23/05/2011
Tha litir bheag na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's short letter for learners is introduced by Ruaraidh MacLean.
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An Litir Bheag 315
Duration: 04:08
An Litir Bheag 315
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mun Bhrà isteach Mhòr, Seòras Gunnach. B’ esan ceann-cinnidh nan Gunnach. Dh’inns mi mar a chaidh e fhèin agus seachdnar mhac aige a mharbhadh. Bha sin ann an còmhrag le Clann Chèith Ackergill. Ghoid na Cèithich a’ bhrà iste ainmeil agus claidheamh bho chorp a’ Bhrà istich Mhòir.
Thèich an còignear mhac eile aig a’ Bhrà isteach Mhòr. Bha fear dhiubh, Eanraig, feargach. Gheall e dìoghaltas fhaighinn. Bha e ag iarraidh a’ bhrà ist agus an claidheamh fhaighinn air ais. Cha robh na brà ithrean aontaichte, ge-tà . Dhiùlt am fear a bu shine, Seumas, a dhol leis. Ach dh’fhalbh Eanraig agus dithis eile.
Lorg iad na Cèithich aig Caisteal Dhirlot ann am meadhan Ghallaibh (tha dìreach tobhta ann an-diugh). Dh’fhà g Eanraig a dhithis bhrà ithrean aig an doras. Chaidh e fhèin gu uinneag. Bha an uinneag fosgailte. Bha an ceann-cinnidh na shuidhe am broinn an t-seòmair. Leig Eanraig saighead dha ionnsaigh. Mharbh an t-saighead e. “Iomacharag a’ Ghunnaich gu Cèith,” dh’èigh Eanraig – “Gunn’s complim-ents to Keith.”
Leum na Cèithich don casan. Ruith iad chun an dorais. Ach bha na Gunnaich a’ feitheamh riutha. Fear an dèidh fir, chuir iad gu bàs iad. Fhuair Eanraig a-steach don chaisteal. Fhuair e grèim air a’ bhrà ist agus claidheamh aig athair. Theich e leotha.
Choinnich an còignear bhrà ith-rean a-rithist. Thuirt Seumas gun robh e ag iarraidh na brà iste agus a’ chlaidheimh, oir b’ esan am fear a bu shine. Ach bha Eanraig mì-thoilichte. Cha robh Seumas air a bhith deònach sabaid air an son. Chaidh Eanraig is Seumas a-mach air a chèile. Dh’fhalbh Eanraig a dh’fhuireach ann an Gallaibh.
Bho sin a-mach, dhiĂąlt Eanraig “Gunnach” a ghabhail air fhèin no air a shliochd. ’S ann bhuaithesan a thĂ inig na Hendersons ann an Gallaibh, a rèir beul aithris. ’S e “Cłó±đ˛ą˛Ô˛Ô°ů˛ąľ±˛µľ±ł¦łó” a bha orra ann an GĂ idhlig.
Dh’fhuirich Seumas ann an Ceann a’ Bhrà ist. Ach dè thachair don bhrà iste ainmeil? Chan eil fhios a’m.The Little Letter 315
I was telling you about the Brà isteach Mòr, George Gunn. He was the clan chief of the Gunns. I told how he and seven of his sons were killed. That was in combat with the Keiths of Ackergill. The Keiths stole the famous brooch and a sword from the Brà isteach Mòr’s body.
       The Brà isteach Mòr’s other five sons fled. One of them, Henry, was angry. He vowed revenge. He was wanting to get the brooch and sword back. The brothers were not united, how-ever. The eldest one, James, refused to go with him. But Henry left with two others.
       They found the Keiths at Dirlot Castle in central Caithness (there is just a ruin there today). Henry left his two brothers at the door. He himself went to a window. The window was open. The clan chief was sitting inside the room. Henry let an arrow fly towards him. The arrow killed him. “Gunn’s compliments to Keith,” Henry shouted.
       The Keiths jumped to their feet. They ran to the door. But the Gunns were waiting for them. Man after man, they put them to death. Henry got into the castle. He got hold of his father’s brooch and sword. He fled with them.
       The five brothers met again. James said he was wanting the brooch and the sword, because he was the eldest. But Henry was unhappy. James had not been willing to fight for them. Henry and James fell out with each other. Henry went to live in Caithness.
       From that time, Henry refused to call himself or any of his descendants by the name “Gunn”. It’s from him that the Hendersons in Caithness arose, according to oral tradition. They were called “Cłó±đ˛ą˛Ô˛Ô°ů˛ąľ±˛µľ±ł¦łó” in Gaelic.
       James stayed in Kinbrace. But what happened to the famous brooch? I’ve no idea.Broadcast
- Mon 23 May 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
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An Litir Bheag
Litirichean do luchd-ionnsachaidh ura. Letters in Gaelic for beginners.