An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Deo-gréine > Volume 17, October 1921 to September 1922

AN DEO-GREINE.
23
ASHAMED OF THE GAELIC.
Gaelic to those who loved it was essenti¬
ally the language of the sanctuary.
Unfortunately, in some parishes now it was
becoming identified with one denomination
—a great denomination, loyal, honourable,
and God-fearing. In others, when it got a
place at all, he was afraid that it was
regarded merely as a troublesome and
antiquated medium to convey on occasions
crumbs of religious comfort to a small but
brave minority who were determined, thank
God, to seek solace, as their fathers could,
in its sonorous phrases while life lasted.
There was another cause of the decline of
Gaelic—that was due to parents and
Education Authorities. What did parents
want in the Highlands? Was it that their
children should speak pure English? Let
them take it from him that no child in the
world spoke purer English than the Gaelic¬
speaking child. Was it that their child
should go out into the world unencumbered
by any burden? No burden was easier to
bear than the language of their father and
mother. The fact was there were far too
many in the Highlands to-day ashamed of
their Gaelic. They had the ill-conceived
notion that he could not fathom that it was
infra dig. for their children to speak their
mother tongue. The bi-lingual child had a
chance in life that no other child had. The
bi-lingual child had at once two ways of
looking at things. They found in Wales
and in the Hgihlands that, given a chance,
the bi-lingual boy had a start in life which
no other boy had. All that they as a society
had attempted to do, and all that they had
insisted upon, was that the bi-lingual child
should be entitled to instruction in the
language of his fathers. He spoke appreci¬
atively of the work of An Comunn Gaidheal-
ach. He believed they had only to see their
language and literature and art in danger
and they would stand shoulder to shoulder
to rescue and preserve them.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING.
The annual business meeting of An
Comunn was held on Saturday, when there
was a large and representative attendance.
Referring to the success of the Mod just
concluded, the President said that the
foundation of that success had been laid in
Oban a year ago, when the triumphant Mod
then held gave them a stimulus which had
been of enormous assistance in helping
towards the brilliant achievement of that
week. To all who had assisted, especially
the Highland Societies in Glasgow, their
best thanks were tendered. The election of
office-bearers was announced, and also the
auditors. Mr. Angus Robertson, Glasgow,
was elected to the vacancy on the Feill
Trust caused through the lamented death of
Mr. Robert Macfarlan, ex-Provost of
Dumbarton.
On the motion of the Rev. T. S. Macpher-
son, and, after discussion, it was resolved
that the Executive Council be requested to
reconsider the present system of adjudicat¬
ing Mod competitions with full powers to
devise a better method than that which has
hitherto prevailed. There was a strong
expression of feeling that only Gaelic-speak¬
ing judges should be allowed to adjudicate in
Gaelic competitions for both literary and
musical entries. Various other points of
minor importance were under discussion.
It was unanimously agreed that next
year’s Mod be held at Fort-William. In the
past it is understood that lack of hall accom¬
modation prevented the Mod being held in
that centre, but it was stated that this
difficulty had now been removed. The date
has not yet been arranged. It was recom¬
mended that arrangements should be made
for prizes at future Mods as a memorial to
the late Henry Whyte (“Fionn”) and Neil
Macleod, the Skye bard. A vote of thanks
to the Chairman, moved by Sir Norman
Lament, terminated the business meeting,
after which the Executive Council sat for
the transaction of other business.
It remains to be added that, during the
Mod proceedings, with the strenuous duties
involved, the secretary, Mr. Neil Shaw, and
his assistants, carried through the arrange¬
ments to the satisfaction of all concerned.
THE PRIZE LIST.
JUNIOR SECTION.
LITERATURE.
Letter on a simple subject—1 (10s), Lachlan
MacKinnon, Broadford, Skye; 2 (7s 6d), Margaret
Campbell, do.; 3 (5s), John Macdonald, do.;
4 (3s 6d), John Fletcher, do.; 5 (2s 6d), Angusina
MacMillan, Dervaig, Mull.
Writing from dictation of an unfamiliar piece of
prose—1 (10s), L. MacKinnon, Broadford; 2 (7s 6d),
A. MacMillan, Dervaig; 3 (5s), John Macdonald,
Broadford; 4 (2s 6d), Cathie MacRae, Loehalsh;
5 (a book), John Fletcher, Broadford.
Reproduction in writing of an unfamiliar piece of
prose—1 (10s), A. MacMillan, Dervaig; 2 (7s 6d),
Cathie MacRae, Lochalsh; 3 (5s), Helen MacMillan;
4 (2s 6d), John Macdonald; 5 (a book), Lachlan
MacKinnon.