bheinn Eige, le burgers sithinn-fèidh, bradan, breac, feusgain agus salaid – a h-uile rud ionadail, blasta is slàn. Bha oileanaich Frangach ann agus dh’fhàg ‘Blas na h-Alba’ seo làrach fiù ‘s orrasan. Agus nochd Cèilidh air Chuairt Fèis Rois a-rithist le cuirm-chiùil dhuinn – dòigh a b’ fheàrr latha cho brèagha a chrìochnachadh.

Chan urrainn dhomh blas a’ bharbecue a thoirt dhuibh, ach seo blas beag Fèis Rois an àite sin:

http://youtu.be/7Me_d3rkg7I

Ionad-tadhail Bheinn Eighe – visitor centre

Feumaidh mi tàing mhòr a thoirt do Dhualchas Nàdair na h-Alba airson latha a bha cho inntinneach, feumail is tlachdmhor. Chan urrainn dhomh ach tachartasan mar sin a mholadh do dhuine sam bith – tha e math dhuinn uile a bhith air a’ bhlàr-a-muigh air ar dùthaich bhrèagha, agus gum bi cuimhne againn air an stòras phrìseil a bhios againn uile anns na pàircean nàdair mar sin a tha air fhàgail dhuinn. 

Bha Ruairidh ag ràdh gum biodh e deiseil, ‘s dòcha, cuairt coltach ri sin a dhèanamh air cladach Machair Rois, leis an fheumainn aig muir-traigh cuideachd, nam biodh ùidh gu leòr ann. Saoil an urrainn dhuinn rudeigin a chur air dòigh as t-samhradh sa tighinn?

Barrachd fiosrachaidh:  http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/Beinn_Eighe_gaelic_visit.pdf

http://www.feisceilidhtrails.org/fegraveis-rois.html

  Gaelic in the Landscape – Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree

Loch Maruibhe – Maree

Last month I was lucky enough to be on a guided walk in the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve on the banks of Loch Maree, with Ruairidh MacIlleathain (Roddy Maclean, Gaelic broadcaster and outdoor enthusiast) as guide. It was organised by Scottish National Heritage (SNH) to look at Gaelic in the landscape, names of plants and trees in particular, but also local placenames. The explanations and stories were in English, so that the walk was accessible to anyone with an interest. We had a lovely warm day for it, not too hot, and that made the drive over to Loch Maree exceptionally scenic too.

The history of the name of Loch Maree is interesting in itself. With the town of Kinlochewe at the head of the loch, we’d expect it to be called Loch Ewe, and in fact it was until the 17th century. But there was another Loch Ewe already, the sea-loch we know today, and Loch Maree took its name from a small island in the loch where there were ruins of a chapel founded by the Irish monk Maolrubha in the 7th century.

The names of the mountains are also appropriate. Beinn Eighe (‘file’) is named for its shape – it looks like a three-edged file, and its peaks for their colour – A’ Chreag Dhubh  (‘the black crag’), or An Ruadh-stac Beac (‘the small red stac’) or their trees – Meall a’ Ghuithais (’round hill of the pines’). The root of the name Slioch (in Gaelic An t-Sleaghach), the other prominent mountain beside Loch Maree, is ‘sleagh’ (a spear), maybe from its shape too. There is one famous view of it where it’s like a bundle of spear-tips or arrows, especially in winter.

feàrna – alder

We started out on the banks of the loch, in the visitors’ carpark ‘Coille na Glas Leitir’ (wood of the grey slope) – another appropriate name, with trees which are fond of water, like the alder (Gaelic ‘feàrna’, the origin of our own Fearn in Easter Ross). The long twisted roots of the alder can be seen on the surface of the shore, among the stones, doing an important job in the battle against soil erosion. But it wasn’t long till we reached the Caledonian pines, Beinn Eighe’s most famous trees.  They are among the most ancient trees in the country; they can be more than 350 years old, as some of the seed-trees here are, and they came to Scotland 8200 years ago.The specimens in the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve are a precious resource, as they have declined in other places due to human activity.

ròs an t-solais – round-leaved sundew

The lowest parts of the Coille na Glas Leitir form a ‘bog woodland’ , a kind of environment which is no longer common in Britain  (compared to Scandinavia), an important resource of the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve. We saw a lot of spagnum moss, essential for peat and useful for wound dressings (used in the two Wars), and little marsh plants like the round-leaved sundew (‘ròs an t-solais’ – rose of the light). Although this is so tiny and pretty, it’s a kind of miniature Venus flytrap – it eats insects. We would have liked it to eat the midgies….  There was an abundance of marsh plants – the yellow bog asphodel, harestail cottongrass (in Gaelic ‘sìoda na monaidh’ – silk of the moor, a beautiful name for this finer kind of bog-cotton), and even little white marsh orchids.

But more robust plants with blossoms or berries also grow in the wood. There are three kinds of heather – common heather, bell heather and cross-leaved heath (in Gaelic ‘French heather’), and blaeberries and cowberries, the latter more common in Sweden, as ‘lingonberry’. And (very plentiful this year, purple and white), foxgloves, known in Gaelic as the ‘fairy plant’, a powerful, mystical herb that can cure or kill. More than one poor old woman has been put to death as a witch for administering the wrong dose.

lus nam Ban-Sìth – foxglove

Back down on the shores of the loch were the meadow wildflowers – the daisy, in Gaelic ‘neòinean’, which is traditionally wide open at noon, from  ‘Nones’ (9 hours after dawn in the monastic day); red and white clover, with their trefoil leaves which St Patrick used to explain the Trinity to the Celts; buttercups, the Gaelic name meaning ‘the little yellow one of summer’; the dandelion, in Gaelic ‘St Bride’s gaps’, with its gap-toothed leaves; and many, many more.

The walk showed us that there’s plenty to see in the natural environment around us, even in quite a small patch – if you know where to look, and especially if you are in an area without much human interference, like the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve. You feel closer to the landscape, you understand it better, when you hear the stories, the history and the customs behind all those names. For that we’re indebted to Ruairidh, who told us so much so enthusiastically, and all of it fascinating.

And one other thing we hadn’t expected on our walk – here and there in the middle of the woods we heard lovely music on the pipes or the clarsach, or singing, and who was there but some young Fèis Rois musicians who had hauled their instruments through the undergrowth to bring us pleasure – and more Gaelic in the landscape. It gave a whole new meaning to ‘Ceilidh Trail’… And there was even a girl from Fearn among them!

Barbecue!

But we hadn’t come to the end of the day yet – there was an extremely tasty barbecue waiting for us at the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre, with venison burgers, salmon, trout, mussels and salad – all local, healthy and delicious. There were some French students there and the ‘taste of Scotland’ made a strong impression even on them. And then the Fèis Rois Ceilidh trail re-appeared and gave us a concert – the best possible way to end such a lovely day.

I can’t give you a taste of the barbecue, but here’s a wee taste of Fèis Rois instead:

http://youtu.be/7Me_d3rkg7I

I have to say a big thank you to Scottish Natural Heritage for giving us such an interesting, useful and enjoyable day. I can only recommend events like this to everyone – it’s good for us all to get out of doors into our beautiful countryside, and to remember the precious heritage we all have in the nature reserves like this that we still have left.

Ruairidh mentioned that he might be willing to do a similar coastal walk on the Seaboard if there was enough interest. Maybe we can get something organised for next summer?

Further information:
http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/Beinn_Eighe_gaelic_visit.pdf

http://www.feisceilidhtrails.org/fegraveis-rois.html

 

 

Fèis Rois + a’ mheanbh-chuileag – midgies!

 

Tha luchd-ciùil òg dìcheallach nan ‘Cèilidhean air Cuairt’ aig Fèis Rois air an rathad a-nis fo sgeama ‘TradTrails’, le slighean ùra air feadh na h-Alba . Leughaibh am blog aca an seo:

http://tradtrails.org.uk/tradtrails/

 

 

Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche

Oighreachd Bhrathainn, fàisneachd

Am measg taibhsearan na Gaidhealtachd b’ e Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche a b’ ainmeile. Bha urram aig Coinneach mar fhàidh na dhùthaich fhèin oir bha a chliù mar fhiosaiche air a chraobh-sgaoileadh air feadh an Taoibh Tuath, agus eadhon an-diugh cluinnear gu tric iomradh air na rudan neo-àbhaisteach a labhair e.

Cha robh eòlas aig daoine air ach o bheul-aithris ach chaidh iomradh fhaighinn air ann an eachdraidh. Bha seo ann an seann phàipear a bha air a sgrìobhadh ann an Laideann, leis an luchd-riaghlaidh, anns a’ bhliadhna 1577, mu àm Rìgh Seumas VI.
Tha Coinneach air ainmeachadh anns a’ phàipear seo mar Keonoch Owir, fìor dhraoidh.

Tha caochladh sgeulachdan neònach air an innse mu làithean òige Choinnich. Thathar air ag ràdh gun d’ fhuair e grèim uaireigin air cloich a bha anabarrach bòidheach an dath is an cumadh, is toll tro meadhan. An uair a bheireadh e sùil troimhpe chitheadh e sealladh air rudan a bha gu teachd. Bha iad a’ canntain gun do chaill e sealladh tè de a shùilean a’ chiad uair a choimhead e tron chloich, agus gun robh e dall air an t-sùil sin riamh an dèidh sin.

Stèisean Inbhir Ghòrdain

Dh’innis e fada ro làimh mu rathaidean mòra is mu rathaidean iarainn a bha gu dhol tarsainn air an dùthaich. “Thig an là an uair a chithear rathad a’ dol tro chnuic Shiorrachd Rois bho mhuir gu muir, agus drochaid thar gach uillt. Thig an là an uair a bhios sreath fhada de charbadan a’ siubhal eadar Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir Pheofharain, agus chan fheum iad eich gan tarraing.”

Dh’innis e mu àm anns am biodh fèidh agus caoraich na bu phrìseile ann an sùilean nan uachdaran Gaidhealach na daoine, agus mar a bha sin a’ dèanamh nan gleann fàs. “Thig an là a chuireas obair chaorach agus an crann-treabhaidh a-mach à bith.”

Thug e iomradh air an adhartas a thigeadh air obair an lìghiche ann a bhith leigheis euslainte. Thuirt e mu thobraichean Srath Pheofharain, “Thig an là an uair a bhios glas is iuchair air na h-uisgeachan searbha so, agus bithidh sluagh a’ tighinn às gach àite gan òl.”

Cille Chuimein / Fort Augustus

Dh’innis e gum bitheadh bàtaichean a’ seòladh bho cheann gu ceann de Ghleann Mòr na h-Alba. Chunnaic e an là a bhiodh glas is iuchair air Tom na h-Iùbhraich, agus tha fhios gu bheil an cnoc bòidheach sin a-nis na àite adhlacaidh ro-thlachmhor.

Tha iad a’ creidsinn gun d’ rinn e fàisneachd mu Bhlàr Chùil Lodair. “O, Dhruim-Athaisidh, tha mi a’ faicinn latha air am bidh do raointean dearg le fuil uasal laoch nan gleann.”

“Thig an là,” thuirt e, “an uair a bhios taigh-òil aig ceann gach claise, agus poileasman aig oisinn gach sràide.” Chan eil fhios an robh Coinneach a’ faicinn a’ cheangail làidir eadar an dà rud sin.

Oighreachd Bhrathainn + ‘Sleeping Lady’

Mheudaich cliù Choinnich mar fhiosaiche leis an fhàisneachd a rinn e mu cheannard Chlann Mhic Choinnich, Triathan ainmeil Chinn Tàile, agus a bha a’ còmhnaidh ann an seann Chaisteal Bhrathainn, far an d’ fhuair Coinneach obair, agus bha teaghlach Mhic Choinnich cuideachd ann am Tùr Fharabraoin faisg air làimh. Bha  e coltach gun deach Coinneach agus Baintighearna Bhrathainn a-mach air a chèile an uair a labhair e mu a fear-pòsta agus ‘s math dh’fhaoidte mu a deidhinn fhèin, rudan nach bu mhath leatha a bhith cluinntinn – nam measg, gun robh e còmhla ri boireannach eile ann am Pairios. Thuirt e cuideachd: “Thig an là an uair a chailleas Clann Mhic Choinnich an seilbh gu lèir, a bhios an caisteal aca falamh, agus an uair a bheireas bò laogh ann an seòmar as àirde Tùr Fharabraoin.”  Bha fhios aice nach toireadh am marbh fianais, agus chuir i air gun robh e ri draoidheachd.

Tùr Fharabraoin

Chaidh am fiosaiche a chur gu bàs ann am baraille teàrra, faisg air far a bheil an taigh-solais na sheasamh an-diugh air Rubha na Cananaich, an taobh an ear de Shiorrachd Rois.

Bha a’ Bhaintighearna am measg an fheadhainn a lean e gus an àite sin. Is ann an uair a bha iad a’ magadh air, air an rathad, a thionndaidh e rithe, agus a rinn e an fhàisneachd ainmeil mun cluinnear gu tric fhathast.

Rubha na Cananaich

“Tha mi a’ faicinn”, ars esan, “an t-Iarla Siòphort mu dheireadh a bhios ann an Caisteal aosta Bhrathainn. Cha bhith Ard-thriath Chinn Tàile ann tuilleadh na dhèidh, agus bithidh oighreachd Chinn Tàile nan àrd-bheann aig coigrich. Bithidh an Triath mu dheireadh bodhar, balbh. Bithidh ceathrar mhac aige, agus chì e an ceathrar roimhe san uaigh. Bithidh e na dhuine brònach truagh, agus fhios aige nach bidh duine a bhuineas dha a’ tighinn às a dhèidh.” Agus ‘s e sin a thacair, ann an 1815, is a’ mhorchuid den mhìon- phuingean ceart. Mar a sgrìobh Sir Walter Scott:
“Of the line of MacKenneth remains not a male
To bear the proud name of High Chief of Kintail.”

Agus ann an 1851, agus Tùr Fharabraoin na thobhta mar-thà agus ga chleachdadh mar shabhal, chaidh an fhàistneachd ud eile a choileanadh. Lean bò an ceann laoigh sreath connlaich suas an staidhre chun an lobhta agus cha d’ fhuair i a-mach. Bha i ann coig làithean, cothrom math do dhaoine den sgìre an fhàisneachd fhaicinn air tighinn gu buil le an sùilean fhèin. Bha fiù’s cuid a’ tighinn air trèan sònraichte à Inbhir Nis leis cho ainmeil a bha am fiosaiche fhathast.

Tha mòran fhàisneachdan eile air an coileanadh, no air am mìneachadh mar choileanta, agus feadhainn nach eil fhathast.  “Thig an là air am bidh sionnach geal air a mharbhadh ann an Cataibh.” Cò aige tha fhios nach robh Coinneach a’ faicinn fada às Linn na h-Eighe a’ tighinn air an talamh a-rìs?

 

 

The Brahan Seer:

Among the Highland seers, Coinneach Odhar, “Dun-coloured Kenneth” Mackenzie, was the most famous. He was honoured as a prophet throughout the North, and even today his mysterious sayings are talked about. We only know about his life through oral tradition, but there is one official paper mentioning him as a ‘true wizard’ (which meant a death sentence at the time) in 1577.
He is said to have come by a beautiful stone with a hole through the middle, and when he looked through the hole he could see the future. When he first put his eye to the stone he lost his sight, and that eye remained blind thereafter.

He forecast great roads and iron roads that would cross the country. “The day will come when a road will be seen crossing the hills of Ross from sea to sea, with a bridge over every stream. The day will come when a chain of carriages will travel from Inverness to Dingwall, and they won’t need a horse to draw them.”

Kenneth saw a time when deer and sheep would be more precious to Highland landlords than people, and the glens would lie bare, and “herding and ploughing will die out.” He also mentioned medical progress. He said of Strathpeffer: “The day will come when there will be a lock and key on these bitter waters and hordes will come from far afield to drink them.”

Boats, he foretold, would sail from one end to the other of the Great Glen, round the back of Tomnahuirich Hill, and the day would come when there would also be a lock and key on the hill itself – now an enclosed cemetery. It’s also believed he predicted Culloden. ” Oh Drumossie! I see the day when your plains will be red with the noble blood of the heroes of the glens.”

Another of his predictions was that “the day will come when there is a drinking-house at the end of every furrow, and a policeman on every street-corner.” It’s not known if he saw a link between these…

Kenneth’s fame grew with the predictions he made for clan chief Mackenzie of Kintail and Seaforth, who resided in Brahan Castle (now demolished, with the stone used to build Conon Bridge), where Kenneth got work, with a branch of the family living  in nearby Fairburn Tower. He and Lady Seaforth fell out when he told her things about her husband that she shouldn’t have heard, including that he was gallivanting with another woman in Paris. He reacted to her anger with the prophesy:  “The day will come when when Clan Mackenzie will lose all its possessions, the castle will lie empty, and a cow will bear a calf in the topmost chamber of Fairburn Tower.” She knew that only the dead can’t bear witness, and she had him charged with witchcraft.

The seer was put to death in a barrel of tar close to where the Chanonry Point lighthouse on the Black Isle is today. Lady Seaforth was among those following him to that place, and when people started mocking him, he turned back to her and proclaimed: “I see the last Earl of Seaforth in old Brahan Castle. There will be no Chief of Kintail after him, and the Kintail estate will pass to strangers. The last chief will be deaf and dumb. He will have 4 sons, and he’ll see them all in the grave before him. He will be a sad wretch, and will know that he has no one of his line to follow him.”

And this is indeed what happened, in 1815, with most of the details being true. As Sir Walter Scott wrote:
“Of the line of MacKenneth remains not a male
To bear the proud name of High Chief of Kintail.”

And in 1851, with Fairburn Tower already in ruins and being used as a barn, that other prophesy also came true. A cow in calf followed the trail of straw up the stairs of the tower to the hayloft and couldn’t get out again. She calved there and was stuck there for 5 days, long enough for all the locals to come and see the prophesy fulfilled with their own eyes. There were even apparently special trains laid on from Inverness, so famous was the Brahan Seer and his prophesy.

Many more of his predictions have come true, or have been interpeted as coming true, too many to mention here, but some still haven’t been fulfilled. He also foresaw that “The day will come when a white fox (a snow fox?) will be killed in Sutherland.” Who knows but that Kenneth was predicting the next Ice Age…

(Acknowedgement: this article is based on one in Uicipeid, the Gaelic Wikipedia http://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinneach_Odhar#Coinneach_Odhar )

Photo credits: Fairburn Tower, all by kind permission of Richard Paxman http://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/3440268294/in/photostream/

 Seagull: © Copyright sylvia duckworth and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/612594

 

  Tha tionndaidhean eadar-dhealaichte  ciamar  a fhualr Coinneach a’ chlach agus an dà-shealladh anns na Litrichean Beaga do Luchd-Ionnsachaidh 379 agus 380.  (Teacsa dà-chànanach + mp3)

There are different versions of how Coinneach got the stone and the second sight in the Little Letters forLearners 379 and 380, bilingual text + mp3:

 http://www.learngaelic.net/intermediate/litirbheag.jsp

A’ Bhliadhna Ghàidhlig

Nuair a cheannachas sinn mìosachan Gàidhlig san latha an-diugh, tha dà mhìos dheug ann le ainmean Gàidhlig, le 28 gu 31 làithean aca, gu tur co-shìnte ris a’ mhìosachan Bheurla. Ach cha robh e idir mar sin gu traidiseanta. Fiù ‘s anns an fhicheadamh lìnn bha cuid de dhaoine air an dùthaich nach biodh a’ cleachdadh ainmean Gàidhlig nam mìosan gu mionaideach mar na h-ainmean Beurla, ach a rèir ràithean na bliadhna àiteachaile no deas-ghnàthaiche.

Tha fios againn gum faca na Ceiltich – gu h-àraidh na Ceiltich Eileanach – a’ bhliadhna ann an dà phàirt – leth dorcha, fuar, a thòisich le Samhainn (timcheall air 1 den t-Samhain againne), agus leth soilleir, blàth, a thòisich le Bealltainn (timcheall air 1 den Chèitean).   Dìreach mar a thòisich an latha ùr dhiubhsan aig dol-fodha na grèine, thòisich a’ bliadhna ùr leis a’ phàirt dorcha. Às an dorchadas thigheadh solas a-rithist, às an talamh fhuar lòm, le coltas marbh, thigeadh beatha, fàs agus buain. Gun an aon leth – an oidhche, an geamhradh – cha bhiodh an leth eile ann – an latha, an samradh. Chì sinn nach b’ e rud ro dhoirbh a bha aig na ciad mhiseanaraidhean Crìosdail mìneachadh dha na Ceiltich mu fhulangas, bhàs agus aiseirigh Chrìosda, no mu shlighe an anama bhon dorchadas chun an t-solais.

Chaidh an dà leth seo a roinn a-rithist, le ceithir làithean ceann ràithe sònraichte a’ comharrachadh toiseach nan ceithir ràithean. B’ e sin Samhainn, a tha air fhàgail dhuinn ann an Oidhche Shamhna, Halloween; Là Fèill’ Brighde anns a’ Ghearran – na bu tràithe Fèill’ Birgit, ban-dìa Cheilteach an Earraich; là Buidhe Bealltainn (‘teine geal’) sa Chèitean; agus Là Lunasdal, Lammas, ag toiseach ràithe na buain.  Thug an eaglais thràth na fèilltean sin gu cofhurtail a-steach dhan chuairt bhliadhnail aice fhèin, mar eisimpleir Là Fèill’ Brighde, Lammas (‘Loaf Mass’), Samhainn mar Là nan Naomh Uile. An toiseach cha deach na làithean sin an-còmhnaidh a chomharrachadh gu mionadaich air an aon latha gach bliadhna – nam biodh an t-Earrach fadalach, mar eisimpleir, bha Là Fèill’ Brighde na b’ anmoiche a’ bhliadhna sin.

Thachair an aon rud leis na trì mìosan traidiseanta gach ràithe. Bha na mìosan ceangailte ri tachartasan nàdarrach, àiteachail no iasgaich, agus dh’fhaodhadh iad a bhith na b’ fhaide no na bu ghiorra a-rèir na h-aimsir. Bha na h-ainmean orra freagarrach dhan ràithe. ‘S e mìos nam madaidhean-allaidh a th’ anns an Fhaoilteach (bho sheann fhacal airson madaidh-allaidh), mìos fàs nan lusan òga san Ògmhios, mìos nam beathaichean reamhar san t-Sultain (sult = saill), mìos dàmhair nam fiadh a th’ anns an Dàmhair, am mìos ‘dubh’, dorcha, a th’ anns an Dùbhlachd.

Bha am mìosachan Gregòrianach ‘oifigeil’ ann cuideachd, fad lìnntean, ach mhàir e mar rud oifigeil agus cha deach a chleachdadh ro thric no ro mhionadaich air an dùthaich. Fiù ‘s san fhicheadamh lìnn dh’fhaodadh diofar a bhith ann eadar cleachdadh an fhacail ‘February’ meadhan ann an còmhradh Gàidhlig, agus an fhacail ‘an Gearran’– February airson cinn-latha oifigeil air choreigin, agus an Gearran nuair a bhiodh iad a’ bruidhinn mu chùisean àiteachail no iasgaich.

Tha tòrr a bharrachd ri ràdh  mu na fèilltean fhèin, agus mu na cleachdaidhean agus na h-abairtean a tha air fhàgail dhuinn bhon mhìosachan Ghàidhlig seo, ach feumaidh sin feitheamh ri artaigil eile. Anns an eadar-àm tha mi an dòchas gum bi ràithe samhraidh àlainn, ghrìanach agus bhlàth againn uile!

The Gaelic Calendar

When we buy a Gaelic calendar nowadays, it has 12 months with Gaelic names and 28 – 31 days, absolutely parallel to the English calendar. But traditionally this wasn’t the case at all. Even in the 20th century there were many people in the countryside who didn’t use the Gaelic names of the months in exactly the same way as the English ones, but according to the seasons of the agricultural or ritual year.

We know that the Celts, especially the Insular Celts, saw the year in two parts – the dark, cold half that began with Samhainn (around 1st November), and the bright, warm half that began with Beltane (around 1st May). Just as they held that the new day began at sunset, the new year began with the dark half. From the darkness light would come again, from the cold, bare, dead-looking ground would come life, growth and harvest. Without the one half – the night, the winter – there wouldn’t be the other half – the day, the summer. We can see that it wouldn’t be too difficult for the first missionaries to explain to the Celts about the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, and the journey of the soul from darkness to light.

Those two halves were divided again to give 4 seasons, with a special Quarter Day marking their beginning – Samhainn, the eve of which we retain as Halloween, St Bride’s Day in February (formerly the day of Birgit, the Celtic goddess of Spring), Beltane (‘bright fire’) in May, and Lùnasdal, retained as Lammas, at the beginning of the harvest season. The early church absorbed these festivals comfortably into its own annual cycle of feast days, for example with St Bride’s and Lammas (‘loaf mass’), and Samhainn as All Saints’ Day after ‘hallow e’en’. Originally these days were not always held precisely on the same day each year; if spring were late, for example, St Bride’s Day would be held later that year.

The same thing happened with the three traditional months in each season. The months were linked to natural, farming or fishing activities, and could be longer or shorter depending on the weather. Their names were appropriate to the season. For example, am Faoilteach (approx. January) means ‘the wolf month’; an t-Ògmhios (June) means ‘the young month’ (new growth, early crops); an t-Sultain (September) means ‘the fat month’, with beasts being fattened before the winter; an Dàmhair (October) means ‘the rutting of deer’; an Dùbhlachd (December) means ‘the black month’.

The ‘official’ Gregorian calendar we use today existed too through the centuries, but it remained something official, and was not used so often or so precisely in the Gaelic-speaking countryside. Even in the 20th century there could be quite a difference in the use of the name ‘February’, for example, in the middle of a Gaelic conversation, and the Gaelic name ‘an Gearran’ – February for talking about some official date or other, and an Gearran when talking about farming or fishing matters.

There’s a great deal more that could be said about the festivals themselves, and the customs and expressions that have come down to us from the Gaelic calendar, but those will have to wait for another article. In the meantime I hope we all have a beautiful, sunny, warm summer season!

 

 

(Calendar by Ed Duncan, Gairloch. Mòran taing! Otherwise my own photos.)

 

Tha mi a’ leughadh am post seo / here I am reading this post:  http://gng.acgamerica.org/2015/02/28/asapod2/

(On the American An Comunn Gàidhealach ‘s fortnightly Gaelic programme Guthan nan Gàidheal on Hard to Port Radio. First broadcast on 24.02.15.  I contribute, as a sort of overseas correspondent, to the section called ‘An Saoghal Againne’ – Our World.)

‘S e Là Buidhe Bealltainn a th’ air a’ chiad latha den Chèitean, ach ‘s e mìos buidhe a th’ ann ann an da-rìreadh. Tha an conasg ann fhathast, agus am bealaidh a’ nochdadh ri a thaobh, buidheagan an t-samhraidh, sòbhraichean, beàrnanan-brìde, fiù ‘s  lusan a’ chrom-chinn air fhagail.

Anns a’ Ghàidhlig ‘s e ‘mìos buidhe’ a tha air an Iuchair, ach chan eil mi a’ smaoineachadh gun gabh an t-Iuchar a bhith nas buidhe na an Cèitean.

The first of May is called the Yellow Day of Beltane in Gaelic, but in fact it’s the yellow month of Beltane. The whins are still out, the broom is appearing beside them, buttercups, primroses, dandelions and even left-over daffodils. 

The ‘yellow month’ in Gaelic is actually July, but I can’t imagine that July could be any yellower than May.

Òran When the Yellow’s on the Broom (Adam MacNaughton), le bhideo sgoinneil le Uistman:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cidr7t0c6MQ

 

                                       

                                     

 

Òrain Ghàidhlig na cloinne / Gaelic children’s songs

Ged a tha a’ mhòr-chuid de na h-òrain an seo tradiseanta, tha cuid nas ùire ann san latha an-diùgh cuideachd, agus tòrr dhiubh ri am faicinn is an cluinntinn air làrach-lin Gaelic4Parents, no làrach-lìn Education Scotland, a bhios an dà cuid a’ dèanamh obair mhath is chudromach. Tha ceanglaichean ann gu h-ìosal – thoir sùil orra: is fhiach e e!

Mè, mè, a chaora dhubh

Mè, mè, a chaora dhubh,
Càit a bheil do chlòimh?
Tha, tha, ’ille bhig,
a’ fàs air mo dhruim.
Poca beag do dh’Alasdair
Is poca do MhacAoidh
Is poca don a’ ghille bheag
Thug biadh dhomhs’ a-raoir.

Baa, baa, black sheep
Where is your wool?
Little lad it is
growing on my back.
A little bag for Alasdair
A little bag for MacKay
and a bag for the little lad
Who fed me last night.
http://www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-sing/me-me-a-chaora-dhubh

Meh meh chaora dhubh
Càit a bheil do chlòimh?
Tha tha ghille bhig,
a’ fàs air mo dhruim.
Poca dhan a’ mhaighstir,
poca dhan a’ mhnaoi,
Is poca dhan a’ ghille bheag
a’ fuireach anns a’ ghleann.
 (version from Back, Lewis)

Baa baa black sheep
Where is your wool
It is, little boy,
growing on my back.
A little bag for the master
a little bag for the wife
and a little bag for the little boy
who lives in the glen


Chuir iad mise dh’eilean leam fhìn
Sèist
Chuir iad mise dh’eilean leam fhìn
Chuir iad mise dh’eilean leam fhìn
Chuir iad mise dh’eilean leam fhìn
Dh’ eilean mara fada bho thìr

‘S toigh le Uilleam Ann’ againn fhìn
‘S toigh le Uilleam Ann’ againn fhìn
‘S toigh le Uilleam Ann’ againn fhìn
‘S toigh le Ruairidh gruagach a’ chruidh
Sèist

‘S toigh le Ailean bean na fhuilt dhuinn
‘S toigh le Ailean bean na fhuilt dhuinn
‘S toigh le Ailean bean na fhuilt dhuinn
‘S toigh le Ruairidh buaile chrodh laoidh
Sèist

Chuir iad mise dh’eilean gun tràigh
Chuir iad mise dh’eilean gun tràigh
Chuir iad mise dh’eilean gun tràigh
Dh’eilean mara fada bho chàch
  (Trad.)

They sent me to an island by myself
Chorus
They sent me to an island by myself
An island of the sea, far from land

William likes our Anne
Ruairidh likes the cattle maid

Chorus
Allan likes the brown-haired woman
Ruairidh likes the cattle fold

Chorus
They sent me to an island without a beach
An island of the sea, far from everything else
http://gaidhlig.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/gaelicsongs/chuiriadmise.asp

 Tha Bean Agam, Tha Taigh Agam

Tha bean agam, tha taigh agam,
Tha allt aig ceann an taigh’ agam,
Tha punnd de shiabann geal agam
‘S mo lèine salach grànnda.

Dè nì mi gun lèine ghlan, gun lèine gheal,
Gun lèine ghlan?
Dè nì mi gun lèine ghlan,
‘S mi falbh on taigh a-màireach?

I Have A Wife, I Have A House

I have a wife, I have a house
There’s a stream by the end of my house
I have a lump of white soap
And my shirt is really dirty!

What will I do for a clean shirt,
For a clean, white shirt?
What will I do for a clean shirt
When I want to go out tomorrow?

(Trad.)
http://gaidhlig.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/gaelicsongs/thabeanagamthataighagam.asp

Hai-o na h-eireagan

Hai-o na h-eireagan
Na h-eireagan, na h-eireagan
Hai-o na h-eireagan
Nach aighear mar a dh’fhalbh iad.

Cha bheir iad uighean tuilleadh dhuinn
Cha bheir iad uighean tuilleadh dhuinn
Cha bheir iad uighean tuilleadh dhuinn
Bho ruith iad don an arbhar.

Bha eireagan aig Bill ann
Bha eireagan aig Bill ann
Bha eireagan aig Bill ann
‘S ticead air an earball.

Taois do na h-eireagan
Taois do na h-eireagan
Taois do na h-eireagan
Gu teatha do na cailleachan

Hi -ho the pullets
Hi ho the pullets..
Isn’t it strange how they have disappeared?
They won’t lay eggs for us any more
Since they ran into the corn
Bill had pullets there
With tickets on their tails
Dough for the pullets
and tea for the old wifies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/orain/hai_o_na_h_eireagan

Guth nam beathaichean

Bidh cù ag ràdh uf, uf, uf
Bidh cù ag ràdh uf, uf, uf
Bidh cù ag ràdh uf, uf, uf
Dè bhios piseag ag ràdh?

Bidh piseag ag ràdh miau, miau, miau x 3
Dè bhios bò ag ràdh?

Bidh bò ag ràdh, mù, mù, mù x 3
Dè bhios each ag ràdh?

Bidh each ag ràdh, nè, nè, nè x 3
Dè bhios tunnag ag ràdh?

Bidh tunnag ag ràdh, uac, uac, uac x 3
Dè bhios muc ag ràdh?
Bidh muc ag ràdh, oinc, oinc, oinc x 3

Dè bhios caora ag ràdh?
Bidh caora ag ràdh, mè, mè, mè x 3
Se sin a bhios caora ag ràdh
G4P. (No.18)

Animal voices
The dog says woof!
What does the kitten say?
The kitten says miaow!
The cow says moo!
The horse says neigh!
The duck says quack!
The pig says oink!
The sheep says meh –
That’s what the sheep says!
http://www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-sing/play–home

 
 

 

‘S e Là Buidhe Bealltainn a th’ againn an-diùgh, seann fhèill Cheilteach a bhiodh a’ comharrachadh toiseach an t-samhraidh.

Tha mòran lusan buidhe ann aig an àm seo, nam measg an conasg, am beàrnan-Brìde, a’ bhuidheag an t-samhraidh – agus lus buidhe Bealltainn fhèin.

‘S e dath ceangailte ri soirbheachadh, ri beannachdan a th’ ann am ‘buidhe’.

Bidh sinn ag ràdh ‘Nach buidhe dhut!’ latha an-diùgh fhathast -coltach ri ‘Aren’t you lucky!’.

Seo artaigil beag inntinneach mu lus buidhe Bealltainn:

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1rzpj/TheNatureofScotlandi/resources/22.htm


It’s Beltane, May Day, today, the old Celtic festival which marked the beginning of summer .

There are many yellow plants at this time, among them whin, dandelion, buttercup – and the marsh marigold, called in Gaelic ‘the yellow Beltane plant’.

Yellow is a colour traditionally connected to prosperity, blessings. Even today we say ‘Nach buidhe dhut!’ – something like  ‘Hasn’t a lot of yellow come your way!’ to convey the English expression ‘Aren’t you lucky!’.

(The Gaels traditionally thought more in terms of fate/predestination and blessings or ill-wishes from above than of random ‘luck’, without a religious context,  in the modern sense.)

Here’s an interesting little article on the ‘lus buidhe Bealltainn’, in Gaelic and English.

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1rzpj/TheNatureofScotlandi/resources/22.htm

Meal do naidheachd!  Congratulations!

Tha an Talla ùr 10 bliadhna a dh’aois am bliadhna agus tha iad a’ smaoineachadh air dòighean freagarrach sin a chomharradh – nach innis sibh ur beachdan dhaibh?

The Seaboard Hall is 10 years old this year, and they are thinking about suitable ways to mark this. Why not tell them your ideas? 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002946439609

Tel: 01862 832888

seaboardmemorialhall@btinternet.com

seaboardnews@btconnect.com