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

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AN GAIDHEAL.
An t-Samhuin, 1939.
This phase in the present-day habits of the
Gaelic-speaking Highlander is most discouraging
to those who have the highest welfare of Gaelic
and our Gaelic folk at heart. One likes to
think that it is only a phase and that Gaelic
will yet become the power it once was in the
religious life of the Highlander, and which
it still is, in some parts of the Gaidhealtachd,
and especially in the Outer Isles.
❖
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
It is heartening to report that some of our
Branches have decided to carry out their usual
Syllabus, and to enable them to do this, they
have arranged to meet during full moon. This
is a regular custom in the rural areas but the
‘‘black-out” has made the town-dwellers
appreciate MacFarlane’s Lantern to an extent
undreamed of before the outbreak of this war.
The Ayr Branch has advertised Gaelic and
Music Classes for both Juniors and Seniors in
addition to its regular Ceilidhean.
The Aberdeen Branch has made arrange¬
ments to carry on its usual monthly meetings.
The Largs Branch also has arranged to meet
regularly and arrangements are well in hand
for a Gaelic Reading Class.
* * *
Branches in the Badenoch/Strathspey Area
have decided to hold a Junior Mod next Spring,
if at all possible, and if the Committee are
successful in their endeavours, the Mod will,
in all probability, be held in Kingussie. It is
also contemplated to hold Junior Mods in the
Dingwall and Lochaber Areas.
It will be appreciated by our members that
the question of transport will play an important
part in arranging for Junior Mods, and in those
areas where competitors and friends depend
entirely on motor-buses and private cars, the
supply of petrol will be the deciding factor.
Branches are being asked to meet as regularly
as is compatible with Government regulations
for the public safety, and it is hoped that many
of them will arrange to do so. In whatever
they do, and we ask them to give every assist¬
ance to work of National importance, they should
not neglect the use of the Mother tongue. At
Ceilidhean, Sewing parties, and such like,
Gaelic should be the language of the circle,
and wherever possible Gaelic Reading Classes
should be organised. Interest in Gaelic must
be kept alive and we rely on our Branches to
make use of every facility that offers to maintain
it as a spoken language.
The prize design Christmas and New Year
Cards, already referred to in this magazine,
are now ready for sale, and anyone who may
so desire may obtain supplies from this office.
There are two cards, printed in colours, and the
prices are 4d. and 2d. each. The Greeting is a
Gaelic one and is in Celtic lettering.
* * *
Copies of An Gaidheal may be had from the
following Newsagents:—
George Crerar, Kingussie.
Wm. Holmes & Co., Ltd., Glasgow.
Wm. Love & Co., Glasgow.
Hugh MacDonald, Oban.
Mrs. John MacKellar, Lochgilphead.
Alex. MacLaren & Sons, Glasgow.
John Menzies & Co., Ltd., Glasgow.
We shall be pleased to send copies to other
shopkeepers throughout the Highlands and
Islands who will display them for Sale.
$
AM BARD.
Is e lomhar MacSporain a choisinn urram
nam bard fa chomhair a’ Mhoid am bliadhna.
Tha sinn ag cur ar beannachd thuige, agus ag
guidhe gum meal e a naidheachd. Ged nach
robhtar comasach air am Mod a chumail am
bliadhna a thaobh a’ Chogaidh tha an t-urram
agus an duais air a thoirt dhaibh-san a choisinn
iad ann an gnothaichean litreachais. Mar
sin ged nach deach lomhar a chrunadh mar
Bhard a’ Chomuinn Ghaidhealaich am bliadhna
cha do dh’ fhag sin e gun a bhi ’na Bhard a’
Chomuinn a cheart cho maith agus ged bhiodh
an crun air a chur air a cheann aig coinneamh-
mhor a’ Mhoid.
Rugadh is thogadh lomhar MacSporain—no
Edward Pursell mar a theirear ris ’sa’ chainnt
eile—ann an sgire Cheann-loch, agus tha e an
sin an drasda ’na Mhaighstir-sgoile air Sgoil
Cheann-loch ’sa’ bhaile. Is ann a mhuinntir
Chnapadail a bha na daoine o’n d’ thainig
e, ach bha a chuideachd a’ fuireach an
Ceann-loch bho chionn linn no dha.
B’e a’ Ghaidhlig a’ chainnt mhatharail
aca gus an linn mu dheireadh, ach cha robh
facal aige-san dhi gus na dh’ ionnsaich e i an
deidh dha tighinn gu ire ; gu dearbh chan ’eil
ach sia bliadhna bho thoisich e air a
h-ionnsachadh ann an da-riribh. Chan ’eil
duine a leughas an t-oran leis an do choisinn e
an ard-dhuais, agus aig am bheil breithneachadh
ceart air Gaidhlig agus air bardachd, nach fhaic
gun dh’ ionnsaich e gu maith agus gu ro mhaith
i, agus gun d’ fhuair e greim air blaths is blasad