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

Am Mart, 1943.
AN GAIDHEAL.
67
AN GAIDHEAL.
An appreciative reader—a gentleman in liis
84th year—sends us an acrostic on An Gaidheal
as follows:—
Ah ! waes me that I cannot use my pen to write
Now—in perfect Gaelic—^thoughts which my
heart indites.
God granted it to be my own sweet mother
tongue,
And by it I do read my Bible, Psalm, and song,
Indeed through all my far wanderings o’er
land and sea
Dear it was to hear in private or publicly,
How I love to read it on pages of An Gaidheal,
Especially Comunn news my heart regale;
As a Life Member—for all concerned—I aye
pray
Let love, goodness, and mercy, be yours all
life’s day.
Then he adds : “ I send this acrostic as an
appreciation of the joy derived from the heart
and soul inspiring contents of the ever warmly
welcomed An Gaidheal. I consider this one
of December a masterpiece in every detail.
What a pity the contents could not be passed
on to our delightful little friends, the scarlet
vested ‘ Bruideargans ’—I love them.”
We are encouraged by our friend’s
appreciation, and we thank him. Gach
beannachd air a cheann.
0
PROPAGANDA NOTES.
The Organiser presided at the January
meeting of Ceilidh nan Gaidheal an Inbhir Nis.
There was a large attendence and an excellent
programme. Perhaps the outstanding feature
of the Ceilidh was the delightful singing of
Solos and Duets by the Misses MacLean,
Invergarry, dressed in their uniform of the
Women’s Land Army.
The Gaelic Music Class conducted by Miss
Margaret MacDonald, at Inverness, is proving
very successful and in this way many girls from
the West, resident temporarily in the town,
have an opportunity of meeting, and at the
same time of taking part in the class.
A Gaelic Concert in aid of An Comunn’s
Central Fund is to be held in the Town Hall,
Inverness, on March 25th. At this Conceit
Mr. J. B. Munro, Aberdeen, will be one of the
principal Artistes. As this will be one of Mr.
Munro’s rare appearances in his native town
he is assured of a very cordial welcome.
Fort William branch is also arranging a
Gaelic Concert in aid of the Central Fund, but
the date has not yet been definitely fixed. It
will probably take place in early April.
A Ceilidh in aid of the same object is arranged
for March 5th at Roy Bridge, under the auspices
of the local Branch at which the President,
Mrs. Ryan, Blar-a-cha, will preside.
On Friday, 22nd January, the Glenurquhart
branch held their fourth Ceilidh of the session.
Mr. T. S. G. MacLean presided in the absence,
through bereavement, of Mr. Robert Gollan,
President. Mr. MacPhail gave a short address
in Gaelic and English. The proceeds were
donated to the Royal Northern Infirmary,
Inverness.
On 25th and 26th January, the Organiser
visited the Lochaber area principally in con¬
nection with the Savings movement. He
attended a meeting of the Lochaber District
Council and explained the new Savings drive,
“ Wings for Victory.”
The Organiser is at the time of writing these
“ Notes ” in Lewis, visiting Feachdan of
Comunn na h-Oigridh and assisting in the
arrangements for “ Wings for Victory ” week,
He attended a meeting of the Lewis Branch of
An Comunn when arrangements were made
to stage a Ceilidh in aid of the Central Fund
and to continue with the work of An Comunn
for the remainder of the session.
To date he has visited the following schools
and has given talks on the work of An Comunn
and Savings :—Sandwickhill, Baybie, Knock,
Aird, Tong, Back, North Tolsta, Achmore,
Breasclete, Duncarloway, Carloway, Bragar,
and Shiatost. It is interesting to note that
there is now a Savings Group in every School
in the Island of Lewis. In addition District
Groups are being formed in every part of the
Island. Additions have been made to the
rolls of several of the Feachdan. From Lewis
Mr. MacPhad proceeds to Harris and a full
report of his experiences in the Long Island will
appear in the April issue of An Gaidheal.
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
I visited Dunoon on 22nd January and
interviewed Branch officials and other inter¬
ested parties. The Evening Gaelic Class
conducted by Mr. Neil MacLean has proved
very successful, there being an average atten¬
dance of about 20 students. It is hoped to hold
a Ceilidh at the close of the Evening Class
session when students and Branch members
will co-operate to make a contribution to An
Comunn funds. It is felt that the enthusiasm
shown by the students should be encouraged,