An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 43, October 1947--December 1948

An Ceiteiil, 1948.
AN GA1DHEAL.
97
Agus chan e sin an aon chunnart. Tha a’ Ghaidhlig an
droch charadh an drasda, agus le gach la a theid seachad tha i
air a lagachadh nas mo. Mar is lionmhoire na briathrfin coimh-
each a bheirear a steach innte is ann nas anfhainne a dh’fhasas
i. Do bhrigh sin, thig an la anns nach bitear a’ bruidheann sa’
Ghaidhealtachd ach sa’ Bheurla agus bias na Gaidhlige oirre.
A nis, seallaibh ris an dm ri teachd. Gabhamaid air tus
ris a’ bheachd gum bi Alba gu leir ’na h-aon Ghaidhealtachd
mhoir uair-eigin. Feumaidh nas motha na aon ghinealach mus
tachair sin, ach thig an la anns am bi a’ Ghaidhlig mar chanain
dhuthchail san tir seo. Smaoinichibh, ma ta, air a’ chloinn
bhig a bhios ag cinntinn suas gun diog de chanain a mach air a’
Ghaidhlig fhein ’nam beul. Nach b’fhasa dhaibh-san briathran
a tha steidhichte air facail a b’aithne dhaibh cheana a thuigsinn
na facail air an toirt d canain choimhich air chor-eigin ? Nach
bu doirbhe facail mar tha 11 automobile," ''aeronautics" agus
"surgeon" a thuigsinn na “ fein-ghluasadach,” “ eolas-
itealaich,” agus “ sgian-leigh ? ” Chan ’eil teagamh air a’
chilis. (Chan ’eil mi cho cinnteach.—F.-D.).
Ma mhaireas Alba mar chinneach feumaidh aontachd
chanaineil a bhith ann, agus feumaidh gur i a’ Ghaidhlig a’
chanain sin.
Ma mhaireas a’ Ghaidhlig i fhein feumaidh iomlanachd
chanaineil a bhith ann—agus bithidh. R. J. S.
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PROPAGANDA NOTES.
Northern Area.
Aultbea Children’s Mod. —• Arrangements have
now been completed for the Children’s Mod to be held at
Aultbea on Saturday, 8th May. This Mod will be open to boys
and girls within the Parish of Gairloch under 16 years of age
at date of Mod. There are nine schools in the Parish, and it
is expected that all these schools will be represented at the
Mod. The adjudicators are the Rev. Malcolm MacLean, M.A.
for Gaelic and Mr. J. A. Mallinson, A.R.C.O., for Music. Sincere
thanks are due to the Branch at Aultbea for promoting this
Mod and for raising the necessary funds to provide prizes and
tea for the competitors.
Skye. — On 11th March the Organiser was present
at a Gaelic Concert at Ardvasar, Skye. The Chairman was Mr.
Ian MacLeod of Torgorm and there was a large attendance.
Thanks are due to Dr. Campbell and the local teachers who
were responsible for the arrangements.
Concerts. — Two Concerts, one at Kiltarlity and the
other at Glen Urquhart, were sponsored by the Northern
Committee in aid of the Central Fund, and from these a sum
of £22 18s. lOd. was forwarded to the Treasurer. Thanks are
due to Mrs. B. MacLaren who made the local arrangements
at Kiltarlity, and to Mr. A. J. MacCuish, B.Sc., Hon. Secretary
of the Glen Urquhart Branch, who did everything possible to
make this effort successful. In addition to local artistes, Mr.
Angus Whyte and Mr. Alasdair Matheson delighted all present
with fine interpretations of Gaelic songs, and they excelled in
the series of Puirt-a-beul. Both of these artistes are always
welcome in the North.
Dingwall. — The Dingwall Branch recently sponsored
a Gaelic and Scots Concert and Mr. Neil MacLeod, Hon.
Secretary, is to be congratulated on the great success which
attended his first effort. Here also Angus and Alasdair were
the guest artistes, and the Chairman was Major Munro
Ferguson of Assynt who gave an inspiring address stressing
the need to hold on to all that is best in our Gaelic traditions.
Aviemore .—At a Gaelic Concert held under the
auspices of the Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Branch, presided
over by the Vice-President, Mr. Duncan MacLeod, the
Organiser was present and gave a short talk in Gaelic and
English. There was a large attendance, and Mrs. R. Fraser,
Hon. Secretary, has reason to be proud of this very successful
function.
Committees. —- Meetings of the Northern Propa¬
ganda and Education Sub-Committees held at Inverness on
Saturday, 27th March, when the wprk of the Session was
reviewed.
Outer Isles. —For the next four weeks Mr. Mac-
Phail will be engaged in the Outer Isles and a Report of this
Tour will form the basis of the Propaganda Notes in the next
issue of the Magazine.
Southern Area.
Dundee.—The General Secretary attended the closing
Ceilidh of the Dundee Highland Society on 26th March, The
Chief of the Society, Mr. Ivan MacDonald Chalmers, was in
the Chair.
This Ceilidh took the form of a Welcome Home and in their
addresses the Chief and General Secretary referred to the
fortitude and endurance of the men and women of our race
during the long years of war. Reference was also made to the
work done by those left at home to make their lot brighter and
more comfortable by contributing literature, garments and
other comforts.
A splendid programme of Gaelic and Scots songs and
instrumental music was sustained by Miss Jean Cameron
Greer, Alex. Brown, Donald MacVicar, James Grant Scott
and local artistes. Mr. Roderick MacDonald moved votes of
thanks, and thereafter tea was served.
The monthly meetings of the Society were well supported
during the session and the usual Evening Classes, Gaelic and
Country Dancing, were carried through successfully.
Choirs.—A feature of the closing concerts of Gaelic
choirs in Glasgow was the large attendance of the general
public, showing a marked appreciation of the splendid work
performed by these combinations on behalf of Gaelic music.
The General Secretary presided over the Annual Concert
of the Uist and Barra Association Gaelic Choir (conductor,
Donald Maclsaac). He also attended the Annual Concert
of the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association (conductor, J.
Norman McConochie) and the Annual Gathering of the Glas¬
gow Islay Choir (conductor, Miss Helen T. MacMillan). The
president of the Glasgow Islay Association, Mr. Duncan
Campbell, presided over the latter Concert. Dr. John Cameron
President of An Comunn, attended the Annual Gathering of
the Govan Gaelic Choir (conductor, Pat Sandeman), over which
the Rev. Dr. Kenneth MacLeod presided. The Govan Junior
Gaelic Choir (conductor. Miss Mary Hunter) also contributed
to the programme.
At all these gatherings the programme was of a very high
standard and patrons were treated to selections of the highest
form of Gaelic choral music.
Edinburgh. — The sixth annual Gaelic Concert of
the Edinburgh Branch of An Comunn was held in the Central
Hall on 19th March. The Chairman was the Rev. T. M.
Murchison, Editor of An Oaidheal, who was introduced by
Mr. John MacKay, President of the Branch.
The Chairman referred to the important part played by
Edinburgh Gaels, especially in the sphere of literature and
scholarship. For years Duncan Ban MacIntyre had trudged
the city’s streets, as a member of the City Guard (or Police of
those days), dreaming the while of Beinn Dobhrain. Dugald
Buchanan also had dwelt in Edinburgh and attended classes
there while helping Dr. Stewart of Killin to see the Gaelic New
Testament through the press. This was the city also of Dr.
Thomas MacLauchlan and Dr. Malcolm MacLennan and of the
several distinguished occupants of the Celtic Chair. At the
present time there was a small but significant group of Gaelic
litterateurs in and around Edinburgh-—Dr. Kenneth MacLeod,
Dr. Donald Lamont, and Dr. Coll A. Macdonald of the older
generation, and of the younger folk Mr. Sorley Maclean, Mr.
George Campbell Hay, and Mr. Hector Maclver.
There was a good attendance and an excellent programme
was submitted,those taking part being Madge Campbell Brown,
May Margaret Macmillan, Kenneth MacRae, Alex. J. Mac¬
donald, Angus R. Mackintosh (violin selections), Pipe-Major
Duncan R. Cameron and Sergeant-Piper Akroyd, and the
Edinburgh City Police Dancers. The organist and accompanist
was Mr. George Short.
The vote of thanks was moved by Mr. Hector Maclver,