whither gaelic

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I was reading the latest issue of An Gaidheal Ùr and came across an article by Joy Dunlop titled, “S truagh am meas a th’againn air ar dualchas fhèin”, which means “It’s sad the estimation we have of our own heritage”.

The article concerns Joy’s evening singing in the hall in Oban, a place I know well, being the hub for the southern islands, which I cycle toured for years in my early teens. It’s also a place I associate quite strongly with Gaelic. I know of three giants of the Gaelic world with Oban connections. Iain Mac a’Ghobhainn (Ian Cricthton Smith), Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul (Angus Peter Campbell) and Anna Latharna Nicgillìosa (Anne Lorne Gillies). Also, Argyll has very ancient Gaelic roots, with the Gaelic of Islay being the closest to the original language of the highlands, with the dialects becoming more diluted by Norse the further north you travel.

Polish on eBothy Blog

whither gaelic