Howmore resident Julie Lewis attended a video-making workshop at Cothrom last year, and learnt some handy new skills.
Some years previously, and shortly after it was launched, Julie was also a student on the local college music course in Benbecula – a subject area which has since gone from strength to strength, developing into a University of the Highlands and Islands degree course in Applied Music.
Here’s the video that Julie made about the course. Great work all round!
Canaidh cuid gun cluinn iad blas eileanach air a’ Ghàidhlig aig “Ceitidh”. Abair moladh!
Gheibhear barrachd a-mach ma deidhinn an seo, le eisimpleirean.
Gaelic took a significant techie step forward recently with the launch of this Text to Speech application. Ceitidh has been widely praised already for how authentic she sounds. You can find out more and hear examples here.
Congratulations to the developers!
In this truly epic tale, a noble Lewis lady, also known locally (though outwith her earshot) as Bean Dhòmhnaill Ailig ‘Fat’, undertakes a long journey to Tibet, for a special meeting with a special person.
Norman Maclean narrates the gripping Gaelic adventure right through to its scarcely predictable conclusion.
This is the final instalment in his Sgeulachdan Thormoid collection.
The Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean project is much indebted to Norman for these fantastic contributions. Clilstore versions for learners with clickable transcripts of several of these stories will be coming soon!
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
Norman Maclean turns his attention to the Isle of Harris for the next instalment of Sgeulachdan Thormoid.
A grand dinner is held in Tarbert for the pensioners of Harris, with libations gu leòr.
The mouthwatering menu is described in loving gastronomic detail.
But one unfortunate omission leads to a possibly disagreeable outcome.
Norman reels off another hilarious story from his Gaelic collection…
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
“Mary Claire! Mary Claire! Can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can… And so can everyone from Carinish to Ludag. What’s wrong?”
This couple have been 40 years married “as happy as two shoes”…
And Màiri Claire knows exactly how to deal with Dòmhnall Phàdraig’s crisis of confidence!
Norman Maclean entertains again, as only he knows how.
The fourth instalment of Sgeulachdan Thormoid.
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
Politics, Verbosity (or its opposite), Love, and Death!
Here are all the dramatic ingredients you could need in this romantic story of the tongue-tied Fionnlagh Phàdruig a’ Chnuic and his sweetheart Peigi Iain Bhig.
And what could be a more appropriate setting than the famous and historic Cladh Hàllain in South Uist?
This is the third instalment of Norman’s collection – “Sgeulachdan Thormoid”.
And here it is on Clilstore (including a link to Google Translate if you don’t yet have Gaelic, but would like to get the gist…)
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
We hear the story of Cabhag’s doggy heroics in an unsettling encounter on a misty mountainside in this second instalment of “Sgeulachdan Thormoid”.
If you’re out on the moor and the weather closes in, your canine companion may have other uses than just herding sheep – especially if you cross paths with an old woman with a strange finger formation…
If you enjoyed Norman’s rendition of “Àiridh na h-aon oidhche”, this Gaelic story should be right up your street. But if you’re of a nervous disposition, be assured there’s a happy ending!
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
Fans of Norman Maclean are in for a treat! Norman recently invited Gordon Wells over to his house to hear and record a selection of Gaelic stories, related in his trademark style. What a privilege!
In his words of introduction, Norman explains his reasons for wanting to make the recordings, and expresses the hope they may be of use to learners.
The Guthan nan Eilean/Island Voices project is only too pleased to help by placing them online. They will make a fantastic addition to the ever-growing collection of locally sourced recordings that capture Gaelic as it is spoken.
Here’s Norman’s introduction.
And here’s his story of “Miracles in Barra” – a taste of things to come…
Watch this space!
Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.
There is musical excitement in the Dark Island tonight (11th September) as the book and CD put together by the Uist and Benbecula Accordion and Fiddle Club is officially launched. Proceedings at the Hotel start at 7pm.
Island Voices are delighted to share this excellent locally produced bilingual promotional video. Abair ceòl! Abair tàlant!
Some well-kent faces and voices here…
“I’ve done the Malta marathon ten times… And I’ve done London seventeen times… And I’ve done Glasgow thirty times. I’ve only missed it once, because last year I had a broken leg.”
For a man who didn’t start running until he was pushing fifty we can perhaps forgive that last unfortunate omission!
Grimsay resident Angus Nicholson, cousin to Ewen MacAskill, talks to Mary Morrison about his remarkable long distance running career, and shows us some of his many medals and trophies garnered over the last thirty years. Abair sgeulachd!
Thanks are also due to Chris Davies, who did a fine job of editing Mary’s clips together.