“Bhuail e mi nach eil cruinneachadh de sheanchas a tha a’ buntainn ri Sgìre nan Loch an àite sam bith, is gum bu chòir dhomh cuid aca a thoirt cruinn agus mar a bha sa chleachdadh bho chionn fhada an aithris. ‘S e bha nam amharc gum biodh iad ri làimh dha daoine òga a tha ag iarraidh an aithris aig a’ Mhòd, no aig a bheil ùidh ann am beatha anns an sgìre bho chionn fhada”.
Magaidh Smith explains how the need for a collection of traditional tales from the Lochs district motivated her to record some in the old style. They might be useful for young people entering the Mòd, or who are interested in the traditional life of the area. We’re delighted that she offered them to Island Voices to place online. They will also contribute to the Stòras Beò collection.
Here she retells the story of Calum Bàn, Tacksman of Laxay, from her own knowledge of oral tradition.
Bi an ath choinneamh de Chomann Gàidhlig Ghlaschu againn oidhche Dhiardaoin sa tighinn, 7.30f. Bidh Catrìona Mhoireach a’ tighinn thugainn a bhruidhinn air Murchadh MacPhàrlain: Bàrd Mhealboist. Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair mhòr ris an oidhche seo agus tha sinn an dòchas gun urrainn dhuibh a bhith ann. Chithear fiosrachadh, gu h-ìosal mu ciamar a cheanglas sibh ris a’ Zoom.
Our next lecture, this coming Thursday, will be from Catriona Mhoireach on Bàrd Mhealboist. This lecture will be in Gaelic and we hope you can make it along. Zoom joining details follow below.
Turraisg gheal na Nollaig / White Christmas pudding
Taing do Janet, caraid dhomh ann an Liverpool, airson an reasabaidh seo. Rinn i an turraisg shònraichte seo do bhuidheann chàirdean gach Nollaig fad bhliadhnaichean, agus am bliadhna fheuch mi fhìn oirre – agus bha i blasda fhèin! Tha i math mar roghainn eile ma bhios tu sgìth den turraisg na Nollaig àbhaisteach, agus tha i fada nas fhasa ri dèanamh. Ach tha i ceart cho sàthach!
Grìtheidean (do mu shianar)
150 gr spuinnse thioram (leithid trifle no cèis flan), air a briseadh ann am pìosan glè bheag
1 no 1 ½ tiona orainsearean mandarin, gun sùgh!
75 gr measan tioram measgaichte
100 gr siristean glace
50 gr cnòthan-almoin bleithte
50 gr siùcar-fùdair
50 gr ìm, air a bhogachadh
1 spàin-bhuird sherry
Dòigh
Buail an t-ìm agus an siùcar gus am bi iad nan uachdar agus paisg na cnòthan-almoin a-steach dhan mheasgachadh. Cuir an sherry ris.
Measg a-steach, beag air bheag, na pìosan spuinnse, na measan tioram agus na siristean.
An uair sin cuir an darna leth de na h-orainsearan mandarin (air an deagh thraoghadh!) ris, agus measgaich gu math a-rithist. Thèid na pìosan a bhriseadh – tha sin ceart gu leòr, bheir iad taiseachd dhan mheasgachadh.
Aig an deireadh cuir an leth eile de na mandarins ris, gu cùramach, gus nach bris iad seo.
– Ma bhios am measgachadh ro thioram, cuir barrachd mandarins ris; agus ma bhios e ro fhliuch, barrachd spuinnse. Feuch blasad agus cuir barrachd siùcair no measan ris ma thogras tu, a-rèir do bhlais fhèin.
Cuir ann am bobhla-milseig e agus brùth am measgachadh sìos. Cuir film-còmhdachaidh air an uachdar agus fàg tron oidhche anns an fhrids e.
Mus cleachd thu an turraisg, tionndaidh a-mach air truinnsear i, agus sgeadaich i le “sneachd” siùcair-fhùdair agus measan no dearcan air a’ mhullach, no cuileann, agus ith le uachdar no reòiteag i. No ma bhios tu ag iarraidh turraisg fìor gheal, faodaidh tu a còmhdachadh le uachdar dùbailte no uachdar air a bhualadh.
Thanks to Janet, a friend of mine in Liverpool, for this recipe. She made this special pudding for a group of friends every Christmas for many years, and this year I gave it a try myself – and it was delicious! It’s a good alternative if you’re tired of the regular Christmas pudding, and is much easier to make. But it’s just as filling!
Ingredients (for approx.. 6)
150 gr dry sponge-cake (e.g. trifle sponges, flan case), broken into very small pieces
1 or 1 ½ tins mandarin oranges, without the juice!
75 gr mixed dried fruit
100 gr glace cherries
50 gr ground almonds
50 gr icing sugar
50 gr butter, softened
1 tablespoon sherry
Method
Cream the butter and icing sugar and fold in the ground almonds. Add the sherry.
Gradually work in the sponge pieces, the dried fruit and the cherries.
Now add half the mandarin oranges (well-drained!), and stir well in. The pieces of mandarin will break up – that’s OK, as they give moisture to the mixture.
At the end add the rest of the mandarins carefully, so these don’t break up.
– If the mixture is too dry, add a few more mandarins. If it’s too wet, add more sponge. Taste it and add more sugar or fruit if wished, to your own taste.
Put into a pudding-basin and press the mixture firmly down. Cover the surface with cling-film and leave in the fridge overnight.
Before serving, turn out onto a plate and decorate with icing-sugar “snow”, and fruit or berries on the top, or some holly, and eat it with cream or ice-cream. Or if you want a completely white pudding, cover it all over it in double cream or whipped cream.
Turraisg gheal na Nollaig / White Christmas pudding
Taing do Janet, caraid dhomh ann an Liverpool, airson an reasabaidh seo. Rinn i an turraisg shònraichte seo do bhuidheann chàirdean gach Nollaig fad bhliadhnaichean, agus am bliadhna fheuch mi fhìn oirre – agus bha i blasda fhèin! Tha i math mar roghainn eile ma bhios tu sgìth den turraisg na Nollaig àbhaisteach, agus tha i fada nas fhasa ri dèanamh. Ach tha i ceart cho sàthach!
Grìtheidean (do mu shianar)
150 gr spuinnse thioram (leithid trifle no cèis flan), air a briseadh ann am pìosan glè bheag
1 no 1 ½ tiona orainsearean mandarin, gun sùgh!
75 gr measan tioram measgaichte
100 gr siristean glace
50 gr cnòthan-almoin bleithte
50 gr siùcar-fùdair
50 gr ìm, air a bhogachadh
1 spàin-bhuird sherry
Dòigh
Buail an t-ìm agus an siùcar gus am bi iad nan uachdar agus paisg na cnòthan-almoin a-steach dhan mheasgachadh. Cuir an sherry ris.
Measg a-steach, beag air bheag, na pìosan spuinnse, na measan tioram agus na siristean.
An uair sin cuir an darna leth de na h-orainsearan mandarin (air an deagh thraoghadh!) ris, agus measgaich gu math a-rithist. Thèid na pìosan a bhriseadh – tha sin ceart gu leòr, bheir iad taiseachd dhan mheasgachadh.
Aig an deireadh cuir an leth eile de na mandarins ris, gu cùramach, gus nach bris iad seo.
– Ma bhios am measgachadh ro thioram, cuir barrachd mandarins ris; agus ma bhios e ro fhliuch, barrachd spuinnse. Feuch blasad agus cuir barrachd siùcair no measan ris ma thogras tu, a-rèir do bhlais fhèin.
Cuir ann am bobhla-milseig e agus brùth am measgachadh sìos. Cuir film-còmhdachaidh air an uachdar agus fàg tron oidhche anns an fhrids e.
Mus cleachd thu an turraisg, tionndaidh a-mach air truinnsear i, agus sgeadaich i le “sneachd” siùcair-fhùdair agus measan no dearcan air a’ mhullach, no cuileann, agus ith le uachdar no reòiteag i. No ma bhios tu ag iarraidh turraisg fìor gheal, faodaidh tu a còmhdachadh le uachdar dùbailte no uachdar air a bhualadh.
Thanks to Janet, a friend of mine in Liverpool, for this recipe. She made this special pudding for a group of friends every Christmas for many years, and this year I gave it a try myself – and it was delicious! It’s a good alternative if you’re tired of the regular Christmas pudding, and is much easier to make. But it’s just as filling!
Ingredients (for approx.. 6)
150 gr dry sponge-cake (e.g. trifle sponges, flan case), broken into very small pieces
1 or 1 ½ tins mandarin oranges, without the juice!
75 gr mixed dried fruit
100 gr glace cherries
50 gr ground almonds
50 gr icing sugar
50 gr butter, softened
1 tablespoon sherry
Method
Cream the butter and icing sugar and fold in the ground almonds. Add the sherry.
Gradually work in the sponge pieces, the dried fruit and the cherries.
Now add half the mandarin oranges (well-drained!), and stir well in. The pieces of mandarin will break up – that’s OK, as they give moisture to the mixture.
At the end add the rest of the mandarins carefully, so these don’t break up.
– If the mixture is too dry, add a few more mandarins. If it’s too wet, add more sponge. Taste it and add more sugar or fruit if wished, to your own taste.
Put into a pudding-basin and press the mixture firmly down. Cover the surface with cling-film and leave in the fridge overnight.
Before serving, turn out onto a plate and decorate with icing-sugar “snow”, and fruit or berries on the top, or some holly, and eat it with cream or ice-cream. Or if you want a completely white pudding, cover it all over it in double cream or whipped cream.
Dh’fhosgail rathad-iarainn ùr ann an Devon Disathairne sa chaidh. Seo “Rathad-iarainn Dartmoor” eadar Exeter agus Okehampton ann am Pàirce Nàiseanta Dartmoor. Loidhne a tha 14 mìle a dh’fhaid. Chaidh an loidhne a dhùnadh do luchd-siubhail bho chionn cha mhòr 50 bliadhna ach lean seirbheisean bathair gu na 2010an agus bha rathad-iarainn glèidhichte air pàirt den t-slighe cuideachd bho 1997 air adhart.
Bha a’ chomhairle ionadail agus ùghdarras na Pàirce Nàiseanta fada den bheachd gum bu chòir dhan loidhne ath-fhosgladh air adhbharan àrainneachdail agus eaconomach le cho dona ’s a tha an trafaig anns a’ Phàirce Nàiseanta agus mu dheireadh fhuair iad maoineachadh tro iomairt “Reversing Beeching” aig Riaghaltas na RA.
Chaidh an trac agus am bun-structar air fad ùrachadh agus tha an loidhne a cheart cho spaideil ‘s a bha i nuair a dh’fhosgail i an toiseach bho chionn 150 bliadhna. Bidh an stèisean ùr gu math goireasach ma tha thu air ùr thighinn a-mach à Broadmoor no ma tha thu a’ teicheadh bho Chù nam Baskerville! Bidh e feumail cuideachd ma tha thu dìreach a’ dol dhan Phàirc Nàiseanta – ach chan eil sin buileach cho inntinneach…. Bha an loidhne seo mar phàirt de loidhne na b’ fhaide uair – a’ dol cho fada ri Bude air costa a tuath na Cùirne.
An t-seann loidhne eadar Okehampton agus Bude
Tha iomairt a’ dol air adhart gus an loidhne a thoirt air ais fad na slighe gu Bude leis a’ bhuidhinn Connect Bude. Gur math a thèid leotha.
Each week we publish the text of our Gaelic Word of the Week podcast 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 leabhar – book. This week is Books Week Scotland, … Leugh an corr de Gaelic Word of the Week blog – Book – Leabhar
Wahn shaat flim ina di Jamiekan langwij bout di Tobar an Dualchais (Well of Heritage) Dijitaizieshan Senta ina South Uist, ina di Outer Hebrides ina Scotland.
We were pleased to get Island Voices representation on the Digital Museum’s truly continent-spanning special event on International Mother Language Day this year. Starting in Bangladesh, where the movement began, the various sessions crossed Asia, Europe, and Africa, before finishing up with speakers from the Americas.
Gaelic was presented alongside Jamaican, and from that initial contact an exciting collaboration is growing up between the University of the Highlands and Islands Language Sciences Institute and the Jamaican Language Unit of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. This is being developed through the enlargement of the inter-university Mediating Multilingualism project, which was already linking UHI with Indian partners.
The Jamaican Language Unit conducts research on the Jamaican language, and advocates for the recognition and officialisation of the language, and its teaching to native and non-native speakers. As part of Mediating Multilingualism it will oversee the creation of audio and audio-visual materials in the Jamaican language, the provision of transcripts, translations, and related lexicographic work, plus compilation of a 500,000-word corpus.
Test Clilstore units are now coming through, based on Island Voices documentary material, making use of the same Custom Wordlist function first tested out on Okinawan. Here’s an early sample, adding yet another language to our Other Tongues collection. The Tobar an Dualchais film was first made in Gaelic and English for Series Two Enterprise, with a Scots version following later. Many thanks to Hugh Campbell and the Jamaican Language Unit for this new production!
Hugh’s voiceover narration has been transcribed using the approved Cassidy-JLU orthography for the Jamaican language. Here’s the wordlinked Clilstore unit, with every word clickable for a Jamaican to English translation: https://clilstore.eu/cs/9897
An ath choinneamh o Chomann Gàidhlig Ghlaschu Diardaoin sa tighinn. An aire nach urrainn don Dr Emily McEwan a bhith còmhla ruinn mar a bha an dùil ach tha sinn an dòchas gun cluinn sinn bhuaipe an ath bhliadhna. An àite sin bidh Aonghas MacLeòid o Cheap Breatuinn tighinn a’ bhruidhinn ris a’ Chomann mun nobhail grafaig ùr aige, Às a’ Chamhanaich. Tha sinn fada an comain Aonghas airson bhith deònach tighinn thugainn. An dòchas ar faicinn an sin. Bheiribh an aire gur ann aig 8.00f uairean (àm Ghlaschu), oidhche Dhiardaoin sa tighinn (18/11/2021) a bhios a’ choinneamh a’ tòiseachadh, leth-uair a thìde nas tràithe nan àbhaist.
Our scheduled speaker, Dr Emily McEwan wont be able to make it (though we hope to hear from her next year). Instead, we will be joined next Thursday (18th November) by Aonghas MacLeòid, Cape Breton, who has kindly agreed to step in and will be talking to us, in Gaelic, about his new novel, Às a’ Chamhanaich. Please note the earlier starting time of 8pm (Glasgow time).
Bha tòrr a’ dol ann an Glaschu a thaobh còmhdhail sheasmhach an t-seachdain seo rè COP26.
Tha gu leòr air a bhith ag ràdh nach robh ann an COP ach cop agus nach deach gu leòr a dhèanamh. Nuair a sgrìobh mi seo bha sinn fhathast a’ feitheimh ris an aonta mu dheireadh.
Ach bha COP26 math air co-dhiù aon rud – a’ taisbeanadh còmhdhail sheasmach den t-seòrsa a bhios a dhìth oirnn san àm ri teachd.
Tha an Riaghaltas ag amas air lìonra rèile na h-Alba air fad a dhì-charbonachadh ro 2035. Nì iad seo tro bhith a’ cur uèirichean dealain an àirde airson a’ mhòr-chuid de na loidhnichean ann an Alba. Ach gus an tachair sin, agus airson nam beagan loidhnichean far nach biodh sin prataigeach (Loidhne na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, Loidhne a’ Chaoil is Loidhne na Gàidhealtachd an Iar), bithear a’ cleachdadh trèanaichean dealanach le bataraidhean agus trèanaichean hàidhdreaidein.
Clas 230 BEMU (‘Battery Electric Multiple Unit’), Crois mo Liubha, Glaschu
Bha an dà chuid trèana dhealanach agus trèana hàidhdeaidein gan taisbeanadh aig Stèisean a’ Mheadhain rè COP agus rinn iad tursan gach latha airson daoine aig COP26 airson sealltainn dhaibh mar a bha an teicneòlas ag obair.
Cha robh mi cudromach gu leòr gus cuireadh fhaighinn airson a dhol orra ach chaidh mi a-mach air safari rèile gus am faicinn.
Seo an trèana hàidhdeaidein “Hydroflex” air Cearcall Cathcart agus seo an trèana bataraidh (D-train – seann trèana tiùb Lunnainneach ’suas-chuairtichte’) ann an Crois mo Liubha.
Clas 799 (HMU – Hydrogen Multiple Unit)
Ann am meadhan a’ bhaile, bha tòrr bhusaichean dealanach rim faicinn, a’ gabhail a-steach busaichean shuttle gu COP26 agus am bus eadar na stèiseanan uile. Chaidh mi air a bhus eadar Stèisean a’ Mheadhain agus Stèisean Sràid na Banrighinn agus bha e samhach, luath is spaideil.
Tha e math adhartas fhaicinn. Thathar a’ dealanachadh loidhne Chille Bhrìde an Ear an-dràsta fhèin is tha an Riaghaltas dìreach air aontachadh loidhne Barrheid a dhealanachadh cuideachd. Agus tha busaichean dealanach air fàs gu math cumanta sa bhaile a-nis cuideachd. Thòisich busaichean dealanach aig First Bus gu Milton bho chionn cha mhòr dà bhliadhna agus sna beagan sheachdainean a dh’fhalbh tha iad air fàs tòrr nas cumanta le tòrr aca a-nis aig companaidh busaichean McGills ann an Glaschu is Schd Rinn Friù.
B’ fheàrr leam gun robh adhartas cho mòr is cho luath seo ga dhèanamh air a h-uile rud eile sa cho-labhairt!
Each week we publish the text of our Gaelic Word of the Week podcast 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 Cothrom na Fèinne – a fair chance or fair … Leugh an corr de Gaelic Word of the Week – Cothrom na Fèinne – a fair chance
“Bhuail e mi nach eil cruinneachadh de sheanchas a tha a’ buntainn ri Sgìre nan Loch an àite sam bith, is gum bu chòir dhomh cuid aca a thoirt cruinn agus mar a bha sa chleachdadh bho chionn fhada an aithris. ‘S e bha nam amharc gum biodh iad ri làimh dha daoine òga a tha ag iarraidh an aithris aig a’ Mhòd, no aig a bheil ùidh ann am beatha anns an sgìre bho chionn fhada”.
Wahn shaat flim ina di Jamiekan langwij bout di Tobar an Dualchais (Well of Heritage) Dijitaizieshan Senta ina South Uist, ina di Outer Hebrides ina Scotland.
