308: The Thistle of Scotland (1) 308: Fòghnan na h-Alba (1)
Litir shìmplidh sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is eadar-theangachadh. A simple weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and translation.
Tha an litir bheag 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 little 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.
Fòghnan na h-Alba (1)
’S e Fòghnan na h-Alba lus ainmeil nam buadh, Lus grinn nan dos calgach thug dearbh air bhith cruaidh; Seann suaicheantas mòrail tìr bhòidheach mo luaidh, 'S tric dh'fhadaich a dheagh chliù teine-èibhinn nam ghruaidh.
A bheil sibh ag aithneachadh sin? Seo an dreach ann am Beurla na h-Alba: O, the thistle o’ Scotland was famous of auld, Wi’ its toorie sae snod and its bristles sae bauld; ’Tis the badge o’ my country, it’s aye dear tae me; And the thocht o’ them baith brings the licht tae my ee.
Airson ùine mhòr, cha robh fios agam gur e òran Gàidhlig a bha ann. Ach ’s e. Thàinig a’ Ghàidhlig an toiseach. Bha an dreach Beurla na eadar-theangachadh. ’S e am bàrd Eòghann MacColla a sgrìobh an t-òran. Bha esan à Earra-Ghàidheal. Bha e beò anns an naoidheamh linn deug. Rinn Calum MacPhàrlain an t-eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla.
Chunnaic mi dà thiotal airson an dàin – Fòghnan na h-Alba agus Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Ach dè an tiotal a bha aig an ùghdar fhèin? Uill, fhuair mi lorg air o chionn ghoirid. Bha e anns an leabhar Clàrsach nam Beann, a chaidh fhoillseachadh ann an ochd ceud deug, trithead ’s a sia (1836). Agus b’ e tiotal an dàin Am Foghannan – Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Tha an dà rud anns an ainm!
Rugadh is thogadh Eòghann MacColla air cladach Loch Fìne, faisg air an Fhùirneis. Tha sin deas air Inbhir Aora. An ath-sheachdain innsidh mi dhuibh mu a bheatha. Ach an-diugh, fàgaidh mi sibh leis an rann mu dheireadh de dh’Fhòghnan na h-Alba. Seo a’ Bheurla an toiseach: My blessings be yours! Is there Scotsman ava, Wad stan’ by and see ony harm on ye fa’? Is there gentle or semple what lives in our land, Wad refuse to drink a health to the thistle so grand?
Agus a’ Ghàidhlig a sgrìobh MacColla bho thùs: Mo bheannachd gu bràth air! Cia ’n Gàidheal no ’n Gall, Nach seasadh gu bàs e, ga theàrnadh bho chall? Cò, ìosal no uasal, bheir cluas do mo dhàn, Nach òladh leam “Buaidh leis” bho chuachannan làn?
The Thistle of Scotland (1)
The Thistle of Scotland is a famous plant of virtues, Neat plant of the prickly tufts which are provenly hard; A magnificent emblem of my beautiful beloved land, Often its fame kindled a bonfire in my cheek.
Do you recognise that? Here is the version in Scottish English: the thistle o’ Scotland was famous of auld, Wi’ its toorie sae snod and its bristles sae bauld; ’Tis the badge o’ my country, it’s aye dear tae me; And the thocht o’ them baith brings the licht tae my ee.
For a long time, I didn’t know it was a Gaelic song. But it is. The Gaelic came first. The English version was a translation. It’s the bard, Evan MacColl who wrote the song. He was from Argyll. He lived [was alive] in the 19th Century. Malcolm MacFarlane made the translation into English.
I’ve seen [saw] two titles for the song – Thistle of Scotland and Emblem of Scotland. But what title did the author himself have? Well I found it recently. It was in the book Clàrsach nam Beann, that was published in 1836. And the song’s title was The Thistle – Emblem of Scotland. Both things are in the name!
Evan MacColl was born and raised on the shore of Loch Fyne near Furnace. That’s south of Inverarary. Next week I’ll tell you about his life. But today, I’ll leave you with the final verse of Thistle of Scotland. Here is the English first: My blessings be yours! Is there Scotsman ava, Wad stan’ by and see ony harm on ye fa’? Is there gentle or semple what lives in our land, Wad refuse to drink a health to the thistle so grand?
And the Gaelic that MacColl wrote originally: My blessing on it forever! Who the Gael or Lowlander, Wouldn’t defend it to the death? Who, low or high and who listens to my song, Wouldn’t drink with me its success from full quaichs?
Fòghnan na h-Alba (1)
’S e Fòghnan na h-Alba lus ainmeil nam buadh, Lus grinn nan dos calgach thug dearbh air bhith cruaidh; Seann suaicheantas mòrail tìr bhòidheach mo luaidh, 'S tric dh'fhadaich a dheagh chliù teine-èibhinn nam ghruaidh.
A bheil sibh ag aithneachadh sin? Seo an dreach ann am Beurla na h-Alba: O, the thistle o’ Scotland was famous of auld, Wi’ its toorie sae snod and its bristles sae bauld; ’Tis the badge o’ my country, it’s aye dear tae me; And the thocht o’ them baith brings the licht tae my ee.
Airson ùine mhòr, cha robh fios agam gur e òran Gàidhlig a bha ann. Ach ’s e. Thàinig a’ Ghàidhlig an toiseach. Bha an dreach Beurla na eadar-theangachadh. ’S e am bàrd Eòghann MacColla a sgrìobh an t-òran. Bha esan à Earra-Ghàidheal. Bha e beò anns an naoidheamh linn deug. Rinn Calum MacPhàrlain an t-eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla.
Chunnaic mi dà thiotal airson an dàin – Fòghnan na h-Alba agus Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Ach dè an tiotal a bha aig an ùghdar fhèin? Uill, fhuair mi lorg air o chionn ghoirid. Bha e anns an leabhar Clàrsach nam Beann, a chaidh fhoillseachadh ann an ochd ceud deug, trithead ’s a sia (1836). Agus b’ e tiotal an dàin Am Foghannan – Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Tha an dà rud anns an ainm!
Rugadh is thogadh Eòghann MacColla air cladach Loch Fìne, faisg air an Fhùirneis. Tha sin deas air Inbhir Aora. An ath-sheachdain innsidh mi dhuibh mu a bheatha. Ach an-diugh, fàgaidh mi sibh leis an rann mu dheireadh de dh’Fhòghnan na h-Alba. Seo a’ Bheurla an toiseach: My blessings be yours! Is there Scotsman ava, Wad stan’ by and see ony harm on ye fa’? Is there gentle or semple what lives in our land, Wad refuse to drink a health to the thistle so grand?
Agus a’ Ghàidhlig a sgrìobh MacColla bho thùs: Mo bheannachd gu bràth air! Cia ’n Gàidheal no ’n Gall, Nach seasadh gu bàs e, ga theàrnadh bho chall? Cò, ìosal no uasal, bheir cluas do mo dhàn, Nach òladh leam “Buaidh leis” bho chuachannan làn?
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh 612
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