Address delivered by Murdo Beaton, Gaelic Society Chief, at the 2018 Culloden Anniversary Service
Murdo Beaton, Gaelic Society Chief
Madainn mhath, a chàirdean, agus as leth Comann Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dhuibh airson a bhith còmhla rinn air an latha cuimhneachaidh seo.
Chan eil dad a b’ fheàrr leamsa na am beagan a th’ agam ri ràdh a bhith gu tur anns a’ Ghàidhlig, ach tha mi mothachail gu bheil mòran an seo aig nach eil Gàidhlig agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil e ciallach (agus modhail) a bhith a’ cleachdadh cànan a thuigeas gach neach a tha ’n làthair.
Friends, on behalf of the Gaelic Society of Inverness I welcome you to this Act of Remembrance today and, while nothing would please me more than to deliver these few thoughts totally in my own language, I am aware that many of you do not have Gaelic, so it seems to me sensible, and courteous, to address you in a language that we can all understand.
We are all aware of the developments proposed for the periphery of the battlefield, and we must continue making the point to the officials and elected representatives who have responsibility for making decisions on these matters that, to every true Gael, this place is sacred ground, containing as it does the bones of our ancestors in the mass graves which are round about us here.
But today is not a day for protest or political posturing; it is, rather, a day for solemn and reverent remembrance of the ghastly encounter that took place 272 years ago on this blood-soaked piece of land on which we stand. We remember the courage and the suffering of the men in both armies, and I consider myself deeply honoured to be here with you today as we reflect upon these events, and upon the ethnic cleansing that followed which was so enthusiastically put into practice with the bayonet, the hangman’s rope and transportation to the colonies in the stinking holds of emigrant ships.
In the space of less than an hour some 2000 men were killed here on that fateful day and while it is undeniably true that a much greater number of Highlanders were lost in the horrific battles of World War 1, such as the Somme and Passchendaele, somehow Culloden is burned deep into the psyche of the Gael - the very name evokes feelings of resentment for the burning injustice that was so cruelly inflicted on our people, our language and our culture
It is impossible for us in our comfortable lives today to even begin to imagine the feelings and emotions of the men who fought here on that tragic day. So we remember, on the one hand, the triumphant elation of the government troops who, a few hours earlier, must have contemplated the very real possibility of an imminent painful death, and now they had not only survived but were victorious. We also remember the terror and desperation of those who fled the field, such as the young Highlander who, having lost his left hand in the battle and, weakened through loss of blood, ran into a nearby cottage and thrust the stump into the fire to cauterize the wound.
But, as we look back on these events 272 years ago, let us also look to the future with a measure of confidence and optimism. It is now generally accepted that the music and literature of the Gael is of immense worth and stands comparison with that of any society. The spectacular success of Gaelic Medium Education and the expansion of Gaelic broadcasting are powerful indicators that our precious language will survive and flourish. Let us hope so.
Tha e ceart agus iomchaidh gu bheil sinn a’ coimhead air ais agus a’ cuimhneachadh, ach bitheamaid cuideachd a ‘ coimhead air adhart le dòchas agus deagh mhisneachd.
STADAIBH!
Poem by Maoileas Caimbeul, Gaelic Society Bard
I wrote these verses after hearing of the proposed scheme for 16 houses at Viewfield Farm which is within the “enlarged Culloden Muir conservation area.” A petition against this development has been signed by over 70,000 people worldwide, including Diana Gabaldon, author of the best-selling Outlander series of books.
Stadaibh, tha sinn ag ràdh, stadaibh!
Na togaibh taighean air an raon seo
no ri thaobh, no faisg air, cuimhnichibh,
tha sibh an seo air talamh naomh.
far na mharbhadh na laoich chalma,
seo an cladh, ’s bu truagh an sgeul e
mura toireamaid spèis is urram
dha na h-uaighean mun cuairt oirnn.
Seo crìoch nan iomadh aisling,
far an deach na tàirngean sa chiste,
toiseach brùidealachd mhì-chneasta
a dh’fhalamhaich na glinn de shluagh gasta.
Stadaibh, a luchd na maoin ’s an airgid
’s gabhaibh beachd air luachan eile –
gur e tha seo ach talamh coisrigte
a tha Albannaich a’ giùlan nan cridhe;
far am bi sliochdan a’ tighinn
a dhèanamh ùmhlachd do an cinneadh;
bidh e chun an latha mu dheireadh
ainmeil an eachdraidh na cruinne.
Seo làrach a dh’fhàg làrach na dòrainn’,
a chuir a’ Ghàidhealtachd bun-os-cionn,
na cuiribh togalaichean grànda air àrainn,
biodh e na charragh-cuimhne bho linn gu linn
Stop!
Stop, we say, stop!
Let there be no houses on this field
or beside it, or near it, remember,
you stand on holy ground
where brave warriors died,
this is their graveyard, it would be sad
if we didn’t respect and honour
the graves surrounding us.
This was the end of many a dream,
where the nails were hammered in the coffin,
the start of a merciless brutality
that emptied the glens of a decent people.
Stop, financiers and investors,
and consider other values –
that this is sacred ground
that Scots carry in their heart;
where descendants come
to pay respects to their clan;
till the last day it will
be esteemed in world history.
This is a site that has left its mark,
that turned the Highlands upside down;
don’t build ugly buildings near it,
let it be a memorial from age to age.