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A letter for Gaelic learners with Roddy MacLean.

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Litir 421:Edward Faragher

Rugadh Edward Faragher, no Neddy Beg Hom Ruy, ann an Creneash ann an Eilean Mhanainn anns a’ bhliadhna ochd ceud deug, trithead ’s a h-aon (1831). Bha glù bheag dhen Bheurla ga bruidhinn anns a’ bhaile sin aig an àm.

Bha athair na iasgair agus dh’obraich Neddy air an eathar aige fad seachd bliadhna. Dh’fhalbh e airson greis a Liverpool ach, gu h-iongantach, cha do dh’ionnsaich e mĂČran Beurla ann. Carson? Uill, bha e ag obair am measg Chuimreach agus cha robh mĂČran Beurla aca!

Thill Neddy a dh’Eilean Mhanainn agus chuir e seachad cĂČig bliadhna fichead mar iasgair, ag iasgach timcheall costa na h-Èireann. Dh’fhĂ s e ainmeil airson cho math ’s a bha a chuid eĂČlais air dualchas GĂ idhlig an eilein. Eadar ochd ceud deug is ochdad (1880) agus naoi ceud deug (1900) sgrĂŹobh e mĂŹle ĂČran no dĂ n. A bharrachd air sin, rinn e tĂČrr eadar-theangachaidh agus sgrĂŹobh e mu dhualchas is beul-aithris Eilean Mhanainn.

Seo sgeulachd bheag aige, air a bheil Thom Gordon as ny Mooinjer-Veggey no Tom GĂČrdan agus na Daoine Beaga: Bha fear a bha seo air an robh Tom GĂČrdan. Bha e a’ falbh dhachaigh Ă  Purt ny Hinshey. ThĂ inig an oidhche air nuair a bha e air mullach nan slĂšibhtean agus cha b’ urrainn dha an rathad a dhĂšanamh a-mach. Chunnaic e solas a’ deĂ lradh. Chaidh e dha ionnsaigh.

ThĂ inig e gu taigh mĂČr. Nochd duine. Dh’iarr am fear seo air Tom a dhol a dh’iasgach cuide ris oir bha sluagh mĂČr a’ tighinn airson suipear a ghabhail anns an taigh aige air an oidhche sin.

Chaidh Tom cuide ris don trĂ igh. Tharraing iad bĂ ta don uisge. Thog Tom na rĂ imh agus dh’iomraich e am bĂ ta air falbh bho thĂŹr. ThĂČisich an duine eile air iasgach agus cha b’ fhada gus an robh peile aige lĂ n Ăšisg. Thuirt an duine ri Tom gum bu chĂČir dha thighinn dhachaigh cĂČmhla ris oir bha e gu math sgĂŹth.

RĂ inig iad an taigh agus thuirt an duine ri Tom gum bu chĂČir dha fuireach na h-oidhche. Bha preas mĂČr ri taobh na cagailte. Bha e air a bheul fodha. Chuir an duine Tom anns a’ phreas. Bha toll beag na chliathaich agus bha comas aig Tom an seĂČmar fhaicinn troimhe.

An ceann Ăčine ghoirid bha an taigh lĂ n aoighean, fir agus mnathan, agus cleĂČcaichean brĂšagha orra. Shuidh iad sĂŹos airson an suipear a ghabhail. Bha aon duine ann, agus falt liath air. Thuirt e, “Tha mi a’ faighinn fĂ ileadh de dhuine.” Dh’ùirich iad uile far a’ bhĂčird. Rinn iad rannsachadh airson Tom ach cha d’ fhuair iad lorg air.

Shuidh iad a-rithist agus thuirt am fear le falt liath a-rithist gun robh e a’ faighinn fàileadh de dhuine agus gun robh e cinnteach gun robh e am broinn an taighe. Rinn na daoine rannsachadh a-rithist ach cha do lorg iad Tom.

Thuirt fear eile, “Cuireamaid am preas thairis.” Dh’ùigh Tom ann an guth mĂČr, “SĂŹth DhĂš orm, fhuaireadh mi.” Ann am priobadh na sĂčla, bha an taigh agus na daoine air falbh. Bha Tom ann an Lhag ny Killey (Lag na Coille), na laighe air bad cĂČinnich. ThĂČisich e air a cheann a sgrĂŹobadh gus an tĂ inig an smuain thuige gun robh e air a bhith cĂČmhla ris na sĂŹthichean.

Dh’ùirich e far na luig agus fhuair e an rathad dhachaigh. Thug a bhean cairteal de leann dha agus chaidh e a leabaidh. Nise, feumaidh gun do dh’innis e an stĂČiridh do a bhean mus deach e innte, oir an lĂ rna-mhĂ ireach cha robh cuimhne sam bith aige air na thachair.

Faclan na Litreach

Faclan na Litreach: Creneash: Cregneash; Eilean Mhanainn: Isle of Man; dĂ n: poem; Purt ny Hinshey: Peel; preas: press, cupboard; an lĂ rna-mhĂ ireach: the next day.

Abairtean na Litreach

Abairtean na Litreach: bha glĂš bheag dhen Bheurla ga bruidhinn: very little English was spoken; bha athair na iasgair: his father was a fisherman; gu h-iongantach: surprisingly; am measg Chuimreach: amongst Welshmen; timcheall costa na h-Èireann: around the coast of Ireland; a chuid eĂČlais air dualchas GĂ idhlig an eilein: his knowledge of the island’s Gaelic heritage; thĂ inig an oidhche air: the night came upon him; mullach nan slĂšibhtean: the top of the hills; cha b’ urrainn dha an rathad a dhĂšanamh a-mach: he couldn’t make out the road; chaidh e dha ionnsaigh: he went towards it; bha sluagh mĂČr a’ tighinn airson suipear a ghabhail: many people were coming to take supper; thog Tom na rĂ imh agus dh’iomraich e am bĂ ta: Tom picked up the oars and he rowed the boat; cha b’ fhada gus an robh peile aige lĂ n Ăšisg: it wasn’t long until he had a pail full of fish; ri taobh na cagailte: beside the hearth; air a bheul fodha: face down; bha toll beag na chliathaich: there was a small hole in its side; bha an taigh lĂ n aoighean, agus cleĂČcaichean brĂšagha orra: the house was full of guests wearing beautiful cloaks; tha mi a’ faighinn fĂ ileadh de dhuine: I smell a man; dh’ùirich iad far a’ bhĂčird: they rose from the table; gun robh e am broinn an taighe: that he was inside the house; SĂŹth DhĂš orm, fhuaireadh mi: the peace of God be upon me, I am found; priobadh na sĂčla: a blink of an eye; na laighe air bad cĂČinnich: lying on a clump of moss; far na luig: from the hollow; thug a bhean cairteal de leann dha: his wife gave him a quart of ale; mus deach e innte: before he went to bed.

Puing-chĂ nain na Litreach

Puing-chĂ nain na Litreach: chuir e seachad cĂČig bliadhna fichead mar iasgair: he spent 25 years as a fisherman. Are you comfortable with cĂČig bliadhna fichead? It is an older form of counting but you will meet it frequently. An alternative form (also traditional) is cĂČig bliadhna air fhichead. Under the influence of the modern counting system, you will increasingly frequently hear fichead ’s a cĂČig bliadhna. All three are acceptable – it’s best to learn to be flexible as both counting systems exist side-by-side and are likely to remain so for some time until the modern system finally takes over.

GnĂ ths-cainnt na Litreach

Gnàths-cainnt na Litreach: Cuireamaid am preas thairis: let’s turn [put] the press/cupboard over.

Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh air LearnGaelic

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