Category: Uncategorized

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 Cothromachadh Carboin – net zero. At the moment the … Leugh an corr de Gaelic Word of the Week – Net Zero – Cothromachadh Carboin

Tha tòrr dhaoine air a bhith ag ràdh air na meadhanan sòisealta na bu toil leotha fhaicinn bho ChOP26. Seo na beachdan agam air na ceuman còmhdhail a bu toil leam fhaicinn.

Sa bhad:

• Stad air togail rathaidean ùra
• Casg air tursan-adhair taobh a-staigh na RA (ach a-mhàin do sgìrean dùthchail far a bheil feum air a leithid – m.e Eileanan na h-Alba, na h-Eileanan Scilly)
• Còmhdhail ceangailte – siostam coltach ri Oyster do mhòr-sgìre Ghlaschu/meadhan na h-Alba air fad no is dòcha do dh’Alba air fad. Siostam le cosgaisean nas ìsle, cap laitheil is seachdaineil air na chosgas tu, agus seo a’ gabhail a-steach companaidh bus/rèile/subway/trama/aithisg ann.
• Ath-leasachadh air fàraidhean airson tursan rèile fada gus am bi iad nas fhasa a thugsinn agus nas saoire
• Stad air taic stàite sam bith do charbadan rathaid fèin-obrachail (autonomous vehicles) agus airgead a chur ri tramaichean, trèanaichean, busaichean agus teicneòlasan eile a tha air an dearbhadh mar-thà.

Sa mheanan-ùine:

• Casg air bhanaichean lìbhrigidh diosail agus bhanaichean dealanach nan àite
• Prògram fosglaidhean/ath-fhosglaidhean rathaidean-iarainn gus beàrnan san lìonra rèile nàiseanta a lìonadh (Cill Rìmhinn, Waverley Route gu Carlisle, Ceangail Reile Port-adhairt Ghlaschu, Ceann Phàdraig agu Baile nam Frisealach) agus gus daoine fhaighinn às na càraichean aca
• A’ dèanamh siostam meatro do mhòr-sgìre Ghlaschu coltach ris an London Overground a’ cleachdadh nan loidhnichean a th’ ann mar-thà le trac dùbhailte air gach meur-loidhne san sgìre agus *co-dhiù* 4 trèana gach uair air gach loidhne gus nach bi feum aig daoine air clàr-ama.
• Busaichean a bhith air an riaghaladh gu teann leis an roinn phoblaich (mar a tha iad ann an Lunnainn) no leis an roinn phoblaich (mar a tha iad ann an Dùn Èideann/Èirinn a Tuath) gus an gabh an ceangal ri dòighean siubhail eile agus gum bi iad air an ruith airson maith a’ phobaill is na h-àrainneachd seach airson prothaid.
•  Siostam thràmaichean do Ghlaschu agus leudachadh mòr air siostam Dhùn Èideann

Dè bu toil leat fhèin fhaicinn?

Alasdair

Fad iomadh bliadhna, bha luchd-iomairt na rèile anns a’ Chuimrigh mì-thoilichte nach robh trèana dhealanach sam bith san dùthaich. Tha seo a-nis air atharrachadh le loidhne costa a deas na Cuimrigh a-nis air a dhealanachadh bho Chaerdydd chun na crìch le Sasainn agus le planaichean mòra gus na loidhnichean sna glinn a dhealanachadh cuideachd.

Agus mur a robh sin uile math gu leòr, tha an London Underground gu bhith a’ ruigsinn Sir Gaerfyrddin/Siorrachd Carmarthen a dh’aigthhearr. Seadh, Siorrachd Carmarthen!

Chan eil Transport for London gu bhith a’ leudachadh an Northern Line dhan Chuimrigh no dad mar sin, ach tha e coltach gum bi cothrom aig daoine a dhol air trèana tiùb an sin co-dhiù ann an ùine nach bi ro fhada.

Bidh fios aig leughadairean a’ bhloga seo gu bheil mi gu math deidheil air London Transport 1938 stock. Às dèidh beatha-obrach fada ann an Lunnainn, bha dàrna beatha aca ann an Eilean Wight eadar 1989 agus 2021.

Nuair a chaidh na trèanaichean a-mach à seirbheis às dèidh 80 bliadhna de sheirbheis na bu thràithe am-bliadhna, chaidh a mhòr-chuid aca a ghleidheadh agus tha dà sheata gu bhith a’ dol gu Rathad-iarainn Llanelli agus Mynydd Mawr. Tha iad gu bhith air an sgeadachadh agus tha dùil aig an loidhne a bhith gan ruith a’ cleachdadh cumhachd bho bhataraidhean.

’S e loidhne ghlèidhte gu math ùr is gu math lèirsinneach a th’ anns an Llanelli is Mynydd Mawr agus feumaidh mi a dhol ann latha de na làithean!

Agus chan ann a-mhàin anns a’ cheann a deas a bhios trèanaichean tiùb a’ dol – tha trèanaichean tiùb suas-chuairtiche (upcycled) gu bhith a’ ruith air an loidhne eadar Wrecsam agus Bidston cuideachd. Chaidh na ceudan de thrèanaichean D-stock bhon District Line a cheannach agus a sgeadachadh leis a’ chompanaidh VivaRail airson cleachdadh air an lìonra nàiseanta – dòigh shaor, uaine gus barrachd trèanaichean fhaighinn.

Tha na trèanichean  rim faighinn ann an cruth diosail, dealanach no hybrid agus tha an fheadhainn sa Chuimrigh gu bhith hybrid. Bidh feadhann dealanach a’ ruith nan seirbheisean rèile ùra ann an Eilean Wight bhon ath-mhìos cuideachd.

Mar sin, an ath thuras a bhios tu sa Chuimrigh:

Thoir an aire gan bheàrn!  Gwyliwch rhag y bwlch!

Alasdair

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air innse do Chomataidh Riaghaltais Ionadail, Taigheadais agus Dealbhaidh na Pàrlamaid gum bi e a’ cur dhreachd-laghan fa chomhair Pàrlamaid na h-Alba a bheir air ùghdarrasan ionadail siostam-ceadachaidh a thoirt a-steach airson àiteachan-fuirich air mhàl san ùine ghoirid (Air BnB agus a leithid). Tha do bheachdan cudromach Tha a’ Chomataidh ag … Leugh an corr de Beachdan gan sìreadh air àitichean-fuirich air mhàl fad ùine ghoirid

Nuair a thòisich mi am bloga seo bho choinn fhada air an t-saoghal, b’ e an t-amas a bh’ agam a dhol air gach rathad-iarainn ann an Alba – beag is mòr.

Nis, tha e meadhanach furasta a dhol air gach rathad-iarainn mòr (ma tha an tìde agad) ach chan eil e idir cho furasta a dhol air gach rathad-iarainn beag. Bidh meanbh-rathaidean-iarainn (miniature railways) a’ tighinn is a’ falbh meadhanach tric agus tha e gu math doirbh fios fhaighinn mu na làithean is uairean fosglaidh aca cuideachd.

Bha mi air beagan meanbh-rathaidean-iarainn nach eil ann tuilleadh, mar eisimpleir Kerr’s Miniature Railway ann an Obar Bhrothaig agus Rathad-iarainn Mhuile ach tha gu leòr ann a tha gu math ùr cuideachd.

Dh’fhosgail trì loidhnichean ùra sa bhliadhna no dhà mu dheireadh. Air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, tha loidhne ùr ann am Baile nan Granndach ann an seann Stèisean Bhaile nan Granndach an Ear. Cha robh cothrom agam a dhol air fhathast, ach tha e air an liosta!

Seo bhidio a lorg mi den loidhne ge-tà:

Ann an Siorrachd Lannraig, tha loidhne ùr ann an Clyde Valley Family Park ann an Crossford. ’S e pàirc do theaghlaichean a tha seo le go-carts is àiteachan cluich is beathaichean is eile. Mus do dh’fhosgail a’ phàirc seo ann an 2019 no mar sin, b’ àbhaist dhan Valley International Park a bhith ann – làrach le bùitean beaga agus soft play is eile aig an robh rathad-iarainn. Dhùin a’ phàirc – agus an loidhne – mu 10 bliadhna air ais. Bha an loidhne ann an cruth “dumb bell” – loidhne dhìreach agus lùb tionndaidh aig gach ceann. Anns a’ phàirc ùr, chaidh cuid de làrach na loidhne a chumail ach a-nis ’s e cearcall a th’ ann. Rud eile a tha inntinneach, ‘s e gur e trèana bataraidh a th’ ann seach trèana diosail.

Mar a bha:

Mar a tha:

Agus ann an Siorrachd Air, dh’fhosgail loidhne bheag ùr anns an Heads of Ayr farm Park is mar sin, chaidh mi ann leis na nighnean agam gus sùil a thoirt oirre.

’S e pàirc do theaghlaichean a th’ ann le dreallagan is trampoilinichean agus bàtaichean is beathaichean gu leòr bho chaoraich is gobhairean gu emu-than agus càmhalan. Tha an rathad-iarainn ann an cruth lùb le stèisean mòr, drochaid agus bogsa-siognail. Coltach ri loidhne Clyde Valley Family Park, tha an loco dealanach seach diosail.

‘S e an Tam O’Shanter express an t-ainm a th’ air an trèana agus ged nach fhacas Auld Nick no Mons Meg no duine sam bith eile bhon dàn, ’s e turas snog a bh’ ann!

Agus tha mi dìreach air ionnsachadh gu bheil loidhne ùr gu bhith a’ fosgladh ann an Ayton sna Crìochan ann an ùine nach bi fada cuideachd. Tha sin a’ dol air an liosta cuideachd.

Is math gu bheil an uiread de loidhnichean beaga ùra ann.

Alasdair

Chan ann tric a thig na prìomh rudan anns a bheil ùidh agam còmhla.

Tha loidhne tiub agus stèisean ùr gu bhith a’ fosgladh ann an Lunnainn aig deireadh na mìos seo – leudachadh air an Northern Line gu Battersea Power Station.

Tha mi daonnan toilichte nuair a dh’fhosglas rathaidean-iarainn ùra ach tha ceangal sònraichte aig seo ri ceòl roc.

Fiù’s mur eil thu air Animals le Pink Floyd (1977) a chluinntinn, tha mi cinnteach gum faca tu an còmhdach – fear de na dealbhan còmhdaich LP as suaicheanta riamh!

San dealbh, chithear muc plastaig os cionn stèisean cumhachd Battersea. ‘S e muc a bh’ ann a chionn ’s gun robh an clàr stèidhichte air an leabhar Animal Farm le George Orwell, (a tha a-nis ri fhaighinn sa Ghàidhlig – taing Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul!)

Leis an fhìrinn innse, chan e clàr sona a th’ ann idir – tha an cuspair gu math dorcha, tha an ceòl gu math gruamach agus aig an àm, is gann gun robh Roger Waters agus David Gilmour, prìomh sgrìobhadairean òrain a’ chòmhlain fiù’s a’ bruidhinn ri chèile. Ach aig an aon àm, tha an ceòl cho math is gu bheil e daonnan a’ toirt togail dhomh, gu h-àraid an t-òran Dogs – air a bheil fear de na solothan giotàir as fheàrr riamh.

Dhùin an stèisean cumhachd ann an 1983 ach thathar a-nis a’ togail flataichean is oifisean san togalach agus tha feum air deagh sheirbheis còmhdhail dhan sgìre.

Nis, tha an dà chuid an clàr agus an stèisean cumhachd fhèin cho suaicheanta is gu bheil mi an dùil is an dòchas gum bi muc ainmeil Pink Floyd a’ nochdadh san stèisean ann an dòigh air choireigin! Mural le mucan ann is dòcha?

Chì mi nuair a thèid mi ann!

Tha mi gu bhith a’ dol gu Lunnainn air an ath mhìos agus thèid mi air an loidhne ùr fhad ’s a bhios mi ann is sgrìobhaidh mi mu dheidhinn an seo.

Agus fhad’s a bhios mi ann, tha mi an dùil fear de na tursan rèile as ainmeile am measg nan trainspotters a dhèanamh. Seo an Kennington Loop – turas goirid is toirmisgte ach gu math mòr-chòrdte do dh’aficionados Underground Lunnainn! Tha i cho ainmeil is gu bheil lèine-t fiù’s ann airson innse dhan t-saoghal gun do rinn thu e!

Dè th’ anns an lùib?

Bidh a’ mhòr chuid de na trèanaichean air meur-loidhne Charing Cross an Northern Line a’ crìochachadh ann an Kennington. Bidh na daoine a fàgail na trèana agus bidh an trèana an uair sin a’ tionndadh air lùb Kennington agus a’ dol gu tuath a-rithist bho stèisean Kennington. Chan eil e ceadaichte do luchd-siubhail a dhol timcheall air an lùib – ach bidh gu leòr dhaoine ga dhèanamh co-dhiù,

Feuchaidh mi ri a dhèanamh (ged a bhios an t-eagal orm gun tèid mo shadail dheth leis an dràibhear!) agus ma bhios mi soirbheachail, ceannaichidh mi an lèine-t!

Alasdair

Air m’ fòn làimh: Pink Floyd, Animals (1978), 8/10; Big Audio Dynamite, Live in Glasgow 2011 (bootleg – bha mi ann!) 9.5/10 – còmhlan cho Lunnainneach sa ghabhas!

A’ leughadh an-dràsta: Lonely Planet guide to Aboriginal Australia and the Torres Strait Islands (2001)

A few years ago, I had a revelation about Gaelic. I was visiting the natural history museum in London with my family at the time, back in the day when Dippy the Dinosaur was still in the Lobby.

We were in the cafè and I was waiting to order food. There were three people out front serving and there were a couple of people in the kitchen area who they were talking to via walkie-talkie.

As you’d imagine, they were talking in English but I noticed that every single one of them had learnt English as a second language.

This is of course very common in London – and indeed in most places today. We speak to second language fluent English speakers ever day and don’t think twice about it. Why? Because it’s normal!

As a Gaelic speaker, my revelation was that in a situation like this, the use of Gaelic between a group of people who are all or mainly fluent second language Gaelic speakers would be likely to be seen by some as artificial and condemned as such both by those who are anti-Gaelic and amongst some within the Gaelic community.

Of course, Gaelic and English aren’t the same thing. Gaelic is a minority language and sometimes there are different factors to be considered over and above pure communication. But not in this case. To paraphrase Fraud – sometimes a language is just a language.

I learnt Gaelic, I use Gaelic every day. There’s nothing artificial about it. And even if there was, what does it matter?

But in the Gaelic world, the need for authenticity is so great that some Gaelic spearkers not only consider learners or use of Gaelic outwith traditional Gaelic communities as artificial but even call Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the national Gaelic college in Skye and attempts to promote Gaelic in Stornoway artificial. I’ve heard this often over the years and the social media controversy over the last few days is nothing new.

Part of the problem is a simplistic understanding of the word community. As a sociologist, I often joke “every time I hear the word community I reach for my gun”. But there is a serious point behind this. The idea that only communities of the type you get in a rural areas are real or authentic communities ignores the fact that the vast majority of people in Scotland don’t live in communities like that. And more importantly, it ignores the fact that the communities of the type perceived as authentic have actually changed a lot too.

I live in Glasgow. I don’t know my neighbours more than to say hello to. I don’t see them socially. I don’t bump into them at local events – in fact there are few local events. And this isn’t a new thing. I’m pushing 50 and the experience was largely the same for my parents who grew up in Glasgow and were born in the late 1940s. It’s certainly the experience of my children and most of their friends.

But I do live in a community – I have many friends who live in other parts of Glasgow and I see them regularly and I have a sense of community which isn’t just based on the small area I live in and based on me knowing the people who live closest to me. This isn’t individualism or being anti-social – it’s just a different type of community. A type of community which enables me to use Gaelic very regularly.

Basically, the talk about “real” communities in the Gaelic context doesn’t only hold that using Gaelic in an urban area is artificial but condemns urban community itself as being artificial. This is clearly daft particularly given that Scotland is particularly urbanised country.

And the discussion of “real” communities fails to recognise how much they’ve changed. In recent years, rural communities have become far more like urban communities due to various social changes. As Tim Armstrong has pointed out, the Gaelic community in traditional communities are becoming more like urban networks. When people are comparing Hebridean communities with new Gaelic communities, they are often comparing idealised versions of these communities or communities as they were before Internet 2.0 (and to quote Big Country’s song Beautiful People, I suspect that to some extent “things were never what they used to be”) .

In fact, differences between native speakers and fluent learners and between urban and rural communities are smaller than they’ve ever been before and they are more interlinked than ever so I think it’s time we laid all the talk of artificiality to rest once and for all.

And most important of all, languages are social and not biological. Nothing social is artificial. And even if it was, using English in new contexts would be just as artificial.

The Gaelic world is and always has been diverse and I for one welcome this.

It’s time for more Gaelic use and less judgement of who and where this it is done IMHO.

Alasdair

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 mapaichean – maps. Every school– sgoil – in Scotland – … Leugh an corr de Gaelic Word of the Week blog – mapaichean – mapa