On a tha dlùth air an dàrna leth dhe na Gàidheil a’ fuireach air a’ Ghalltachd a-nis, a bheil na seann ainmean cinneach seo — Galltachd agus Gàidhealtachd — a’ freagairt air saoghal na Gàidhlig anns an latha an-diugh?
Thàinig a’ cheist seo am bàrr fhad ’s a bha mi ag obair air an ath leabhar agam, Às na Freumhan, leabhar eachdraidh a sgrìobh mi mu iomairt na bun-sgoileadh Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann.
A thaobh cuspair na h-eachdraidh agus nan daoine a bha an sàs innte, mheas mi gum biodh an t-ainm Galltachd gu sònraichte trioblaideach, agus an seann chlaonadh fillte san ainm gu bheil Gàidheil ghaisgeanta Dhùn Èideann uile a’ fuireach taobh a-muigh saoghal ‘ceart’ na Gàidhlig ann an dòigh air choreigin.
Shaoilte, le cho stèidhichte ’s a tha na seann ainmean cinneach seo, gu bheil iad glè àrsaidh, ach ann an da-rìribh, cha do dh’fhàs iad bitheanta ann an Alba ro fhìor dheireadh nam meadhan aoisean.
Mun aon àm, chleachdte ainm eile air an ranntair a thuigear an-diugh mar The Highlands: Na Garbhchriochan. Chaidh ciall an ainm seo a chuingealachadh rè nam bliadhnaichean, agus a-nis, mar as àbhaist, thèid Na Garbhchriochan a chleachdadh an iomradh air an tìr eadar Loch Shuaineart agus Loch Shubhairne, ach o thùs, bha Na Garbhchriochan a’ gabhail a-steach na Gàidhealtachd air fad, agus aig amannan, nan Eileanan Siar cuideachd.[2]
Agus anns an latha an-diugh, mothachail air an trioblaid shònraichte a thig an cois an ainm, Galltachd, molar cuid an seann ainm, Machair na h-Alba, mar ainm Gàidhlig eile air The Lowlands.[3] ’S e sin an t-ainm a chleachdar air uairibh an cois foghlaim chloinne a-nis, mar eisimpleir.[4]
Bha machair a’ ciallachadh The Lowlands of Scotland o chionn fhada; ’s e sin an treasamh mìneachadh aig Edward Dwelly fhèin air an fhacal: “Name given by the Scottish Gael to the southern or low-lying parts of Scotland,”[5] ach anns an latha an-diugh, mar as tric nuair thèid machair a chleachdadh leis fhèin, thathas a’ dèanamh iomradh air a’ mhachair anns na h-Eileanan Siar, agus mar sin, bhiodh an t-ainm na b’ fhaide, Machair na h-Alba, na b’ fheàrr, shaoilinn, nuair a bhite a’ dèanamh iomradh air The Lowlands of Scotland.
Anns an dòigh cheudna, leis gum bi an t-ainm Na Garbhchriochan gu bitheanta a-nis na iomradh air taobh an iar sgìre Loch Abar, seach The Scottish Highlands air fad, airson soilleireachd, dh’fhaoidte Garbhchriochan na h-Alba a chleachdadh nuair a bhite a-mach air na Garbhchriochan anns an t-seagh thùsach.
Aig a’ cheann thall, cho-dhùin mi gun cleachdainn “ceann a deas na dùthcha” an àite Ghalltachd. An lùib eachdraidh fada, toinnte, tha e na bhuannachd gu bheil an abairt seo soilleir agus neodrach, ach mar ainm, tha i caran lom. Chan eil cus ceòl innte.
Saoil, dè ur beachd fhèin?
[1] MacLeòid, Aonghas. 1978. Òrain Dhonnchaidh Bhàin; The Songs of Duncan Ban Macintyre. Dùn Èideann: Comunn Litreachas Gàidhlig na h-Alba, 2.
[3] Morgan, Ailig Peadar. 2013. Ethnonyms in the place-names of Scotland and the Border counties of England. PhD Oilthigh Chill Rìbhinn, Eàrr-ràdh, 208.
Each week we record our Gaelic Word of the Week podcast and post the text here with added facts, figures and photos for Gaelic learners who want to learn a little about the language and about the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. This week our word is – Mun cuairt mun cuairt! If you are … Leugh an corr de Gaelic word of the Week blog – Mun Cuairt mun cuairt! #gaidhlig
Eadar Nollaig agus a’ Bhliadhna ùr, bidh mi a’ dol gu Sasainn air safari-rèile fad dà latha airson a dhol air loidhnichean rèile nach fhaca mi riamh roimhe.
Tha mi gu bhith a’ dol air Mail Rail agus gu gach mòr-stèiseanan Lunnainneach ann an latha agus tha mi a’ dol a dhol air turas air Loidhne Ealasaid agus loidhne ùr Barking Riverside cuideachd.
Ach mus dèan mi sin, tha mi a’ dol gu Essex. Tha mi a’ dol gu Southend-on-Sea gus rathad-iarainn sònraichte fhaicinn – Rathad-iarainn Cidhe Southend.
A’ chiad rathad-iarainn air cidhe southend
Tha cidhe Southend gu math ainmeil. Chaidh a thogail an toiseach mar chidhe fiodha ann an 1830 agus bha slighe-trama eich ann. Chaidh cidhe iarrainn ùr nas fhade a chur na àite ann an 1889 ag amas air luchd-turais. Tha e cho fada is gun robh feum air rathad-iarainn dealanach – tha an loidhne 1.33 mìle a dh’fhaid uile gu lèir.
Bha na trèanaichean tùsail coltach ri tramaichean “toastrack” a bha ann an cruth gu math bunaiteach is fosgailte ach chaidh an rathad-iarainn a sgeadachadh le trèanaichean art-deco àlainn ann an 1949.
Chaidh an rathad-iarainn a dhùnadh ann an 1978 agus bha teagamhan ann am maireadh an cidhe idir ach chaidh an cidhe a shàbhaladh agus chaidh an rathad-iarainn ath-fhosgladh le trèanaichean diosail ùra ann an 1986.
Tha na trèanaichean dìosail a-nis aig deireadh am beatha agus thòisich trèanaichean bataraidh-dealanach ùr air an loidhne bhig seo bho chionn ghoirid, trèanaichean a tha nas dreachmhoire agus nas ùaine cuideachd.
Tha mi air a bhith a’ beachdachadh air turas gu Southend fad iomadh bliadhna. Sa chiad dol a-mach, bha mi airson a dhol air rathad-iarainn cidhe. Chan eil rathaidean-iarainn cidhe cumanta san latha an-diugh – b’ àbhaist gu leòr a bhith ann ann an bailtean turasachd a’ chosta, ann am Blackpool, Southend, Ryde (Isle of Wight) agus fiù ’s ann an Eilean Mhanainn ann an Rhumsaa/Ramsey. An-diugh, chan eil air fhàgail anns na h-eileanan seo ach Southend agus Hythe ann an Sasainn.
‘S e an t-adhbhar eile a tha mi airson a dhol dhan bhaile – agus dhan rathad-iarainn gun robh mo deagh charaid agus an stiùriche PhD agam an t-Àrd-ollamh Coinneach MacFhionghuin nach maireann (“athair sòsio-cànanachas na Gàidhlig”) na Mhèar air a’ bhaile ann am meadhan nan 1960an. Gu dearbha, turas no dhà chuir e litrichean thugam ann an seann cheisean-litreach “from the Mayor’s Parlour – Southend on Sea” (bhon dachaigh aige air a’ Ghàidhealtachd anns na 2000an agus chan ann bho “Sarfend”!)
Ma thèid thu dhan chidhe, ’s dòcha gum faic thu am plac seo bho a’ comharrachadh 75 bliadhna den rathad-iarainn dealanach agus a chaidh fhoillseachadh le His Worship K M MacKinnon!
Agus gu dearbha, nuair a bha Ken na b’ òige bha e ag obair air loidhne London Tilbury and Southend “the misery line” mar a chanas daoine ris – mus do dh’fhàg e a’ bheatha sin airson obair nas glamorous ann an sòiseòlas!
Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ dol air a’ chidhe, a’ faighinn tiops, a’ dol air na trèanaichean ùra – agus a’ smaoineachadh mu His Worship Ken MacKinnon!
“His Worship Ken MacKinnon” – Gàidheal Eilean nan Con! Dealbh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Seachdain no dhà air ais, bha cothrom agam rudeigin ann an Inbhir Nis fhaicinn ris an robh mi air fiughair a dhèanamh fad mhiosan – meanbh-sgeama haidro “Hydro Ness”. Cho luath ‘s a thòisich an sgeama air obrachadh, tràth san t-samhradh am bliadhna, bhuannaich e iomadh duais, m.e. aig Duaisean Cumhachd Ath-nuadhachail na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean, mar phròiseact ath-nuadhachail as fheàrr air tìr, agus Pròiseact Beag den Bhliadhna (British Construction Industry). Bhiodh sin drùidhteach gu leòr gun dad eile, ach leis gu bheil an sgeama dìreach air Abhainn Nis, chan ann sna beanntan mar a b’ àbhaist, mar gum biodh anns a’ bhaile fhèin, agus ann an togalach beag fìor tharraingeach (chunnaic mi dealbhan brèagha dheth), bha mi air bhioran fhaicinn mu dheireadh thall.
Tha an sgeama suidhichte air bruach na h-aibhne aig ceann thall Pàirc a’ Chonaisg ri taobh Drochaid Muilleann an Tuilm, àite nàdarrach brèagha. Ged a tha an sgeama fhèin gu tur ùr, tha dà cheangal aige dhan àm a dh’fhalbh. An toiseach, tha e a’ cleachdadh pàirt den bhun-structar a chaidh steidheachadh airson sgeama beag haidro eile sna 1920an. Chaidh an t-aonamh sgeama-haidro deug ann am Breatainn a thogail faisg air seo le bhith a’ leudachadh seann lad Muileann-flùir a’ Bhucht https://www.ambaile.org.uk/asset/11482/ , a’ tarraing uisge às an abhainn ann an seòrsa cùrsa-uisge àrdaichte. Ruith e fad deicheadan gus an deach Inbhir Nis air a’ Ghriod Nàiseanta. Tha am “Powerhouse” ri fhaicinn an-diugh fhathast – sin far a bheil bùth uachdair-reòite as t-samhradh. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6040546
Agus ‘s e seo an aon lad – air a ghlanadh ‘s a chur an òrdugh a-rithist – a bhios Hydro Ness a’ cleachdadh an-diugh fhèin. Ath-chuairteachadh gu dearbh!
Agus an ceangal eile do dh’eachdraidh? Uill, ‘s e rud fada nas sine a th’ anns an fhear seo: tha an dealan ann an Hydro Ness ga dheànamh le sgriubha Archimedes. Sin inneal à linntean àrsaidh, ann an cruth sgriubha mhòir, a tha ag obrachadh air prionnsabal simplidh gus uisge a ghluasad gu eifeachdach agus gun cus saothair (mar as àbhaist do dh’ìre nas àirde). Tha Hydro Ness a’ cleachadh cumhachd uisge na h-aibhne san lad gus an sgriubha a dhràibheadh, coltach ris an t-seann roth-muilinn, agus mar sin còrr is 500,000 kWh de dhealan ath-nuadhachail a chruthachadh gach bliadhna. https://akvopedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_screw
Tha an dealan ga chleachdadh gus cumhachd a sholarachadh do dh’Ionad-Spòrs Inbhir Nis faisg air làimh – 50% den fheumalachd aca. Nuair a smaoinicheas sinn air an dà amar-snàmh mòra aca, agus na goireasan uile eile, aithnichidh sinn gur e caomhnadh gu math mòr a th’ ann, gu h-àraidh le cosgaisean cumhachd a’ sìor dhol an àird a-nis.
Aig an aon àm, ‘s e eisimplir a th’ ann an Hydro Ness – chì sinn dè cho feumail ‘s as urrainn do sgeamaichean beaga, ath-nuadhachail mar seo a bhith dha na sgìrean far a bheil iad, le cumhachd ionadail, gun fheum air pròiseactan einnseinnearachd mòra, daora, agus gun ar lorg carboin a mheudachadh.
Ach tha aon taobh eile aig an sgeama seo – tha e cuideachd airson luchd-tadhail (inbhich is clann-sgoile) a tharraing a-steach is am foghlam a thaobh chuspairean mar àrainneachd is eag-eòlas, obair còmhla ri nàdar, lìontan-bìdh is eag-shiostaman, brosnachadh bith-iomadachd, ath-nuadhachadh na Gàidhealtachd tro lùth uaine, amsaa. Air an adhbhar sin tha an togalach fhèin, slige shimplidh gus dìon a thoirt dhan inneal agus dhan luchd-tadhail, sònraichte tlachdmhor grinn. Tha e ann an cruth armadillo le pleitean meatailt airgeadach, leth-fhosgailte do sholas is do ghaoith. Glacaidh e an t-sùil nuair a dhlùthaicheas tu ris, air cois no air rothair, no ma bhios tu a dràibheadh thairis air an drochaid ri a thaobh. Tha sanasan fiosrachail ann – ma bhios tu airson an leughadh idir – le grafaigean tarraingeach is soilleir (le beagan Gàidhlig orra), anns an t-slige fhèin agus timcheall oirre, air an cruthachadh leis a’ companaidh Mather & Co, agus flùraichean is beingean àlainn à clach gheal.
A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to see something in Inverness that I’ve been looking forward to for months – the micro-hydro-electric scheme Hydro Ness. As soon as the scheme was up and running, in early summer this year, it was winning awards, such as the Scottish Highlands & Islands Renewable Energy Award for Best Onshore Renewable Energy Project 2022, and the Best Small Project of the Year 2022 at the British Construction Industry Awards. That would be impressive enough on its own, but with the scheme being directly on the River Ness, not in the mountains as these schemes usually are, but more or less in the town itself, and in a fascinating wee building (I’d seen lovely pictures of it), I couldn’t wait to see it at last.
The scheme is located on the river-bank at the far end of Whin Park, beside the Holm Bridge, a beautiful green spot. Although the scheme is completely new itself, it has two connections to the past. First, it uses part of the infrastructure that was developed for an earlier small-scale hydro project in the 1920s. The 11th hydro-electric station in Britain was built near here using the widened mill-lade of the old Bught Meal Mill https://www.ambaile.org.uk/asset/11482/ , drawing water from the river in a kind of raised watercourse. It ran for several decades until Inverness was connected to the National Grid. Its “Powerhouse” can still be seen today – it houses the ice-cream parlour in the summer. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6040546
And the second link to history? Well, that one goes back a lot further: the electricity produced by Hydro Ness is generated using the Archimedes screw. That’s a device from ancient times in the form of a large screw, which works on a simple principle to move water efficiently and with minimal effort (usually up a level). Hydro Ness uses the power of the river flow in the lade to drive the screw, a bit like the old mill-wheel, which then powers the generator to create more than 500,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year. https://akvopedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_screw
The electricity supplies half the power needed to run the nearby Inverness Leisure Centre, and when you think about the two large swimming pools and all the other facilities there, you realise that represents quite a sizeable saving, especially with fuel costs rising by the minute.
At the same time Hydro Ness acts as an example – we can see just how useful such small-scale renewable schemes can be to the areas where they are, with local power and without the need for large-scale expensive engineering works, and also without increasing our carbon footprint.
But there’s another aspect to this scheme. Hydro Ness also aims to attract and educate visitors (adults and schoolchildren alike) on subjects like environment and ecology, working alongside nature, food-chains and eco-systems, encouraging biodiversity, renewing the Highlands through green energy, and so on. For that reason the building itself – a simple shell to protect the generator and the visitors – is startlingly attractive and elegant. It’s in the shape of an armadillo with silvery metal plates, half-open to light and wind. It catches the eye as you approach it, on foot or by bicycle, or when driving across the bridge beside it. There are informative signs – if indeed you want to read them – with clear, attractive graphics (and a bit of Gaelic), in the shell and around the location, as well as flowers and elegant white stone benches.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful, interesting place – why don’t you go and have a look for yourself?
Tha ‘lèirsgrios’ ionmhasail a’ bagairt air roinn chultarail na h-Alba. Seo an rabhadh bho Chomataidh Bun-reachd, Roinn Eòrpa, Cùisean Taobh a-muigh agus Cultair Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Ann an aithisg a chaidh fhoillseachadh an-diugh, tha a’ Chomataidh a’ coimhead air thoiseach gu buidseat 2023-24 Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus a’ bhuaidh a bhios aig co-dhùnaidhean buidseit air … Leugh an corr de Fios naidheachd: ‘Lèirsgrios’ ionmhasail a’ bagairt air roinn chultarail na h-Alba #gàidhlig #cleachdi
We’re deeply indebted to Sharon Pisani, our Maltese “Island Voice”, for the latest addition to our “Other Tongues” collection! This takes up to 22 the number of languages in which we have Island Voices films. Abair ioma-chànanas!
We first came into contact with Sharon through Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath, the North Uist Historical Society, for whom she’s doing great work in supporting the “Aire air Sunnd” project.
Based at St Andrews University, where she’s doing doctoral research on augmented reality, she’s somehow also found the time to translate and record a Maltese version of our Series Two Enterprise “Seatrek to St Kilda” film. Apparently, the island theme struck a chord!
And for anyone learning Maltese, or who perhaps just wants to see what it looks like written down, we’ve also created one of our trademark Clilstore units – http://multidict.net/cs/11181 – which combines the video with an online transcript wordlinked to online dictionaries.
Ma tha thu a’ fàs beagan seachd searbh dhe Facebook is Twitter, tha roghainn eile ann dhut: An co-shaoghal no fediverse sa chànan eile.
Tha an lìonra sòisealta sin fo smachd an luchd-cleachdaidh fhèin seach companaidhean mòra agus ’s urrainn do dhuine sam bith frithealaiche a chur air dòigh.
Gheibh thu barrachd fiosrachaidh air co-shaoghal.net no ’s urrainn dhut ballrachd fhaighinn sa bhad le ceangal cuiridh gu Mastodon a tha coltach ri Twitter. Chruthaich mi frithealaiche PeerTube cuideachd a tha coltach ri YouTube ach chan eil e fosgailte do chlàraidhean aig an àm seo. Tha a’ video gu h-àrd air PeerTube cuideachd.
Tha Lunnainn ainmeil airson trèanaichean fo-thalamh – an Tiùb agus a-nis an Elizabeth Line cuideachd. Ach a bharrachd air sin, tha rathad-iarainn fo-thalamh nas lugha ann nach eil buileach cho cliùiteach ach tha a cheart cho inntinneach.
Eadar 1927 agus 2003, bha rathad-iarainn sònraichte fo mheadhan Lunnainn a’ ceangal Stèisean Paddington san Iar agus Stèisean Liverpool Street agus Ionad Puist Whitechapel san Ear. ⠀ B’ e seo Rathad-iarainn Oifis a’ Phùist, Lunnainn no Mail Rail agus cha bhiodh e a’ giulan luchd-siubhail idir ach litrichean agus parsailean. Chaidh a thogail a chionn ’s gun robh an trafaig rathaid cho dona ann am meadhan a’ bhaile is gun robh e a’ cur maill air a’ phost.⠀
Seo mapa den t-siostam. Gu h-iongantach, tha an t-slighe car coltach ris an Elizabeth Line ùr!
Dhùin an loidhne ann an 2003 mar thoradh air atharrachaidhean anns an t-siostam puist.⠀ ⠀ Gu fortanach, ge-tà, tha pàirt den loidhne air ath fhosgladh do luchd-turais agus tha cothrom ann a-nis a dhol air an trèana bheag sgoinneil seo a tha mar phàirt de thaigh-tasgaidh a’ phuist.
We’re deeply indebted to 
