An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 28, October 1932--September 1933

An Damhar, 1932.
AN GAIDHEAL
11
there is a marvellous profusion of romantic
tales, of adventure and of wonder, covering
an extensive field. And as for the poetry
you have in your own native speech a
wealth of poetry not easily eclipsed for
quality and artistic merit. The whole of
Gaelic literature is actually alive I Why?
Because it came straight from the heart.
There is so little in it that is conventional
or ephemeral. And because it has the truly
human ring, it retains a truly human
interest. To permit such a heritage to perish
would be an irreparable loss to the Gael.
Recognising then the value of the old
language, as well as the worth of the
literature it contains, what steps ought we
to take in order to conserve these? There
are already organised bodies in Scotland,
having the preservation of these in view.
Every earnest Gael should extend to such
a cultural movement his hearty support.
Not only ought the ancient language to be
kept alive among the people, but the study
of it should be further extended in the
Universities of Scotland. During the past
generation the leaders of Celtic learning
have been French and German scholars.
But there is no reason at all why our own
students of Gaeldom should not be abreast
of the highest learning in that subject. The
Gaelic language ought to be fostered on
both sides, the popular use of the
language among native speakers; and also
the more erudite side in our Schools and
Colleges. Surely the Gael can rise a little
higher than a mercenary standard in
judging the worth of a living speech, and
his own native speech at that. Is it too
much to expect that he could be intellectual
enough to keep his own speech as an
ornament, or mental accomplishment with
all the accompanying benefits to which I
have just referred? Judging from the case of
some Gaels who have held faithfully by their
mother tongue as an ornament, in addition
to English, and who, notwithstanding, have
been very successful from the material
standpoint, we argue that his ancestral
culture is no hindrance, but rather a help
to the Gael in modem life.
(To be concluded.)
0
AM FAIGH A’ GHAIDHLIG BAS?
Tha a’ cheist so air a faighneachd as ur, air
do aon de bhuill Shasunnach. na Parlamaid cur
an aghaidh a bhi cosg airgid air canain a tha
(a reir a bheachdsan) a’ faighinn a’ bhais, sin
ri radh, a’ Ghaidhlig. Thachair so anns a’
Pharlamaid o chionn ghoirid. Chan eil mi
saoilsinn gu ’n ruig sin a leas muiseag sam bith
a chur oirnn An aite sin is ann bu choir gu’n
cuireadh e spionnadh nuadh annainn, ceart is
mar a chuireadh anns na buill Albannach a
labhair gu sgairteil ’na aghaidh. Tha sinn gle
phroiseil asda gu dearbh, agus gle fhada ’n
an comain.
Ach chan eil feum air a dhol gu Sasunn
airson tachairt ri argumaid de’n t-sebrsa so.
Chi sinn gu robh an dearbh cheist so a’ cur dragh
air a’ bhard ainmeil sin, Niall MacLeoid, ’na
latha fhein. Ars esan:
“ Tha moran sluaigh am beachd an diugh
Nach eil ar canain slan ;
Nach fhad a chluinnear fuaim a guth,
Nach teid i chaoidh na’s fearr ;
Gu bheil an aont’ a bh’aic air ruith,
Nach tog i ceann gu brath ;
’S a dh’aindeoin buaidh Mhic-Tlle-Dhuibh,
Gu’m faigh a’ Ghaidhlig bas. ”
Cha robh Niall MacLeoid fhein de’n bheachd
sin idir, is e nach robh. Rinn e sin soilleir gu
leoir anns an t-seathamh rann de ’n bran, bran
a mholainn do neach sam bith a dh’fhaodas a
bhi aineolach air. Gheibhear e an “ Coisir a’
Mhbid.”
Agus ciod a their sinn mu dheidhinn an brain
oirdheirc sin, bran-brosnachaidh A’ Chomuinn
Ghaidhealaich, “ Suas leis a’ Ghaidhlig ”?
Cha bhi mi cho ladarna ’s gu’n ainmich mi aon
fbacal dhe do mhuinntir Gaidhlig an latha an
diugh: ach ni mi beagan faisneachd d’a thaobh,
agus is i sin—gu’m bi a’ chuid sin de luchd na
Gaidhlig a bhios aig a’ Mhbd anns a’ Ghearasdan,
air an togail suas leis, ’nuair a sheinnear e leis na
Coisirean, air dhbigh’s gu’n geall iad annta fein—
“ Air mo shon-sa ’s air son mo thighe chan
fhaigh a’ Ghaidhlig bas.” Tha so ceart.
Bidh mbran de ruintean maithe air an gintinn
aig a’ Mhbd. Tha so ceart cuideachd: ach ’s i
cheist—cia lion dhiubh sin a thig gu ire? Is e
nithean basmhor a th’anns na ruintean: feumaidh
sinn an altrum gu faiceallach.
Nis, air barantas an da brain chiataich a
chaidh ainmeachadh, chan fhaigh a’ Ghaidhlig
bas: ach cuimhnicheamaid so, tha cumhnantan
co-cheanghailte ris a’ bharantas, agus is iad
cuid dhiubh sin—seasmhachd air a sgath, agus
a bhi ag ard-sheinn a cliu ann am bardachd ’s
an cebl. Gu nadurra, is ann ri clanna nan
Gaidheal a tha sin air earbsa, ’s cha chlann sam
bith eile. Theirinn so, mur a cumar suas a
bardachd ’s a cebl, theid a’ Ghaidhlig air chid.
Gu fortanach, chan ’eil aig an am de chomharra
gu’n tachair sin, eadhon uiread is neul beag
Cosmhuil ri bois duine.
Bu mhiann learn an cothrom so a ghabhail
air facal no dha a radh as leth, chan e mhain
luchd seinn na Gaidhlig an latha an diugh, ach