Am Bratach No. 191
September 2007
editor@bratach.co.uk

le Alasdair MacMhaoirn

Litir bhon a’Cheathramh

Tha dà rud ùr ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig anns na làithean seo, Plana Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd agus an stiùiriche ùr aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Tòisichidh mi leis a’ chuspair air nach eil mòran agam: an ceannard ùr air Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

There are two new items pertaining to Gaelic these days, Highland Council’s Gaelic plan and a new director for the Gaelic Board. I’ll start with the subject on which there is little information: the new director for the Gaelic Board.

Chan eil mi eòlach air a’ cheanard ùr, Coinneach Moireach, idir. Nas mò, cha do thachair mi ri duine sam bith a tha eòlach air. Dhomhsa, ’s e seo an rud as fheàrr ma dheidhinn. Tha e tuilleach is ceàrr gu bheil na h-aon brogaich a’ nochadh fad na tide anns na dreuchdan àrda ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig, agus gu tric nach do bhruidhinn Gàidhlig ris an cloinn. Tha e math gu bheil cuideigin ùr a’ tighinn a-steach agus, tha min dòchas, le beachdan ùra. (Chan eil fhios ’am a bheil Gàidhlig aig a chloinn, ma tha clan aige.) Bidh gu leòr aige ri ionnsachadh gu cinnteach, ach tha sin nas fhas na bhith a’ feuchainn ri seann stuth a chur dhan darna taobh!

I don’t know Kenneth Murray, the new director, nor do I know anyone else who knows him. To my point of view, this is the best thing about him. It is wrong to see the same people popping up in various Gaelic positions, and often have not spoken Gaelic to their children. (I don’t know if his children have Gaelic, if he has children.) It’s a good thing that someone new has come in, and hopefully with new ideas. He will certainly have a lot to learn, but that is much easier than having to deal with unwanted baggage!

Chaidh mi gu taisbeanadh air a’ phlana Ghàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd. Ann an iomadh seagh tha e math dha-rìribh. Gu h-àraidh gu bheil inbhe na Gàidhlig gu bheil air a h-àrdachadh gu ìre na Beurla — chan ann ro thìm! Cuideachd, tha e a’ cur iongantas orm gu bheil a’ chomhairle a’ feuchainn ris a bhith cho adhartach. Abair an dà-là. Bu chaomh leams a’ chomhairle a mholadh airson na chaidh a chur sa phlana.

I attended an information night about the council’s new Gaelic plan. It is excellent in so many ways, especially that Gaelic is to receive equal status to English. It amazes me that the council is trying to be so progressive — what a change! They should be commended for their efforts.

Bu chaomh leams dhà no trì rudan a barrachd fhaicinn ge-tà. Mhol cuideigin gum bhitheadh e na b’ fheàrr nan robh airgead a bharrachd aig tidsearan na Gàidhlig. Chaidh cur sios air an-seo cho luath sa ghabhas le muinntir na comhairle, ach carson nach bu chòir? Far am bi toil bidh gnìomh. Cuideachd, chaidh siostam dol-am-meud a mholadh dha luchd-obrach na comhairle fhèin airson airgead a bharrachd a phaigh-eadh mar a ionnsaicheas iad. Chaidh stampadh air an-seo cuideachd. Ach carson nach bu chòir luchd-obrach na comhairle a bhith nan eisimpleirean math dha càch. Tha tuilleadh sa chòrr ann airson daoine eile ri dhèanmh, nach bitheadh math ana robh rudeigin aig muinntir na comhairle fhèin ri dhèanamh.

I would like to see a few additional items. It was suggested that Gaelic teachers should receive additional wages, but this idea was bombed out very quickly by the council representatives. I didn’t agree that it couldn’t be done. There are always ways and means. Also, it was suggested that the council workers themselves could participate in a progressive scheme which would allow additional payments as they learned more Gaelic. This was also downed. However, I think it would set a good example in the council itself. The Gaelic plan asks others to do a lot, but the council employees do little.

Air cuspair eile, chaidh mi Urachadh, nuair a bha e ann an talla san sgìre againn. Bha e sònraichte! Mar a thuirt cuideigin rium, “’S e rud Gàidhlig a bh’ann, le rud beag dhe Beurla ann. Nas trice anns na, mas fhìor, oidhchean Ghàidhlig gheibhear tachartas Beurla le rug beag dhe Gàidhlig ann.” Chuir e iongantas orm cho sgileil sa bha an luchd-ciùil agus h-àraidh, gun a bhith a’ toirt air falbh bho neach sam bith eile, na tàlantan aig Catriona Nicleòid. ’S math a gheibhear thu a Chatriona, ach bu chaomh leam meal-an-naigheachd a thoirt dhaibh uile. A barrachd, bha e air leth inntinneach cluinntinn guthan dhe daoine nach eil againn an-dràsta, agus bha e taitneach caraidean an là an-diugh a chluinntinn mar Uilleam Gòrdan agus Alec George MacAoidh. Bha boirreannaich à Goillspidh nan suidhe air mo cùlthaobh agus bha e furasda faicinn dè cho mòr a chord na dealhan riù. A-rèir col’ais bha iad eòlach air a h-uile fear ’s tè a bh’ann!

Shin agaibh e bhuamsa a-rithist.

On another subject, I went to the Urachadh concert when it was here in Rogart. It was superb! As someone said to me, “Usually in these so-called Gaelic concerts there is mostly English with a bit of Gaelic tossed in, but this really was Gaelic with a bit of English for the non-Gaelic speakers!” All those involved displayed wonderful skills but without diminishing the talents of anyone, I thought Catriona Macleod was the star. Congratulations are in order for everyone. It was very interesting to hear the voices of those no longer with us, and it was also grand to hear the voices of the present day such as Billy Gordon and Alec George Mackay. Women from Golspie were sitting behind me and it was obvious how much they enjoyed the pictures. They appeared to know nearly everyone in them!