An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 42, October 1946--September 1947

An Giblein, 1947.
AN GAIDHEAL.
85
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
Helensburgh.—The Helensburgh and Clan Colquhoun
Association is holding regular meetings, and on the evening of
12th February, I presided at a Ceilidh held in the Victoria
Hall, Helensburgh. I was accompanied by Miss Chris Turner
and Mr. Alasdair Matheson, who assisted with a very fine
programme of Gaelic and Scottish songs, readings, and Bagpipe
selections. The other Gaelic singers wrere Miss Annie Mac-
Askill and Mr. Donald MacSporran. A well-attended Gaelic
Class is sponsored by the Association and the teacher is supplied
by the Dunbartonshire Education Committee. The President
of the Association is Mr. D. J. Ewing Hunter, a worthy son of
a worthy father, the late Dr. Ewing Hunter, who was himself
President for many years. Mr. Hunter entertained An Comunn
Party to supper, and I stayed overnight as his guest at
“ Inverlyon.” The Helensburgh and Clan Colquhoun Associa¬
tion has been affiliated to An Comunn for many years.
Arrochar.—On the initiative of Sir Iain Colquhoun of
Luss, K.T., a Grand Concert in aid of An Comunn Central
Fund was held in the Village Hall, Arrochar, on 14th February,
The programme was arranged from An Comunn Office, and
the following well-known and talented artistes took part—Miss
Helen T. MacMillan, Mrs. Petrine Stewart, Angus Whyte
(Gold Medallists), Effie Morrison (Elocutionist), and Alasdair
Matheson. Miss Chris Turner, in addition to playing the
accompaniments, gave selections of Highland music. The
Luss Highland Society pipers played stirring selections. Sir
Iain Colquhoun, who travelled specially from London to be
present, presided. I gave short addresses in Gaelic and
English, and it is hoped to form a Branch of An Comunn here
in the near future. Votes of Thanks were proposed in Gaelic
and English by Mr. A. L. Thomson of the Loch Long Hotel, a
former President of An Comunn Branch in the Island of Coll.
Thereafter Sir Iain entertained An Comunn Party to supper
in Arrochar House, a former residence of the Macfarlan Chiefs.
He thanked the Party for their visit and for the splendid pro¬
gramme they had submitted. I responded, and on behalf of
An Comunn I thanked Sir Iain for arranging the Concert and
for his generous support of An Comunn for many long years.
Sir Iain referred to a Gaelic inscription on a stone over the
portal of the house in which we were being entertained. The
stone bears the date 1697, and the inscription is as follows :—
“ Thugadh a chlach so bho abd doeus an AITEEAMH :
A THOG EOIN, TKIATH NAM PARLANAICH,
AGUS Tigheaena an ARRATHIR,
AIE CULTHAOBH AN TIGHE SO,
ANN SA BHLIADHNA ATA SGEIOBHTE OEEA.”
Motherwell.—The Motherwell and Wishaw Highlanders
Association is very active under the genial Presidentship of
Mr. Lachlan MacLachan. On Saturday, 16th February,
accompanied by Angus Whyte, Alasdair Matheson, and Miss
Chris Turner, as accompanist, I paid what I may term my
annual visit to Motherwell and presided over a very fine gather¬
ing in Fraser’s Tea Rooms. The usual high-class programme of
songs, pipe music, and Highland dancing was submitted.
There was also a service of tea. It was announced that it is
proposed to hold a Gaelic Class next session and enrolments
were invited. At the close, ex-Provost Morris, who represents
the Association on the Executive Council of An Comunn,
moved Votes of Thanks.
Stirling.—This Branch has had a very successful session,
and the Gaelic Class—Beginners and Advanced—has made
splendid progress under the able instruction of Mr. Kenneth
Grant, M.A. I attended a Ceilidh of the Branch on 21st
February, and, considering the severe weather conditions
prevailing at the time, the attendance was excellent. Mr.
MacNicol, President, and Mrs. Scott, Secretary, are doing
excellent work in providing first-rate programmes, and their
efforts are highly appreciated by the members.
Mull.—I left Glasgow on Monday morning, 24th February,
and proceeded direct to Bunessan, where a largely attended
meeting was held in the Hall in the evening. I was accompanied
by Mr. Iain A. MacSween, Organiser for Music and Drama, and
he assisted with the programme. The Rev. Kenneth M.
MacMillan presided, and during the course of the evening I
presented to Mr. Donald Cowan, Lees, the An Comunn Gaidh-
ealach Trophy which he had won for the best Cromag in the
Art and Industry Committee’s Competitions at the Aberdeen
Mod. The first-prize Cromag, which was much admired when
exhibited during the Mod proceedings, was returned to Mr.
Cowan. The Chairman also made reference to the honour
which Mr. Cowan had brought to the district, and expressed
the hope that others would follow his example. Mr. Cowan
replied and thanked An Comunn for its interest in the Industry
Section. The proceedings were conducted entirely in Gaelic,
and at the close the Branch was reconstituted with the following
Office-bearers—President, Rev. Kenneth M. MacMillan;
Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Duncan MacDonald, M.A., and
Donald Lament; Secretary, Mr. Donald A. MacKechnie,
Postmaster; Treasurer, Mr. Isaac MacKinnon ; Committee,
Miss M. Black, Miss Gibson, Mrs. MacDougall, Mrs. Alex.
MacKechnie, Messrs. Iain Campbell (Bard), Iain Campbell,
and Donald Cowan.
On the following day we visited some of the schools and
added members to the roll of Comunn na h-Oigridh—6 girls
and 2 boys at Bunessan, and 4 girls and 3 boys at Pennyghael.
On the 26th, 3 girls and 1 boy were enrolled at Salen. I had
intended to visit Ulva Ferry school, where a Feachd had been
formed in 1935, but, on ascertaining that there were only four
pupils on the roll, I decided to postpone my visit until there
was a likelihood of an increase in the school population.
A Ceilidh was arranged for the evening at Salen, but,
owing to the very severe weather and the difficulty of transport,
the attendance was small, and the proposed reconstitution of
the Branch was not undertaken.
I should like to make special mention of the good work
being done for Gaelic by Mr. Duncan MacDougall at Bunessan
School, and by Miss Anne MacDougall at Salen School. They
merit the cordial thanks of An Comunn, and I may add that
their service to the Gaelic Cause is much appreciated by
parents and the general public.
No opportunity was lost in pressing for support of the
Provincial Mod to be held at Oban on 6th June, and Mr.
MacSween distributed copies of the syllabus and relative
music sheets. Mull could provide many competitors of more
than ordinary ability, and a return visit by Mr. MacSween
would, I feel certain, ensure a number of entries from Muile
nan Craobh.
Perth.—The Mod Local Committee at Perth are sparing
no effort to make the National Mod of 1947 a financial success.
Already a Highland Ball has been held, and on 18th April a
Gaelic Rally, for which well-known artistes have been engaged,
will be held in the City Hall, Perth. The General Appeal
has been distributed to members and others by means of this
Magazine, and Branch Secretaries have been asked to bring
the claims of the Perth Mod before their Committees.
Glasgow.— The third of the series of the Glasgow
Branches Joint-Committee Concerts was held in the Christian
Institute, Glasgow, on Saturday, 22nd February. Mr. John
A. Nicolson, Convener, presided, and, despite the inclement
weather, there was a large attendance. The April Concert
will be held in the same hall on the 19th, and for it an attractive
programme has been arranged.
Edinburgh .—The Edinburgh Local Mod will be held in the
Central Halls, Tollcross, Edinburgh, on Saturday, 24th May.
Mr. Ian C. Cameron, 15 Findhorn Place, Edinburgh, 9, is the
Secretary, and he will be glad to send a copy of the syllabus to
anyone interested. The Edinburgh Branch’s Annual Gathering
was held in the Central Halls on 21st February, Dr. John
Cameron, President of An Comunn, in the Chair. Despite the
worst weather of the winter, the all-Gaelic programme was
greatly enjoyed by quite a large audience.
o
AN CUAN AGUS AR GANAIN.
Ann an “ Duatharachd na Mara” tha an t-Ollamh
Urramach Coinneaoh MacLeoid a’ toirt am follais, le loinn
agus snas, an dealachadh a tha eadar “ litreachas na mara ”
agus “litreachas na beinne,” agus an greim a rinn an cuan air
cridhe is inntinn is mac-meanmnain luchd-aiteachaidh nan
eilean.