Author: togblog

Am bu chòir Alba bhith na dùthaich neo-eisimeileach?

Le Neil McRae

Dhomhsa is do mòran eile, chan ann mu dhèidhinn nàiseantachas a tha freagairt na cèist. ’S ann mu dhèidhinn dè seòrsa comann-sòisealta bu mhiann leinn a tha e, agus ciamar a ruigeas sinn ann?

Coimhead an Alba sa bheil sinn beò, dùthaich a tha cur thairis le iomadachd is misneachd. Am measg nan iomadach sgeulachd a tha rin cluinntinn tha an sgeul bheag agam fhìn, gall chun na smior ach fear a ghràdhaicheas Gàidhlig is a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Nuair a rugadh is thogadh mise ann an Ceann a Deas Alba, bha e soilleir gu leòr gun robh an Rìoghachd Aonaichte a’ riochdachadh adhartas agus an àm ri teachd, fhad’s a bha neo-eisimeileachd airson Alba a’ coimhead sean-fhasanta agus na cheum air ais.

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Tadhail air Gilleasbuig Aotrom

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Lùnasdal

Le monanicleoid

028a

Cha do sgrìobh mi an seo o chionn fhada, barrachd na mìos gu lèir. Tha liosta bheachdan agam agus corra alt a thòisich mi, ach bha mi trang le rudan eile anns na seachdainean sa chaidh agus cha robh ùine agam crìoch a chur orra agus am foillseachadh. Agus an uair sin bha mi a’ faireachdainn dona mu dheidhinn agus thòisich mi am blog a sheachnadh gu lèir. Tha sin gu math tipigeach na mo bheatha, nuair a tha mi mi-thoilichte le mo chuid dìcheall ann an cuspair air choireigin, gu tric bidh e a’ bualadh mo chogais agus bidh e nas doirbhe is nas doirbhe dhomh tilleadh dhan rud sin agus leantainn orm.

Saoilidh mi gur e leantaileachd am facal a tha cudthromach an seo, agus bha mi an còmhnaidh a’ strì le sin. Gu tric tha mi ag iarraidh leantainn orm le rudeigin, agus cha dèan mi an gnothach air, bidh mi ga dhàileachadh, agus an uair sin tha nàire orm oir tha mi a’ faireachdainn gu bheil mi leisg, agus bidh mi a’ teicheadh bhon rud sin. (Seo as aobhar nach do chuir mi crìoch air a’ cheum agam air an oilthigh fhathast, mar eisimpleir… ^^)

Ach air an làimh eile, bu chòir dhomh aideachadh dhomh fhìn nach eil mi leisg agus gu bheil mi a’ dèanamh an gnothach air iomadh rud. ‘S ann dìreach chionn goirid, nuair a bha mi mi-thoilichte leam fhìn agus a’ faireachdainn neo-choileanta, gun do chuimhnich mi gu h-obann gu bheil mi air corra rud ùr a thòiseachadh anns an leth-bhliadhna sa chaidh, agus gu bheil a’ mhòr-chuid dhaibh a’ dol reusanta math agus a’ toirt tlachd is misneachd dhomh:

Aig deireadh na bliadhna sa chaidh, chuir mi romham trì rudan ùra ionnsachadh: cluich na fideige, an cànan Eabhra, agus snìomhadh le feàrsaid. Beagan mìosan as-dèidh sin, as t-Earrach, thòisich mi trì rudan ùra eile (cha do mhothaich mi sin ach o chionn goirid): am blog seo, lùth-chleasachd gach madainn, agus fàs glasraich air a’ bhalconaidh. Co-cheangailte ris na dà rud mu dheireadh sin, dh’ fheuch mi cuideachd biadh nas fhallaine ithe san fharsaingeachd.

Mar sin, seadh, chan eil an cidsin agam uabhasach sgiobalta, ach tha tomàtothan is cularanan a’ fàs taobh a-muigh doras a’ chidsin. Chan eil mi a’ leantainn orm gu dìcheallach leis a h-uile cànan a dh’ ionnsaich mi a-riamh, ach tha cead agam a bhith moiteil asam fhìn oir tha mi comasach cànan ùr ionnsachadh gu math luath. Chan eil mi air tighinn uabhasach fada leis an fhideig, ach cha robh foghlam ciùil agam riamh roimhe, agus tha mi sona gu leòr leatha. Tha mi fhathast ag ithe cus stuth mi-fhallain, ach tha mo cholann slan is làidir agus bu chòir dhomh a bhith taingeil airson sin.

Agus tha a h-uile rud seo air an aon leasan a theagasg dhomh: thig soirbheas le ceumannan beaga. Agus ma nì mi rudeigin a tha cudthromach dhomh gach latha, bidh e a’ toirt toileachas dhomh fiù ’s mura bheil mi a’ faicinn soirbheas no leasachadh gach latha. Agus ma dhìochuimhnicheas mi e latha air choireigin, no mura bheil tìde agam, chan e aobhar nàire a th’ ann agus faodaidh mi dìreach leantainn orm an ath-latha.

Leugh mi alt brèagha air Féill Lùnasdail air a’ bhlog seo à Éirinn (Beurla). Tha mi ag aontachadh gu bheil e cudthromach gur e féill Tailtiu a th’ ann, chan e féill Lugh. Ann an dualchas cuid de na sgìrean na Gearmailt, ’s e mìos Mhoire a th’ anns an Lùnasdal, co-cheangailte ri beannachd nan lusan is buain an arbhair. Chuir e nam chuimhne gur e seo an t-àm dhen bhliadhna gus urram a chur air na tha a’ toirt dhomh altram is beathachadh: màthair na tìre, mo cholann, caraidean, tidsearan, daoine bhrosnachail is cuideachail, daoine a chruthaicheas rudan àlainn.

Thòisich mi am blog seo leth-bhliadhna air ais, aig Féill Brìghde. Tha e air sonas is brosnachadh is iomadh beachd ùr a thoirt dhomh. Chan eil mi ag iarraidh a dhearmad agus tha mi a’ cur romham cumail orm sgrìobhadh an seo turas no dà gach seachdain.

(Tha mi fhathast ag iarraidh corra alt fhoillseachadh a sgrìobh mi anns na seachdainnean sa chaidh, mar sin cha bhi dad a’ nochdadh le cinn-latha ùra airson greis ach le cinn-latha bhon Òg-mhìos is Iuchar.)

Tadhail air an claidheamh is an fheàrsaid

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Feòil, feòil, feòil

Le monanicleoid

Leugh mi ann an iris bìdh gun do dh’ ith na Gearmailtich 20 kg feòil circe gach duine sa bhliadhna 2013. Anns na 1950an b’ àbhaist dhaibh 2 kg ithe gach duine gach bliadhna. Àiteigin eile leugh mi gum biodh daoine a’ cosg 1.6 % a’ chosnaidh mhìosail (àbhaistich) airson 1 kg feòil mhuice anns na 1950an, agus 0.28 % ann an 2002.

As-dèidh dhomh tachairt air na h-àireamhan seo, bha mi ag iarraidh barrachd fhiosrachaidh fhaighinn agus rinn mi beagan rannsachaidh. Fhuair mi a-mach gu bheil na Gearmailtich ag ithe 60 kg feòil gu léir gach duine gach bliadhna. Mo chreach sa thàinig, tha sin a’ ciallachadh 5 kg gach mìos, barrachd na cileagram gach seachdain! Agus le mu 5 % nan Gearmailteach nam feòil-sheachnairean, agus gun teagamh daoine eile nach ith ach beagan feòla, feumaidh gu bheil daoine ann a dh’ itheas tòrr air bharrachd.

Chan eil biadh gu leòr airson nam beathaichean sin a’ fàs anns an dùthaich. Feumaidh tuathanaich tòrr arbhair a cheannachd à dùthchannan eile, gu h-àraidh à Aimeireaga a Deas, far an tèid 130.000 km2 a chleachdadh gus biadh fhàs do bheathaichean anns an Roinn-Eòrpa. Cleachdar barrachd air 40% an arbhair air feadh an t-saoghail airson biadh bheathaichean. Bidh tuathanaich ann an Aimeiraga a Deas a’ fàs tòrr phònairean sòighea gus an reic do na dùthchannan beartach an Tuath, agus tha sin gu math dona dhan àrainneachd an sin.

Bhiodh e fada nas fhasa arbhar is glasraich gu leòr fhàs do na daoine ann an dùthchannan bochda mura cleachdte an t-àite airson biadh bheathaichean. Feumar barrachd na 15.000 liotair uisge gus cileagram feòil mairt fhaighinn. Bhiodh sin gu leòr airson a dheich uiread de buntàta no a cheud uiread de curranan! Tha cunnart mòr ann cuideachd bho na cungaidhean a thèid a chleachdadh gus na beathaichean a chumail beò, bhon na puinnseanan a thèid a chleachdadh air na h-achaidhean, agus bhon gin-atharrachadh a tha a’ cosnadh beartas do-chreidinneach do chompanaidhean mar Monsanto agus a’ milleadh structaran tuathanachais dhùthchasaich.

Nise, dè tha mi a-mach air? Chan eil mi ag ràdh gum feum a h-uile duine feòil a sheachnadh. Tha mi a’ tuigsinn gu bheil feòil a’ còrdadh ri mòran daoine, agus tha beagan feòla nas fheàrr na cus aran is rudan milis. Ach nan itheadh daoine anns an Roinn-Eòrpa dìreach, can, leth-chuid an fheòla a tha iad ag ithe an-diugh, bhiodh sin fada nas fheàrr don àrainneachd is do chinne-daonna.

Tadhail air an claidheamh is an fheàrsaid

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Ath-neartachadh Cànain agus Litreachas

Le liamalastair

The English version of this blog is available here: liamalastair.wordpress.com

ATH-THILLEADH GLUASAD CÀNAIN

Is e aon de na prìomh dhleasdanasan a th’ aig foillseachadh Gàidhlig a bhith a’ cur ri cleachdadh, àbhaisteachadh, agus ath-neartachadh cànain. Sa phost seo, bheir mi sùil air iomairtean Ath-thilleadh Gluasad Cànain agus litreachas – aon ghoireas a tha corra uair air a dhearmad aig luchd-iomairt mhion-chànainean.

Ìre 6 (air tomhas GIDs no Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale), J. Fishman (1991): gun tèid a’ mhion-chànain a cleachdadh mar dhòigh-chonaltraidh do choimhearsnachd talmhaidh agus gun tachair tar-chur na cànain o ghinealach gu ginealach.

Gu bitheanta, bidh luchd-iomairt mhion-chànainean a’ cur earbsa mòr ann am briathran Fishman sna leabhraichean aige mu dh’ath-bheòthachadh chànainean a tha an an cunnart. San leabhar aige, Reversing Language Shift (1991), chruthaich e griod-tomhais, mar an sgèile Richter, gus na diofar ìrean de bheòthalachd cànain a mheasadh le bhith a’ coimhead air na diofar ìrean de mhì-chothromachadh a bhios mion-chànain a’ fulang.

Chruthaich e ochd ìrean, agus Ìre 6 (cànain choimhearsnachail air a tar-chur o ghinealach gu ginealach) a’ gabhail bunait de gach iomairt ath-bheòthachadh cànain. Agus is e sin an aon ìre a tha sinn an impis a chall air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Gu dearbha, leis nach eil a’ Ghàidhlig ach aig 52% de dhaoine anns na h-Eileanan Siar ann an 2011 (tuiteam o 2001 agus 1991), tha sinn gu h-ìre mhath air an ìre seo a chall.

ALBA AGUS FOGHLAM TRON GHÀIDHLIG

An aghaidh molaidhean Fishman, tha Alba air na h-oidhirpean ath-bheòthachadh na Gàidhlig a’ cuimseachadh air foghlam (FTG agus clasaichean Gàidhlig). Ged a tha a’ Ghàidhlig ga crìonadh air Ghàidhealtachd, tha i a’ fàs nas làidire air Ghalltachd. ‘S ann mar thoradh do dh’fhoghlam tron Ghàidhlig a tha ag adhbharachadh seo gu h-ìre. Ach air sgàth gainnead na Gàidhlig san taigh, bidh cuid den chlann na bu fhileanta anns a’ Bheurla seach a’ Ghàidhlig. A bharrachd air sin, bidh fèin-aithnean pearsanta agus sòisealta (personal and social identities) na bu mheasgaichte na bha riamh ann.

“It appears that a Gaelic-speaking identity is not particularly strong or pervasive amongst many young Gaelic speakers. Gaelic does inform their identities, in different ways, depending on their subjective, social contexts.” (Oliver 2006: 167).

Ann an aithisg J. Oliver (2006) air fèin-aithne am measg oileanaich ann am FTG, mhothaich e sgaradh eadar na sgoilearan anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus an Glaschu. Anns an Eilean, bha fèin-aithne stèidhichte, sa mhòr-chuid, air dualchas, cultar, agus fearann seach cànain. Ach, an Glaschu, bha cuideam na bu mhò air cànain. Tha buaidh mhòr aig fèin-aithne air cleachdadh-cànain.

“AN GÀIDHEAL ÙR”

Is e na tha sinn a’ mothachadh ach ‘an Gàidheal ùr’, mar a thug an t-Ollamh Coinneach MacFhionghuinn air. Is e sin ach luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig nach eil a’ buntainn ri coimhearsnachdan tradaiseanta Gàidhealach sam bith.

Tha na Gàidheil ùra air a bhith feumail do leasachadh na cànain. Tha iad air chur ri h-àireamhan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig. Cuideachd, bidh iad a’ toirt ri fàs na h-eaconomaidh Gàidhlig, le bhith a’ ceannachd stuthan Gàidhlig (MacCaluim 2006, 2007). Sa bhitheantas, tha iad a’ fuireach air Ghalltachd, sna bailtean mòra agus iad gu math foghlamaichte.

Gu dearbha, tha poileasaidh na Gàidhlig ann an Alba a’ cur cuideam mòr air foghlam mar bhunait. Air an dara làimhe, tha seo a’ fàgail gu bheil Gàidhlig-an-taighe a dhìth air iomadh Gàidheal ùr (a’ gabhail a-steach cloinne). Ach, air an làimh eile, tha e a’ fàgail gu bheil an uiread de luchd-caitheimh litreachais air dhol am meud. Agus sa bhitheantas, ’s ann as àirde a tha do chuid-foghlaim, ’s ann as mò a leughas tu, a rèir coltais.

LEABHRAICHEAN NA GÀIDHLIG AGUS GÀIDHLIG-AN-TAIGHE

Bidh an suidheachadh seo a’ toirt deagh chothroman do litreachas na Gàidhlig san àm ri teachd. Thug mi iomradh mar-thà air mar a chuireas leabhraichean Gàidhlig ri comasan-cainnt an luchd-ionnsachaidh. Mar eisimpleir, carson nach foillsicheamaid leabhraichean a bheireadh Gàidhlig-an-taighe don fheadhainn aig a bheil feum air an leithid? No, nas fhaide air an t-slighe sin, fiù ’s faclan mì-mhodhail! (cf: an leabhar ùr aig M. Newton, The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic, a thèid fhoillseachadh an ceann goirid). Fèill mhath orra agus iad a’ cuideachadh ri ath-neartachadh na cànain le bhith a’ toirt Gàidhlig nàdarra don neach.

Bidh leabhraichean a’ leudachadh coimhearsnachd-cànain. Leigidh iad leat bruidhinn ’s a’ beachdachadh ri tòrr mòr dhaoine (air maireann ’s nach maireann), a’ toirt dhut barrachd beartais-cànain (cf: Kaplan agus Baldauf, Language Planning: 133). Theagamh gun cuidich leabhraichean na beàirn a tha crìonadh na Gàidhealtachd (agus call Ìre 6) a lìonadh nar cleachdadh-cànain. Chan e leighis a th’ annta, ach taic.

Agus leughaidh daoine leabhraichean. Leabhraichean Gàidhlig. Na mo thràchdas fhèin, a-mach air cleachdadh na Gàidhlig am measg Oileanach Fo-cheumnach aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, fhuair oileanaich Cheiltis (aig a bhitheadh ùidh mar-thà anns a’ Ghàidhlig) cuid den chleachdadh a bu bhitheanta bho leabhraichean Gàidhlig (Crouse 2012: 27).

Feumaidh gun cuir sinn romhainn na h-àireamhan seo a leudachadh. Leanaidh an deasbad air mar as urrainn dhuinn sin a dhèanamh na b’ fhaide air aghaidh sa bhlog.

*Taing don Oll. Wilson McLeod airson sùil a thoirt air a’ phost seo.

TÙSAN

Crouse, L., (2012), Cleachdadh na Gàidhlig am measg Oileanach Fo-cheumnach aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, tràchdas fo-cheumanch neo-fhoillsichte.

Fishman, J., (1991), Reversing Language Shift: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Assistance to Threatened Languages, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Kaplan, R., & Baldauf, R., (1997), Language Planning From Practice to Theory, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Losonsky, A., (2013), The Gaelic Language: Its Past, Present and Future in Scotland and the Publishing Industry, tràchdas iar-cheumnach neo-fhoillsichte.

MacCaluim, A., (2006), “‘More than Interesting’: a’ Ghàidhlig sa Bhaile Mhòr”, ann an Gàidhealtachdan Ùra, deas. McLeod, td. 19-30.

MacCaluim, A., (2007b), “Air iomall an iomaill? Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig ann an ath-thilleadh gluasad cànain”, ann an Revitalising Gaelic in Scotland, deas. McLeod, td. 185-198.

Oliver, J., (2006), ‘Where is Gaelic? Revitalisation, language, culture and identity’ ann an Revitalising Gaelic in Scotland, deas. W. McLeod, Dùn Èideann: Dunedin Academic Press, td. 155-68.

Tadhail air Cànain, Clò, is Cleachdadh

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An Seòltachd | The Method

Le An Carbadair

As much as it annoys me, I’m going to have to write the majority of this blog in Beurla. It takes me far to long and requires a lot of Gaelic phrases that I haven’t learned yet in order to talk about all the things we’d like to with this blog. Bidh mi a’ sgriobhadh ann Gàidhlig Bhriste ma tha mi tairgse. I will write in broken Gaelic if I’m able. But to get my point across it seems I’l still be stuck in English for a while. That’s one of the challenges we all face when learning Gaelic at a later age, or any language for that matter. None of us are used to having the conversational abilities of a five year old. Many of us aren’t used to speaking in our new language at all. That is where I was before we started this trip, and that is what I want to talk about today. The learners roadblocks to conversation and the method we used to get beyond that.

That last paragraph took me about a minute to write. Of that, the single gaelic sentence was about half the time, mainly because I had to go look up a phrase I’m not used to using. It makes sense when you think about it, the biggest challenge facing us learners is practice, using the language as we get it, and gaining more of it that way.

I consider myself a fairly accomplished English user and I love to talk and write. It’s a comfort level that has taken approximately 166,000 hours of full immersion in the language including classroom studies, grammar, writing, and every other study I’ve ever had. It’s little surprise then that I’m comfortable in the language. All of the idoms and phrases I need are there ready to access. In comparison I’ve been learning Gaelic for all of three years and of that time I’ve only been immersed in it for about 150 hours; nearly half of that happened during our week in Cape Breton.

The success of our immersion week wasn’t just in the class but also in how we decided to handle our learning while we were there. We decided, on our drive up, that from the time we reached the Canadian border we were going to use nothing but Gaelic whether we were in the classroom or not. For the most part we were able to stick to that plan. What it meant was we had 8 hours a day for five days of guided immersion from our instructor, Angus, and that we also force ourselves into using gaelic in unfamiliar situations. We had to learn to discuss cooking, our day plan, grocery shopping, small talk, everything had to be in Gaelic, and we didn’t always have it. It could definitely be frustrating, especially for someone as gabby as me; for example, we were looking for a place to eat in St. Johns, New Brunswick. We wanted something quick like a sandwich shop because we were pressed for time. We were giving directions, guessing, and talking about our preferences in Gaelic, and we were getting lost; we couldn’t find anything, except pizza (Canada, we need to talk, we think you may have a problem). Eventually as we crossed an under-construction bridge for the second time, in the wrong direction, we lost our patience; “English until we eat.” It was a little bit of a defeat but we were learning as well.

Through the week as we got more comfortable, and we learned what questions to ask, Gaelic became easier. There was actually a point where I felt a little odd speaking English on the phone with my family. It was getting to be second nature, after the third day, to try and get our point across in the Gaelic we had and asking questions about the Gaelic we didn’t. Everyone in our class, no matter what their level gained a lot of experience with the language. It rang through Angus’ house on a daily basis even during the times we were permitted to use English. In forcing myself to try and express myself in Gaelic I learned new words and phrases from the people I spoke to. When I would get stuck on a phrase I could usually stumble through a kindergarten version of what I was trying to say. It was enough to be understood and often would lead to some new Gaelic to use.

Usage is the key to learning the language and gaining confidence. A guided immersion is a great way to do that, and the longer the better, however that option isn’t always available. It is however more than possible to do your own immersion and change the way you think. Two of our classmates, Stephen and Nona, had made the decision to make Gaelic the language of their home, and just quit using English as much as they could. They now have a very good grasp of the language and are more than comfortable in conversation. I’ve read about others doing the same; it’s an ambitious approach and will certainly yeild results. If you’re not that confident, or if like me your family aren’t on board with Gaelic only, you can turn any portion of your day to day life into immersion. Try only ever counting in Gaelic, pick some games you or your family like to play that can be played in Gaelic (I can teach you blackjack or go fish). Use Gaelic for specific activities, prepping meals, going for a drive, shopping, etc. You can find enough online to be able to make shopping lists, for example. Anything you can do to lodge the Gaelic in your brains will make it easier to use and will eventually flow over to other areas of your Gaelic learning.

The important takeaway is don’t get discouraged and use what you have.

Tadhail air An Rathad Tuath | The North Road

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An Chlachan Gaidhealach| The Highland Village

Le An Carbadair

Tha sinn seo! Ràinig sinn ann an Cheap Breatainn an-diugh!

Chuir sinn air dòigh an chungaidh againn ann an car agus chuir sinn na maillaidean aig An Fadalach ann an car. ‘S e loma-lòn a bha an car ach bha a h-uile rud ann. ‘S e Tetris-Master a th’annam!
Thòisich sinn a Ceap Breatainn is an Chlachan Gaidhealach. Chunnaic sinn an Chaolas Chanso agus Cheap Breatainn às dèidh dà uair. Chaidh sinn a thairis an chabhsair agus chaidh sinn air seachran a dh’aon ruith… a-rithist. Chan eil mi math leis an timcheallanan, a-réir coltais.


Chuir sròn ar chàir air ais agus bha sinn air an slighe againn a-rithist. Dhraibhig sinn suas an Slighe Mabel is Alexander Graham Bell gu Whycocomagh. Bha for againn air na soidhnichean leis an t-ainm Gàidhlig agus Beurla aig na bhailtean agus b’ fheudar dhuinn stad airson dealbh.

Ràinig sinn aig an Clachan Gàidhealach le da uair mus thòisicheadh an caithream ciùil. Chaidh sinn timcheall air an bùth tìodhlac ré greis agus cheannaich sinn tìodhlac, agus leabhraichean, agus godsagan airson tidseadh an cùrsa againn ann an Virginia.

Chaidh sinn ath air cuairt ann an chlachan. Bha iomadach toglaichean an-sin agus bha gach togail dè linn diofraichte ann eachdraidh Ceap Breatainn.  Bha an Taigh Dubh a’ chiad. Bha an Taigh Dubh an taigh aig na Albannaich mus Na Fuadaichean. Tha taigh treiseag agus thog e le cloich. Bhitheadh an ainmhidh a’ fuireach anns an taigh leis na daoine. Bha an teine anns an taigh gum bu a’ dubhadh an siomal. Cha robh ach leabaidh agus bòrd beag anns an taigh. A-muigh, seinn an croitear puirt á beul dhuinn agus dh’innse an bean gum bu teaghlaichean air an sgaradh a chionn ’s chan eil airgid gu leòr aca a ceannaich aisir.
 

Chunnaic sinn deannan taighean eile. Bha gu leòr de fiodh aig an tuinichean ann an Ceap Breatainn agus rinn an ath taighean aca de bùird. Chuir iad gàrraidh airson biadh agus thoisich iad a’ tog spréidh. Bha caoran is each is muic aca.

Ghabh gaol mór agam air an taigh-saoir ann sabhal. ‘B e seo liuthad tailmean sean corr a bha ann!


Foiteag! ‘S ann fada a tha an post. Anns an ath post dh’innsidh mi leibh mun an caithream ciùil! 

We are here! We arrived in Cape Breton today!

We organised our stuff in the car and we put An Fadalach’s bags in the car. The car was full but everything was in it. I’m a Tetris-Master!
We started for Cape Breton and the Highland Village. We saw the Canso Strait and Cape Breton after two hours. We crossed the causeway and we got lost immediately… again. I’m not good with traffic circles, apparently.

We turned around and we were on our way again. We drove up the Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell Way toward Whycocomagh. We were noticing the signs with the Gaelic and English names for the towns and had to stop to get a photo.

We arrived at the Highland Village with two hours before the concert would start. We went around the gift-shop for a little while and we bought gifts, and books, and tid-bits for teaching our course in Virginia. 

We went on a walk in the village next. There were many buildings there and each building was from a different period in Cape Breton history. The Black House was first. The Black House was the house the Scottish had before The Clearances. It is a little house and it is made of stones. The animals would stay in the house with the people. There was a fire in the house that would blacken the ceiling. There was only a bed and a small table in the house. Outside, the crofter sang mouth-music for us and the wife told us that families would be separated because they didn’t have enough money for passage.

We saw a few other houses. The setllers had enough wood in Cape Breton and they made their next houses from boards. They planted gardens for food and they raised livestock. There had sheep and horses and pigs.

I fell in love with the woodshop in the barn. There were so many great old tools there!

Phew! This is a long post. In the next post I will tell you about the concert!

Tadhail air An Rathad Tuath | The North Road

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An Feusag / The Beard

Le Unknown

Halo, a h-uile daoine,
‘S mise Breandán “An Feusag” MacSuibhne. ‘S e innleadair a th’ annam. Tha mi a’ fuireach ann an Bhirginia faisg air a mhuir. Thoiseach mi leis a’ Ghàidhlig o chionn trì bliandna. Carson a bha mi ag iarraidh ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig? Uill, ‘S toil leam an blas na Gàidhlig agus mo sinnsearan à Alba agus Èirinn. Tha Gàidhlig briste agam-sa aig àm sin ach tha ma an dòchas gum bi e nas fheàrr ás déidh an turas seo. Sin e as-drasta on a tha an bataraidh ìosal.

Tadhail air An Rathad Tuath | The North Road

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An Teachd | The Arrival

Le An Carbadair

Ràinig sinn ann an Halifax feasgar Dihaoine as dèidh là fada anns an càr. Dhràibh sinn trìd Maine tuath agus Brunswick Nuadh. Bha sinn ag iarraidh a dh’ithe ann an Naomh Iain ach chan eil taigh-bliadhna ach bùth pìotsa! Bha sinn ag iarraidh a dh’ithe rudeigin luath faisg air an rathad ach chan eil rud sam bith. Chaidh sinn air seachran (is chaid sinn thairis drocaid slaodach dà thuras) agus thuirt sinn, “Rachamaid. Cha toigh leinn Naomh Iain.” Chaid sinn a’ buannachd gu Alba Nuadh agus stad sinn ann an Baile Bhòid ag Subway.

‘S toigh le a dh’fhaicinn an t-ainmean Albannach aig na bailean an-seo. Chunnaic sinn Glaschu Nuadh, Inbhir Nis, is eile.
Ràinig sinn aig an taigh-osta faisg air leth air sia. Chlàraich sinn aig an deasg agus chaid sinn gu taigh-sheinnse Finbarr’s. Dh’fheith cairdean ghàidheal oirnn an-sin. Cha robh an biadh dona ach bha an còmhradh sgoinneil. Moran taing air Kathleen agus Joe is a h-uile dhaoine anns an buidhean!

A-muig an taigh-sheinnse thòsich sinn seisean beag. Sheinn Connie an t-oran aice agus chluich i giotàr agus ma-tha sheinn Joe is Kathleen an t-orain Ceap Breatain dhuibh. Bha e spòrs sgoinneil!

Ràinig Fhionnbhair aig an port adhair sa oidhche agus chaid sinn fhèin as-dè cadal.
—
We arrived in Halifax Friday evening after a long day in the car. We drove through north Maine and New Brunswick. We were wanting to eat in St. John’s but there were no restaurants but pizza shops! We were wanting to eat something fast near the road but there wasn’t anything. We went astray (and we crossed a slow bridge two times) and we said, “Let’s go! We don’t like St. John.” we persevered toward Nova Scotia and we stood in Rothesay at Subway.
I like seeing the Scottish names at the towns here. We saw New Glasgow, Inverness, and others.
We arrived at the hotel near 6:30. We registered at the desk and we went to Finbarr’s pub. There were Gael friends waiting for us there. The food wasn’t bad but the conversation was great! Many thanks on Kathleen and Joe and everyone in the group!
Outside the pub we started a small session. Connie sang her songs and played the guitar and then joe and Kathleen sang Cape Breton songs for us. It was great fun!
Jennifer arrived at the airport that night and we all went after sleep.

Tadhail air An Rathad Tuath | The North Road

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An Guth | The Voice

Le An Guth

Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Ghadhlig airson a’seinne an oranan na Ghadhlig.  Dh’ionnsaichinn Ghadhlig bho ceithir bliadhna agus tha dochas agam gu bidh mi nas fhearr.  Tha oranan na Ghadhlig a tha breagha agus eachdraiche agus dubhlan, ach tha e uile dibhearsan.    Tha mi ag obair aig an ionad-slainte ann a Chesapeake, VA. Tha Dietitian a tha annam. Tha mi an dochas gun bith Jason ag ithe glasraichan aig an ceann an turas cuideachd.


I am learning gaelic in order to sing the Gaelic songs.  I have been studying for 4 years and I hope to get better.  Gaelic songs are beautiful, historical and challenging, but it is all fun.   I work at the Health Department in Chesapeake, VA.  I am a Dietitian. I also hope that Jason will be eating vegetables by the end of the journey.

Tadhail air An Rathad Tuath | The North Road

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