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04/04/2011

Tha litir bheag na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's short letter for learners is introduced by Ruaraidh MacLean.

5 minutes

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Mon 4 Apr 2011 19:00
±«Óătv Radio nan GĂ idheal

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An Litir Bheag 308

’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.

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý      Airson Ăąine mhòr, cha robh fios agam gur e òran GĂ idhlig a bha ann. Ach ’s e. ThĂ inig a’ GhĂ idhlig an toiseach. Bha an dreach Beurla na eadar-theangachadh. ’S e am bĂ rd Eòghann MacColla a sgrìobh an t-òran. Bha esan Ă  Earra-GhĂ idheal. Bha e beò anns an naoidheamh linn deug. Rinn Calum MacPhĂ rlain an t-eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla.

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý      Chunnaic mi dĂ  thiotal airson an dĂ in – Fòghnan na h-Alba agus Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Ach dè an tiotal a bha aig an Ăąghdar fhèin? Uill, fhuair mi lorg air o chionn ghoirid. Bha e anns an leabhar ClĂ rsach nam Beann, a chaidh fhoillseachadh ann an ochd ceud deug, trithead ’s a sia (1836). Agus b’ e tiotal an dĂ in Am Foghannan – Suaicheantas na h-Alba. Tha an dĂ  rud anns an ainm!

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý      Rugadh is thogadh Eòghann MacColla air cladach Loch Fìne, faisg air an FhĂąirneis. Tha sin deas air Inbhir Aora. An ath-sheachdain innsidh mi dhuibh mu a bheatha. Ach an-diugh, fĂ gaidh 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?

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý Agus a’ GhĂ idhlig a sgrìobh MacColla bho thĂąs: Mo bheannachd gu brĂ th air! Cia ’n GĂ idheal no ’n Gall, Nach seasadh gu bĂ s e, ga theĂ rnadh bho chall? Cò, ìosal no uasal, bheir cluas do mo dhĂ n, Nach òladh leam “Buaidh leis” bho chuachannan lĂ n?

The Little Letter 308

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.

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý  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.

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý  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 MacFar-lane made the translation into English.

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý  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 ClĂ rsach nam Beann, that was published in 1836. And the song’s title was The Thistle – Emblem of Scotland. Both things are in the name!

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý  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?

ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý  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?

Broadcast

  • Mon 4 Apr 2011 19:00
    ±«Óătv Radio nan GĂ idheal

All the letters

Tha gach Litir Bheag an seo / All the Little Letters are here.

Podcast: An Litir Bheag

The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

An Litir Bheag air LearnGaelic

An Litir Bheag is also on LearnGaelic (with PDFs)

Podcast

  • An Litir Bheag

    Litirichean do luchd-ionnsachaidh ura. Letters in Gaelic for beginners.