Month: November 2014

The Road to Rueval and Beyond

~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

GuthannagroupHere’s another video recording on the new Guthanna na nGael YouTube channel, set up by our Irish visitors on returning home after their recent visit to Benbecula. Here, from the top of Rueval, Archie Campbell explains to the visitors some of the historical background to the sights spread out below and beyond. They reached their viewpoint following the same road that Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora Macdonald took when escaping “over the sea to Skye”.

Archie also points to the settlement where another more contemporary Flora Macdonald was raised, and alludes to the bilingual book “Còco is Crùbagan” (with Gaelic audio) that she wrote about her upbringing there. It comes well recommended for any learner of Gaelic!

(Flora was also one of the earliest contributors to Guthan nan Eilean, featuring in the Craigard English and Gaelic documentaries, as well as providing an interview herself.)

Greenfinch

~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Greenfinch

Catherine Eunson worked hard behind the scenes during the recent Irish visit. And when she wasn’t cooking she was composing poetry – or taking pictures! So here’s another Island Voice – this one Orkney-born…

Greenfinch

Hopping along bright-eyed with my bonnie beak,
You stopped and you saw me
Through your kitchen window,
Me, the bird in the grass
Vibrant, like a Key lime envoy
With neat feathered edges, yellow and black,
Do you remember?

Yes, I remember,
I remember very vividly, yet
I forget the rest of that day,
And much of the next,
Though both contained plenty of goodness,
Industrious hours spent in the kitchen,
Chicken pie, apple crumble, carrots and cranachan hours,
Three soups, six gingerbreads, spuds and cheese scones.

All the Irish visitors were out walking
While I steamed, clattered, mixed and rolled,
Sometimes like a thing possessed,
All the while minutes dropped through the sieve,
It was over and done with in no time.
But the salmon pie was cooked through,
And didn’t they just love it?

So you were the herald, a éin bhig ghlais,
You were their leader,
That huge migratory flock of moments,
Those welcome winter visitors!
Slán abhaile, agus
Fad saoil agat!

Catherine Eunson, November 2014

Catherine

Remembrance

~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Posted from Facebook. Double click the title if contents not visible.

Today marks the opening of the An fheadhainn tha laighe sàmhach project’s exhibition at Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy. It was a fitting occasion in which young and old came together to mark a momentous point in our common history. Numerous stories and songs had already been shared, including via Island Voices, but this was a particularly special occasion when all came together to share and commemorate.

https://www.facebook.com/GuthanVoices/posts/939395226090212

Aon chànan no dhà?

~ Gordon Wells ~ 2 Comments

GuthannaAir an oidhche mu dheireadh bha còmhradh goirid “dà-chànanach” ann eadar Caoimhín Ó Dónaill agus Gordon Wells.

’S e Caoimhín, a tha ag obair aig Ollscoil Uladh, a chuir air dòigh a’ chuairt le taic bhon choimpàirteachas “Colmcille”, agus tha Gordon na cho-òrdanaiche aig Guthan nan Eilean, agus e ag obair mar oifigear phròiseactan airson Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

An seo tha iad a’ bruidhinn air mar a bha iad fhèin a’ faireachdainn mu na chunnaic iad agus na rinn iad sna beagan làithean a bh’ aca.

Tha tòrr air tighinn a-mach mar-thà, le bhidiothan gu leòr air seanail ùr “Guthanna na nGael”. (Tha iad air Facebook cuideachd). Agus thathas an dòchas gum bi barrachd ri fhaicinn agus ri dhèanamh còmhla fhathast…

Eairdsidh Caimbeul à Beinn na Faoghla

~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

EairdsidhRuevalTha Eairdsidh Caimbeul, à Beinn na Faoghla, air a bhith a’ toirt taic dhan phròiseict Guthan nan Eilean ann an iomadach dòigh bhon a thòisich sinn. Agus ‘s e a bha cuideachail a-rithis air an t-seachdain sa chaidh nuair a thadhail na h-Èireannaich oirnn. Tha e an comhnaidh deònach Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn, rud nach eil furasta uaireannan le luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha dìreach air tòiseachadh air a’ chànan. Agus tha clasaichean air a bhith aige air feadh nan eilean – clasaichean Ùlpan nam measg.

Seo e ma tha, a’ bruidhinn agus a’ beachdachadh air an turas a bh’ aige gu Èirinn an uiridh, agus air na tha ri fhaicinn agus ri dhèanamh air an eilean aige fhèin…