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

108
AN DEO-GIREINE.
SECRETARY’S PAGE.
Ann am beagan laithcan bidh aig luckd-
taghaidh air a’ Ghkidhealtachd ri an
roghainn a chur an ughdarras a chum rian-
oileanachadh an cloinne orduchadh. Chaidh
an dleasnas a sparradh air meuran a’
Chomuinn mar tha agus tha dochas nach bi
muinntir eile cho neo-shuimeil agus gu leig
iad fear no te air Uachdranachd Foghluim
anns na Siorramachdan Gaidhealach nach
’eil deonach air a h-aite dligheach fein a
thoirt do’n Ghaidhlig anns na Sgoilean
Gaidhealach. Tha feum mor aig a’
Ghaidhlig air cuideachadh anns an linn so
agus is tamailteach dhuinne, mar
Ghiiidheil, mur dean sinn oidhirp chruaidh
air a togail gus an inbhe sin air an airidh i.
The syllabus for the Mid-Argyll Provincial
Mod is now issued, and contains in all
twenty-five competitions, Junior and Senior.
These include Literature, Oral, Solo,
Choral, Instrumental, and Highland
Dancing, the latter confined strictly to
amateurs. Special prizes are offered to
members of the various branches in the
province taking part in the competitions
who score the highest aggregate of marks.
The boundary has been extended to include
the parishes of Dalavich, Kilmelford, and
Kilninver. Arrangements are also well
forward for the holding of two local Mods in
Jura—Ardlussa and Craighouse—at the end
of this month, when I hope to be home to
assist.
Members and others will be interested to
read what was said at the Diamond Jubilee
Gathering of the Islay Association recently
by such a distinguished educationist as Mr.
Duncan MacGillivray, who presided. He
said one of the pressing duties of High¬
landers at present was that of keeping the
Gaelic language from dying. Judging from
the last census returns, it was in a bad way.
There was a decrease of 30 per cent, in the
number of Gaelic-speaking people. At that
rate Gaelic would be dead in a couple of
generations. The Irish and Welsh languages,
on the other hand, were gaining ground by
leaps and bounds. Some Highlanders asked
what was the use of Gaelic? The language
was, he replied, the enshrinement of the
culture and ideals of the race, and when the
language of a race died so did the race.
There was not one instance of a people main¬
taining their characteristics after their
language had disappeared. If Gaelic went
it would be “Lochaber No More” for the
Highlander, as without the Gaelic he would
be no better than the miserable Sassenach.
They must convince Highlanders of the
value of Gaelic, which was a great help in
the study of English, and which was the
richest language, phonetically, in Europe;
while English was the poorest.
—<)—<t>
It is matter of extreme regret to observe
that so staunch and active a friend of Gaelic*
as Dr. Kenneth Campbell is retiring at this
time from the Argyll Education Authority.
We can ill afford to lose men of his stamp
from the Education Authorities, and it is
sincerely to be hoped that one like-minded
may be found to take his place.
Ceilidh nan Gaidheal and Glasgow High
School Ceilidh have now closed their
sessions, remarkable for the large attend¬
ances at ' each meeting. On several
occasions a larger hall had to be requisi¬
tioned. Throughout the session the Ceilidhs
have disposed of fourteen dozen copies of
this magazine each month. The various
City Clan and County Associations are
closing with socials and dances, and this
month there will be a spate of annual busi¬
ness meetings.
Greenock Highland Society has had an
active session. This Society has always
made a feature of its wholly Gaelic evenings,
and I was pleased to be present and conduct
a Ceilidh, with the assistance of Miss Bessie
Campbell and Mr. Neil MacLean, at the
December meeting of the Society. The
Gaelic element was particularly in evidence
at the annual gathering, at which a party of
ladies of the Society made a decided hit
with their ‘‘Oran Luadhaidh” in costume
and with appropriate action, as the cloth
was effectively dealt with. I am pleased to
hear that, following on this very successful
venture, the Greenock Highland Society
ladies propose to form a ladies’ choir on a
definite basis. There is good material at
hand, and in a community so largely Gaelic
I anticipate success for the new organisa¬
tion. The Society have made a contribution
of five guineas to the Mod Fund, and at their
last meeting disposed of eight dozen copies
of the magazine.
Paisley Highlanders are just closing a very
successful session. They have been meet¬
ing in a larger hall, and the attendance each
Saturday evening showed that the discon-