An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 38, October 1942--September 1943

18
AN GAIDHEAL.
An t-Samhuin, 1942.
Lord Inverclyde introduced the speakers
of the evening, who included the Secretary of
State for Scotland, Mr. Tom Johnston, and
leaders of the Fighting French Forces.
The Rev. Malcolm MacLeod, President of
An Comunn, speaking in Gaelic and English,
moved votes of thanks to the various
speakers.
The second half of the programme was
resumed by Donald Maclsaac singing other
two types of Gaelic songs, and he was
followed by the Breton Dance Party, who
gave four native dances. A Petty Officer
sang two songs in French, “ Venise and
Brittany” and “Fleur do Ble Noir.” He
was most enthusiastically received, and
gave an encore. Miss Mary MacNiven
followed with a rowing song and a labour
lilt,, for which she was heartily applauded.
Another Breton song was sung, and
the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association
Choir, under its conductor, J. Norman
MacConochie, gave selections of Puirt a
Beul, which greatly pleased the guests and
the audience. The choir also led the
audience in singing “ Auld Lang Syne,” and
a unique and memorable gathering was
brought to a close by the singing of the
National Anthems.
The Gaelic items were announced in
French, and Mr. Neil Shaw announced the
Breton items in English.
Miss C. M. Macpherson, of An Comunn
staff, acted as hon. secretary to the com¬
mittee responsible for the arrangements, and
she carried out her duties to the entire
satisfaction of everyone concerned.
Letters of thanks and appreciation have
been received from Lord Inverclyde and
others, and all are warm in their praises of
the splendid service rendered by An
Comunn.
PROPAGANDA NOTES.
Northern Area.
During recent visits to various parts of the
North and West, evidence was not lacking
that a greater interest is being taken in the
written language, and in many places
appreciation was expressed of the value of
An Gaidheal as a help to understanding in
our own language the position of the High¬
lands and Highlanders in the war effort. In
several places members of An Comunn said
that they read the leaders in An Gaidheal
with keen interest, and one went so far as to
say, “ I did not realise that my own Gaelic
was so ‘ mabach ’ until I began to read An
Comunn magazine regularly,”
While visiting the masters of the Boys’
Hostel at Portree—Messrs. Iain F. Steele
and Kenneth Campbell—a letter arrived
from a former Ceannard of the Portree
Feachd, Kenneth Campbell, Scalpay, Harris,
who is serving in the Navy. As proof that
Highland boys do not forget their training
and traditions, this letter is quoted here by
the kind permission of the two masters to
whom it was sent: —
“ A Chairdean Gradhach,
Smaointich mi gun cuirinn sgriobag
thugaibh ann an canain uasal ar mathar.
Mar a chi sibh tha mi nis an seirbheis a’
chruin, ged nach ’eil mi fhathast ach ’ga mo
theagasg anns a’ cheird so. Tha e gle
eadar-dhealaichte hho fhoghlum is sgoileir-
eachd ach feumaidh mi radh gu bheil mi cho
sona an so agus a tha an la cho fada. Tha
aitean comhnuidh math againn le leapannan
comhfhurtail, lan chothrom againn air gach
gne cluiche ach iomain, agus deagh bhiadh
air fhior chocaireachd. Gun teagamh chan
’eil sinn a’ faighinn brochain ach cha
robh duil agam ri leithid sin Sasainn ann.
An aon choire a tha ri fhaotainn air an
aite so, ’s e cho tearc ’s a tha na Gaidheil,
co dhiubh na fior Ghaidheil. Mar sin tha
mi ag ionndrain ar canain ’s ar ceol mar
nach urrainn dhomh innse.
Tha gach ni a bhuineas do sheoladair-
eachd air a theagasg, eadhoin iomradh is
oibreachadh sheol. Chan fhaic duine cho
comasach is a tha na h-Eileanaich mar
mharaichean gus am faic e a’ mhor chuid de
na Sasannaich a’ toirt oidhirp air iomradh.
Bheirinn mo leth chluais air na balaich
bheaga aig an tigh a bhith ’gam faicinn! Gu
, firinneach chan e “ an triomradh toirteil
calma bas-luath caoir-gheal ” a bh’aig
MacMhaighster Alasdair a th’ aCa!
Bhithinn fada ’nur comain nam faighinn
bhuaibh seoladh Runaire a’ Chomuinn
Ghaidhealaich ach an cuir mi air son a’
Ghaidheil.
Mar is motha a chi mi de na Sasannaich
gu sonraichte muinntir Lunnainn, is ann as
motha tha mhoit orm gur e Gaidheal a
th’annam. Tha Sasannaich, Eireannaich,
Cuimrich is Albanaich, an so, agus tha e
soirbh fhaicinn gu bheil na Gaidheil fada air
thoiseach orra uile-an comas, am modh agus
an iomchuidheachd.
Thoiribh mo bheannachdan do na cairdean
gu leir.
Le gach uile dheagh dhurachd,
Coinneach Caimbeul.”
Portree Secondary School has been in the
limelight for several years, due to the large