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

Uilleiiin Itow
Le TORMOD DOMHNALLACH
(air a leantainn bho t.J. 69)
A JS ceann beagan bhliadhnachan
dh’fhag a pharantan Farrais
agus chaidh iad a dh’fhuireach do
Ghsai’r-loch, far an do thoisich
’athair air dol timcheall ’na chean-
naiche-siubhail. Anns an am ud
bha an obair sin air a meas cho
ard agus cho math ris a’ mharsan
tachd eile an diugh.
Do bhrigh ’s gu robh iarrtas aig
Uilleam air eolas na bu mhotha
fhaotainn air a’ Ghaidhlig, chuir e
roimhe gun siubhladh e an duthaich
maille ri ’athair. Bheireadh sin
aithne dha air mar a bha a’ chanain
air a labhairt le sean is og anns
gach cearn is siorramaehd de’n
Ghaidhealtachd. Ged nach robh e
fathast ach gle og, thug e an uiread
seo de speis do chanain a dhuthcha,
Nach ’eil a bhuil ’s a bhlath sin
air a bhardachd ! GEeibhear na
h-uiread de fhaclan air a feadh
nach robh, agus nach ’eil, air an
cleachdadh air feadh an Eilein
Sgitheanaich no ann an Gearr-loch.
Agus nach mor am feum a tha
againn an diugh mar Ghaidheil air
a bhith dol ’nar faireachadh a chum
a bhith a’ trusadh agus ag cruin-
neachadh ’na thrath seann fhaclan
agus gnathasan-cainnt gach
sgireachd, faclan nach ’eil coit-
cheann, nach deach riamh ann am
faclair no ann an clo, agus a tha
air bheul a dhol a dhith oirnn a
chaoidh, nuair a tha na seann
daoine aig a bheil iad a’ dol as an
t-sealladh gach bliadhna. Bha
ficheadan de na faclan is de na
gnathasan-cainnt seo ann a bha air
an cleachdadh a mhain ann an co-
cheangal ri iomadh seann cheaird is
obair nach hi gu brath tuilleadh,
a reir coltais, a’ dol air adhart
’nar duthaich am feadh is a tha
innealan, uidhcaman, is doighean
ura air an cur a mach a fasan
Mar ghille og anns na bliadh-
naehan-deug, agus air dha inbhe
duine a ruigheachd, cha robh am
bard ro fhulangach ’na shlainte.
Bhiodh e gu minig a’ faotainn a
sharachadh le muchadh agus, ged
a chaidh e mu dheas do bhaile
Dhun-eideann agus do Shiorra-
machd Pheairt an diiil gun
deanadh an t-atharrachadh seo a
chur am feabhas, cha do dh’
fhuirich e ann an aite seach aite
dhiubh ach gle ghoirid. Cha
robh ionad sam bith ’na
shealladh-san coltach ris an tir a
dh’fhag e. mar a thubhairt e
fein:
Ciamar dh’fhaodainn bhith subh-
ach, ’s mo chridh’ an ait’ eile?
Gun agam ach pairt dheth san
ait’ anns a bheil mi,
Fo dhubhar nam mor-bheann tha
’n corr dheth ’s cha cheil mi.
Thachair air oidhche araidh de
a thurus do Leodhas maille ri
’atHair gun deach Uilleam a
chuireadh gu cuirm-chiuil ann am
baile Stebrnabhaigh far an robh
mor shluagh cruinn. ’S ann an
sin a choinnich e air son a’ cheud
uair ri Mor Ros. A reir sgeoil,
bha a’ mhaighdean og, Ghaidheal-
ach seo air leth dreachmhor ’na
GRAND F EI LL (continued)
Saturday afternoon. The prizes
were donated by Th, Daily
Record, and consisted of a Shield
as first prize and a Silver Napkin
Ring of Celtic design as second
prize, in each of the two Groups.
An Comunn donated a third prize
to each Group. The prize¬
winners were : Group I—1,
Alastair Gillies, Glasgow; 2,
Adrian Mackintosh, Fort
William. Group II—1, Rona
Macleod. Glasgow; 2, Alastair
MncCuJloch, Glasgow,
On the Saturday evening a
Grand Ceilidh was held, the pro¬
gramme being provided by the
Scottish Country Dance Society
and a large number of former
Mod Medallists.
AT the opening ceremony on
the first day (Wednesday),
in the presence of a very
large gathering, the Very Rev.
Dr. Alexander Macdonald opened
the proceedings with a Gaelic
prayer, and Mr. J. M. Banner-
man, President of An Comunn.
having expressed appreciation of
the generous and enthusiastic
support given to the Feill in so
many quarters, introduced the
Lord Provost of Glasgow, Victor
D. Warren, Esq., who presided
The Lord Provost spoke highly of
the contribution made bv High-
In nders to the City of Glasgow.
He then called on the Dowager
Marchioness of Londonderry,
D.B.E., to open the Feill. The
Marchioness spoke of the
importance of knowing and
cherishing our country’s history
and traditions and of imparting
to the young a true love of the
music, culture, and language of
their people.
On Thursday, after a Gaelic
prayer by the Rev. T. M.
Murchison, the Duke of Montrose
opened the Feill and urged the
encouragement of the old Scot¬
tish national games and dances
80
cruthachd agus ’na pearsa.
Ghabh am bard uiread de ghaol
orra, co-dhiu, is gu robh sin aig
a’ cheann thall ’na mheadhon
air a latha a ghiorrachadh:
Chaidh mi steach an ceann na
cbisridh,
An robh 61 is ceol is danns’,
Ribhinnean is fleasgaich bga,
’S iad an ordugh grinn gun
mheang;
Dhearcas fa leth air na h-dighean,
Le rosg foil a null ’s a nail;
’S ghlacadh mo chridhe,’s mo
shuil co’ladh,
’S rinn an gaol mo leon air ball.
Ui'a l.eantaiiin)
and the wearing of the kilt.
General Sir Philip Christison,
Vice-President of An Comunn.
presided.
On Friday, after a Gealic
prayer by the Rev. John Mackay.
the Feill was opened by Marie.
Mrs. MacNeil of Barra (Con¬
vener of the Scottish-American
Stall), who described herself as
“ an ambassadress from the new
Scotland to the old Scotland.”
Mr. Farquhar MacRae, Vice-
President of An Comunn,
presided.
On Saturday, the opening
Gaelic prayer was by the Rev.
Alexander Macdonald, Ard-
chattan, and Mr. J. M. Banner-
man presided. The Feill was
opened by Lieutenant-General
Sir Gordon MacMillan, G.O.C
Scottish Command. General
MrcMillan naid tribute to the
gallantry of Highlanders in the
fighting services.
While the Feill was thronged
throughout the whole four days,
on the Saturday afternoon the
Hall was packed, especially when
the time came for various
auctions and the free-gift-scheme
draws. The beautiful tea-set.
kindly gifted by Her Majesty the
Queen, was on display through¬
out the Feill and bids were
invited. It went eventually to
Sir Donald Skiffington for fifty
guineas.
It now remains to say “ Thank
You ” to all who helped in this
great work, not least the many
who worked behind the scenes
and far away, many of them
unable to visit the Feill in
person.
No effort must be spared in
the next six months to reach the
target-figure, and thus provide
both a worthy memorial for the
valiant brave whom we seek to
honour and an adequate
provision for the cultural and
recreational needs of the rising
generation.