Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach

Thug e beagan ùine dhomh faireachdainn deiseil gu bhith sgrìobhadh mun turas agam a Bhaile Átha Cliatha anns an t-Samhainn. Chan eil mi fiù ’s air bruidhinn cus ri Roddy mu dheidhinn fhathast, ged a chaidh sinn ann còmhla. Bha sinn cho sgìth nuair a thill sinn, agus bha an tachartas agus an turas cho craicte, cha chreid mi gun robh fios againn dè bha sinn a’ smaoineachadh mun rud nuair a fhuair sin air ais gar taighean ann an Slèite anmoch feasgar Didòmhnaich. Bha an dithis againn buileach am breislich.

Thòisich a h-uile rud mun àm seo an-uiridh. Fhuair mi brath bho Eoin P. Ó Murchú, eadar-theangaiche ACDD ann an Èirinn, gun robh e am beachd tachartas a chur air dòigh aig an fhèis litreachais Ghàidhlig ann am BÁC, IMRAM 2022, agus e a’ faighneachd an robh mi ag iarraidh pàirt a ghabhail ann. Mhìnich e gun robh e am beachd dealbh-cluiche, no leughadh dramataigeach, a dheasachadh às an nobhail, agus bu toil leis nan cluichinn beagan ceòl na chois. B’ e beachd inntinneach a bh’ ann, agus bha mi a’ caoidh nach robh cothrom againn bogadh ceart a dhèanamh air an eadar-theangachadh nuair a thàinig e a-mach an clò an toiseach, ri linn Covid, agus mar sin, dh’aontaich mi sa bhad.

B’ e an seòl a bh’ agam gun cuirinn còmhla ri chèile le mo charaidean agus gun cluicheamaid cuid dhe na seann òrain againn bhon chaochladh chòmhlan anns an robh sin nar buill rè nam bliadhnaichean: Mill a h-Uile Rud, Na Gathan, Là Luain, agus m.s.a.a. Bhruidhinn mi ri Roddy Neithercut is Kathryn NicAoidh, agus dh’aontaich iadsan, ach gu cearbach, mus robh cothrom againn ruith-thairis a chur air dòigh, fhuair Kathryn ròl anns an dràma Ghàidhlig ùr, an Clò Mòr, agus bha i a’ dol a bhith ro thrang. Bha Roddy is mi fhìn ann an staing. Cha robh sinn eòlach air drumair sam bith eile ann an Slèite a bha a cheart cho ròc-mhòr ri Kathryn.

A’ sporghail mun cuairt, a’ feuchainn ri beachd eile a lorg, thàinig e a-steach orm gum b’ urrainn dhan dithis againn feuchainn ri corra òran hip-hop a chur ri chèile. Cha do rinn sinn a leithid a-riamh, ach bhiodh e a’ dol leis a’ cheòl anns an nobhail fhèin, agus mar sin, gun chothrom eile againn, cheannaich mi Ableton Live, agus thòisich mi sampallan a shadail ri chèile.

Shaoil sinn an toiseach gun sgrìobhamaid mu cheithir no còig òrain dhan tachartas, ach dh’ionnsaich sinn dà rud gu luath: tha òrain hip-hop mòran nas fhaide na òrain punc, agus cuideachd, tha fada a bharrachd fhaclan ann an òrain hip-hop. Uil, duh!, is dòcha, ach thug e mòran na b’ fhaide na bha dùil againn na h-òrain a sgrìobhadh mar sin. Aig deireadh an t-samhraidh, 2022, cha robh ach dà òran deiseil againn, agus dh’fheumadh sin fòghnadh.

Tha mi air a bhith ag èisteachd ri hip-hop on a ràinig na ciad chlàran Seattle anns an ochdadan. Tha spèis mhòr agam dhen ghnè-chiùil, agus chan eil mi idir am measg na codach a chanadh, “Its just talking over music.” Thuig mi gu bheil hip-hop a cheart cho doirbh ri stoidhle-chiùil sam bith eile. Tha mòran sgil na luib, agus bha làn dùil agam gum biodh rapadh anns a’ Ghàidhlig dùbhlanach, ach cha robh mi idir an dùil ri cho doirbh ’s a bhiodh e dìreach a’ feuchainn ri na faclan uile fhaighinn air mo mheòmhair. Fad an fhoghair, suas gu latha na cuirme, bha Roddy is mi fhìn ag obair mar sheillein, a’ dol thairis air na rannan againn aig cothrom sam bith a lorgamaid: eadar clasaichean aig an t-Sabhal, fhad ’s a bha sinn a’ ruith, nar laighe san leabaidh air an oidhche, agus uair is uair is uair, anns a’ char a’ dràibheadh eadar Slèite agus BÁC.

Bha e 14 uair a thìde a’ siubhal ann. Dh’fhàg sinn mu shia, madainn Dihaoine, agus ràinig sinn BÁC mu ochd air an oidhche air an aon latha. Air an rathad, thog sinn bogsa lèintean-T ann an Glaschu a dhealbhaich Roddy agus a chleachdamaid mar chulaidh air an àrd-ùrlar.  Dh’fhuirich sinn ann an taigh-òsta dìreach ri taobh an ostail-òigridh anns an do dh’fhuirich mi a’ chiad uair a thàinig mi a BÁC ann an 1989, agus bha sin beagan os-fhiorach dhomh.

Chosg sinn mòran dhen ath latha a’ ruith thairis air an taisbeanadh aig an talla, Smock Alley, anns am Barra an Teampaill. Bha Eoin air taisbeanadh gu tur ùr-ghnathasach a chur ri chèile. Bha e air triùir chleasaiche fhastadh gus an leughadh/cleasachd a dhèanamh: Seán T Ó Meallaigh, Hilary Bowen Walsh, agus Eoin Ó Dhubhghaill, agus bha iadsan barraichte. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gun do lorg iad an tòna ceart dhan sgeulachd, agus bha mi air mo bheò-ghlacadh a’ coimhead orra ag obair. Cuideachd, bha Eoin air ealantair a chosnadh, Margaret Lonergan, a chruthaich taisbeanadh lèirsinneach a thilg i air a’ bhalla aig cùl an àrd-ùrlair agus a chuir eileamaid inntinneach eile ris an leughadh.

Uile gu lèir, ge-tà, ’s e fiosrachadh neònach a bh’ ann dhòmhsa, feumaidh mi aideachadh, a bhith ag èisteachd ri sgeulachd a chruthaich mi fhìn, ann an uaigneas m’ eanchainn fhìn, a-nis air a h-innse le daoine eile, daoine gu math tàlantach, leis an lèirsinn agus an eadar-mhìneachadh aca fhèin, agus ann an cànan eile cuideachd. Bha e àraid dhomh, agus rud beag òrraiseach, leis an fhìrinn innse, ach gu fortanach, cha robh mi an sin nam aonar. Bha Roddy còmhla rium, agus cuideachd, thàinig seann charaid agam à BÁC, David O’Connor, dhan tachartas, agus chosg sinn mòran ùine an dèidh na cuirme a’ bruidhinn mu na seann làithean mar dhithis bhodach. Thug sin air ais dhan talamh mi.

A thaobh an rap againn fhìn, saoilidh mi gun deach e glè mhath. Leag sinn na comhardaidhean againn gun mhearachd, agus fhuair sinn deagh bhualadh-boise an dèidh gach òran. Bha sinne gu math toilichte leis co-dhiù. San fharsaingeachd, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gum b’ e mòr-shoirbheas a bh’ anns an taisbeanadh air fad, agus tha mi fhathast a’ gabhail iongnadh air cho ioma-thàlantach ’s a tha Eoin P. Ó Murchú, a bhith ga sgrìobhadh uile agus ga eagrachadh. Chan urrainn dhomh innse cho fortanach ’s a tha mi a’ faireachdainn gun do thagh Eoin an nobhail agam mar thionnsgnadh eadar-theangachaidh. Tha mi fada, fada na chomain.

An ath latha, dhràibh sinn air ais dhan Eilean Sgitheanach airson obair is chlasaichean tràth madainn Diluain. Bha sinn fucte, agus chuir e nar cuimhne a-rithist nach e pucairean òga a th’ annainn tuilleadh. An dèan sinn cuirm rap a-rithist? Chan eil fios agam. Tha mi fhathast a’ feuchainn ri mo cheann fhaighinn timcheall air an rud, ach bha e garbh spòrsail, agus tha mi toilichte gun do rinn sinn e.

And Gaelic is particularly popular amoung young adults in Scotland.

With so many trolls out there endlessly bashing on Gaelic, it is worth reminding ourselves from time to time that Gaelic is actually quite popular in Scotland. And while fluent speakers represent only a small percentage of the total Scottish population, in general, Scots are very supportive of the language, want to learn it, want their kids to learn it, want it to thrive in the future, and are happy to spend money to help it grow.

Below I have collected some statistics on public attitudes toward Gaelic and Gaelic development that demonstrate this support. Most of these statistics come from the most recent edition of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey published in 2022, but I have included some stats from the 2012 survey as well. These are large, reliable and independent surveys carried out each year on behalf of the Scottish Government, and from time to time questions about Gaelic are included.

As you will see below, I decided to highlight the opinions of young adults in Scotland. Young adults are particularly supportive of Gaelic, and for the future of language, this is extremely encouraging to see. Young adults, of course, are the folk that will shape Scottish culture and politics in the years to come, but also, many young adults are either currently raising young children or will be raising young children soon, and if they support Gaelic, they may decide to speak the language to their children in the home if they have it, and/or place their children in Gaelic-medium education when it comes time for school.

If you are aware of any other encouraging statistics about public support for Gaelic in Scotland, please let me know in the comments. Of course it is also important to recognize that Gaelic is struggling just now as a spoken language throughout Scotland, but focusing only on the bad news gives a lopsided picture of the opportunities we have to revitalize the language.

Unorganized public support—in and of itself—will not save Gaelic, but if we, as Gaelic activists, can come together and build a strong revival movement that is open and inclusive and harness this broad support, turning it into actual political power, then Gaelic really could have a bright future in Scotland.

The vast majority of Scots support Gaelic as an important part of Scotland’s cultural life. Overall, 79% of adults in Scotland think Gaelic is ‘very important’ (34%) or ‘fairly important’ (45%) to Scotland’s cultural heritage’, (ScotCen 2022: 43) while 90% of young adults aged 18-29 think the same (41% very important; 49% fairly important; ScotCen 2022: Annex Table 6.3). In our fractious and fragmented modern democracies, you almost never get 90% of folk agreeing on … well … anything at all, so it is pretty amazing that here in Scotland, such an overwhelming majority of young adults agree that Gaelic is important part of our shared culture.

And a surprisingly large minority of Scots consider Gaelic an important part of their own personal cultural heritage. Overall, 31% of adults in Scotland say that Gaelic is either ‘very important’ (9%) or ‘fairly important’ (22%) to their own cultural heritage, (ScotCen 2022: 39) while 43% of young adults aged 18-29 say the same. (16% very important; 27% fairly important; ScotCen 2022: Annex Table 6.1) This is a somewhat surprising statistic because it is much larger than the percentage of fluent young Gaelic speakers in Scotland (about 1% of the population). This means, of course, that most of these young adults who feel that Gaelic is an important part of their own heritage don’t actually speak much or any Gaelic themselves, but imagine if some significant fraction of these young adults were to decide to learn Gaelic and had access to high-quality, inexpensive or free Gaelic tuition to do so: what a difference that would make to the health of the language throughout the country. This single statistic represents a huge Gaelic development opportunity. Other countries have successfully brought large numbers of adults to fluency in threatened minority languages. There is no practical reason we couldn’t do the same here as well.

And as further support for this idea, the most recent survey found significant demand for more and better Gaelic learning opportunities in Scotland. Overall, 39% of non-fluent speakers report that they would like to speak Gaelic better than they currently do either ‘very much’ (17%) or ’somewhat’ (22%), while 59% of young adults aged 18-29 year olds report the same views. (ScotCen 2022: 13) Research has consistently shown that adult Gaelic learning provision in Scotland is piecemeal, underfunded and poorly organized. (MacCaluim 2007; McLeod et al. 2010) If we could convince the authorities to properly fund and organize the adult Gaelic learning sector, there is no reason that we couldn’t convert this unmet demand into literally thousands of new fluent Gaelic speakers.

There is also strong support for teaching all young Scots at least some Gaelic in school. 55% of adults in Scotland strongly agree (22) or agree (32) that all children in Scotland should be taught Gaelic as a school subject for an hour or two a week. 64% of young adults aged 18-29 think the same. (ScotCen 2022: 50-1)

And at the same time, there is significant interest in Gaelic-medium education (GME) amongst Scottish parents. While only about one percent of Scottish primary school children attend GME (Morgan 2020), in the 2012 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, 11% of Scottish adults said they would be very likely to send their children to GME if it was available in their area, and a further 17% said they would be fairly likely (reported and analysed in: O’Hanlon and Paterson 2017: 51). So why aren’t 27% of school children currently in GME? It’s not because there is a lack of teachers (there is, but that is a problem that can be solved); rather, it’s because councils across Scotland keep dragging their feet, decade after decade, refusing to set up new GME schools. Until parents have a clear statutory right to GME for their children, councils will continue to hold the Gaelic revival back.

And finally, most Scots are more than happy to spend money on Gaelic development. Overall, 70% of adults in Scotland feel that the amount the Scottish Government are currently spending on Gaelic is about right (48%) or too little (22%), and 79% of young adults aged 18-29 hold these views. Crucially, the respondents to the questionnaire were given an estimate of Scottish Government actual spending on Gaelic to inform their answer: “The Scottish Government currently spends £24 / £29m every year on promoting the use of Gaelic, for example in TV, education and publishing. This comes to around £4.80 / £5.20 for each person in Scotland. Do you think this is…?” (ScotCen 2022: 57-8) This means these answers are significantly better informed than many opinions you might find on twitter or in the comments below newspaper articles online.

Trolls will troll, and the anti-Gaelic voices are persistent and loud, but the silent majority in Scotland is actually very supportive of Gaelic. If we as activists can turn this inchoate support into a) organized political support for the language and b) active new speakers, Gaelic definitely can be developed into a much more widely-spoken language in Scotland.

Morgan, Peadar (2020) Dàta Foghlaim Ghàidhlig 2019-20. Inbhir Nis: Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

O’Hanlon, Fiona and Paterson, Lindsay (2017) “Factors influencing the likelihood of choice of Gaelic-medium primary education in Scotland: results from a national public survey.’ Language, Culture and Curriculum 30 (1): 48‒75.

MacCaluim, Alasdair. (2007). Reversing Language Shift: The Social Identity and Role of Adult Learners of Scottish Gaelic. Belfast: Cló Ollscoil na Banríona.

McLeod, Wilson, Irene Pollock, and Alasdair MacCaluim. (2010) Adult Gaelic learning in Scotland: Opportunities, motivations and challenges. Inverness: Bòrd na Gàidhlig

ScotCen Social Research. 2022. Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2021: Public attitudes to Gaelic in Scotland – Main report. http://www.gaidhlig.scot/en/news/SSAS/

“Latha dhuinn air Machair Alba …”

– Donnchadh Bàn Mac an Saoir, ante. 1768[1]

On a tha dlùth air an dàrna leth dhe na Gàidheil a’ fuireach air a’ Ghalltachd a-nis, a bheil na seann ainmean cinneach seo — Galltachd agus Gàidhealtachd — a’ freagairt air saoghal na Gàidhlig anns an latha an-diugh?

Thàinig a’ cheist seo am bàrr fhad ’s a bha mi ag obair air an ath leabhar agam, Às na Freumhan, leabhar eachdraidh a sgrìobh mi mu iomairt na bun-sgoileadh Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann.

A thaobh cuspair na h-eachdraidh agus nan daoine a bha an sàs innte, mheas mi gum biodh an t-ainm Galltachd gu sònraichte trioblaideach, agus an seann chlaonadh fillte san ainm gu bheil Gàidheil ghaisgeanta Dhùn Èideann uile a’ fuireach taobh a-muigh saoghal ‘ceart’ na Gàidhlig ann an dòigh air choreigin.

Shaoilte, le cho stèidhichte ’s a tha na seann ainmean cinneach seo, gu bheil iad glè àrsaidh, ach ann an da-rìribh, cha do dh’fhàs iad bitheanta ann an Alba ro fhìor dheireadh nam meadhan aoisean.

Mun aon àm, chleachdte ainm eile air an ranntair a thuigear an-diugh mar The Highlands: Na Garbhchriochan. Chaidh ciall an ainm seo a chuingealachadh rè nam bliadhnaichean, agus a-nis, mar as àbhaist, thèid Na Garbhchriochan a chleachdadh an iomradh air an tìr eadar Loch Shuaineart agus Loch Shubhairne, ach o thùs, bha Na Garbhchriochan a’ gabhail a-steach na Gàidhealtachd air fad, agus aig amannan, nan Eileanan Siar cuideachd.[2]

Agus anns an latha an-diugh, mothachail air an trioblaid shònraichte a thig an cois an ainm, Galltachd, molar cuid an seann ainm, Machair na h-Alba, mar ainm Gàidhlig eile air The Lowlands.[3] ’S e sin an t-ainm a chleachdar air uairibh an cois foghlaim chloinne a-nis, mar eisimpleir.[4]

Bha machair a’ ciallachadh The Lowlands of Scotland o chionn fhada; ’s e sin an treasamh mìneachadh aig Edward Dwelly fhèin air an fhacal: “Name given by the Scottish Gael to the southern or low-lying parts of Scotland,”[5] ach anns an latha an-diugh, mar as tric nuair thèid machair a chleachdadh leis fhèin, thathas a’ dèanamh iomradh air a’ mhachair anns na h-Eileanan Siar, agus mar sin, bhiodh an t-ainm na b’ fhaide, Machair na h-Alba, na b’ fheàrr, shaoilinn, nuair a bhite a’ dèanamh iomradh air The Lowlands of Scotland.

Anns an dòigh cheudna, leis gum bi an t-ainm Na Garbhchriochan gu bitheanta a-nis na iomradh air taobh an iar sgìre Loch Abar, seach The Scottish Highlands air fad, airson soilleireachd, dh’fhaoidte Garbhchriochan na h-Alba a chleachdadh nuair a bhite a-mach air na Garbhchriochan anns an t-seagh thùsach.

Aig a’ cheann thall, cho-dhùin mi gun cleachdainn “ceann a deas na dùthcha” an àite Ghalltachd. An lùib eachdraidh fada, toinnte, tha e na bhuannachd gu bheil an abairt seo soilleir agus neodrach, ach mar ainm, tha i caran lom. Chan eil cus ceòl innte.

Saoil, dè ur beachd fhèin?

[1] MacLeòid, Aonghas. 1978. Òrain Dhonnchaidh Bhàin; The Songs of Duncan Ban Macintyre. Dùn Èideann: Comunn Litreachas Gàidhlig na h-Alba, 2.

[2] McLeod, Wilson. “Galldachd, Gàidhealtachd, Garbhchriochan.” Scottish Gaelic Studies 19 (1999): 1‒20.

[3] Morgan, Ailig Peadar. 2013. Ethnonyms in the place-names of Scotland and the Border counties of England. PhD Oilthigh Chill Rìbhinn, Eàrr-ràdh, 208.

[4] M.e. faic an goireas-ionnsachaidh bhon BhBC, Cruth na Tìre, https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/cruthnatire/ (faicte 13/8/19)

[5] Dwelly, Edward. 1994 (1911). The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary. Glaschu: Gairm Publications, 620.

Fuair TNFD léirmheas an-mhaith ar Tús Áite ar RTE ó Áine Ní Ghlinn! Éist anseo:

https://www.rte.ie/radio/rnag/clips/22126358/

Tinte na Farraige Duibhe sna Times: Samhradh, Samhradh, Samhradh na leabhra.

Ar mhaith leat rud éigin craiceáilte a fheiceáil? An bhfuil cónaí ort i mBaile Átha Cliath? An bhfuil tú saor oíche Déardaoin? Beidh Eoin P. Ó Murchú ag léamh ó Tinte na Farraige Duibhe ag an ócáid seo, agus tá cuma an-aisteach agus suimiúil air.

Is fior thoil leam leabhraichean mu sgrìobhadh. Tha mi air sgeilp fhada dhiubh a leughadh rè mo bheatha; tha mi air mòran ionnsachadh bhuapa mar sgrìobhadair, ach cuideachd, gheibh mi mòran tlachd is brosnachadh asta. Agus às a h-uile fear a tha mi air leughadh gu ruige seo, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e seo am fear as fheàrr leam a-nis: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, le George Saunders.

’S e Saunders an t-ùghdar a sgrìobh an nobhail iomraiteach Lincon in the Bardo, ach an seo, tha e air leabhar neo-fhicsean a sgrìobhadh, a-mach air a’ cheàird aige fhèin agus a’ cleachdadh seachd sgeulachdan goirid Ruiseach mar bhunait dhan chnuasachadh a nì e: tè le Turgenev, tèile le Gogol, a dhà le Tolstoy agus a trì le Chekov. An dèidh gach sgeulachd, tha Saunders a’ dol thairis air obair an ùghdair agus a’ toirt seachad comhairle dhuinn stèidhichte air an eòlas aige fhèin mar sgrìobhadair soirbheachail, ach cuideachd, mar òraidiche a tha air a bhith fichead bliadhna a’ teagasg nan sgeulachdan seo aig Oilthigh Syracuse ann an New York.

B’ fhiach e an leabhar seo a leughadh airson nan sgeulachdan Ruiseach fhèin. ’S e taghadh glè mhath a th’ annta. Mheal mi gach tè dhiubh. Ach tha am breithneachadh aig Saunders drùidhteach math cuideachd. Tha feallsanachd aig Saunders mu sgrìobhadh a tha eagarra agus iarrtach, gu cinnteach, ach aig an aon àm, air leth brosnachail. Dhàsan, tha sgrìobhadh doirbh, ach chan eil e idir casta:

I’ve taken a lot of comfort in this idea over the years. I don’t need a big theory about fiction to write it. I don’t have to worry about anything but: Would a reasonable person, reading line four, get enough of a jolt to go on to line five?

td. 11

Dha rèir-san, a’ chiad rud a sgaireas na h-ùghdaran tàlantach a thèid fhoillseachadh bhon chuid thàlanach eile nach tèid, ’s e “a willingness to revise” (td. 226), ach fiù ’s an seo, tha e a’ moladh obair a tha faiceallach, mionaideach, ach nach eil tuilleadh is anailiseach:

We can reduce all writing to this: we read a line, have a reaction to it, trust (accept) that reaction, and do something in response, instantaneously, by intuition.

td. 345

Gu sìmplidh: obair gu làidir, ath-sgrìobh, ag ath-sgrìobh a-rithist, agus na smaoinich cus. ’S urrainn dhòmhsa sin a dhèanamh! smaoinich mi nuair a bha mi ga leughadh. Tha sgrìobhadh tric cho dùbhlanach, agus feumaidh sinn uile an t-slighe againn fhèin a lorg air adhart, ach tha an gliocas agus a’ mhisneachd a gheibhear ann an leabhar mar am fear seo aig Saunders thar luach.

Léigh Eoin P.Ó Murchú cuid dár leabhar, Tinte na Farraige Duibhe, ar Teachtaireachtaí ar Raidió na Life, agus is féidir leat éisteacht leis anseo. Tosaíonn sé ag 7.05 ar aghaidh.