Gáilig Dhail Riada

25/02/2024

SEANCHAS DHAIL RIADA

Our very own Àdhamh joined Companaich Dhail Riada and Kilmartin Museum on behalf of CHArts yesterday to share local Gaelic lore with youngest daughter and burgeoning tradition-bearer Saorsa.

In part 1 here, we focus on stories about denizens of the Gaelic Otherworld, as Gregorson Campbell phrased it.

Stories of the Little People of Dùn Mac Samhainn and Dùn Ada and the Brùnaichean of Dùn t-Sròin are translated live into English by Saorsa Ní Bhroin.

19/02/2024

MO CHÙLAIBH RIS A’ BHAILE SEO

Àdhamh and youngest daughter Saorsa are working on the fragments of a song which seems otherwise to be lost and are wondering whether that referred to in this account of the life of Domhall MacCaluim by Professor Meek is one and the same.

http://meekwrite.blogspot.com/2013/03/crofting-history-preaching-land-gospel.html?m=1

“MacCallum’s boyhood experience of his native area contributed to his later profile, as well as to his speeches.

He was evidently aware in his campaigning years that a substantial change had occurred in the social configuration of Craignish, and he referred to it in 1884 as ‘that once lovely place…now turned to a waste howling wilderness’.

When he was at the height of his rhetorical powers in the first half of the 1880s, he sometimes alluded to evictions which had taken place at Arichonan, part of the estate of Malcolm of Poltalloch, shortly before he was born.

He even remembered a Gaelic song inspired by the Arichonan eviction.”

The chorus appears to be similar to that of a Barra song of the same name but only two verses are currently extant in this recording of Deonaigh Caimbeal of Kilmartin by Eric Cregeen, in which he refers to a “whole rigmarole” as if there were many verses now lost.

Poltalloch ‘s mac Mhàrtainn
A reinn na Gáidheil a thanachamh!

(Poltalloch and Martin [the sherif]
Who thinned out the Gaels!)

The contributor recites fragments of a Gaelic song about clearances in the Kilmartin area and translates them into English.

16/02/2024

NEART MO LÀIMH!
(Strength of my Hand)

Looking back at some of the sizzle reels for the fantastic Origins of the Laoich - Series which we hope will one day move into full production.

The writer Fraser Coull had the bravery and vision to use Gáilig Dhail Riada (Bute, Cowal & Mid-Argyll Gaelic) as the working dialect for the series.

This meant that our previously moribund vernacular sailed towards the silver screen in what was set to be a myth-laden, gripping and above all incredibly fun series for young people (and a guilty pleasure for the rest of us!).

It was to be set, filmed and produced on location in Scotland, featuring some brilliant talent, both established and brand new.

We hope it comes back to life and sees an appreciative light of day!

Gur math a théid leibh, a chàirdean 🙏🏻

Éithne makes her last stand against Alasdair in this extended preview for our pitch of "Origins of the Laoich".Using our sizzle reel, our pilot script and pi...

15/12/2023

Dhail Riada

Òrain chaillt’ ás an dùthaich!

This Sunday in Edinburgh, the Ó Broin family, Gaelic tradition bearers of Central Argyll, will share some of the otherwise lost songs of the area at Bothan Dhùn Éidinn.

13:45
Sunday
Kilderkin

09/09/2023

Dualchainnt an àite ri chluinntinn san dùthaich!

After many years of planning and hard work, Kilmartin Museum reopened to the public in some style last week.

Particularly pleasing to us here at Dalriada Gaelic was the fact that although the main panels are in standard Gaelic, there are two pieces of local lore which can be enjoyed via recordings presented in dialect at listening points.

One is a song sung by Saorsa Ní Bhroin, learned from Eoghann MacCuinn of the Isle of Luing, the other a story as told by her father Àdhamh, drawn from the collection work of Nils M. Holmer.

The Kilmartin redevelopment team were very keen to support the place of Gaelic in the local area. Great to see the language out front and centre in such an impressive new museum.

Gu robh móran math aig Àdhamh Ó Broin: Scottish Gaelic Consultancy agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig air son an cuid obair ‘s taic.

17/06/2023

Dhail Riada


An ceann seachdainn an-diugh…

Project founder Àdhamh will be hosting an evening of Central Argyll-related story, song and anecdote a week tonight at the Whistlefield Inn in east Cowal.

If you are from Bute, Cowal or Mid-Argyll and have an interest in local heritage, this will be a superb opportunity to connect with a dedicated tradition bearer who has saved a huge amount of the Gaelic lore of the region - as well as reviving the local dialect - from the brink of extinction.

Contact the venue for more details!

12/01/2023

Happy Old New Year!

Beannachdan na blian’ ùire leibh!

23/12/2022

DOMHALL BACASTAIR
(Donald Munro Robison)
1935-2022

Fois ‘s sìth air anam…

Another of our great friends and stalwart informants and the last of the Baxter Boys of Feàrnach Farm is away the Crow Road…

Dhail Riada

A huge thank you once again to our several monthly contributors who quite literally keep our work alive. We can’t do this without you and we’re so glad we don’t have to....

Domhall Bacastair ‘s Àdhamh
sa Cheàrn, Comhall, an-diugh....

Working through another 60 photographs from the family collection of the Baxters of Feàrnach Farm, Caol an t-Snàimh (Colintraive).

We turn on the dictaphone, write a number on the back of each picture in pencil and ask Donald to fill us in on as much about the people and place in it as he can.

Social history, good company and a cup of tea. It’s what a great afternoon’s made of.

Suas le Gáidhlig an àite!

04/11/2022

an Eilein Bhódaich


Saoil dé mar a bha Gáilig an Eilein?
Ceist a tha air a bhith againn fad ioma bliana!

It has long been an ambition here at the project to prove the apparently obvious - that the Gaelic of the Isle of Bute, despite being a Stewart rather than Campbell posession - was essentially the same dialect as that of Cowal and Mid-Argyle.

Finally, we have some progress on this front. The blog here explains how we reached that conclusion with the help of Gilbert Márkus' book "The Place-names of Bute."

Gun còrd e ruibh!
Enjoy :)

Gáilig an Eilein Bhódaich Àdhamh Ó Broin From my earliest days, I was probably more familiar with the sight of Bute than I ...

01/11/2022

Dhail Riada


Sgeul á dualchas beò Chomhaill….

Here is Dalriada Gaelic founder Àdhamh Ó Broin regaling us with a story heard some years ago from a lady whose people belonged to Ceann Loch Goill (Lochgoilhead) and Gleann Dà Ruail (Glendaruel).

The tale, told in the dialect of those who lived its history, recounts the formerly much more prevalent phenomenon known as “An Dà Sheollamh” (The Second Sight).

Gun còrd e ruibh!
Enjoy….

The last of our Gaelic Storytelling sessions takes us to the Cairndow area.

11/10/2022

We're looking for a Digitisation Officer (temporary appointment) to digitise records for the Tiree transcription groups. 22 days work @ £9.90 per hour. Do you know anyone who might be interested? Email [email protected] or visit www.friendsoftheargyllpapers.org.uk for the job description and application form.

Photo shows Louise (volunteer) alongside Betsee, the camera!