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

Naldlieaclid na li-Air«lo Tuatli
NORTHERN ORGANISER’S NOTES
Newtonmore
The Organiser presided at a
Ceilidh held under the auspices
of the local Branch. Despite
wet and stormy .weather, there
was a very satisfactory attendance
and a most enjoyable programme
was submitted. It was a delight
to hear some of the old ladies of
Badenoch taking part in the
Ceilidh, notably Miss Annie
MacDonald, who has delighted
audiences for the past forty years
with her true and sweet rendering
of Gaelic songs.
Inverness
ON the following evening, the
February meeting of Ceilidh
nan Gaidheal was held at
Inverness, with Mr. Farquhar
MacLeod, Vice-President, in the
Chair. The Town Hall was full
to capacity when the Rev. Alex¬
ander Boyd addressed the audience
in beautiful idiomatic Gaelic. He
chose as his subject an old Uist
tale. A Ceilidh programme
followed in which many of those
present took part.
Fort William
MRS. J. A. MACKINTOSH
and the Organiser visited
Fort William on Tuesday,
21st February. Mrs. Mackintosh
is Convener of the Inverness Burgh
and County Stall of the Grand Feill,
and she made valuable contacts
during the visit. Mr. Mackinnon
and the Organiser discussed matters
in connection with this year’s
Camp or Camps.
Dingwall
THE Organiser was present at
the February meeting of the
Dingwall Branch and assisted
with the programme. This
Branch meets monthly, and the
attendances are very satisfactory.
Mrs. Jean Campbell, the Hon.
Secretary, is doing a grand job
of work and Gaelic stalwarts in
the area have rallied round her.
Glenurquhart
THE Organiser attended a
meeting of the Glenurquhart
Branch Committee on 28th
February, when it was decided
to hold a Concert in aid of the
Central Fund.
Dochfour
ONE good turn deserves
another. On 3rd March the
Organiser brought a party
to supply the Ceilidh programme
under the auspices of the local
Branch of the S.W.R.I. in aid of
the Institute for the Blind. The
effort was very successful. In
return, the local Branch is to
sponsor a Ceilidh in aid of the
War Memorial and Thanksgiving
Fund on Friday, 31st March.
Inverailort
ON the following day, Mr.
Mackinnon, Convener of
Comunn na h-Oigridh, Mr.
MacPhail, and Mr. Wilson met Mr.
and Mrs. Cameron-Head at Inver¬
ailort to examine the buildings
recently taken over and to decide
as to their suitability for Comunn
na h-Oigridh Camp. All details
were carefully gone into and the
recommendations made will be
considered by the standing Com¬
mittee at their first meeting on
24th March. The party returned
to Fort William, and the Organiser
then continued on his way to Oban
and Barra.
Barra
WE had a good passage to
Castlebay on Monday, 6th
March, arriving there shortly
after 4 p.m. I had several inter¬
views that evening when arrange¬
ments were made to visit all the
schools on the island. On the
following morning I started off at
Eoligarry and had a talk with the
children, after which 15 girls and
8 boys were enrolled in the local
Feachd. Under the direction of
the Headmaster, the children sang
several Gaelic songs. The next
call was at Northbay where 6 girls
and 7 boys were enrolled. From
there I went to Grean where 5
girls and 7 boys were added to the
Feachd roll. At Craigston 7 girls
and 9 boys were enrolled, and at.
Brevig 5 girls and 5 boys were
The following morning being
fine, I proceeded to the island of
Vatersay and, after a talk in the
school, enrolled 7 girls and 5 boys.
It was pleasing to see* workmen
engaged on a new road on Vatersay,
and it is to be hoped that austerity
measures will not interfere with
this very essential work. So far,
the island has had no roads at all,
and one can imagine how difficult
it is for children to travel long
distances to school over wet and
boggy ground on such an exposed
island.
The afternoon was devoted to
Castlebay School, with the kind
permission of the Headmaster.
What a pleasure it was to call in
the Infant Room, with some thirty
little Ones, all busily engaged in
various ways—reading, counting,
drawing, and making such queer
little figures with plasticine. In
the midst of all this was the born
teacher. Miss Annie Johnstone—
calm, collected, busy, but yet
finding time to attend to all the
needs of this large family. A
little tot would say, "Please,
Teacher,’’ and often the answer
would be, "Siud, a ghaoil,’’ or
"De seo a nis, a ghrkidh?,”
"Ud, ud, d6 seo?” Questions
asked in Gaelic would be answered
in English, but not always.
I shall never forget that half-
hour spent in Castlebay Infant
Room—thirty little ones striving
to overcome difficult problems
but thoroughly enjoying themselves
in the process. It reminded me of
a similar experience I had in
Kilmuir School, in Skye, with
our dear friend and teacher, Miss
Annie MacDonald, now departed.
We cannot realise how much we
owe to this type of teacher. I also
addressed other two classes and
enrolled 26 girls and 23 boys.
There are some thirty boarded-out
children in the Barra schools and
all of these are acquiring the Gaelic;
language with ease, thanks to the
teachers and guardians.
At a meeting in Castlebay
School, a Regional Committee
was set up for the purpose of
creating further interest in the
Gaelic Youth Movement—Comunn
na h-Oigridh. Mr. M. A.
MacDonald, M.A., is President,
Mr. Neil MacNeil, M.A., Hon.
Secretary, and Mr. Hugh Smith ,■
M.A., Hon. Treasurer.
The return journey was also
via Oban and the weather was all
that could be desired.
A SERIES of six Concerts
in aid of the Central Fund
has been arranged and these
will be held at Elgin, Inverness,
Glenurquhart, Leachkin, Culca-
bock and Newtonmore from 20th
to '27th March. Thereafter the
Organiser is to proceed to Lewis
and Harris.
CHAN ’EIL FHIOS CO
Bha Calum, ma b’fhior e fh6in,
an galair a bhkis agus chuireadh
fios air Iain is e ag obair an Glaschu.
An uair a rkinig Iain an taigh nach
ann a bha athair ag itheadh
buntata is rionnach.
"Seo fear a bha diiil agam a bha
ris a’ bhks!” ars Iain.
"O,” fhreagair am bodach,
"ged a tha mise ag gabhail seo,
chan ’ell fhios c6 a chnkmhas e! ’
(Bho "An Cabairncach’ 1944
le cead).
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