MURDO BEATON, GAELIC SOCIETY CHIEF 2018/19: HIS STORY

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Early Life

Grew up on my father’s croft at Balmeanach, a small crofting township half way between Struan and Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.  Educated at Vatten Bridge Primary School and  Portree High School where I had to stay during the week in the Elgin Hostel for boys which at that time accommodated boys from Harris and Uist as well as from those areas of Skye that were not served by a daily bus service. The bonds of friendship forged in the hostel environment have been strong and long lasting. I am still in regular touch with a number of my fellow hostel pupils. My secondary education was a pleasant experience and I cannot begin to measure the influence the teachers I came into contact with had on my development as a person – Ian Murray who was rector at the time, John Steel, Farquhar Maclean, Calum MacLeod, George Hodson, Robin Murray etc etc.

Little did I realise then that Portree High School was to play such a big part in my later life.

After secondary school I went on to Glasgow University and eventually graduated with a B. Sc. in Physics and Mathematics.

Working Life

Joined the City of Glasgow Police on Boxing Day 1961 and was posted to Maryhill Division where I spent two years on the beat – day shift and night shift with one day off per week. You certainly saw life in the raw in Maryhill on Friday & Saturday nights and on Glasgow Fair Friday which was our busiest night of the year. There were a lot of Highlanders in the Glasgow Police at that time and it was not unusual to have a conversation with colleagues in Gaelic.

In 1964 I went to the Forensic Science Dept. which was part of the Identification Bureau at Force Headquarters at that time.  Although it took me away from the hurly burly of street policing it did have the attraction of a steady day shift (8.30 till 5.30) with one week in four on call during the night, once you had gained sufficient experience.  Forensic Science today has seen huge advances in methodology and technology and is a long way from what it was in these early days, but ours was the only forensic laboratory in the West of Scotland which meant that we worked on cases from all areas ranging from Dumfries up to Orkney and Shetland and we frequently had to attend courts all over Scotland to give evidence.  I think I must have given evidence in most of the courts in Scotland at some time or other.

We were inevitably involved in almost all the high profile cases that hit the headlines at that time – probably the most notable that I was associated with was the murder of Rachel Ross in Ayr which resulted in the arrest and conviction of a well known Glasgow criminal Patrick Connelly Meehan. His accomplice at that time was a man called James Griffiths who was killed by police in a shoot out that started when they went to arrest him in his flat in Great Western Road. Paddy was sentenced to life imprisonment but was later given a free pardon and released after serving seven years – this was after a long campaign on his behalf by the celebrated lawyers Joe Beltrami, Sir Nicholas Fairbairn Q.C. and the author and broadcaster Ludovic Kennedy. The whole story is told most graphically in Kennedy’s book “A Presumption of Innocence”. His research for this book was just astonishing – I remember him coming to Skye three times to interview me on the forensic evidence in that case, particularly the pieces of paper that had been found in Griffiths’ jacket pocket.

I also remember giving evidence in the High Court in Inverness in connection with a murder that had taken place in Barvas in Lewis – our evidence concerned burned papers found in the accused’s house, but if memory serves me right a verdict of “Not Proven” was returned by the jury.

I also remember being a witness in the last case brought against the famous safeblower Johnny Ramensky, who during the war had been taken out of Barlinnie prison and parachuted behind enemy lines to blow a safe in a German military base and steal secret papers. I was fascinated by this stocky little placid looking man who seemed to be addicted to a criminal lifestyle and who had gained such notoriety by escaping from all the prisons in which he had been incarcerated. He was the subject of Matt McGinn’s famous song “Open up your prison gates and let Ramensky go”.

Johnny died, a broken and embittered man in Peterhead prison.

After almost ten years in the police service I resigned, went to Jordanhill College of Education and set out on my second career – teaching.

My first teaching post was in a small rural East African village called Machakos, about 40 miles from Nairobi, where I did a two year contract with the Ministry of Overseas Development as a teacher of Physics and General Science. These two years in Kenya were idyllic, doing a job that enjoyed such status and was so much appreciated by pupils and by my African colleagues. The climate, the way of life, the wildlife, the holidays at the beaches of Mombasa will all live with me forever, but the abiding memory will be of a poor but happy and resourceful people.

At the end of our contract we came home and I eventually secured a post as a teacher of Physics and Warden of the hostel at my old school, Portree High.  Going back as a member of staff and meeting as colleagues some of my former teachers was a strange experience but they made me feel most welcome. A number of my fellow pupils were also on the staff then, Alister Ross who was Depute Head, Janet MacLeod Asst Head, Stanley Robertson, Head of Chemistry, D R MacDonald, Head of Gaelic, later joined by others such as Ian George MacDonald, Robert MacDonald, Murdina Stewart, Shona Cormack etc etc.  That must be one of the great strengths of schools like Portree – the large percentage of teachers from the ranks of former pupils.

I took early retirement in 1991 just as Gaelic Medium pupils were beginning to feed through from the GM primaries, and, after a few years doing other things I was eventually lured back as a part time teacher of Gaelic Medium Science and Maths. Thus began the most enjoyable and most fulfilling part of my entire teaching career.  Because I was part time I was not burdened with the overwhelming bureaucracy which is the bane of teachers’ lives today – I simply taught my classes, wrote their annual reports and met with their parents on parents’ evenings.  That was so enjoyable – small classes, really nice well motivated pupils and supportive parents, and being part of that great success story, Gaelic Medium education.

I finally retired a few years ago but I am kept busy translating Science teaching materials into Gaelic.  I am also involved in the course for Gaelic Medium subject teachers delivered by Sabhal Mor Ostaig and Aberdeen University – the “Cùrsa Streap”. This is an excellent course, not just for Gaelic Medium subject teachers, but also for Gaelic speaking teachers who at present do not teach their subjects through the medium of Gaelic but who may be interested in doing so in the future.

After retiral from teaching I became involved in Sir Iain Noble’s Gaelic charity “Urras an Eilein” and among many other projects we have arranged a number of visits to the great war sites of the Western Front where so many young Highlanders perished. We held remembrance services in Gaelic at all the places we visited and on our second trip we had the great pleasure of visiting St Valery-en-Caux along with two ex-Seaforths who had been captured there in June 1940. It was very moving to see how the people of St Valery honoured these two men – they even had a civic reception in the town hall where the two veterans were taken on stage and introduced to the Mayor who presented them with special medals. I consider myself especially privileged to have had the opportunity to meet, talk with and get to know such men.

These visits, along with other visits accompanying school groups and holidays with my wife when we have walked round the battlefields, have had a lasting impression on me – the horrors of the great battles fought around the town of Ypres where 100,000 who have no known grave are remembered by name on the great memorials to the missing, especially the Menin Gate where an act of remembrance is held every evening at 8pm, every night of the year. The Somme – scene of that blood-soaked massacre forever etched on the British psyche and whose very name conjures up all the horror of the Western Front – is another unforgettable area where you find so many Highlanders in the cemeteries and on the memorials that pepper the countryside.  A television crew followed us on our first visit resulting in the acclaimed programme “Na Laoich”.

Latterly, however, my main pre-occupation has been my three grandsons who have brought such joy into my life and of whom I am so immensely proud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL OUTING 2017

The Gaelic Society's annual outing this year was to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

College staff, past and present, led by Professor Hugh Cheape (our Chief in 2016/17) described its history and future plans, and members were able to explore the original buildings and the new campus.

 

Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

The Gaelic Society of Inverness

Established 1871

Cuairt-litir An Earraich/ Spring Newsletter – April 2017

Tha bliadhna thrang air a bhith aig a’ Chomunn, mar is àbhaist, agus tha sinn air-leth taingeil gu bheil òraidichean cho comasach air a bhith againn.   Tha sinn cuideachd a’ toirt taing don Ollamh, Ùisdean Cheape, Ceannard 2016-2017, airson an taic a thug e don Chomunn fad na bliadhna bho Sheirbheis Cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair, Òraid dìnnear bhliadhnail san t-Samhain agus a-rithist aig a’ choinneamh bhliadhnail sa Ghiblean 2017.

Bha deagh Chuirm againn bho chionn ghoirid. Tha ceilidh neo-fhoirmeil a’ còrdadh ris na h-uile agus tha sinn mòran an comain na ghabh pàirt air an oidhche. Bu mhath leinn cuideachd taing a thoirt airson maoineachadh bho Stòras Choitcheann Inbhir Nis agus Sonas.

Tha a’ chomataidh air pàipearan a thaghadh airson na ath-bhliadhna agus tha sinn an dòchas gun cùm sibh bhur taic ri na h-òraidichean mar is dual dhuibh. Ma tha neach sam bith ag iarraidh lioft gu na coinneamhan, cuiribh fios thugainn.                                                                                              

The past year has been another busy one for the Society. Meetings have been held in the Gaelic Primary School and have covered a wide range of topics including: Researching the Life of Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, William Clunes, shinty, sheep, and clearance in early nineteenth century Sutherland,and Dùghall Bochanan, to name but a few. Once again we are fortunate to have had a variety of papers of such high quality read at our meetings. We wish to record our sincere thanks to our speakers throughout the year: Calum Cameron-White, Liz Macrae-Shaw, Hugh Cheape, Jim Hunter, Hugh Dan Maclennan, Derek Flyn, Allan Turner, Donald Meek and Hector Mackenzie. Thanks are also due to all those who took part in the Culloden Anniversary Service.

To the many faithful members who turn out to these meetings, a very special thanks to you. If you are aware of anyone requiring a lift to meetings, please get in touch with a member of committee.

We had a beautiful day for last year’s annual outing. We were very fortunate in having Society member, William McRobbie providing a commentary throughout the trip to Gairloch.

Volume LXVII of the Transactions should be with the members by now. Please get in touch if you have not received your copy.

Ceannard 2017-18 / Chief of the Society 2017-18   

Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness from 15th April 2017 to 13th April 2018 - Jo NicDhòmhnaill

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Jo MacDonald is a native Gaelic speaker from the island of Lewis. During her career spent largely with the BBC, she worked mainly in factual and education programming. Before leaving the BBC at the end of 2008 she was Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, a tri-media department whose output includes the national Gaelic radio service BBC Radio nan Gaidheal; a wide range of television programming for the new Gaelic channel BBC ALBA and for BBC2; and the Gaelic website bbcalba.co.uk.

She was also member of MAGOG whose 2002 report to Scottish ministers recommended the establishment of a body which would take a strategic approach to Gaelic Development activities.

Jo now works as a freelance researcher, writer, broadcaster and translator. She is a member of An Seotal ’s Gaelic terminology panel and a member of The Sorley Maclean Trust.

Is e Leòdhasach a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig, a tha ann an Jo NicDhòmhnaill. Rè a beatha-obrach, a chur i seachad gu ìre mhòr aig a’ BhBC, bha i aig àrd-ìre ann an rèidio, telebhisean agus air-loidhne. Mun àm a dh’fhàg i am BBC aig deireadh 2008 bha i na Manaidsear Deasachaidh aig BBC Gàidhlig. Tha i a-nise ag obair air a ceann fhèin mar sgrìobhaiche, rannsaiche, eadar-theangair agus craoladair.

Bha i na ball den bhuidheann MAGOG a mhol don Riaghaltas ann an 2002 buidheann a stèidheachadh a ghabhadh uallach airson ro-innleachd leasachaidh na Gàidhlig.

Tha Jo na ball den t-Seotal, am pannal airson briathrachas Gàidhlig agus na ball de dh’Urras Shomhairle MhicIlleathain.              

                                                                                                                                                (Bho MG Alba)

The Chief delivers the address at the Culloden Anniversary Service, April 15th 2017, the Society’s annual dinner on November 4th and finally at the annual business meeting on April 13th 2018.    A very warm welcome to Jo in her year as Chief to the Society.

Seirbheis-cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair/ Culloden Anniversary 2017

The Anniversary Service will be held at the Cairn on Saturday 15th April. This will follow the usual pattern with the Society Chief, Jo Macdonald, giving an Address. This is followed by prayers and a blessing by Rev.K.D Macleod, Invergordon and Rev Canon Mel Langille, Fortrose, respectively. Gaelic Psalm singing will be part of the service with Donald Roderick MacAskill and friends, Dingwall, leading the praise. The Society’s Bard, Maoilios Caimbeul, will read verses from the poem: Am Breacan Uallach, The Proud Plaid, by Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair.

An appropriate lament will be played by the Society Honorary Piper, Mr Euan J. J. MacCrimmon, after which a wreath will be laid on behalf of the Society by Jo Macdonald.

Cuairt samhraidh / Summer Outing

The summer outing this year will take place on Saturday 27th May to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College on Skye. There are one or two places still available on this day trip.    Please contact the Secretary to book a seat on the coach. The cost is £25 for the coach hire.

Làrach-lìn / Website     

Please visit our website at www.gsi.org.uk for all information regarding the Society and the latest news. The website has been up-dated and we are very grateful to Donald John Macleod, Librarian, for his work in keeping the site up-to-date as well as our Facebook page! To keep down postage costs, newsletters will appear on our website. A paper copy will be issued on request.

Leabharlann / Library    

A collection of 200 books of Jacobite interest has been received from the estate of the late Miss Christian Aikman of Morar, a vice-president of the 1745 Association.  Our classified index to the Society’s Transactions has recently been updated and is available on the GSI website.

Ballrachd / Membership

We welcomed a substantial number of new members this past year.

Our Treasurer, Donald Norman MacLeod, is grateful to all of you who complied with the request to pay your subscription by Standing Order. Those of you who have not yet taken advantage of this facility are reminded that this can be done by contacting the Treasurer at any time. Membership is currently £20 per annum and is due for renewal on 15th July each year. Sending reminders to such a large membership is quite costly, so please put this date in your diary to avoid any lapse of your membership. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Treasurer. Students at Universities and Colleges may join the Society at the reduced fee of £10 per annum.

A’ cuimhneachadh / Remembering

Sadly, we have had to record the loss of some of our members and friends in the past few months. We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to those members who are mourning the loss of family and friends at this time. We would ask that you keep us informed of the passing of any of our members in order that a formal tribute may be paid to them at our members’ meetings and subsequently recorded in the Society Transactions.

Finally, we would like to express our thanks to Highland Council and the Inverness Gaelic School for the use of their premises for our meetings.

All Correspondence should be addressed to:

Hon. Secretary : Alice Macdonald, 8 Glenburn Drive, Inverness. IV2 4ND Tel: 01463 231891

      e-maii:        alice@gsi.org.uk

Hon. Treasurer : Donald N. MacLeod,19 Burnbrae, Westhill, Inverness, IV2 5RHTel: 01463 791731   

       e-mail:      donald@gsi.org.uk

 

                                                                                                                      Murdo Campbell, Chairman
 

 

 

 

 

 

DUGALD BUCHANAN

Professor Donald Meek gave an interesting and insightful talk on the poetry of Dugald Buchanan to the Society on Thursday 23rd February. 

Donald is the editor ofthe latest edition of Buchanan’s poetry, Laoidhean Spioradail Dhùghaill Bhochanain, which was published by the Scottish Gaelic Texts Society in 2016.

The talk, which began as shown here, will be published in volume LXVIII of the Society’s Transactions, which is due in 2018. 

DÙGHALL BOCHANAN (1716-68): SEALLADH ÙR AIR A BHEATHA IS A BHÀRDACHD

 “Is cinnteach nach eil mòran agaibh nach cuala mu Dhùghall Bochanan, am bàrd spioradail as ainmeile ann an litreachas na Gàidhlig.  Cluinnear aon de na laoidhean aige, ‘Fulangas Chrìosd’, ga seinn gus an là an-diugh, mar as trice le Màiri Mhoireasdan, agus tha daoine gu math measail air an laoidh sin fhathast.  Bha earrann de dh’ aon eile de na laoidhean aige, ‘Là a’ Bhreitheanais’, ga seinn ann am Muile gu meadhan na ficheadamh linn, agus fonn rithe coltach ri aon de na seann laoidhean Oiseanach.  B’ e ‘Là a’ Bhreitheanais’ an laoidh a b’ fhaide a rinn Bochanan, agus tha i gu math eadar-dhealaichte seach na dàin eile a dh’fhoillsich e ann an leabhar beag de dh’ ochd laoidhean a chaidh a chlò-bhualadh ann an Dùn Èideann ann an 1767 fon ainm Laoidhe Spioradail, le Balfour, Auld agus Smellie, na clò-bhualadairean a thug dhuinn an Tiomnadh Nuadh Gàidhlig anns an aon bhliadhna – agus bidh sibh mothachail, ma tha sibh math air cùnntas, gu bheil dà cheud gu leth bliadhna ann, am bliadhna fhèin, bhon a thachair sin.  

“Bha Bochanan ann an Dùn Èideann aig an àm, ’s e a’ stiùireadh an Tiomnaidh Nuaidh tron chlò às leth an SSPCK.  ’S e rud mòr a bh’ ann gun deachaidh an Tiomnadh Nuadh Gàidhlig agus an leabhar aig Bochanan fhoillseachadh aig an aon àm agus leis na h-aon chlò-bhualadairean.  Tha sin na thomhas air an luach a bha ga chur air na laoidhean aige, ged nach eil fhios againn cò leis.  Cha robh ann am Bochanan ach maighstir-sgoile ann an seirbhis nan Oighreachdan Dì-chòirichte (Forfeited Estates) agus an SSPCK ann am Bun Rainich agus ann an Ceann Loch Rainich, agus faodaidh sinn a bhith cinnteach nach biodh gu leòr a dh’airgead aige airson leabhar da leithid fhoillseachadh.  Feumaidh gun robh neach-taic air choreigin air chùl chùisean, a bha a’ cur luach mòr air saothair an duine seo, ach chan eil fhios againn cò e.

“Chan eil an sin ach aon de na ceistean, aon de na dìomhaireachdan, a tha co-cheangailte ri beatha agus saothair Bhochanain ...”

 

Jo MacDonald is the Gaelic Society Chief/Ceannard for 2017-18

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"Jo MacDonald is a native Gaelic speaker from the island of Lewis. During her career spent largely with the BBC, she worked mainly in factual and education programming. Before leaving the BBC at the end of 2008 she was Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, a tri-media department whose output includes the national Gaelic radio service BBC Radio nan Gàidheal; a wide range of television programming for the new Gaelic channel BBC ALBA and for BBC2; and the Gaelic website bbcalba.co.uk.

"She was also a member of MAGOG whose 2002 report to Scottish ministers recommended the establishment of a body which would take a strategic approach to Gaelic Development activities.

"Jo now works as a freelance researcher, writer, broadcaster and translator. She is a member of An Seotal ’s Gaelic terminology panel and a member of The Sorley Maclean Trust.

"Is e Leòdhasach a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig a tha ann an Jo NicDhòmhnaill. Rè a beatha-obrach, a chuir i seachad gu ìre mhòr aig a’ BhBC, bha i aig àrd-ìre ann an rèidio, telebhisean agus air-loidhne. Mun àm a dh’fhàg i am BBC aig deireadh 2008 bha i na Manaidsear Deasachaidh aig BBC Gàidhlig. Tha i a-nise ag obair air a ceann fhèin mar sgrìobhaiche, rannsaiche, eadar-theangair agus craoladair.

"Bha i na ball den bhuidheann MAGOG a mhol don Riaghaltas ann an 2002 buidheann a stèidheachadh a ghabhadh uallach airson ro-innleachd leasachaidh na Gàidhlig.

"Tha Jo na ball den t-Seotal, am pannal airson briathrachas Gàidhlig agus na ball de dh’Urras Shomhairle MhicIlleathain."

(Bho MG Alba)

Restoration of the Kingussie Bard, Donald Campbell's Gravestone

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Restoration of Donald Campbell's Gravestone by Kingussie Arts Network 21.11.2016

 

With thanks to; Gaelic Society of Inverness, Highland Council, and Historic Scotland.

 

Donald Campbell Dòmhnall Phàill (Donald son of Paul) was born in Dalnaspidal in 1798. He came to work as a shepherd at Ballachroan in 1822, where his relative was tenant. The last 40 years of his life were spent near Kingussie, at Glen Gynack, where he died in 1875.


Five of his songs are recorded in Thomas Sinton's 'Poetry of Badenoch', but he composed many more. Thomas Sinton says of his songs, "Very few of them have been preserved. Nobody thought of taking them down at the time; and in his latter years the old bard could rarely be prevailed upon to sing the songs of his youth." 

 

Guma slàn do na fearaibh is regarded as one of the most important songs composed in Gaelic about emigration, and is often referred to in English as 'The Emigrant's Song'. It was composed in June 1838, when he saw a large number of people from Badenoch assemble in Kingussie in order to walk to Fort William on the first part of their journey to Australia. The second best known of his songs is a love song, Duanag a' Chìobair (The Shepherds Ditty) which is also a well known Gaelic song and is sung to the present day.
 

His son, also called Donald Campbell was a merchant in Kingussie and very important in shinty circles, was also a bard. His most popular song was a humerous one,  Bàla Ghlinn Truim (The Ball of Glen Truim).

 

Cuairt-litir An Earraich/Spring Newsletter - April 2016

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Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

The Gaelic Society of Inverness

       Established 1871

       Cuairt-litir An Earraich/ Spring Newsletter – April 2016

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

Tha bliadhna thrang air a bhith aig a’ Chomunn, mar is àbhaist, agus tha sinn air-leth taingeil gu bheil òraidichean cho comasach air a bhith againn. Tha sinn cuideachd a’ toirt taing do’n Ollamh Mata MacÌomhair, Ceannard 2015-2016, airson an taic a thug e don Chomunn fad na bliadhna bho Sheirbheis Cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair, Òraid dìnnear bhliadhnail san t-Samhain: “ Contemporary Gaelic Education: An Overview” agus Òraid: “ Gaelic – just another Minority Language?” aig a’ choinneamh bhliadhnail, 15 An Giblean. Gu math a thèid le Mata san àm ri teachd.

 

Bha deagh Chuirm againn bho chionn ghoirid. Tha ceilidh neo-fhoirmeil a’ còrdadh ris na h-uile agus tha sinn mòran an comain na ghabh pàirt air an oidhche. Fhuair sinn taic bho Maoin Mathas Coitcheann Inbhir Nis agus Buidheann Taighean-òsta Sonas. Tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhaibh uile.

 

Tha a’ chomataidh air pàipearan a thaghadh airson na ath-bhliadhna agus tha sinn an dòchas gun cùm sibh bhur taic ri na h- òraidichean mar is dual dhuibh. Ma tha neach sam bith ag iarraidh lioft gu coinneamh, cuiribh fios thugainn. Bithidh dà choinneamh air an cumail air oidhche Diardaoin an ath-bhliadhna, mar a chì sibh nuair a gheibh sibh a’ chairt bhliadhnail ann am beagan mhìosan. Tha buill den chomataidh a’ deasachadh Transaction LXVII. Bidh dùil ris an leabhar seo a dhol a-mach ro dheireadh na bliadhna seo.

                                                                                                             

The past year has been another busy one for the Society. Meetings have been held in the Gaelic Primary School and have covered a wide range of topics including: Reading the Gaelic Landscape, Bàird a’ Bhaile Shear, Religion and attitudes to religion, Dualchas Luibhneach nan Gàidheal, to name but a few. Once again we are fortunate to have had a variety of papers of such high quality read at our meetings. We wish to record our sincere thanks to our speakers: John Murray, Linda Macleod, Maoilios Caimbeul, Annela Macleod and

 Jo Macdonald, Ruairidh MacIlleathainn, David Taylor, Alasdair Maciver and Bill Innes and also to the many faithful members who turn out to these meetings. If you are aware of anyone requiring a lift to meetings, please get in touch with a member of committee. Two of the meetings will be held on Thursdays next year.

We wish to convey our sincere thanks to Professor Matthew Maciver for his support and his valuable contribution to the Society’s main events during his year as the Society Chief.

Once again the Annual Showcase in Eden Court recently – An Taigh Ceilidh – was very successful and we would like to thank all those involved for providing us with such an enjoyable evening. We would particularly like to thank our sponsors: The Inverness Common Good Fund and Sonas Hotel Group, Isle of Skye.

Volume LXVII of the Transactions is being prepared for printing and should be available to members later in the year. We are particularly grateful to those speakers who have submitted their papers in time to allow the preparation for printing the Transactions to go ahead. We would emphasise the importance of forwarding papers to committee shortly after giving a talk to enable the team preparing the Transactions to begin their work.

 

 

 

Ceannard 2016-17 / Chief of the Society 2016-17

The Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness from 16th April 2016 - 14th April 2017 is Professor Hugh Cheape:

 

“Professor Hugh Cheape has devised and teaches a postgraduate programme, MSc Cultar Dùthchasach agus Eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. The MSc has grown out of his curatorial and ethnological work during a career in the National Museums of Scotland where latterly he was Principal Curator in the Department of Scotland and Europe.

He joined the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland in 1974 as a Research Assistant with Professor Sandy Fenton and was involved with the creation of the Angus Farming Life Museum in the Angus Folk Museum, the National Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Scottish Country Life at Wester Kittochside (now the National Museum of Rural Life) and the Museum of Piping in the National Piping Centre.

He has published in the subject fields of ethnology and musicology, including studies in Scottish agricultural history, vernacular architecture, piping, tartans and dye analysis, pottery, charms and amulets and talismanic belief. His books include Periods in Highland History (1987) with I F Grant, Tartan. The Highland Habit (1991), Witness to Rebellion (1996) with Iain Gordon Brown, The Book of the Bagpipe (1999), Bagpipes. A national collection of a national instrument (2008), and he has edited Tools and Traditions. Studies in European Ethnology presented to Alexander Fenton (1993) and 'A very civil people': Hebridean Folk, History, and Tradition. Essays by John Lorne Campbell (2000).

From 1997 he worked with the School of Scottish Studies on the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches project to digitize the sound archives of John Lorne Campbell, the School of Scottish Studies and the BBC”.

University of Edinburgh.

 

The Chief delivers the address at the Culloden Anniversary Service, April 16th.2016, the Society’s annual dinner on November 11th.and finally at the annual business meeting on April 14th. 2017.

A very warm welcome to Hugh in his year as Chief to the Society.

 

Seirbheis-cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair/ Culloden Anniversary 2016

 

The Anniversary Service will be held at the Cairn on Saturday 16th April. This will follow the usual pattern with the Society Chief giving his Address followed by prayers and a blessing by Rev.Norman MacIver, Inverness and Rev Canon Mel Langille, Fortrose, respectively. Gaelic Psalm singing will be part of the service with Donald Roderick MacAskill and friends, Dingwall, leading the praise. The Society’s Bard, Maoilios Caimbeul, will read a poem: Latha Chùil-Lodair/Culloden Day by Iain Ruadh Stiùbhart. An appropriate lament will be played by the Society Honorary Piper, Mr Euan J. J. MacCrimmon, after which a wreath will be laid on behalf of the Society by Mrs Cheape.

The summer outing this year will take place on Saturday 28th May to Gairloch. William McRobbie, Society member, will be our Guide for the day.

Please contact the Secretary to book a seat on the coach. The cost is £20 for the coach hire.

Please visit our website at www.gsi.org.uk for all information regarding the Society and the latest news. The website has been up-dated and we are very grateful to Sandra Campbell for her work in connection with this. We are also grateful to D.J. Macleod, Librarian, for keeping the Facebook page up-to-date. To keep down postage costs, newsletters will appear on our website. A paper copy will be issued on request.

The library has received several donations of books and papers, including a hardback copy of Chì mi (the poetry of Donald John MacDonald) from its editor Bill Innes and various papers relating to Gaelic and economic development from Hugh Dan MacLennan. Members are reminded that a classified catalogue of the library, as well as indexes to the Transactions, can be found on our website, under ‘Archive’.

 

 

Ballrachd / Membership

Our Treasurer, Donald Norman MacLeod, is grateful to all of you who complied with our request to pay your subscription by Standing Order. Those of you who have not yet taken advantage of this facility are reminded that this can be done by contacting the Treasurer at any time. Membership is currently £20 per annum and is due for renewal on 15th July each year. Sending reminders to such a large membership is quite costly, so please put this date in your diary to avoid any lapse of your membership. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Treasurer. Students at Universities and Colleges may join the Society at the reduced fee of £10 per annum.

A’ cuimhneachadh / Remembering

Sadly, we have had to record the loss of some of our members in the past few months. We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to those members who are mourning the loss of family and friends at this time. We would ask that you keep us informed of the passing of any of our members in order that a formal tribute may be paid to them at our members’ meetings and subsequently recorded in the Society Transactions.

Finally, we would like to express our thanks to Highland Council and the Inverness Gaelic School for the use of their premises for our meetings.

All Correspondence should be addressed to the:

Hon. Secretary : Alice Macdonald, 8 Glenburn Drive,Inverness. IV2 4ND Tel: 01463 231891

e-mai:        alice@gsi.org.uk

Hon. Treasurer : Donald N. MacLeod,19 Burnbrae, Westhill, Inverness, IV2 5RHTel: 01463 791731   

 e-mail:      donald@gsi.org.uk

Cuairt Shamhraidh gu Geàrrloch 28 An Cèitean 2016 Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis – Annual Summer Outing 2016

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GAIRLOCH

 

Geàrrloch, Gairloch, is a village community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local radio station, beaches and nearby mountains.

Gairloch, pop. 740 in 2011, is a loosely defined area of settlement, primarily comprising of three main clusters of shops, houses and amenities: the Harbour area, Achtercairn and Strath. Approaching from the south via Kinlochewe, Charlestown and the harbour are met first. Achtercairn is centred on the road junction with the coastal road that leads west to Strath and on towards Melvaig. The Main A832 road heads steeply up Achtercairn Brae leading out of the village to the North and on to Poolewe. Beyond Gairloch to the West a number of small settlements can be found: Big Sand, North Erradale, and Melvaig. Beyond Melvaig the road narrows to a twisting, undulating track ending at the Rua Reidh Lighthouse.

The lands around Gairloch have been mostly in the ownership of the Mackenzies of Gairloch since the 15th century, when they were acquired by Hector Roy Mackenzie (died in 1528), with a family house in the sheltered Glen of Flowerdale. The Mackenzies were clan leaders in the traditional sense and were known for their attachment to their tenants. During the 19th century, Sir Hector Mackenzie and his sons Sir Francis and Dr John Mackenzie refused to evict a single tenant during the clearances, despite the estate running at a loss. As a result, evicted Highlanders from other communities came to live in the area and has caused Gairloch to maintain a thriving community even today. The Mackenzies were also keen gardeners. The glen has a microclimate and vegetation that are home to a diverse range of natural life. Dr John Mackenzie states in his memoir that his father was able to grow fruiting peaches outdoors. Osgood Mackenzie created the famous Inverewe Garden in nearby Poolewe. There is a walk up the Flowerdale burn, going past the Mackenzie house to an impressive waterfall at the head of the Glen.

 

Local information

A Pictish stone with a distinctive carving of a salmon was found in Gairloch in 1880. This is one of the westernmost sites where such a discovery has been made. The stone is now on display in the Gairloh Heritage Museum.

The site of a 1945 plane crash at the Fairy Lochs near Gairloch is now a designated war grave. The crash site, close to the village of Badachro, has been preserved as a memorial to the USA AF servicemen who lost their lives in the accident.

Gairloch is the final resting place of the renowned Gaelic Bard Uilleam Ros, William Ross (1762-1791), known as’ the Gairloch Bard’. Ross was born in Broadford on Skye. He settled in the Gairloch area and became a schoolmaster, and died at the age of 28 in Badachro.

Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

Date of outing led by William MacRobbie: Sat. 28th May

Departure point: Highland Council car park on Glenurquhart Road.

Coach Co.: Scotbus. tel. 01463 224410

Time of Dep.: 8.15am

Return:           approx. 6.30pm

First stop:      Kinlochewe

Gairloch is approx. a 2 hour drive from Inverness. Therefore expect to arrive there by 10.45am (depending on length of stop)

William will advise us what to visit there etc on arrival.

Lunch – one is free to choose where to have lunch. I understand the museum operates a cafe.

The journey back to Inverness will be by Dundonnell.

If you wish to book a place on this outing, PLEASE INCLUDE NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER below with £20 per person to cover the coach hire. Please hand in or post to:-

Alice Macdonald 

8 Glenburn Drive

InvernessIV2 4ND

( Tel.: 01463 231891)

By April 15th please.

Cheques made out to : The Gaelic Society of Inverness

PLEASE INCLUDE NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.

 

Membership

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The Society’s Hon. Treasurer, Donald N. Macleod, is grateful to all who have complied with the request to pay the annual subscription of £20 by Standing Order. You are reminded that membership is due for renewal this month of July.

The syllabus cards are being posted to members this month. If you have not received your card by the end of July, please contact the Hon. Secretary: alice@gsi.org.uk

If you have changed address please ensure you inform the secretary and treasurer: donald@gsi.org.uk

The monthly talks resume on Friday September 11th when John Murray will give a talk on Reading the Gaelic Landscape. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meetings.

Strathnaver Trip

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The Gaelic Society’s annual outing took place on Saturday May 16th and this year was to Strathnaver.  Our first stop was at the Altnaharra Hotel where we were joined by Jim Johnston, former Head of Farr High School in Bettyhill, who was our entertaining and highly informative guide for the rest of the day. 

On the journey through Strathnaver we passed various Clearances and prehistoric sites, stopping off at the Memorial to Donald MacLeod of ‘Gloomy Memories’ fame and Syre, the site of ‘Patrick Sellar’s cottage’, where we visited the old church. Our next stop at the Srathnaver Museum in Bettyhill coincided with their Open Day and a local VE Day parade. 

We finished off our tour with an excellent lunch (prepared by Catriona Mackay) in Strathy Hall, followed by a presentation on the history of Strathnaver by Jim Johnston, before returning to Inverness via Tongue.

Srath Nabhair GSI Visit 2015

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Srath Nabhair, Strathnaver, is the wide, fertile valley through which the River Naver flows north from Loch Naver to the sea at Torrisdale Bay, Bettyhill.

Today, it is a sparsely populated landscape, but it has a long, rich and varied history. There is evidence of man’s activities from almost every period of history – so much so that a special Tourist Trail has been created to guide visitors to many of the historic sites that lie between Altnaharra in the south and Bettyhill in the north.

The remains of chambered cairns can be seen at Grumbeg:

Two hundred years ago, the valley was occupied by about forty small settlements, each comprising a group of dwellings that were home to between three and fifteen tenant families. As well as the tenant families there were inhabitants who had no rights of tenure. They were the cottars, living in hovels, and were employed as cobblers, weavers, or smiths and engaging in agricultural work.

It was a Gaelic speaking community. The people of Strathnaver probably enjoyed frequent cultural activities that included the playing of music, singing, and reciting poems. It is likely that these activities preserved a sense of the history of the community and its valued traditions.

It was in the early nineteenth century that the most infamous events in Strathnaver’s history took place – the Clearances. Strathnaver was part of the estate of the Countess of Sutherland and her husband the Marquis of Stafford. They had decided to “Improve” their lands by turning them over to profitable sheep farming and were intent on moving their tenants to new villages built on the coast. Remnants of these coastal villages may be seen today e.g. Poulouriscaig, between Bettyhill and Armadale, a four mile walk from Armadale over boggy ground, is a fine example of a deserted village.The hardships these evicted peoples had to endure, hemmed in to the coast with no anchorage for boats due to the sheer rock faces, can easily be imagined.

From 1814, the evictions were undertaken by the Sutherland Estate factor, Patrick Sellar ( whose cottage was behind the Syre Church) He was ruthless in his actions, destroying homes and burning crops to force people from their land.

The Gaelic Society of Inverness annual outing is to Strathnaver on Sat. 16th May

Departing from the Highland Council car park, Glenurquhart Road, around 8.15am

A stop will be made at Lairg, if required, but the main stop for tea and coffee will be at the Altnaharra Hotel.

At Altnaharra we follow the road east by Loch Naver. At some point Jim Johnstone, retired Headmaster, Farr High School, Bettyhill will join us to show us some clearance sites.

Lunch will be at Strathy Hall, Strathy (caterer preparing the lunch) Please notify me of any special dietary requirements. Jim will probably deliver his power point presentation here.

Thereafter, we travel east to Thurso and down the A9 home. Depending on time, a stop at Dornoch may well be undertaken.

Please get in touch with me if you wish to go on this trip:

Cost, £30 including lunch
Email: aarmadale@btopenworld.com
Tel.: 01463 231891

Culloden Service Psalm 107 air fonn Torwood

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28. Ghlaodh iad ri Dia ‘n an teinn; is shaor

e iad o’n trioblaid ghèir.

Ghrad-chuireadh leis an stoirm gu fiadh,

‘s na tuinn ‘nan tàmh gu lèir;

 

30. An sin tha iad ro-ait, air son

gu bheil iad sàmhach beò:

‘S gu’n d’thug e iad do’n chaladh sin,

‘s do’n phort bu mhiannach leo.

 

31. O b’fheàrr gu’m moladh daoine Dia

air son a mhaitheis chaoin,

‘S air son a bhearta iongantach

rinn e do chloinn nan daoin’!

Culloden Order of Service

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Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

Gaelic Society of Inverness

Stèidhichte 1871     :     Established 1871

Seirbheis Cuimhneachaidh Chùil Lodair aig a’ Chàrn Disathairne, 18 An Giblean 2015 11m

Culloden Anniversary Service at the Cairn, Culloden  Saturday, April 18th 2015 11am

Òrdugh na Seirbheis/Order of Service

Cathraiche/Chairman                                           Mr. Murdo Campbell

Ùrnaigh/Prayer                                                      Rev. Norman MacIver

Cumha/Lament                                                      Mr Euan J J MacCrimmon

Òraid a’ Cheannaird/Chief’s Address                 Prof. Matthew M MacIver

A’ Cur sìos nam Blàth-fhleasg/Laying of Wreaths:    

Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis                                  Mrs Catriona MacIver

Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba/NTS            NTS  Rep.

Comuinn eile/Other Societies

Seinn Salm Gàidhlig /Gaelic Psalm singing            D.R. Macaskill and friends

Leughadh Bàrdachd/Poetry reading                       Mgr. Maoilios Caimbeul

Facal bhon Chathraiche/Chairman’s closing remarks        Mr. Murdo Campbell

Am Beannachadh/Benediction                                  Rev. Canon. Melvin Langille