An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volumes 44--45, January 1949--December 1950

Leabliraiclioan I ra
Gaelic Studies
Scottish Gaelic Studies, Vol.
VI., Pt. 2, September 1949 (B. H.
Blackwell, Oxford, 9/-).
We welcome still another number
of this journal, which first appeared
in 1926 and which, after being in
abeyance during the war years,
continues on its way. We con¬
gratulate Mr John Macdonald.,
Reader in Celtic at Aberdeen Uni¬
versity, for the splendid work he
is doing in editing this journal.
Vol. VI., Pt. 2 is up to the
standard one expects. Mr W. L.
Lorimer, St Andrews University,
contributes an article on “The
persistence of Gaelic in Galloway
and Carrick,’’ but unfortunately
we shall have to wait for the next
Part to read the conclusion of the
article. Mr Lorimer says that
“a scholarly book dealing with the
linguistic history of Scotland is
badly needed, but before such a
book can be written there is still
much spadework to be done.
Among the principal subjects re¬
quiring investigation is the pro¬
gressive substitution of Gaelic
by Lallans. ’ ’ Mr Lorimer
assembles and sifts the evidence
of the persistence of Gaelic in
south-west Scotland, and, although
we shall have to wait some time for
the remainder of the article, it
would seem that he doubts whether
Gaelic survived there as long as
is sometimes alleged.
Mrs Nora Chadwick writes about
“The story of Macbeth’’ (this
article also is “to be continued’’).
John Lome Campbell has an
interesting contribution on “Hiatus
in Hebridean Place-Names.’’ Mr
Kenneth J ackson contributes
‘ 'More Tales from Port Hood, Nova
Scotia,’’ and there are contribu¬
tions also from Margaret Dobbs
and Professor Myles Dillon. The
Editor pays tribute to the late
Professor W. J . Watson.
Grain is Dain
Grain is Dain, le Niall Mac-
Gilleathain, (50t.-d., 6/-).
Co nach cuala uair is uair an
t-6ran maiseach sin, “Hug Oireann
O,’’ agus is trie a chluinnear na
h-6rain sin eile, “Mo Mhkthair,’’
“Gleann Chille-Mh&rtainn, ’ ’ agus
“Uibhist Tir Mo Ghrkidh.’’
Seo, ma tha, leabhran anns a
bheil a h-aon thar fhichead de na
h-6rain aig Mgr. Niall Mac-
Gilleathain (“Bird Baile Ghobh-
ann’’), agus ’nam measg na ceithir
a dh’ainmich mi shuas, agus
comhla riu tha tri piosan eile—
laoidh, “An Crann-Ceusaidh’’
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
agus da luinneig air son na cloinne
a bha an toiseach air am foill-
seachadh anns a’ Ghaidheal,
“Bodach na Nollaig’’ agus “An
Cat, an Luch, agus a’ Phiseag.’’
Tha ceol nan oran air a chur sios
gu doigheil le Mgr. Alasdair
MacCoinnich agus a’ Bhean-Uasal
NicMhathain. Tha an leabhar
air a chur a mach le muinntir
Ceilidh Baile Ghobhann, agus is
math a rinn iad! B’fhearr gun
deanadh comuinn eile a leithid do
bh&ird is do sgriobhadairean eile.
Cha ruig sinn a leas a rkdh gu
bheil fior spiorad na bkrdachd ann
an brain Neill, agus gu bheil
ealdhain aige air fuinn a dheanamh
a fhreagras air na facail. Is ann
a’ moladh na diithcha agus ag
cuimhneachadh nan ckirdean a
bhios Mgr. MacGilleathain
daonnan, agus faodaidh Muile is
Colla, Tiriodh is Uibhist, Gleann
Chille-Mhartain is an t-Eilean
Sgitheanach a bhith moiteil mu’n
luaidh a tha air a dheanamh orra
anns an leabhran seo.
N The Ca’doro Restaurant,
Glasgow, on 3rd December, a
pleasant Social Evening was held,
when the Committee of the Govan
Ceilidh (Govan Branch of An
Comunn) and other friends—some
eighty persons altogether—met to
do honour to Mr Neil MacLean
(“The Govan Bard’’) and tq three
others who had served the Branch
well.
Mr Donald MacCulloch, Pre¬
sident of the Govan Branch,
occupied the Chair. He expressed
the regret of all that their late
President, Mr Coll MacDougall,
had not been spared to preside
over this happy function, but they
were glad to have Mrs MacDougall
with them.
The Govan Ceilidh has published
a collection of the songs and poems
of Mr Neil MacLean (see notice on
p. 13 of this Number), and Mrs
T. M. Murchison, in name of the
Ceilidh, handed over to Mr Mac-
Lean a specially bound copy of his
book along with the copyright
documents, and in so doing she
expressed the pride they all felt
in being able to honour Mr MacLean
and hoped that he would long be
spared to compose many more
songs. Mrs Murchison then pre¬
sented a bouquet of flowers to
Mrs MacLean and a beautiful
clock to Mr Peter Mac Arthur, to
mark his twenty-five years’ service
Tha sinn an dochas gun teid a
cheannach. Neach sam bith a
cheannaicheas e, cha bhi aobhar
gearain aige gun d’rinn e sin.
This collection of twenty-four
songs and poems by Mr Neil
MacLean, Govan, is published by
the Govan Branch of An Comunn
Gaidhealach and contains those
of Mr MacLean’s songs which have
already won popular favour, such
as “Hug Oireann O,’ “Mo
Mhathair, ’’ “Uibhist Tir Mo
Ghrkidh, ’ ’ and “Gleann Chille-
Mhartainn. ’ ’ As is said in the
Foreword, “the dominant themes
are the memories of home and
youth, the exile’s love of the home¬
land, the friends of yore, the
changing face of nature, and,
above all, the places that have a
special niche in the bard’s heart. ’ ’
Mull and Uist, Tiree and Skye,
Coll and Kilmartin—all are praised
here. The music—in staff and
sol-fa—has been arranged by Mrs
Violet Mathieson.
to the Govan Ceilidh, and wristlet
watches to Mr Maclnnes and Mr
Kelly, in recognition of their
services.
Mr MacLean said he owed a
great debt to the Govan Gaels for
making possible the publication of
his songs and he thanked especially
those who had helped him in
seeing the book through the press.
Messrs MacArthur, Maclnnes, and
Kelly also expressed their thanks
for the gifts they had received.
Thereafter the following paid
tribute to Mr MacLean as a man
and as a bard—Rev. T. M. Murchi¬
son, Mr Neil Shaw, Mr Alasdair
Matheson, Mr Alexander Mac¬
kenzie, Mr John Macphee, Mr
Donald Maclean, Mr Hector
Macdougall, and Mr Duncan
Thomson.
Following the speeches an
informal ceilidh was held, many
of those present contributing songs
and stories.
(Bho t.d. 10)
e an daorach mh6r. Chaidil e a
muigh air a’ ghlasaich agus, mar
a dh’innis e fhein dhomh, “ ’S e
ceard m6r Gallach, ann an c&inn-
ealachadh an latha, a dhuisg mi.’’
“Thuirt an cekrd rium,’’ arsa
Padraig, “ ‘Never sleep on the
blue grass.’ ’ ’
Agus, arsa Padraig, "Never
shall !’’ A. M.
The Iiiotsiii Bard
In Honour of Mr Neil MacLean
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