togblog

The black pudding of time – turas gu Allt nam Breac agus Fors an-Àird

Bidh fios aig luchd-leughadh cunbhalach gu bheil mi beò-ghlaicte le Loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath eadar Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir Ùige/Inbhir Theòrsa.

Chaidh mi air turas eile ann tràth san Iuchar airson a dhol gu stèisean Allt nam Breac ann an Gallaibh a tha air ùr fhosgladh às dèidh dha a bhith dùinte far còrr is bliadhna.

Agus fhad ’s a bha mi aig tuath, chuir mi turas air dòigh thairis air a’ chrìch ann an Cataibh gu Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Fhors an-Àird, àite a tha air a bhith air an liosta-bhucaid agam fad bhliadhnaichean.

Thòisich an turas agam le moch-èirigh Dihaoine gus am bus a ghlacadh dhan bhaile aig 6:15 airson trèana 7:07 gu Inbhir Nis agus trèana 10:40 gu Allt nam Breac. Chuir mi crìoch air beagan obair eadar-theangachaidh a bh’ agam ri dhèanamh agus an uair sin bha norrag-chumhachd agam agus chan fhada gus an robh sinn ann an Inbhir Nis.

Dh’fhalbh sinn air an uair air loidhne a’ chinn a tuath. Tha mi air a siubhal oirre gu math tric bho chionn ghoirid ach chan fhàs mi sgìth dhì uair sam bith. Tha an loidhne air fad dìreach àlainn le seallaidhean nach gabh a chreidsinn, eadar talamh àiteachas còmhnard, beanntan, lochan, seallaidhean den mhuir agus na flobhaichean (the flow country).

’S e rud sònraichte leis an loidhne gu bheil i a’ dol a-steach dhan tìr ann an taobh tuath Chataibh is Ghallaibh air slighe eadar-dhealaichte bhon rathad agus gum faic thu àiteachan nach fhaicear bhon chàr no bus, nam measg stèiseanan Fors an-Àird agus Allt nam Breac.

Chaidh mi gu Allt nam Breac an tòiseach. ’S e stèisean beag is iomallach a tha seo. Chanar gu math tric gur e Coire Odhar air loidhne na Gàidhealtachd an Iar an stèisean as iomallaiche an Alba ach ged nach eil ceangal rathaid dhan àite, tha taigh-òsta spaideil ann. Ann an Allt nam Breac, chan eil ceangail rathaid ann nas motha agus chan eil ach 4 no 5 taighean sgaipte ann agus gun rud sam bith eile ann!

’S e stad air iarrtais a th’ ann. Feumaidh tu innse do stiùiriche na trèana gu bheil thu airson ’s gun stad an trèana ann agus ma tha thu airson an trèana a ghlacadh ann an Allt nam Breac, feumaidh tu do ghàirdean a chur a-mach mar a dhèanadh tu le bus. Mur a dèan thu sin, cha stad an trèana ann.

Cha deach an stèisean a thogail gus coimhearsnachd no fiù ’s taigh-òsta a fhrithealadh ach a chionn ’s gun robh feum air tùr-uisge do na trèanaichean smùid agus air lùb seachnaidh gus am faigheadh na trèanaichean seachad air a’ chèile. Chuir e rud beag iongnadh air stiùiriche an trèana gun robh mi gu bhith a’ tighinn far na trèana aig stèisean cho iomallach.

Bha mi caran draghail mu bhith a’ tadhal air an stèisean oir dhùin i fad 18 mìosan mar thoradh air eus-aonta eadar na daoine leis a bheil an taigh ri taobh an stèisein agus Network Rail mu bhith a’ faighinn dhan àrd-ùrlar airson obair càraidh. Tha cùisean sìobhalta agus cùisean eucoireach air a bhith ann mun chùis.

Cha robh duilgheadas sam bith agam, ge-tà. Chaidh mi a-mach às an stèisean agus shìos an rathad agus choisich mi sìos gu Loch Dubh. Bha mi air planadh coiseachd na b’ fhaide ach ’s ann a bha e anabarrach fhèin teth. Feumaidh gun robh e mu 28c agus cha robh fiù ’s oiteag gaoithe ann agus glè bheag de dh’fhasgadh. Cha do smaoinich mi air “grian-dìon” no suntan lotion a thoirt leum nas motha – oir mar as trice cha bhi feum air a leithid ann an Gallaibh.

Chunnaic mi gu leòr air an turas ge-tà, a’ gabhail a-steach taigh treigte brèagha agus loidse Loch Dhuibh agus eile.

Chaidh mi air ais dhan stèisean às dèidh uair no dhà oir bha e fada ro theth. Chaidh mi a-staigh gu bothan an stèisein ach bha e fada ro theth an sin cuideachd! Shuidh mi sìos fo chraobh le leabhar ach ged a bha e na b’ fhuaire an sin, bha fada chus chuileagan ann. ’S e an superpower agam nach bi meanbh-chuileagan gam bhìdeadh idir agus bha sin feumail ach gu mì-fhortanach, tha creithleagan nan each (clegs) a cheart cho dèidheil orm ’s a tha iad air a h-uile duine eile agus bha gu leòr aca ann…

Chan eil trèanaichean cho pailt ann an Allt nam Breac agus bha dà uair a thìde ri feitheimh gus an tigeadh an ath thrèana gu tuath.

Shuidh mi sìos air a’ bheing air san stèisean agus thàinig an tè a tha a’ fuireach ann an taigh an stèisean gus bruidhinn rium agus thug i deoch fuar dhomh is bha mi fada na comain.

Thàinig a cearcan a-mach airson bruidhinn rium cuideachd.

Às dèidh sinn, dh’èist mi ri podcast no dhà gus an tàinig an trèana.

Bha an trèana gu bhith ann aig 17:20 ach cha robh sgeul oirre. Bidh na trèanaichean gu tric air dhèireadh air loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath ach bha mi ann an stèisean gun clàr fiosrachaidh no siognal airson fòn làimh. Gu fortanach, tha fòn ann gus fios a chur gu ScotRail agus thog mi e is thuirt iad gun robh an trèana mu 25 mionaidean air dheireadh. Bha mi toilichte cluinntinn gun robh i air an t-slighe oir cha bhiodh an ath thrèana ann gu 21:50!

Trèanaichean ann an Allt nam Breac agus Inbhir Theòrsa

Às dèidh oidhche ann an Inbhir Theòrsa, ghlac mi an 08:34 gu deas agus ràining mi Fors an-Àird aig 09:13.

‘S e stèisean gu math iomallach is beag a th’ ann ach tha e cudromach oir tha lùb seachnaidh ann agus ’s ann an seo a bhios na trèanaichean eadar tuath is deas a’ dol seachad air a’ chèile.

‘S e stèisean àlainn a th’ ann cuideachd, le taigh an stèisean a-nis na ionad tadhail airson Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Flobhaichean Fhors an-Àird agus tha flùraichean gu leòr ann.

Fhuair mi beachd airson còmhlan roc ann an Ionad an RBPB cuideachd:

“Hallò Cleveland, is sinne:

Agus seo a’ chiad òran bhon chlàr concept dùbailte againn:

Tha ionad nam Flobhaichean fìor mhath le gu leòr mu cho cudromach ’s a tha iad dhan àrainneachd agus mun obair a tha iad a’ dèanamh gus cur às do na craobhan a chaidh a chur ann sna 1980an a tha a’ drèanadh nam flobhaichean agus a’ leigeil CO2 a-mach.

Tha e fìor mhath ath-bheòthachadh nam flobhaichean fhaicinn.

Tha ceum-coiseachd ùr ann le tùr le seallaidhean matha den sgìre agus pannalan fiosrachaidh mu nàdar anns na boglaichean.

Aon rud a bhuail orm, ’s e nach robh Gàidhlig ri fhaighinn ann an soidhnichean no eadar-mhìneachadh ach a-mhàin ach a-mhàin an rud gu h-àrd (“Blazing knitting needles”).

Airson Tèarmann Nàdar Nàiseanta, tha e neònach nach eil soidhnichean Gàidhlig ann idir. Chan eil mi a’ utigsinn carson nach eil barrachd cuideam air a’ Ghàidhlig anns na tèarmainn nàdair nàiseanta. Dh’fhàg mi nòta ann an an leabhran an luchd-tadhail mu dheidhinn.

Chaidh mi airson srùbag ann an seòmar-tì Loidse Fors an-Àird agus nuair a thill mi dhan stèisean, chunnaic mi gun deach mo thrèana gu deas a chur dheth is gum biodh trì uairean gu leth ann dhan ath thrèana. Chuir mi fios gu ScotRail air a’ fòn aca air an àrd-ùrlar agus thuirt iad nach biodh e comasach còmhdhail eile a chur air dòigh. Leis gun robh e air leth teth agus gun robh mi ann na àite gu math iomallach gun ghioreasan, mhol iad gum bu chòir dhomh an ath thrèana gu tuath a ghlacadh gu Inbhir Ùige is air ais oir ’s e sin an ath thrèana a bhiodh a’ dol gu deas co-dhiù.

Mar sin, bha latha fada agam ach fhuair mi leisgeul a dhol air ais a dh’Inbhir Ùige air an trèana!

Alasdair

Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

Feumaidh sinn bruidhinn mu loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath

Le alasdairmaccaluim

Tha mi anabarrach dèidheil air loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath (Inbhir Nis gu Inbhir Theòrsa/Inbhir Ùige) agus tha mi gu mòr airson ‘s gun soirbhich leatha agus gum fàs i. Tha i cudromach dhan sgìre agus gu nàiseanta.

Ach tha mi mothachail cuideachd gu bheil duilgheadasan ann air am feumar aghaidh a chur. Air an turas mu dheireadh agam gu Cataibh is Gallaibh bho chionn ghoirid, dh’fhiosraich mi cuid de na dùbhlain a thar ron loidhne dhomh fhèin: dàil air seirbheisean agus seirbheisean air an cur dheth mar thoradh air dìth lùban seachnaidh agus trèanaichean a tha a’ fàs aosta.

Chaidh mi air turas gu Allt na Breac, Inbhir Theòrsa agus Fors an-Àird aig deireadh na seachdain.

Air an t-slighe gu tuath, bha an trèana agam eadar Inbhir Nis is Allt nam Breac 13 mionaid air dheireadh. Cha robh sinn idir dona ach nas fhaide air adhart air an t-slighe eadar Allt nam Breac agus Inbhir Theòrsa bha an trèana agam 26 mionaid air dheireadh.

Mar as trice, cha chuireadh dàil mar seo cus dragh orm ach tha Allt nam Breac air leth iomallach agus chan eil sgrìn fiosrachaidh aig Allt nam Breac no siognal fòn làimhe agus bha mi draghail air eagal ’s gun deach an trèana a chur dheth. Gu fortanach, ge-tà, tha fòn ann as urrainn dhut cleachdadh agus bha cothrom agam bruidhinn ri cuideigin gus faighinn a-mach cuine a bhiodh an trèana ann.

Stèisean Alt nam Breac – cha bhiodh tu airson a bhith stuicte an seo ro fhada!

Nas fhaide air adhart air an latha ann an Inbhir Theòrsa chaidh mi dhan stèisean gus dealbh a thogail den trèana mu dheireadh den oidhche (an 22:20 gu Inbhir Ùige à Inbhir Nis), fhuair mi a-mach gun deach a cur gu dìreach gu Inbhir Ùige, a’ seachnadh Inbhir Theòrsa buileach glan mar thoradh air dàil.

An ath latha, fhuair mi an trèana aig 08:34 eadar Inbhir Theòrsa agus Fors an-Àird, a bha air an uair, agus bha mi an dùil an trèana aig 13:47 fhaighinn gu deas. Nuair a chaidh mi air ais dhan stèisean aig 13:30, ge-tà, fhuair mi a-mach gun deach an trèana a chur dheth mar thoradh air trioblaid teicnigeach leis an trèana. Cha robh an ath thrèana gu bhith ann gu 17:11.

Tachraidh rudan mar sin ach bha mi ann an àite gu math iomallach gun ghoireasan sam bith air latha a bha air leth fhèin teth (26c no mar sin, gun sgòth sam bith san adhar agus gun ghaoth sam bith) agus gun mòran fasgadh ann bhon ghrèin.

Fors an-Àird – stèisean breàgha ach chan eil gu leòr ann gus do chumai la’ dol fad trì uairean air latha teh!

Coltach ri Allt nam Breac, chan eil còmhdhail phoblach sam bith eile ann agus fiù ’s nuair a bhios busaichean rail replacement air an cur air dòigh dhan loidhne, cha bhi iad a’ dol dhan dà stèisean iomallach sin – agus gu dearbha, chan eil fiù ‘s rathad ann gu Allt nam Breac.

Chleachd mi am fòn fiosrachaidh a-rithist gus bruidhinn ri seirbheis nan custamairean agus mhol iad gun rachainn air ais gu Inbhir Ùige air an ath trèana gu tuath agus tighinn gu deas a-rithist (air an trèana a bhiodh a’ dol tro Fhors an-Àird aig 17:11 co-dhiù) gus nach biodh agam ri fuireach aig stèisean a tha cho teth ris a’ ghrèin fad còrr is trì uairean a thìde.

An àite a bhith a’ faighinn dhachaigh aig 9f, cha d’ fhuair mi a-staigh a-rithist gu 1m an ath latha.

Ged a Tha mi gu math cleachdte ri bhith a’ siubhail air trèanaichean agus nach bhi rudan mar sin a’ cur cus dragh orm cho fad ’s nach eil cabhag orm, tha e gu math streasmhor do dhaoine a th’ ann an cabhag no nach eil cho eòlach air siostam nan rathaidean-iarainn no do luchd-turais nach eil fileanta sa Bheurla.

Agus tha cunnart ann cuideachd gun call daoine na ceanglaichean aca gu trèanaichean eile ann an Inbhir Nis.

Tha dà prìomh thrioblaid aig an loidhne. Sa chiad dol a-mach, chan eil lùban seachnaidh gu leòr ann. Tha an loidhne singilte agus tha astar mòr eadar lùban seachnaidh. Tha seo a’ ciallachadh gu bheil dàil mhòr air chùisean ma tha trèana sam bith air dheireadh leis nach fhaigh na trèanaichean seachad air a’ chèile.

Tha na trèanaichean air an loidhne a’ fàs seann cuideachd – is iad na h-aonadan 158 a tha a’ ruith seirbheisean air an loidhne. Chaidh an togail eadar 1989 agus 1992 agus ged a tha iad cofhurtail, tha loidhne a’ chinn a tuath gu math dùbhlanach agus chan eil iad cho reliable ‘s a bha iad agus tha iad gu tric a’ briseadh sìos.

A bharrachd air seo, tha an loidhne cuideachd na cheangail ri aiseag Arcaibh. Ach chan eil busaichean ann eadar a h-uile trèana agus am port-aiseig aig Sgrabastal a tha mìle gu leth air falbh. Tha làrach-lìn ScotRail dìreach ag ràdh gum feum tu tagsaidh a chur air dòigh thu fhèin. Chan eil seo math gu leòr. Bu chòir Northlink is ScotRail agus companaidhean bus/tagsaidh rudeigin oifigeil a chur air dòigh gus cùisean a dhèanamh nas fhasa agus gus an streas a thoirt air falbh.

Agus aig ceann a tuath na loidhne, b’ àbhaist an trèana a bhith a’ sgàradh ann an Georgemas Junction le aon trèana a’ dol gu Inbhir Theòrsa agus an tè eile a’ dol gu Inbhir Ùige. Stad seo bho chionn còrr is 20 bliadhna agus bi an trèana a tha a’ dol gu tuath a’ dol gu Snaidhm Georgemas, Inbhir Theòrsa agus an uair sin air ais gu Georgmeas agus air adhart gu Inbhir Ùige. Air an taobh deas, bidh an trèana a’ dol Inbhir Ùige-Georgmas-Inbhir Theòrsa-Georgemeas seo a’ ciallachadh gu bheil turas gu Inbhir ÙIge a’ toirt còrr is leth uair a thìde a bharrachd na b’ àbhaist dha a bhith.

Tha e follaiseach gu bheil seo a’ toirt droch bhuaidh air na h-àireamhan a tha a’ dol gu Inbhir Ùige air an trèana. Is iomadh turas a chunnaic mi sluagh mòr a’ tighinn a-mach air an trèana ann an Inbhir Theòrsa is gun ach duine no dithis air fhàgail an trèana nuair a dh’fhalbh i airson Inbhir Ùige. Tha an dà uiread de dhaoine a’ cleachdadh Stèisean Inbhir Theòrsa ’s a bhios a’ cleachdadh Inbhir Ùige aig an ìre seo (c40,000 sa bhliadhna an taca ri c20,000 sa bhliadhna). Tha Càirdean na Loidhne a Tuath a’ moladh gum bu chòir seirbheis ionadail a chur air dòigh eadar an dà bhaile.

‘S e cnag na cùise gu bheil an t-àm ann rudeigin a dhèanamh mun loidhne. Tha feum air lùban seachnaidh ùra agus air trèanaichean ùra agus ceangail ceart ri bàta arcaibh agus trèana dìreach gu Inbhir Ùige. Dh’aithris mi sa phost bloga mu dheireadh gu bheil seirbheis bus luath spaideil dealanach ùr ann eadar Gallaibh, Cataibh, Rois an Ear is Inbhir Nis – deagh sheansa gun caill an trèana daoine dhan t-seirbheis seo mur a toirear piseach air an loidhne.

Ged a dh’fhalbh Beeching agus a leithid bho chionn fhada is nach eil rathad-iarainn sam bith ann an cunnart aig an àm seo, chan eil àireamhan luchd-cleachdaidh na loidhne cho àrd ’s a bu chòir dhaibh a bhith. Agus cuimhnich gun robh post agus bathar air an loidhne an turas mu dheireadh a bhathar a bruidhinn mu bhith ga dhùnadh – rudan nach eil ann tuilleadh. Mas e is gum bi seacadh mòr san eaconamaidh mar a tha gu math coltach, cò aig a tha fios dè thachras. Feumaidh sinn tasgadh san loidhne an-dràsta gus a gleidheadh airson an àm ri teachd.

Alasdair

Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

Èibhleag ùr air a’ Ghàidhealtachd – bus dealanach gu Gallaibh

Le alasdairmaccaluim

Tha mi gu math dèidheil air a’ chomapanaidh coidse eadar-chathrach Albannach Ember.

Thoisich iad le seirbheis eadar Dùn Dè agus Dùn Èideann agus an uair sin eadar Dùn Dè is Glaschu agus tha iad air leudachadh gu tòrr a bharrachd diofar àiteachan bhon uair sin.

Tha seirbheisean coidse eadar-chathrach againn gu leòr againn ann an Alba, nam measg Scottish Citylink, Megabus, Flixbus agus eile.

‘S e an t-eadar-dhealachadh as motha gu bheil na busaichean aig Ember uile dealanach. Agus a bharrachd air a bhith uaine, tha iad cuideachd a’ cur cuideam air seirbheisean custamair agus tha busaichean spaideil ùr aca.

‘S e an rud eile a tha fìor mhath mun deidhinn gu bheil na faraidhean gu math reusanta agus gu math sìmplidh. Agus nas cudromaiche buileach, chan atharraich na prìsean a rèir iarrtais (’s e sin ri ràdh nach eil “dynamic pricing” ann). Mar sin, tha an aon phrìs air an aon slighe fad an t-siubhail.

Tha mi air a dhol gu Dùn Dè agus gu Sruighlea le Ember gu ruige seo. Chosg e £9.60 a dhol eadar Glaschu agus Dùn Dè agus £4.30 eadar Glaschu is Sruighlea – prìsean gu math reusanta.

Agus ma tha thu airson am bus agad atharrachadh gu latha no àm eile, gabhaidh sin a dhèanamh gu sìmplidh gun chosgais.

Tha seirbheisean air-loidhne aig cridhe obair na companaidh. Tha na tiocaidean uile air-loidhne agus faodar na busaichean a leantainn air-loidhne cuideachd air mapa eadar-obrachail. Ma tha dàil no duilgheadas sam bith ann, thèid brath a chur thugad.

Tha tòrr bhailtean agus stadan a tha beagan far an rathaid-mhòr agus cha tèid am bus ann idir mur eil dhuine sam bith air clàradh ro làimh gu bheil iad airson a dhol air no far a bhus ann. Sàbhalaidh sinn tòrr tìde.

Rud eile a tha a’ còrdadh rium mun t-seirbheis, ’s e gu bheil tòrr de na busaichean a’ ruith tron oidhche, rud a tha air leth feumail – gu sònraichte ann an dùthaich far nach eil a’ chiad trèana gu Inbhir Nis à Glaschu no Dùn Èideann a’ faighinn a-steach gu 10:20 sa mhadainn.

Seo na slighean uile aca a-nis:

E1 – Dùn Èideann – Obar Dheathain taobh Dùn Dè

E2 – Glaschu – Dùn Dè

E3 – Dùn Dè – Dhùn Dè an Ear

E4 – Dùn Èideann – An Gearasdan

E5 – Glaschu – An Gearasdan

E6 – Inbhir Nis – Inbhir Theòrsa/Scrabasdal

E7 – Inbhir Nis – Obar Dheathain

Chaidh an E6 a tha a’ ceangal Inbhir Theòrsa/Scrabasdal agus Inbhir Nis a chur air dòigh bho chionn dà sheachdain agus nuair a bha mi ann an Gallaibh air safari rèile bho chionn ghoirid, ghabh mi am bus Ember ùr eadar Inbhir Theòrsa is Inbhir Ùige is air ais.

Tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil an t-slighe ùr seo ann. Tha 4 busaichean san latha gach taobh, a bhios a’ stad aig Scrabasdal, Inbhir Theòrsa, Inbhir Ùige, Dùn Bheathadh, Brura, Baile Dhubhthaich, Inbhir Pheofharain agus Inbhir Nis. Tha bus eadar Inbhir Nis is Inbhir Theòrsa a’ cosg £14.50. Tha Ember an dùil barrachd stadan a chur ann fhathast – is mar sin, dh’fhaodte gum faic sinn Ember ann am Bun Ìlidh, Goillspidh, Dòrnach, Inbhir Ghòrdain is Alanais fhathast.

Tha a h-uile bus air an t-slighe a’ dol fad na slighe gu Scrabasdal, rud a tha air leth feumail leis nach eil mòran de na busaichean a th’ ann mar-thà a’ dol cho fada sin agus tha e ro-chudromach gum bi ceangal math ann ri aiseag Arcaibh. Aig an ìre seo, chan fhaod thu tiocaid a cheannaich eadar Inbhir Theòrsa agus Scrabasdal le Ember, ach tha mi an dòchas gun tèid sin a chur ceart fhathast gus an urrainn do dhaoine a thig gu tuath air an trèana a chleachdadh gus am bàta fhaighinn.

Chuir mi an tiocaid agam air dòigh bho Inbhir Thèorsa agus chùm mi sùil air a’ bhus air an làraich-lìn aca. Bha e air an uair agus nuair a chaidh mi air bòrd, bha an dràibhear uamhasach laghach agus bha fàileadh “càr ùr” air a’ bhus. Bha e gu math glan agus bha a/c ann – rud air leth feumail leis gun robh e mu 26c air an taobh a-muigh gun oiteag gaoithe ann. Tha na suidheachain gu math cofhurtail agus tha gu leòr rùm ann cuideachd.

Busaichean dealanach Ember ann am pàirce-chàraichean Taobh na h-Aibhne, Inbhir Theòrsa

Bu mhise an aon neach-siubhail air a’ bhus fad na slighe agus bha e mar limosine spaideil a bhith agam fhèin. Ach math is ged a bha seo, b’ fheàrr leam gum biodh barrachd dhaoine air bòrd!

Ràinig mi Inbhir Ùige air an uair agus chaidh mi dhan Cho-Op is thog mi dealbhan aig an stèisean mus d’ fhuair mi am bus air ais. Cha robh ach aon neach eile air a’ bhus.

Bha an turas gach slighe dìreach àlainn leis na bailtean beaga agus seallaidhean sgoinneil de Loch Bhatain agus Loch Scarmlate (Sgarmalaid).

Tha mi an dòchas gu mòr gun soirbhich leis an t-slighe seo. Chan eil na seirbheisean bus a th’ ann mar-thà san sgìre math no pailt gu leòr nam bheachd agus mar sin, tha mi an dòchas gum bi fèill mhòr air an busaichean Ember agus gun cuidiche e an eaconamaidh is gun cuidiche e le glèidheadh sluaigh ann an Gallaibh. ’S e an aon dragh a th’ orm gun toir am bus air falbh luchd-cleachdaidh bhon trèana – sgrìobhaidh mi barrachd air sin ann am post bloga eile.

Mholainn seirbheisean bus Ember gu mòr – math dhan àrainneachd, prìsean reusanta agus deagh sheirbheisean custamair.

Alasdair

Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

Guth Thormoid: Norman’s Voice

Le Gordon Wells

The Island Voices project is featured in the new book “Foundational approaches to Celtic Linguistics“, through a chapter on the late Norman Maclean by Gordon Wells. This volume is a first venture into current issues in Celtic linguistics for the free open access academic publisher, Language Science Press.

From the editors’ preface:

Gordon Wells’ chapter (Guth Thormoid: The “Island voice” of Norman MacLean) provides a case study that highlights the exceptional value of working closely with an experienced native speaker to not only provide linguistic data but to document vanishing cultures and values also impacted with language loss.

And here’s Gordon’s abstract:

This chapter samples and contextualises some of the multi-faceted Gaelic contributions by the multi-talented creative icon, Norman Maclean, to the Guthan nan Eilean ‘Island Voices’ online language capture and curation project. These include, in particular, Norman’s final Saoghal Thormoid ‘Norman’s World’ series of videoed conversations, recorded in April 2016 in which he spoke reflectively of his memories and impressions of bilingual life in Glasgow and the Hebrides from the middle of the Twentieth Century onwards. In addition to offering a vivid first-person voiced and experiential account of Gaelic life over a tumultuous period for the language, the Island Voices adherence to basic linguistic principles pays dividends in relation to some initially unpredicted spin-off applications, with potential for further development.

We’re delighted to see this account of our work with Norman placed online for unrestricted reading by anyone who may take an interest, and we’re very grateful to Andrew Carnie and the whole editorial team at the University of Arizona who made that possible. Mòran taing dhuibh uile!

Online publication also means, of course, that live links can be incorporated in the text, so that readers can quickly and easily sample the recordings referred to at the click of a mouse. This is no small consideration for a primarily speech-oriented project like Guthan nan Eilean!

You can freely find the article at this DOI: https://zenodo.org/records/15654881

The full Saoghal Thormoid transcripts, with description of method and a foreword by Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin are available in PDF format from the Island Voices Research/Reports page.

Tadhail air Island Voices – Guthan nan Eilean

Tha e gruamach sa cheann a tuath! Turas gu Hawes

Le alasdairmaccaluim

Chaidh mi air turas rèile gu Hawes anns na Yorkshire Dales aig deireadh na seachdain.

Carson?

Tha e a’ toirt dhomh deagh leisgeil a dhol air an rathad-iarainn as dreachmhoire agus as cliùitiche ann an Sasainn – An Settle an Carlisle. Tha an loidhne àlainn seo a’ dol tro na monaidhean is na beantainn ann an Cumbria agus Schd York agus a’ ceangail Carlisle ri Leeds.

Airson a dhol gu Hawes, feumaidh tu an trèana fhàgail aig Garsdale agus an uair sin bus fhaighinn gu Hawes. Bha rathad-iarainn ann fad na slighe uair, agus gu dearbha, bha an t-ainm Hawes Junction air an stèisean uair, ach tha an loidhne sin dùinte a-nis.

Tha iomairt ann airson slighe an rathaid-iarainn a chur gu feum aon uair eile – ach tha eas-aonta ann am bu chòir an Wensleydale Railway an rathad-iarainn ath fhosglaidh, mar a tha iad ag iarraidh, no am bu chòir dha a bhith na slighe baidhg/coiseachd. Gu mì-fhortanach, chan eil e coltach gu bheil rùm gu leòr ann airson an dà chuid.

Tha mi an dòchas gur e rathad-iarainn a bhios ann ach bhiodh slighe coiseachd/baidhg math cuideachd mur a tachair sin.

Ach ged nach eil làrach an rathad-iarainn ga chleachdadh aig an àm seo, tha an stèisean ann an Hawes fhathast ann agus tha Taigh-tasgaidh nan Yorkshire Dales a-nis stèidhichte ann – agus tha trèana le loco smùid ann mar phàirt den taisbeanadh!

Sin adhbhar gu leòr airson a dhol dhan bhaile leis fhèin, ach tha adhbhar eile ann: leabhraichean eucoir Harry Grimm le David T. Gatward, a tha a’ tòiseachadh leis an leabhar ‘Grimm up North’.

Tha na leabhraichean stèidhichte ann an Hawes agus an sgìre làimh ris. ‘S ann mu dheidhinn DCI Harry Grimm, seann shaighdear à Bristol a chaidh na phoileas às dèidh dha a bhith air a dhroch-lon ann an sprèidheadh ann an Afghanistan. Às dèidh argamaid le a bhoss ann an Somerset, chaidh a chur gu Hawes sna Dales an aghaidh a thoil agus tha an leabhar mu “chulture shock” aig poileas a bha a’ dol an aghaidh gangstairean agus luchd-reic dhrogaichean mòra anns a’ bhaile mhòr a tha a-nis ann an coimhearsnachd dùthchail far a bheil dùbhlain gu math eadar-dhealaichte aig na poilis.

Tha sinn a’ leantainn beatha Harry agus e a’ fàs cleachdte ris a’ choimhearsnachd agus na dòighean aca agus e a’ fàs gu math dèidheil air an sgìre – agus fiù’ s air delicacy sònraichte na sgìre: cèic le caise – aig a’ cheann thall.

Ged is ann mu eucoir a tha na leabhraichean, tha iad snog agus tha na caractaran agus na h-àiteachan spòrsail is dòigheil.

Nuair a dh’fhàg mi an taigh aig 5:00 sa mhadainn gus am bus a ghlacadh gu Stèisean Glaschu Mheadhain, b’ e seo am plana agam:

Faic an trèana ann an taigh-tasgaidh nan Yorkshire Dales
Rach gu Taigh-bainne Wensleydale
Faic na b’ urrainn dhomh aithneachadh bho na leabhraichean Grimm.

Fhuair mi am bus is an trèana gu Carlisle gun dragh sam bith agus bha an trèana airson an Settle and Carlisle a’ feitheamh rium an sin.

Ma tha thu à Alba, tha e doirbh rathad-iarainn a lorg a tha cho math ris na loidhnichean aig baile – Loidhne na Gàidhealtachd an Iar, Loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath agus Loidhne a’ Chaoil ach tha an S&C air leth, fiù ’s do dh’Albannach!

Tha an loidhne a’ dol tro bheantainn is glinn àlainn agus seachad air tòrr aibhnichean mòra le gu leòr thuathanasan chaorach is taighean cloiche. A bharrachd air a’ chruth-tìre fhèin, tha stoidhle brèagha air na toglaichean stèisean le toglaichean mòra de chloich ruadh agus soidhnichean agus lampaichean ann an dath marùn sònraichte.

A bharrachd air a bhith na rathad-iarainn àlainn, tha an Settle and Carlisle cudromach gu samhlachail cuideachd. Bha British Rail an dùil cur às dhan loidhne gus airgead a shàbhaladh agus dhùin iad a’ mhòr-chuid de na stèiseanan agus lùghdaich iad na seirbheisean gus an robh glè bheag air fhàgail. Chuir buidhean strì gu làidir an aghaidh seo.

Aig a’ cheann thall, dhiùlt Ministear na Còmhdhail, fear Michael Portillo, cead a thoirt do BR gus an Settle is Carlisle a dhùnadh. ‘S e deagh naidheachd a bha seo, gun teagamh, agus a bharrachd air a bhith a’ sàbhaladh na loidhne sin fhèin, dh’fhaodadh tu a ràdh gun robh seo na cho-dhùnadh cudromach dhan t-siostam còmhdhail gu nàiseanta cuideachd.

Às dèidh mòr-dhùnaidhean Beeching sna 1960an, ged nach robh dùil ri geàrraidhean mòra air an lìonra a-rithist, bha faireachdainn anns na 1970an is 80an gun robh na rathaidean-iarainn a’ dol tro “chrìonadh stiùirichte” (managed decline) agus gum fàsadh an siostam nas lugha is nas iomallaiche dhan chomann-shòisealta mean air mhean. Ann an eachdraidh nan rathaidean-iarainn, b’ e sàbhaladh an S&C a chomharraich gun robh an crìonadh air tighinn gu crìch agus gur ann a dh’fhàsadh an lìonra bho sin a-mach.

Tha an S&C a’ soirbheachadh gu mòr a thaobh luchd-siubhail agus trèanaichean bathair a-nis agus mholainn gun dèan a h-uile duine e uair no uaireigin.

Ach sin gu leòr eachdraidh. Nuair a ràinig mi Garsdale, bha e fliuch is sgòthach ach gu fortanach, bha am bus a’ feitheimh rium agus bha e blàth is seasgair a-staigh agus chunnaic mi dà fheòrag ruadh air an àrd ùrlar fhad’s a bha sinn a’ feitheimh ri falbh.

Tha seirbheis bus coimhearsnachd ann “The Little White Bus” a tha a’ ruith sheirbheisean eadar an stèisean agus baile Hawes/Gayle. Tha seo ro-chudromach oir tha am baile pìos air falbh (c6 mìle) agus a bharrachd air sin, tha an rathad gu math caol, lùbach cas. Bha an dràibhear laghach agus dh’innse e tòrr dhomh mun sgìre agus mu na rudan a bha rim faicinn.

Ann an Hawes, chaidh mi dhan taigh-tasgaidh an toiseach. Tha e suidhichte ann an togalach stèisean Hawes a dhùin do luchd-siubhail ann an 1959 agus a dhùin do bhathar ann an 1964 mar thoradh air an Dr Olc Beeching (Tuiteam gun Èirigh air agus Leac air a Bheul).

Ach ged nach eil trèanaichean a’ ruith tuilleadh, tha tòrr anns an taigh-tasgaidh mun rathad-iarainn, gu sònraichte eachdraidh shòisealta na loidhne. Tha pàirt den taisbeanadh fiù ‘s anns an trèana agus tha an cafè ri taobh an àrd-ùrlair. Tha an taigh-tasgaidh mòr agus tha na taisbeanaidhean ùr, dathach agus còrdaidh iad gu mòr ri cloinn.

Taigh-tasgaidh nan Yorkshire Dales, Hawes

An uair sin, bha an t-àm ann airson srùbag agus cuairt timcheall air a’ bhaile. Chunnaic mi an t-ionad coimhearsnachd far a bheil na poilis stèidhte ann an leabhar Grimm, a’ bhùth far am faigh iad paidhean agus am Fountain, an taigh-òsta aca! Agus gu dearbha, tha tòrr thaighean-osta ann – chunnaic mi ceithir no còig airson baile anns nach eil ach 1,500 daoine no mar sin.

An uair sin, choisich mi gu Gayle, baile beag a tha glè fhaisg air Hawes a tha ainmeil mar thoradh air caise Wensleydale. Chaidh mi a-steach dhan àite agus cheannaich mi cèic is caise agus bha e a cheart cho math ris an robh mi an dùil!

Às dèidh sùil air na bùithtean agus air an eas, bha an t-àm ann a dhol dhachaidh air a’ bhus bheag gheal agus an trèana a ghlacadh dhachaigh.

Bha an trèana agam dhachaigh 30 air dheireadh – rud nach do chuir dragh sam bith orm – agus mar sin, tro “delay repay” fhuair mi an dàrna leth den fharadh agam air ais.

Mholainn baile Hawes, lealbhraichean Grimm agus an Settle and Carlisle!-.

Alasdair

Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

2025 An t-Iuchar: Dhèanainn Sùgradh ris an Nighinn Duibh / July: Making Merry with the Dark Lassie

Le seaboardgàidhlig

Seo òran ainmeil far a bheil maraiche a’ bruidhinn mun long aige mar gum b’ e a leannan a bh’ innte. ‘S e seòrsa òrain-ghaoil dhan bhàta-siùil a th’ ann, ‘s dòcha long dhubh, no tè le siùil dhorcha. Seòlaidh e leatha dhan Ròimh ‘s dhan Fhraing, agus cumaidh e siùl gheur oirre gus an toir e a leannan dhachaigh ann an deagh thriom. Agus cheannaicheadh e dhi às a bhùth am “pòrsan” a bhiodh a dhìth, prìs ann no às – ged a bhios e a’ smaoineachadh air ball-acainn seach ribeannan…

Sèist: Dhèanainn sùgradh ris an nighinn duibh,
‘n dèidh dhomh èirigh anns a’ mhadainn,
Dhèanainn sùgradh ris an nighinn duibh.

Dhèanainn sùgradh ris a’ ghruagaich
Nuair a bhiodh a’ sluagh nan cadal.

Dhèanainn sùgradh an àm dùsgaidh
‘N àm na siùil a bhith gam pasgadh

‘S ann Diluain an dèidh Didòmhnaich
dh’fhalbh sinn le Seònaid à Arcaibh.

Bha muir gorm a’ ruith fo cuinnlein,
‘s i cur still à grunnd an aigeil.

Riof ga ceangal ‘s riof ga fuasgladh
muir mu gualainn, fuaim is fead oirr’.

Null mu chaolas na Ròimh
B’ fheudar dhuinn am bòm a laiseadh.

Null mu chaolas na Fraing
Maide na làimh ‘s gaoth ga ghreasad.

Cha robh ròp a feum a splaidhseadh
Air mo mhaighdeann ri tighinn dhachaidh.

Dh’fheumadh pòrsan thighinn à bùth dhi
Ged a bhiodh e crùn an cairteil.

Ged a bhiodh e crùn an òirleach
Dh’fheumadh pòrsan dheth thighinn dhachaidh.

(Ceanglaichean ri tionndaidhean YouTube gu h-ìosal.)

+++++++++++++++

Making Merry with the Dark Lassie

This is a famous song where a mariner talks about his ship as if she were his lover. It’s a sort of love-song to his sailing ship, maybe a black-painted ship or one with dark sails. He’ll sail with her to Rome and France, and will keep a sharp eye on her to make sure he brings his beloved home in fine fettle. He would even buy from the shop the “fairing” she might need, cost what it may – though he’ll be thinking more of rigging than ribbons…

(Links to YouTube versions below.)

Chorus: I’d make merry with the dark lassie

As soon as I rose in the morning

I’d make merry with the dark lassie.

I’d make merry with the lass while the world was sleeping.

I’d make merry when I woke, and when the sails were unfurled.

On the Monday after the Sabbath we left Orkney on the Seònaid.

Blue sea was running under the stubble fields, throwing up jets from the seabed.

A reef being tied and a reef being loosed, sea round her shoulders roaring and whistling.

There around the straits of Rome, we had to lash the boom.

There around the straits of France, hand on the tiller and the wind chasing her.

There wasn’t a rope that needed splicing on my girl on the sail home.

A fairing would be needed from the shop for her, though it would cost a crown a quarter.

Though it would cost a crown an inch, a length of it would be heading homewards!

(Links to YouTube versions below.)

Tionndaidhean/versions on Youtube

Mànran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRx9umS6O5I

Clannad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE3g7zFDE1M&list=RDfE3g7zFDE1M&start_radio=1

The Poozies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdXwN880j_A&list=RDqdXwN880j_A&start_radio=1

Traditional (òran-luaidh / waulking song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMpQvZ6i1E

Agus tha fiolm goirid fìor bhrèagha ann mu fhìor bhàta dubh is mun fhear a thog i. / And there’s a lovely wee short film about the fate of a real black boat and the man who built her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pjX3m02-ro

Dealbhan/pictures:

Ariel and Taeping, tea-clippers 1860s, by J. Sutherland (my mother) after Montague Dawson.

The Reaper, Anstruther – traditional “Fifie” herring drifter, 1903.

The Harbinger, iron sailing clipper 1850s, by J. Sutherland after Jack Spurling

Tadhail air seaboardgàidhlig

Mo chiad “extreme day-trip”?

Le alasdairmaccaluim

Bha tòrr sna pàipearan bho chionn ghoirid mu “extreme day-trips”. Sin nuair a tha daoine a’ dol air turas fada fada air plèana agus air ais san aon latha.

Thug mi sùil air bhideo no dhà bho chionn ghoirid le daoine a’ dol eadar Glaschu agus bailtean leithid Baile Atha Cliath agus an Spàinn, an Fhraing, A’ Ghearmailt agus fiù ’s Morocco agus air ais ann an latha.

Bha mi a’ feuchainn ri Gàidhlig a chur air extreme day-trip “turas-latha anabharrach” is dòcha?

Seo far am bi mi a’ dol air an turas latha mòr agam!
By Main Street, Hawes by Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0,

Tha na daoine a tha dèidheil air tursan den leithid ag ràdh gu bheil iad a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine aig nach eil mòran tìde saor, no aig nach eil cus airgid an tìde agus an t-airgead a bhiodh iad air cosg air oidhche ann an taigh-òsta a shàbhaladh.

Tuigidh mi sin ceart gu leòr, ach dhomhsa, tha aon turas tro phort-adhair gu leòr ann an latha agus nas cudromaiche, tha na h-eimiseanan CO2 às an dol a-mach seo dìreach gun chiall.

Nis, tha an teaghlach agam gu bhith air falbh aig deireadh na h-ath sheachdain. Tha Jenny agus Eva a’ dol gu Lunnainn agus tha Ciorstaidh a’ dol air falbh air le a caraidean.

Mar sin, shaoil mi gur e deagh leisgeul a bhiodh ann turas-latha mòr a dhèanamh.

Cha robh mi idir a’ dol a dhol air turas-latha anabharrach air plèana ach a dh’aindeoin sin shaoil e gum biodh e inntinneach beagan rannsachaidh a dhèanamh feuch an gabhadh a dhèanamh.

Choimhead mi air an Liosta Bucaid agam airson àiteachan a bha faisg gu leòr agus is dòcha far am b’ urrainnear deagh bhlas fhaighinn den àite ann an latha. Thàinig dà àite a-staigh orm – Gibraltar agus Monaco (is toil leam dùthchannan beaga is neo-àbhaisteach!)

Fhuair mi a-mach nach gabh turas latha a chur air dòigh gu Gibraltar – chan eil tursan-adhair ann à Alba a rèir coltais agus bhiodh agam ri dhol a Manchester an toiseach. Airson Monaco, tha seirbheisean adhair ann eadar Dùn Èideann agus Nice, am port-adhair às fhaisg air Monaco agus tha iad aig deagh àm. Bha e coltach an tòiseach gun gabhadh a dhèanamh – ach cha b’ urrainn dhomh faighinn air ais san aon latha…

Thèid mi ann latha de na làithean, ach nì mi air trèana e – ma bhios an tìde no an t-airgead agam (trèana caideil Glaschu-Lunnainn, Lunnainn-Paris, trèana caideil Lunnainn – Nice, Nice-Monaco).

Ach mar a thuirt mi, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e beachd faoin is cunnartach dhan àrainneachd a th’ ann an tursan-latha anabharrach air plèana co-dhiù.

Ach turasan-latha fada air trèana? Sin gu tur eadar-dhealaichte! Tha mi air a dhol gu Lunnainn, Sheffield, Doncaster, Wrexham is iomadh àite eile is air ais ann an latha. Agus le prìsean nan taighean-òsta tha sin a’ dèanamh ciall.

Mar sin, chaidh mi air ais dhan liosta agam airson coimhead air àiteachan a ruigear air an trèana no air bus ann an ùine nach eil ro fhada.

Thug mi sùil air an liosta de dh’àiteachan far a bheil mi ag iarraidh a dhol agus an uair sin air na fòraidhean trèana no bus.

Bha seo uile mu mìos gu leth air thoiseach air an turas agus mar sin, bha tiocaidean advance rim faighinn – ach bha iad air a bhith rim faighinn fad mìos gu leth agus mar sin bha na fàraidhean saora air falbh airson cuid de na slighean is amannan mar-thà.

B’ e seo an liosta agam:

Taigh-tasgaidh Rathad-iarainn Locomotion ann an Shildon, Co Durham

Taigh-tasgaidh Rathad-iarainn Mhàd (Maud railway museum), Schd Obar Dheathain

Eilean Ghiogha

Taigh-tasgaidh nan Yorkshire Dales, Hawes

Thug mi sùil air an trèana/bus gu Màd an tòiseach ach fhuair mi a-mach nach biodh an taigh-tasgaidh – agus am meanbh-rathad-iarainn aca fosgailte air an latha sin agus gum biodh agam ri dhol ann taobh Baile nam Frisealach is mar sin, gum biodh e doirbh a dhol ann is air ais san aon latha co-dhiù.

An uair sin, thug mi sùil air Locomotion ach ged a bha trèanaichean gu leòr ann agus gun gabhadh a dhèanamh gu furasta ann an latha, bha na prìsean air fàs fìor dhaor.

Ghabhadh Giogha a dhèanamh ann an latha air a’ bhus eadar Glaschu is Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain agus bha na prìsean reusanta gu leòr, ach nuair a rinn mi beagan rannsachaidh air an eilean, bha mi den bheachd gun robh barrachd tìde a dhìth gus an t-eilean fhaicinn gu ceart.

Gu fortanach, ghabhadh turas latha a dhèanamh eadar Glaschu agus Hawes a dhèanamh ann an aon latha agus air prìs reusanta. Seo turas thairis air an Settle is Carlisle gu Garsdale agus an uair sin bus gu Hawes.

Ach carson a bha mi airson a dhol gu Hawes?

Mìnichidh mi san ath phost bloga agam.

Alasdair

Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

Fios naidheachd: Tasgadh a dhìth sa bhad gus gàrradh-iarainn a shàbhaladh

Le Oifigear Gàidhlig

Tha feum air tasgadh sa bhad gus gàrradh-iarainn na stàite, Ferguson Marine Port Ghlaschu (FMPG), a dhèanamh tèarainte san àm ri teachd. Seo co-dhùnadh aithisge ùire le Comataidh Sgrùdadh Poblach Pàrlamaid na h-Alba às dèidh don Chomataidh beachdachadh air measadh 2023/24 air Ferguson Marine le Sgrùdadh Alba. Dealbh: Dave souza, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via … Leugh an corr de

Tadhail air Blog Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

Island Voices at NATECLA 2025

Le Gordon Wells

The recently completed Island Voices project “Multilingual Memories: Birmingham 1984” was on prominent display at this year’s annual conference of NATECLA, the National Association for Teaching English and Other Community Languages to Adults, held in Birmingham on 27^th and 28^th June. Project representatives Harmesh Manghra (first on left) and Sardul Dhesi (second from right) are joined in the picture by Paul Sceeny, NATECLA co-chair, and Mary Osmaston, trustee of the association.

With QR codes incorporated in the display poster, as well as on leaflets for each of the 350 conference packs, conference participants were enabled to view any of the 22 recordings in the 13 different languages in the collection on their own devices and at their own convenience.

Over the years, NATECLA has consistently lobbied and argued for due attention to be paid to the other languages used in the UK beside English. As Industrial Language Training (ILT) practitioners in Birmingham back in the 1980s, both Harmesh and Sardul, alongside others, were involved in onsite language training in factories and other workplaces across the city. The Island Voices documentary, in tracing the life stories of ILT workers and how their careers developed and diversified, reinforces the point that multilingualism is an established fact of UK life, and always has been.

With Mary also running a workshop on using other languages in the English language classroom, it was an opportunity not to be missed to profile some of these languages in actual use through these Island Voices recordings. Many thanks to NATECLA for accommodating us!

Tadhail air Island Voices – Guthan nan Eilean

Ifor ap Glyn: Welshman from London

Le Gordon Wells

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Ifor ap Glyn, National Poet of Wales 2016-2022, has become the latest contributor to the Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean Extensions project supported by CIALL. We first crossed paths when Ifor supplied the Welsh translation of our “Jamaican in Wales” documentary about Audrey West, and again when recording our “Gael in Edinburgh” videos with Martin MacIntyre, with whom Ifor had already worked as well. So, from these beginnings it was a natural progression to ask if he’d like to do a “Welshman from London” collection in similar style, and we’re delighted he agreed, also bringing with him his extensive broadcasting experience!

As with the other writers in this series, we have recordings from Ifor in three different genres, all quickly accessible via these landscape or portrait posters. Naturally, we have samples of his verse (including his Welsh rendition of one of Martin’s poems from A’ Ruith Eadar Dà Dhràgon). He has also created a short documentary with an accompanying scripted narration in both Welsh and English, which we have had additionally translated into various other languages, including Gaelic, in the now customary Island Voices fashion. In addition, he has recorded in free conversational style some of his own thoughts and memories about growing up in London and settling in Wales, paying particular attention to some of the linguistic aspects of that life journey.

We present this conversational monologue in two ways. Firstly, fluent Welsh speakers may choose to view the full version in unaided monolingual style, with timed chapter headings in the YouTube description should they wish to focus on particular topics that Ifor discusses. We also offer the same monologue in short sections with various comprehension aids for the benefit of learners or non-speakers of Welsh. This is in similar manner to our Shortcuts approach to Gaelic, with the exception that we also tag on full written translations into English, alongside subtitling and transcription options.

The monologue is broken up as follows:

Part 1: What was it like to be raised as a Welsh speaker in London?

Ifor points out that there can be many different experiences of being raised with Welsh even in Wales, where different areas have different densities of speakers. The big difference with London would be in the potential for Welsh language education anywhere in Wales, and the chance to use the language outside the family. In London, Welsh community life outside the home was centred on three different institutions: the social club, the rugby club, and the chapels. Welsh wasn’t necessarily heard much in these contexts, with even the chapels being weaker in maintaining the language than might be expected.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 2: How then was language passed on, in the Welsh-speaking society of London when you were young?

While there were various patterns of language maintenance amongst the London Welsh of Ifor’s own generation, as he illustrates with stories of his friends, the general picture was one of “slippage”. He also mentions the beneficial impact of the Welsh medium primary school in London which offers language support through various modes of delivery, although Ifor himself did not attend, perhaps because his parents were confident that they could maintain the language adequately in the home, as had been their own experience. Indeed, some of the best Welsh speakers of his own generation were not necessarily products of the school.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 3: How different were things for preceding generations in London?

Ifor points out that many Welsh-speaking Londoners of his parents’ generation had an exceptional experience of language transmission and maintenance through wartime evacuation as children to the homes of relations in Wales. However, this experience did not necessarily lead to them passing the Welsh language on to their own children in due course, and Ifor is grateful that his own parents bucked that trend. Welsh was used in his own home, though not exclusively, and Easter and summer holidays were always spent with his grandparents in Llanrwst, giving him a northwalian accent, whereas most London Welsh speakers had family connections in the west of the country. Ifor goes on to describe typical migration and occupation patterns amongst Welsh speakers of earlier generations.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 4: What’s the London Welsh community like today?

While no longer resident in London himself, Ifor detects some changes in the community patterns he experienced growing up in the city. Though migration to London is still an option for Welsh speakers, the advent of devolution of government to Wales has opened up more professional opportunities in Cardiff. He believes that growing acceptance of London’s multicultural nature has also resulted in a shift in thinking about home languages other than English. He’s thankful that Wales was easily reachable in his childhood, enabling him to experience extended use of the language beyond the home, unlike the case of some of his Asian friends. The restriction of the mother tongue to the home domain could obscure the level of bilingualism in the general population, even amongst schoolfriends, but he’s glad that there is now a wider acknowledgement of linguistic diversity in the community.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 5: Was it a big step to move back to Wales? How did that desire develop?

Ifor describes his teenage awakening of interest in Welsh, a language he’d always spoken but not learned how to write until deciding to study it for O level, and then A level after leaving school, as a university entry requirement to study Welsh and Welsh history in Wales. He then married and settled down, eventually in Caernarfon, the town with the highest density in the world (nearly 90%) of Welsh speakers. He reiterates that the density of Welsh speakers varies across the country, noting an emergent demographic challenge in the language’s stronghold areas, ironically just as legal status and rights are being underlined. Nevertheless he defines himself as optimistic, taking some comfort in historic migration patterns which ended with strong identification with Welshness among previous incomer movements, while acknowledging the importance of supportive popular will to recreate a contemporary Welsh identity.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 6: How do the Welsh and English languages co-exist in Wales?

While it’s possible in a place like Caernarfon to live a nearly monolingual life through Welsh, almost like the way many people throughout the UK, and even in Wales, inhabit an English-only universe, Ifor discusses the different perspectives on languages that living bilingually entails. For Welsh speakers, this includes simultaneously looking at English in at least three different ways: English as a Welsh language, English as an international language, and English as an oppressive imperial language. He also acknowledges that in other parts of the world English may be viewed in some contexts as a language of liberation. These sometimes conflicting conceptions serve to counter any monolithic interpretation of language use and identity. This understanding may be worth sharing across the rest of the UK.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Part 7: Which Welsh poetic forms appeal to you most?

To finish, Ifor discusses what drew him to Welsh poetry in particular, noting first a strong social, even political, context to its creation and performance, for example to mark significant life occasions, such as births or deaths. This association has long historical roots, but is still vibrant and extends to poetry’s place in contemporary entertainment through radio competitions and tours. He quickly outlines different genres of Welsh poetry and identifies his own generally preferred style. He finishes by introducing the figure of Taliesin as both historical poet and mythological character with shape-shifting powers. He finds a powerful symbolism in this tale of transformation as it represents the diversity of Welsh experience through history, and expresses the hope for its successful continuation.

Wordlinked transcript (Clilstore unit)
Written translation (online PDF)

Tadhail air Island Voices – Guthan nan Eilean