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

Cape lleeton \e%v* and Vic^uis
AT the Annual Meeting of
the Gaelic Foundation, St.
Ann’s, the President of the
Foundation, Rev. A. W. R. Mac-
Kenzie, presided, and reports
were submitted by the President
as Executive Director, by Major
C. 1. N. MacLeod as Gaelic
Director, by Mrs. A. A. Mac-
Kenzie as Craft-Centre Director,
and by Mr. C. W. K. McCurdy
as Treasurer.
The reports revealed that 1949
was the Foundation’s most suc¬
cessful year since its inception.
Craft sales in the last three years
amounted to over $42,000. It
was reported that apprentice
weavers earn as much as $110
per month, while home weavers
earn $140. Stress was laid on
the urgent need for an endowment
fund for the Gaelic College. Two
departments were already well
established—^Highland Folk Art
under the supervision of Miss
Eveline Dunbar, and Crafts
under the supervision of Mrs.
A. A. MacKenzie. The Gaelic
Department was now the major
project demanding development,
and its success was assured, said
the President, providing Major
MacLeod could he given the
necessary financial support.
Rev. Father D. J. Rankin.
Iona, and Judge G. Morrison,
Sydney, paid tribute to Mr.
MacKenzie’s work for the
Foundation since its inception.
Lieut.-Colonel Donald Sinclair.
New Glasgow, suggested that
nart of the profits of the Crafts
Centre, as well as the Mod,
should be allocated to the
carrying on of the cultural work
of the Foundation.
The Director’s report stated
that Miss Pauline Forsythe,
student-apprentice.had completed
the three-year course in hand¬
weaving and gained the honour
of receiving the first certificate
awarded by the Gaelic College in
the handcraft department for a
three-year course.
It was reported that 312
students were enrolled in the
Gaelic College Extension Classes,
receiving instruction in Gaelic,
piping, and Highland Folk Art,
at Port Hood. Barra Glen. Gillis
Point, Baddeck, St. Ann’s, and
Svdney, under Major MacLeod,
Mrs R D. MacLeod, and Rev.
A. W. R. MacKenzie.
“ Maior C. I. N. MacLeod
was released from the Gaelic
College Staff on 31st December
last.” states the Director’s re¬
port, “ and Gaels in Nova Scotia
will be happy to learn that a
Department of Gaelic, under the
Adult Educatidn Division, has
been established by the Nova
Scotia Department of Education,
and that Major MacLeod has
been placed in charge as Gaelic
Adviser with headquarters at
Sydney. Major MacLeod’s
services will be available to every
Gaelic culture organisation
seeking his services. The Gaelic
Foundation congratulate the
Department of Education on this
forward step and whole-heartedly
welcome the active participation
of Government in the promotion
of Celtic culture in the province.”
This year’s Gaelic Mod at St.
Ann’s will be held on 9th to 13th
August, and Sir Charles Hector
Fitzroy MacLean, Bart., Chief of
Clan MacLean, Duart Castle,
Isle of Mull, will attend as chief
guest. 11th August will be
“ Clan MacLean Day.” The Mod
will end with the annual outdoor
Memorial Service on 13th August.
Naidlieaclid na li-Airde Tuatli
NORTHERN ORGANISER’S NOTES
THE Organiser presided at a
Ceilidh held under the
auspices of the Balmacara
Branch on Friday, 12th May.
and during the afternoon had
interviews with the officials of
the South-West Ross Provincial
Mod at Kyle. A feature of this
Ceilidh was the contributions by
the boys from Balmacara Boys’
School under their leader, Mr.
M'. C-. MacLeod. It was an
innovation to see a choir of boys
conducted by one of themselves,
and thanks are due to Miss
Barry Milner, Itinerant Teacher
of Music for the area, who is
doing so much for Gaelic music in
these parts. Mrs. MacDonald,
Branch Secretary, made all the
arrangements, and the evening
was a thoroughly enjoyable one.
Mr. MacPhail left at five the
next morning, and midday found
him at Golspie, assisting the local
Committee to prepare a pro¬
gramme and time-table for the
County of Sutherland Mod. This
accomplished, he proceeded to
Inverness to pack the goods
gathered for the Inverness Burgh
& County Stall and Comunn na
b-Oigridh Stall at the Grand
Feilf. On Monday, 15th, he
travelled to Glasgow, calling at
places en route to collect more
goods for both stalls. For the
remainder of the week he was
fully engaged in Glasgow, in
charo-e of Comunn na h-Oigridh
Stall and assisting in other ways.
On Friday, 25th May, he pre¬
sided at a Concert at Kyle of
Lochalsh in aid of the local mod
funds. There was a good
attendance and an excellent
programme. He was present at
a meeting of the Inverness
Fonehd of Comunn na h-Oigridb
on the following evening and gave
a talk on the Gaelic Camp.
92
The Organiser was present at
the South-West Ross Mod on
Friday. 2nd June, and adjudi¬
cated some of the Junior Oral
Competitions.
The Badenoch-Strathspey Mod
was held on the same date, and
Miss A. R. Maclnnes, Assistant,
represented the Northern Pro¬
paganda Sub-Committee.
THE County of Sutherland
Mod was held at Golspie
on Friday, 9th June.
Probably there is no Pro¬
vincial Mod held under the
auspices of An Comunn where
the children have to travel such
long distances. For example, the
Durness children /left their
homes at 4 a.m., and covered
the distance of over 80 miles
by bus to get to Golspie.
Similarly, the Lochinver child¬
ren had to be off to the Mod
before 5 a.m., and none of
these children arrived back home
until the early hours of the
following morning. Enthusiasm!
Yes, and a little more. De¬
spite all these difficulties, Loch¬
inver Junior Choir was placed
first for two-part singing and
Durness Junior Choir first in the
unison and puirt-a-beul competi¬
tions.
On his way to the West
recently, the Organiser called at
a little school in Glenshiel. After
talk with the children (fifteen
in all), he offered a small prize
for the best idiomatic trans¬
lation of the following sentence •
“ The teacher is very nice.”
Without any hesitation, a lit+’e
bov cracked his fingers and said.
“ Tha i snog.” As long as you
get answers like that there is
little danger of the language dis¬
appearing.