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

140
AN DEO-GREINE.
school for years, and that every hoy and girl at the
time of leaving can read and write the language,
but we wanted so much to meet parents and others,
and tell them of this great movement, and encourage
them to do even greater things.
At Ky leak in we were more successful. Mr. Gunn,
headmaster, presided over a small but enthusiastic
meeting, and there was no hesitation about
re-forming this branch.
On Wednesday we arrived at the Manse, Sleat, to
lunch with the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Ross. Our first
meeting on this evening was in the School, Ardvasar.
This was the largest meeting of the tour, and was
presided over by Col. Martin Martin, who read a
short paper. The branch was re-formed, and,
at the urgent request of the meeting, I sang
a couple of Gaelic songs. We had tea with Col.
and Mrs. Martin at Upper Ostaig, and then addressed
a small meeting in Ferindonald School. No attempt
was made to form a branch here, and it was suggested
that the Ardvasar Branch might hold one or more
of its meetings at Ferindonald during the winter.
The last meeting of the tour was held in Dinsdale
School—Mr. H. Fraser, postmaster, in the chair. The
Isle Ornsay branch was re-formed, and a committee
appointed to call a meeting in autumn and arrange
a syllabus for the session. Mr. Angus Robertson,
Kinloch House, was nominated Hon. President. We
returned to Kyleakin, and travelled home the follow¬
ing day, via Inverness.
Knowing the many claims on people at this busy
season of the year, we are, on the whole, highly
satisfied with the result of our visit; indeed, I may
say that the result exceeded our expectations. There
still remain the difficulties which I have already
indicated, and which are not easily overcome. The
hope, however, is mainly in the schools, and in Skye,
at least, these seem to us to be on the right lines. I
carried several copies of the new Gaelic school text
books with me, and showed them round at each
meeting. Teachers are highly pleased with them,
and they are already much used in the Outer Isles.
Niall.
BRANCH REPORTS.
JURA.—The first local Mod in the history of the
island was held in the School on 26th April. Mr.
Neil Shaw, General Secretary of An Comunn
Gaidhealach, arranged) to carry through Mods under
the auspices of Small Isles and Ardlussa branches.
He was also responsible for the prizes, towards which
the Glasgow Jura Association contributed £5,
Messrs George and William Ferguson, Bearsden,
£2 3s; Rev. D. J. Robertson, Jura, 5s; Mr. John
Mackenzie, Glasgow, two copies of “ Am Fear
Cuill”; and Mr. Angus Meckechnie, Craighouse,
two special prizes for traditional singing (junior
section). Rev. D. J. (Robertson, president of the
local branch, presided over the gathering, which was
representative of all classes from the surrounding
townships. During the session classes for Oral and
Literary competitions were conducted by Rev. Mr.
Robertson and Mrs. Robertson, while Miss
Macdougall, teacher, prepared the children for the
solo singing competitions. The children did exceed¬
ingly well, and Mr. Shaw, who adjudicated in all
the sections of the syllabus, complimented the
teachers and the children on the high standard of
merit attained. In writing to dictation from Scrip¬
ture passages, the .percentage of marks was very
high, the first prize winner being awarded 98 per
cent. The singing of the children was splendid. The
first prize winner in the girls’ competition possesses
a voice of rare quality and tone, and sang her song
with fine expression. At the close votes of thanks
were proposed by Mr. Angus Mackechnie and Rev.
D. J. Robertson. In acknowledging, Mr. Shaw
proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the teachers and
to the donors of the prizes. Prize list—Junior
Section :—Reciting from memory—1, Sarah Keith,
Keills; 2, Duncan Black, Keills; 3, Katie Macphail,
Camustack. Reading Scripture—1, Iain Black,
Keills; 2, Effie Lindsay, Craigenhouse; 3, John
Shaw, Craigenhouse. Dictation from Scripture—
1, Effie Lindsay; 2, Katie Macphail; 3, Duncan
Black. Solo singing—1, Katie Macphail • 2, Maggie
Maclsaac, Craighouse ; 3, Effie Lindsay. Solo singing
—1, Donald Clark, Learga Breac; 2, Iain Black.
Traditional singing—Katie Macphail, special prize
presented by Mr. Angus Mackechnie. Senior Section
—Reciting from memory “Beannaibh mo Ghraidh ”
—1, Miss Maggie Maclsaac, Craighouse; 2, Miss
Katie Macdougall, Ballard; 3, John Maclsaac,
Craighouse; special prize, Alex. Buie. Reading
from “Am Fear Cuill ”—1, Alex. Mackechnie, Choc
Crom; 2, Miss Katie Macdougall; 3, Miss Maggie
Maclsaac; special prize, Alex. Buie. Solo—Miss
Flora Maolsaac, Craighouse ; 2, Miss Katie Macpher-
son, Inver; 3, Miss Katie Maodougall.
FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAN OF
LISMORE.
Professor W. J. Watson.
The MacGregor poetry in the Dean’s book
is the most valuable literary inheritance of
the Clan, and deserves their pious attention.
It consists of eight poems, of which six are
in honour of Eoin mac Phadruig mhic Mhaoil
Choluim, the chief who was contemporary
with the Dean, and who died in 1519; one
is to Donnchadh mac Griogoir, who died
probably in 1518; and one to Maol Choluim
mac Eoin Duibh mhic Eoin, who died in
1440. The author of the present poem,
Dubhghall mac an Ghiolla Ghlais, was, of
course, a contemporary of the Dean; he was
evidently learned and highly trained; the
poem is one of the finest in the Dean’s
collection.
The metre is Rannaigheacht Dialtach, in
which each line contains seven syllables, and
ends on a monosyllable (dialt). The couplets
have comharda (end-rhyme); all except the