Chrìoch an cùrsa an-dè agus dh’fhàg feadhainn againn. San oidhche chruinnich sinn ann an Cafaidh Ostaig agus sheinn sinn òrain le chèile. An uair sin chaidh feadhainn againn gu taigh-òsta Àird a’ Bhàsair airson deoch no dhà. Air an t-slighe air ais sheinn sinn òrain glè aisealaiche ann an Albais.
The course finished yesterday and some people left. In the evening those who were still around gathered in Café Ostaig and sang some songs. Then we went to the Hotel Ardvassar for a drink or two. On the way back we sang some very funny songs in Scots.
An-dè an dèidh lòn chaidh sinn air sgrìob timcheall an eilean. An toiseach chaidh sinn gu Roag agus chunnaic sinn seann-chroit teaghlaich Màiri Anna. An uair sin chaidh sinn gu Port Rìgh gus dinnear a ith ann taigh-òsta, agus gu Flòdaigearraidh. Bha seòrsa de chèilidih ann ann am Flòdaigearraidh, agus sheinn sinn òrain agus fuinn le chèile agus ‘nan aonar. Air an t-slighe air ais dhan cholaiste sheinn sinn mòran òrain air a’ bhus.
Yesterday after class we went on a little trip around the island. At first we went to Roag and saw the Mary Ann’s family’s former croft. Then we went to a hotel in Portree for dinner, and to Flodigarry. There was a sort of cèilidh in Flodigarry, and we sang some songs and played some tunes together and individually. On the way back to the college we sang many songs on the bus.
An-raoir bha tachartas chun leabhraichean ùra a’ chur air bhog – leabhar bàrdachd anns a’ Bheurla agus a’ Ghàidlig le Meg Bateman, ceachdadair ann an Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, agus nobhail ficsean saidheansail le Tim Armstrong, neach-rannsachaidh anns a’ cholaiste. Leugh iad bho na leabhraichean agus dh’fhreagair iad ceistean mu dhèidhinn na leabhraichean agus am pròiseas sgrìobhaidh. Bha cnuaspag agus deochan ri làimh cuideachd. Cheannaich mi an nobhail le Tim.
An déidh seo, chaidh sinn gu taigh-òsta Eilean Iarmain chun ceol agus òrain a sheinn. Bha pàrtaidh bainnse à Colorado ann cuideachd, agus bha iad gu math frogadach, agus aig deireadh an oidhche sheinn sinn òrain riutha.
Yesterday evening there was a book launch for two new books – a book of poetry in English and Gaelic by Meg Bateman, a lecturer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and a sci-fi novel by Tim Armstrong, a researcher at the college. They read bits from their books and answered questions about the books and about the writing process. Nibbles and drinks were also provided. I bought Tim’s novel.
After that we went to the Hotel Eilean Iarmain to sing and plays some tunes. There was a wedding party there from Colorado who were very lively, and we sang a few songs with them at the end of the evening.
Bha cuirm-chiùil samhaidh ann an-raoir le Màiri Anna, Finlay Wells agus Lorne MacDougall. Sheinn Màiri Anna òrain le com-pàirt na fir, agus ‘na aonrachd, agus sheinn na fir le chéile agus ‘nam aonrachd. Tha buaidh aig Finaly air an ghiotàr, agus tha buaidh aig Lorne air an phìob agus air an fhideag. Sheinn an clas òrain le Màiri Anna an òran ‘Seo mar rachinn Fhèin is Thu’, agus sheinn Màiri Anna òran lena màthair.
Madainn an-diugh thàinig màthair agus dhà antaidh Màiri Anna chun an clas, agus bhruidhinn iad mu dèidhinn beatha ann an Roag, agus iomadh rudan eile. Bha sin gu math ùidheachail. Sheinn iad òrain rinn cuideachd.
Feasgar an-diugh chrìoch an clas gu moch agus bha àm saoire againn. Rinn mi cuairt bheag timcheall Slèite le càraid às na na Stàitean Aonaichte. Chaidh sinn trìd Tarsgabhaig, Tòcabhaig agus an t-Òrd, agus gu Dùn Sgathaich. Bha na seallaidhean math dha-rìribh.
There was an excellent concert last night with Mary Ann Kennedy, Finlay Wells and Lorne MacDougall. Mary Ann sang with accompaniment from the men, and on her own, and the men played tunes together and on their own. Finlay is a very accomplished guitarist, and Lorne is pretty good on the pipes and whistles. The singing class sang ‘Seo mar rachinn Fhèin is Thu’ with Mary Ann, and Mary Ann sang one song with her mother.
This morning Mary Ann’s mother and two aunts came to the class and talked about their life in Roag, where they grew up, and many other things. It was fascinating. They also sang a few songs with us.
This afternoon the class finished early and we had some free time. I went on a little trip around Sleat with a couple from the States. We went through Tarksavaig, Tokavaig and Ord, and visited Dunscaith castle. The views were wonderful.
Bha seisean math ann anns an Talla Mhòr an-raoir, agus sheinn mi an fhideag ìseal agus an bodhrán. Bha mi i mo leapaidh mu aon uair deug, ach bha daoine eile a’ seinn gu dhà uair, agus bha iad uabhasach sgìth an-diugh.
Bha madainn bhraonaich ann an-diugh, ach tha i nas tiorma a-nis. Dh’ionnsich sinn sia òrain ùr an-diugh: puirt à beul, òrain luaidh, Eilean Sgiathanch Nam Buadh (òran gaoil airson an t-Eilean Sgitheanach), agus Sìos Dhan An Abhainn, tionndadh Ghàidhlig de Down In The River to Pray. le Kenna Campbell, màthair Mhàiri Anna.
There was a good session in the main hall last night, and I played the low whistle and the bodhrán. I was in my bed by about 11, but others were singing and playing until about 2am, and they were rather tired today.
It was damp this morning, but it’s drier now. We learnt six songs today: some mouth music, a couple of waulking songs, Eilean Sgiathanch Nam Buadh (a love song to the Isle of Skye), and Sìos Dhan An Abhainn, a Gaelic version of Down In The River to Pray. by Kenna Campbell, Mary Ann’s mother.
Thòisich an cursa maidainn an-diugh agus rinn sinn cuig òrain an-diugh: Seo mar Rachinn Fhèin is Thu, Seoc a’ Bhàigh, Dà Thàbh air an Fharaidh, Ceud Soiridh, Ceud Fàilte, agus Till an Crodh, Dhonnchaidh.
Tha ceithir daoine dheag againn anns an clas à Alba, à Èirinn, òn Stàitean Aonichte, à Canada, òn t-Seapan agus òn Ostair. Tha beagan Gàidhlig aig an mhór chuid againn, agus tha balach à Inbhir Nis agus Gàidhlig fileanta aige. Tha Màiri Anna tìdsear gle-mhath.
Tha seisean ann anns an talla mhòr anochd.
The course started this morning and we did five songs today: Seo mar Rachinn Fhèin is Thu, Seoc a’ Bhàigh, Dà Thàbh air an Fharaidh, Ceud Soiridh, Ceud Fàilte, and Till an Crodh, Dhonnchaidh
There are 14 of us in the class from Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Japan and Austria. The majority have at least a little Gaelic, and there’s a lad from Inverness who is fluent. Mary Ann is a great teacher.
There’s a session in the talla mhòr (big hall) tonight.
Dh’fhàg mi an Gearasdan aig meadhan-latha an-diugh, agus chaidh mi air an trèan gu Mallaig. Tha latha soillear grianach ann agus bha na seallaidhean math dha-rìribh. Chaidh mi air an aiseag bho Malliag gu Armadal, agus ansin choisich mi gu Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, mar chan eil busan ann DiDòmhnaich.
Tha mi ann Sabhal Mòr Ostaig an-dràsta chun cursa Òrain Ghàidhlig is Traidiseanan le Màiri Anna NicUalraig a dhèanamh.
D’fhág mé an Gearasdan ag meán lae inniu agus chuaigh mé go Mallaig ar an traein. Tá lá geal grianmhar ann agus bhí na na radharcanna go hiontach. Chuaigh mé an mbád farantóireachta ó Mallaig go Armadale, agus shiúil mé go Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, mar níl aon bhusanna ar an Domhnach.
Tá mé ag Sabhal Mòr Ostaig chun cúrsa Òrain Ghàidhlig is Traidiseanan le Màiri Anna NicUalraig a dhéanamh.
I left Fort William at midday today and went to Mallaig by train. It’s a bright, sunny day and the views were wonderful. I got the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, and walked to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, as there are no buses on Sunday.
I’m at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to do a course in Gaelic Songs and Traditions with Mary Ann Kennedy.
Tha callaid phriobaid i mo ghàrradh agus bha i a’ fàs ro ard agus ro bhagaideach, mar sin dheth ghearr mi i an dé. Ba mhath leam cuidhteas a fhaigh dhith gu léir, ach s’e obair mòr mòr a th’ann, agus tha mi a’ dèanamh sin beag air bheag.
Bha seisean math nam thaigh an-diugh, agus bha triùir againn ann an t-seachdain seo, a chor ‘s gun sheil aonar gun robh é DiLuain an-diugh, agus cha do ràinig é. Sin iomrall furasta a dhèanamh.
Tá fál pribhéad i mo ghairdín agus bhí sé ag fás ró-ard agus ró-mhothrach, mar sin ghearr mé í inné. Ba mhaith liom é a chur díom go hiomlán, ach is é sin obair an-mhór, agus tá mé ag déanamh beagán ar bheagán.
Bhí seisiún maith ann i mo theach inniu, agus bhí triúr againn ann an tseachtain seo, mar shíl duine amhain go raibh sé Dé Luain inniu agus níor tháinig sé. Sin botún éasca a dhéanamh.
There’s a privet hedge in my garden and it was getting too high and overgrown, so I gave it a trim yesterday. I’d like to get rid of it all together, but that’s a very big job and I’m doing it little by little.
We had a good music session in my house today, and there were three of us this week, because one of us thought it was Monday today and didn’t turn up. An easy mistake to make.
Bha ceathrar againn ann ann an cearcall còmhraidh iol-chainnteach an-raoir, fiù balach às an t-Suain a bhith Suainis, Beurla agus Innis Tìlis fileanta aige, agus a bhith ag ionnsachadh cànanachas. Bhruidhinn sinn mu dhéidhinn na cànain Lochlannaiche agus iommadh rud eile.
An-diugh thàinig mo chlàirneid air ais an-déidh càiridhean, agus tha i fada nas fheàrr nís. Bha mi a’ smaoineachadh air i a’ reic, ach chan eil mi cho cinnteach mu dhéidhinn sin nís. Thàinig mo ukulele ùr an-diugh cuideachd – ukulele tenor a tha ann agus tha i cho àlainn agus tha fuaim uabhasach math oirre.
Bhí ceithre againn ann sa ciorcal comhrá ilteangach aréir, lena n-áirítear buachaill as an t-Sualainn atá Sualainnis, Béarla agus Íoslainnis liofa aige, agus atá ag déanamh staidéar ar an teangeolaíocht. Labhair muid faoi na teangacha Lochlannacha, agus faoi go leor rudaí eile.
Tháinig mo chláirnéid ar ais inniu i ndiaidh ollchóiriú, agus tá sí i bhfad níos fearr anois. Bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi í a dhíol, ach níl mé chomh cinnte faoi sin anois. Tháinig mo ucailéile nua freisin inniu – ucailéile teanóir atá ann agus tá í go hálainn agus tá fuaim iontach uirthi.
There were four of us in the polyglot conversation group last night, including a lad from Sweden who speaks Swedish, English and Icelandic fluently, and who is studying linguistics. We talked about the Scandinavian languages, and about many other things.
My clarinet came back today after being serviced and repaired, and it’s much better now. I was thinking about selling it, but I’m not so sure about that now. My new ukulele also arrived today – an electro-acoustic tenor that’s beautiful and has a great sound.
Sheinn mi cuisleanan-bhinn ri mo chairdean madainn an-diugh, agus sheinn sinn fuinn clasaigeach, agus fuinn a Alba, às a’ Ghearmailt agus a Hawai’i. An-déigh lòn sheinn mi fuinn clasaigeach air mo ghiotàr, dh’fheagair mi puist-dhealain, agus chuir mi òran agus alt ùr air mo làrach-linn. Tha mi a’ dul chun an cearcall còmhraidh iol-chainnteach anochd.
Sheinn mé fliúiteanna Shasanach le mo chairde maidin inniu, agus sheinn muid foinn clasaiceach, agus foinn as an Alban, an Ghearmain agus Hawai’i. I ndiaidh lón sheinn mé foinn clasaiceach air mo ghiotár, d’fhreagair mé ríomhphoist, agus chuir mé amhrán agus alt nua ar mo shuíomh Gréasáin. Tá mé ag dul chun an ciorcal comhrá ilteangach anocht.
I played recorders with my friends this morning, and we played classical tunes, and some folk tunes from Scotland, Germany and Hawai’i. After lunch I played some classical pieces on my guitar, answered some emails, and addded a new song and a new article to my website. I’m going to the polyglot conversation group tonight.
