An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 35, October 1939--September 1940

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AN GAIDHEAL.
An Damhar, 1939.
obair Comunn na h-Oigridh gu leir. Is i mo
chomhairle do na Buill nach d’ fhuair buaidh,
“ feucbaibh a rithist,” agus do na Feachdan
nacb d’fheucb, “ feucbaibb.”
Chuir e sunnd orm a bhi cluintinn aig
Domhnall MacPhail gun robh Feacbdan
taobh a siar Rois a’ dol an greim an obair an
t-seisein uir. Mar sin gum bitheadh e air
feadh na Gaidhealtacbd. Air cho dorcha’ s
a thig neoil a’ chogaidb so oirnn, na cuireadh
sud Comunn na h-Oigridh fo sprocbd. Is ann
as mo a dh’ fbeumas sinn a’ Ghaidhlig a chumail
bed, slan airson na ginealaicb a thig ’nar deidh.
Seoras Gallda.
0
AISLING.
Gair nan tonn an raoir am chluasan,
Leamsa ’s truagh mo dhusgadh maidne,
Mi ’nam shuain air taobh Loch Fine,
’Na mo dhuisg an tir na machrach.
Bha mi’n raoir, a Dhia, am bhruadair,
Air a’ chruaich os cionn Glac Calltuinn,
Air a’ chruaich os cionn na traghad,
Cnocan fasail, fasgach, crannach.
Chunna mi’n sin an la ’glasadh,
Grian a’ lasadh air Loch Fine;
Chuala mi—’s bu bhinn am fonn e—
Nuall nan tonn ri taobh na tire.
Nuall nan tonn ri traigh ’nan leumnaich,
Tighinn ’nan treud o Chaolas Bhreanain :
’S ghabh i seachad, send nam bata,—
B’e sin thug barr air gach aisling.
B’e sin thug barr air gach aisling,
An darach cridhe tighinn ’na cabhag,
Sloistreadh stuadh fo cheann mo ghaoil-sa,
Fuaim nan seol ’sa ghaoith ri crathadh.
Fuaim nan sebl ’sa ghaoith ri crathadh,
Bidh a h-aisnean ’s i fo shiubhal,
Cronan sunndach aig mo ghradh-sa
Bharr gach bairlinn gearradh shurdag,
Cronan sunndach aig mo ghradh-sa
Bharr gach bairlinn gearradh shurdag,
Oran sugraidh aig mo leannan
’Si ’na deann a’ deanamh uspairn.
Deanamh uspairn ris na tonntan,
Bualadh trom le guala laidir,
Socrach, eutrom anns na gleanntan,
Air gach beann gu beothail dana.
Air gach beann gu beothail dana,
’S gaoth le ran cur luaths ’na casan :
Och, chan ionnan sin ’san saoghal
Th’aig na daoine so ’sa mhachair.
Dhe, chan ionnan sin ’san saoghal
Th’aig na daoine so ’sa mhachair :
Gair nan tonn an raoir am chluasan,
Leamsa ’s truagh mo dhusgadh maidne.
Eilean A’ Chomhratg.
SUMMER SCHOOL IN OBAN.
The session of the Summer School began on
Tuesday, 18th July, when addresses of welcome to
the students and teachers were given by Provost
MacNaughton and Bailie MacLachlan, in fluent
Gaelic. Mr Black, town clerk, and members of
Comunn Gaidhealach an Obain were also present.
Considerable difficulty in securing suitable
accommodation was experienced by applicants for
enrolment, and a number were unable to attend
owing to A.R.P. duties. There can be no doubt as
to the wisdom of the Education Committee of An
Comunn in choosing Oban High School for the
Gaelic Classes. Gaelic is still the every-day
language of a large number of Obanites, and there
was no lack of opportunity for pupils to hear and
speak the old language. The teachers were Misses
Mairi MacBride, Mull; Hilda Miles, Islay; Messrs.
R. MacKinnon, Dulnain Bridge, and Neil Orr,
Edinburgh. The numbers enrolled were Elementary
Gaelic 11, Intermediate 4, Advanced 10, Singing 15,
and Celtic Art 17. In addition, for a fortnight 15
clarsach players were instructed by Miss K. Barry
Milner, Inverness. The pupils came from places as
far apart as Caithness and Sussex, no fewer than ten
being from England, and they were most eager and
enthusiastic in their studies. It was most
gratifying to the pupils to receive messages of good¬
will from Mrs Martin Hardie, The Lodge, Loch
Awe; Mrs Sprule, Cromer; Miss M. P. MacEwen,
Dulnain Bridge; Colonel Greenhill Gardyne of
Glenforsa; Professor W. P. Milne, Zurich, and Mr
Charles Davidson, Aberdeen University, all former
pupils, and Miss Annie MacMillan, Mull, one of last
year’s teaching staff. During the course of the four
week’s session, visits were paid to the classes by
Misses N. D. MacQueen, Oban, and Annie Johnston,
Barra, former teachers in the Summer School, Mr
Angus MacLeod, Rector, and Mrs MacLeod, Rev.
John Bain and Mrs Bain, Edinburgh.
The instruction in Gaelic was mainly by the Direct
Method and all were agreed that the result was
entirely satisfactory. For the second time Mr J.
Stewart Cunningham, Kinbuck, was successful in
winning the Royal Celtic Society’s prize for
excellence in Celtic Art. The social side of the
school was unusually prominent and enjoyable.
Excursions were arranged to Easdale, Loch Melfort,
Holy Island, and Lismore, and a few pupils took a
day off to visit Iona and Glencoe. To begin with,
the Oban Branch of An Oomunn entertained the
School to a most enjoyable Ceilidh on the first week
of the term, Mr Peter Fletcher proving an excellent
chairman. In return, members of the Branch
attended a Ceilidh on the invitation of the teachers
and students during the last week of the session.
In between came a Ceilidh by the Clarsach Players
and another in the Royal Hotel by invitation of Mrs
Iain Campbell (Airds) who herself presided. One
afternoon the girls from the camp of Cbmunn na
h-Oigridh at Sonachan came to the School, and after
tea and cakes, repeated their broadcast programme
under the skilful and vigorous direction of Miss
Helen MacMillan. Later on, when the boys were
in possession of the camp, the students and teachers
visited Sonachan and spent some happy hours as the
guests of Mr Marjoribanks and his young friends.
Before returning to Oban they witnessed a keenly-
contested shinty match between the boys and local
P A visitor to the Camp and School who is entitled
to special mention was Mr Thomas, a leader of the