535: Rob Donn (1)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
Tha an litir ag obrachadh leis an fhaclair. Tagh an taba ‘teacsa Gàidhlig’ agus tagh facal sam bith san teacsa agus fosglaidh am faclair ann an taba ùr agus bidh mìneachadh den fhacal ann. The letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.
Rob Donn (1)
Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh,
Cò a chì e nach mol e, Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh
A bheil sibh ag aithneachadh sin? ’S e sin an t-sèist aig dàn ainmeil à ceann a tuath – fìor cheann a tuath – na Gàidhealtachd. Tha Gleanna Gollaidh ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh. Agus cò am bàrd? Uill, cò eile ach am bàrd Gàidhlig a b’ ainmeile a bhuineadh do Dhùthaich MhicAoidh – Rob Donn. Chuala mi clann a’ gabhail an òrain sin ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh na bu tràithe dhen bhliadhna seo, agus tha ceangal eadar sin agus Litir na seachdain sa chaidh. Mìnichidh mi sin an ceartuair.
Ach an toiseach tha mi airson ceist a thogail mu cho eòlach ’s a tha daoine anns a’ cheann a tuath air dìleab Rob Dhuinn – taobh a-muigh nan sgoilearan a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig co-dhiù. Rugadh Rob ann an Allt na Caillich, faisg air Gleanna Gollaidh. Tha Allt na Caillich gu deas air Beinn Hòb, pìos bhon chosta tuath. Chan eil mòran a’ fuireach anns an sgìre sin an-diugh. Ach chaidh Rob a thiodhlacadh ann an cladh an cois a’ chladaich – gu dearbh, an cois tràigh mhòr bhrèagha air am bi mòran luchd-turais a’ tadhal. ’S e sin Baile na Cille.
Suas an rathad bhon chladh, tha bùth leabhraichean. Bha mi air chuairt anns an sgìre an-uiridh agus chaidh mi a dh’fhaicinn carragh-uaighe Rob Dhuinn. Chuir mi romham an leabhar The World of Rob Donn le Ian Grimble a cheannach anns a’ bhùth.
Bha an latha grianach is blàth agus chaidh mi fhìn is caraid a choimhead air uaigh a’ bhàird. Tha carragh mòr ann – ach chan eil e ann an staid ro mhath an-diugh. Ge-tà, tha e nas motha na a’ chuid mhòr de na clachan-uaighe anns a’ chladh.
Co-dhiù, chaidh mi suas gu ruige bùth nan leabhraichean ann an deagh shunnd. Chunnaic mi an leabhar a bha mi a’ sireadh air na sgeilpichean. Chuir mi an leabhar air a’ chunntair. “Tha mi cho toilichte an leabhar seo fhaighinn,” thuirt mi ris an tè-reic (tuigidh sibh gun robh mi a’ bruidhinn a’ chànain eile). Cha tuirt i guth. Lean mi orm gu neoichiontach. “Gu h-àraidh anns an sgìre seo,” thuirt mi. “Tha e dìreach iomchaidh.”
Thog am boireannach an leabhar. Leugh i an tiotal – The World of Rob Donn. “Rob Don – who was he then?” dh’fhaighnich i ann am blas Gallta. Dè chanainn?
“Dìreach an duine a b’ ainmeile a thàinig às an sgìre seo riamh,” fhreagair mi. Cuiridh mi geall gum biodh làn fhios aice gun robh John Lennon anns an sgìre sin airson làithean-saora uaireigin na bheatha. Ach cha chuala i guth riamh air a’ bhàrd Ghàidhlig, Rob Donn, agus a’ bhùth aice leth-mhìle bhon uaigh aige, ma tha i sin. Mo chreach!
Gu fortanach, chan ionann a suidheachadh-se agus suidheachadh nan sgoilearan ann am Bun-sgoil Thunga. Tha mòran dhiubh anns an aonad Ghàidhlig agus bidh càch anns an sgoil ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig. Mo bheannachd air ceannard na sgoile, agus na tidsearan.
Agus bidh Ruairidh MacLeòid gan cuideachadh leis a’ Ghàidhlig. Dh’ainmich mi Ruairidh anns an Litir an t-seachdain sa chaidh. Bha e uaireigin na iasgair anns a’ Chaolas Chumhang.
Bha mi ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh as t-earrach am-bliadhna agus thug Ruairidh cuireadh dhomh dhol a choimhead air a’ chloinn-sgoile, agus iad a’ gabhail òrain. Am measg na ghabh iad, bha Gleanna Gollaidh le Rob Donn.
Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh,
Cò a chì e nach mol e, Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh.
Faclan na Litreach : Gleanna Gollaidh: Glen Golly; Dùthaich MhicAoidh: The Mackay Country (of N Sutherland); Beinn Hòb: Ben Hope; Baile na Cille: Balnakeil; carragh-uaighe: gravestone memorial; iomchaidh: fitting, correct; càch: the others; cuireadh: invitation.
Abairtean na Litreach: : Cò a chì e nach mol e: who could see it and not praise it; an t-sèist aig dàn ainmeil: the refrain of a famous poem/song; mìnichidh mi sin an ceartuair: I’ll explain that shortly; dìleab Rob Dhuinn: Rob Donn’s legacy; ann an cladh an cois a’ chladaich: in a cemetery beside the shore; uaigh a’ bhàird: the poet’s grave; gu ruige bùth nan leabhraichean ann an deagh shunnd: to the bookshop in good spirits; an leabhar a bha mi a’ sireadh: the book I was looking for; cha tuirt i guth: she didn’t say anything; lean mi orm gu neoichiontach: I continued innocently; dè chanainn?: what could I say?; cuiridh mi geall: I’ll bet; gum biodh làn fhios aice: that she would know well; gun robh X anns an sgìre sin airson làithean-saora uaireigin na bheatha: that X was once [in his life] in that area on holiday; chan ionann a suidheachadh-se agus suidheachadh nan sgoilearan: her situation and that of the pupils are not the same; bidh Ruairidh MacLeòid gan cuideachadh: Roddy MacLeod helps them; dh’ainmich mi: I named [mentioned]; as t-earrach am-bliadhna: in the spring of this year.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: I thought I’d briefly tell you what an uplifting experience I had visiting Bun-sgoil Thunga (Tongue Primary School) in the Mackay Country of N. Sutherland in the spring of this year. The head of the school is also the Gaelic Medium teacher, and the English Medium teachers respect the Gaelic language. The ethos of the school is inclusive so not only are the Gaelic Medium pupils bilingual but the children who are in the English Medium stream also receive some Gaelic tuition and can sing Gaelic songs, as well as doing basic conversation. The Gaelic language is valued in the whole school and not treated with disdain by some of those who don’t speak it. And I’d say they all know who Rob Donn is! Well done to the head, the staff, Roddy MacLeod and, of course, the scholars themselves. There’s a model there for other small communities in Scotland.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: agus a’ bhùth aice leth-mhìle bhon uaigh aige, ma tha i sin: her shop being half a mile from his grave, if it’s [even] that [far].
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 231
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