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

An t-Og-mhios, 1947.
AN GAIDHEAL.
Ill
dheanamh air a leigeas ris dhuit gur e duine air-leth sonraichte
a tha arm ?
Chan urrainn domh fhein a h-aon de na ceistean sin
a fhreagairt, ach so mar tha cuid againn a’ faicinn an Diighaill
so . . . . Le ar shilean diiinte, chi sinn, an toiseach, balach
ard, laidir, luath, sparragach, shios ri taobh na mara—am baile
beag, am Muile. Tha Dughall air a’ chladach, aig bun an
uillt, maille ri balaich eile a’ bhaile ; tha eagal air each roimhe-
san—is esan am fear as motha, am fear as treise, am fear as
luaithe, a tha ’nam measg; le glaodh dian tha e ag eigheach
riii: “ Greasaibh oirbh uile agus cuiribh an t-eathar a mach.
Giidainibh a nuas, agus bithibh cabhagach, na raimh, an crann
agus na sihil. Bitheadh cabhag oirbh.” Ni na balaich na tha
Diighall ag aithneadh dhaibh. Tha an t-eathar a nis air bhog
agus tha Dughall fhein air an stiuir, ach cha robh duil aige
gum biodh an sruth cho laidir. “ lomairibh ! Cumaibh rithe
gach uile mhac mathar agaibh ! ” glaodhaidh Dughall riii,
“ nach faic sibh gu bheil sinn ro fhaisg air a’ Charraig Dhuibh ?
lomairibh! lomairibh! Cumaibh rithe, nach ’eil mi ag
innseadh dhuibh ! ”
Seadh, seadh, a Dhughaill, tha eagal air na gillean beaga sin
romhad ; tha, tha, chan ’eil teagamh sam bith againn nach
’eil. Ach, a shebid, a Dhughaill, air feasgar an dearbh latha
ud fhein nach thusa a leum a steach anns an fhairge bho
mhullach na Carraige Duibhe sin air son Iain beag Chaluim
Dhuinn a tharruing a mach as an t-sal gu skbhailte gu tlr—
agus e air dhol leis a’ chreig agus gun chomas snaimh ? Is
tusa a rinn sin, a ghaoil, ged nach dubhairt thu fhein facal
m’a dheidhinn ri duine riamh.
Chi sinn ar Dughall a rithist an Gleann Comhann aig coig
uairean anns a’ mhaduinn—a’ mhaduinn ghrannda, dhorch,
oillteil sin—an treas latha deug de’n Ghearran, sia ceud deug
ceithir fichead agus a dha dheug. Nach ’eil sinn a’ faicinn
Dhughaill a’ dol air adhart leis fhein, a bhiodag ’na laimh, an
aghaidh naimhdean a athar ? Nach ’eil Diighall air son
Maclain fhein a ghleidheadh bho chunnart—nach e mac
dha-san a tha ann ? Ach tha na naimhdean ro chealgach, ro
lionmhor, agus tuitidh Maclain agus Dughall le cheile. Sin
agad Diighall MacCormaic mar a chi sinn gle thric an diugh e,
’na mhac calma agus ’na ghaisgeach, oir tha fuil bhlath sliochd
a’ Ghlinne fhathast a’ ruith gu laidir ’na chuislibh .... is
i a tha !
Agus aon uair eile chi sinn a rithist thu, a Dhughaill—latha
araidh, bho chionn corr agus coig ceud bliadhna. Is e Tighearna
nan Eilean a tha annad—’nad dhuine mor, ard, colgarra,
laidir, rioghail. Chi sinn aig dol fodha na greine thu, ’nad
sheasamh leat fhein a muigh air mullach do Dhiiin, ri taobh do
Chaisteil—na tuinn ’gam bualadh agus ’gam briseadh air
creagan an rudha fada fodhad. Chi sinn gu soilleir thu. Tha a’
ghaoth a’ seideadh air do bhathais eireachdail agus air t’fhalt
dualach, ban. Tha thu a’ sealltainn gu geur air aon de na
birlinnean mora agad fhein, agus i a’ tighinn a nail bho h-aon de
na h-eileanan a muigh air iomall a’ chuain. Le do laimh ris an
speur, agus solus na greine a’ dealradh air seudan na fainne
moire a tha ’nad bhroilleach, their thusa-—their Cormac Mor,
Tighearna nan Eilean—le guth domhain, ceannsachail,
morail:—
“ Is mise Tighearna Innse Gall,
Is mise Fear-gleidhidh nan Eilean ;
Cha teid birlinn air tonn
Eadar Barraidh is Ceann-tire,
Eadar He agus Uibhist,
Eadar Colbhasa is Sleibhte,
Bho Mhuile gu Gob Leodhais,
Bho Dhiin-bheagain gu ruig Hiort,
Gun chead bhuam fhein.”
Am faic thu fhein a nis an duine cbir mu a bheil sinn a’
sgriobhadh ? Tha sinn an dochas gum faic, oir, ma chi, cha
chreid sinn nach bi cuimhne agad-sa air cuideachd—mar
bhios againne.
T T»
PROPAGANDA NOTES.
Northern Area.
Wick. The Organiser paid his annual visit to the Wick
Branch on 18th April. There was a large attendance at a
Ceilidh, where an informative paper was read by Mr. D. G.
Henderson, a former Hon. Secretary of the Branch. Songs
were sung by members, and a welcome visitor was Mrs. Shearer,
late of Loch Boisdale, South Uist, who sang several Gaelic
songs. The Annual Meeting was afterwards held. Mrs. Rosie,
a native of Skye and a fluent speaker of Gaelic, continues as
President, as do Miss M. Miller, Northcote Street, as Hon.
Secretary and Mr. Cochrane of the Commercial Bank as Hon.
Treasurer. £2 2s was donated to the Central Fund and £5 5s
to the Perth National Mod.
Sutherland. During the course of this visit the
Organiser made useful contacts at Brora and Golspie in con¬
nection with the forthcoming County of Sutherland Mod.
Badenoch/Strathspey.—On 22nd April the Organiser
visited Badenoch and had an interview with the
Provincial Mod Secretary about the prospects for the forth¬
coming Badenoch/Strathspey Provincial Mod. A meeting of
the Provincial Mod Committee was held at Kingussie on 26th
April, with the Very Rev. Dr. Dugald MacFarlane, Convener,
in the Chair. It was reported that, due to the very severe
weather experienced in the district, preparation of competitors
was retarded and a large entry was not expected. After full
discussion, it was unanimously decided to hold the Mod on 6th
June, even on a small scale.
Lochaber.—On 24th and 25th April the Lochaber
Provincial Mod area was visited as far west as Mallaig, where
arrangements for the Mod are proceeding satisfactorily. Mr.
MacPhail had interviews with the President and Hon. Secretary
at Fort William.
Tigharry.—The Tigharry Branch has had a very
successful session, and the sum of £6 16s has been forwarded
to the Central Fund.
Mr. Neil A. MacDonald, Barra. We congratulate Mr.
MacDonald, M.A., Headmaster of Eoligarry Public School, who
has been appointed Headmaster of Castlebay Junior Secondary
School. From a short leet of three, two of whom were non-
Gaelic speakers, Mr. MacDonald was appointed by a large
majority to this very important post. Gach soirbheachadh a
bhith ’na chois.
Sub-Committees. — Meetings of the Northern
Propaganda and Education Sub-Committees were held on
Saturday, 3rd May.
Concert Tour in Aid of the Central Fund.
Kiltarlity.—-A very late Spring, coupled with Double
Summer Time, did not tend to bring out large audiences, but
nevertheless all of the five Concerts were successful,
especially from a propaganda point of view. The first
of these was held at Kiltarlity on 5th May and was presided
over by the Northern Organiser. In addition to the Concert
Party of four—Petrine M. Stewart, Chrissie MacKenzie,
Mairi C. MacPhail, and Alasdair Matheson—there was a strong
supporting programme of soloists and instrumentalists, and
Miss Edith MacPherson and her troupe of Highland dancers
were an added attraction. All the arrangements were made by
Mrs. M. McLaren and a local committee, and sincere thanks are
due to them for their continued support of the Gaelic Cause.
Muir of Ord.-—The second Concert was held at
Muir of Ord, the first part being devoted to solos, duets and
puirt-a-beul. The Inverness Post Office Players sustained
the second part by the production of George Grant’s play “ By
Order” a scene from the Sutherland Clearances. The author
himself was present and gave a short synopsis of the play.
Both Concert and Play were thoroughly enjoyed by a most
appreciative audience. Mr. Murdo MacLean, Tarradale Arms,
made all the arrangements for this Concert and also provided
hospitality for the Party. Readers in the South will remember
Mr. MacLean’s many good deeds for the Gaelic Cause while
he was resident in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. His interest is as
keen as ever. Votes of thanks were proposed by the Rev.
Roderick Smith, M.A., and the Chairman, Mr. MacPhail.