Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

Sorley MacLean, Photographed in 1996 by Cailean MacLean

The poetry of well-loved former bard of the Society, the late Sorley MacLean, is being put to music as part of the Celtic Connections festival, the Press & Journal reports.

Taking place on the 18th of January in Glasgow City Hall, the event — entitled ‘Hallaig: A Celebration of Sorley MacLean’ — will be directed by Ken Thomson, and compèred by Mary Ann Kennedy, who will also be performing.

More information on the event can be found at the Celtic Connections website.  Tickets are priced £16, and can be bought online from Celtic Connections directly, or via telephone from Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, on 0141 353 8000.

Those wishing to brush up on their Sorley prior to the event could do worse than visit the excellent Sorley MacLean Online, where ‘Hallaig’ is this month’s featured poem.

Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uileagus bliadhna mhath ùr!

Air Dihaoine 6mh Dùbhlachd, bidh Aonghas Phàdraig agus Liondsaidh Caimbeul a’ deànamh òraid agus a’ sealltainn dealbhan mu bàrdachd agus cànain air feadh an t-  saoghal. Bidh an òraid aig 7.30f aig an Ionad Netley, Inbhir Nis. Bidh an òraid ann an Gàidhlig.

On Friday 6th December, Angus Peter and Lyndsay Campbell will give a talk and slide show about poetry and languages from around the world. The talk will be held at 7.30pm in the Netley Centre, Inverness. This meeting will be in Gaelic.

Ann an 2007, chuir “Urras an Eilein” air doigh an dàrna turas (bha iad thall an toiseach ann an 2004) a dh’ionnsaigh cladhan a’ Chiad Chogaidh Mhòir ann am Flanders. An turas seo, chaidh seirbheis cuimhneachaidh shònraichte sa Ghàidhlig a cumail an sin. Thadhail an luchd-siubhail cuideachd air St Valery-en-Caux far an deach a’ 51mh Feachd Gàidhealach a ghlacadh an greim anns a’ Cheitean 1940. Dh’fhàg sin mòran Ghàidheil òga nam prìosanaich cogaidh sa Ghearmailt is sa Phòlainn fad còig blia

Bha Murchadh Peutan as a’ Bhaile Mheadhanach san Eilean Sgitheanach gu mòr an sàs ann an deasachadh an turais agus, air Dihaoine 21mh Samhain, rinn e òraid mun turas aig Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis. Sheall Bill McGonagle tòrr dhealbhan mun turais agus chaidh fiolm ghoirid a shealltainn mu eachdraidh a 51mh.

In 2007 the Skye based charity “Urras an Eilein” organised a second visit to the First World War cemeteries in Flanders. This journey responded to demand which followed a successful tour in 2004, and on this occasion a special memorial service was held there in Gaelic. The tour included a visit to St Valery-en-Caux in northern France where the 51st Highland Division was forced to surrender in May 1940, resulting in so many young Highlanders spending five harrowing years as prisoners of war in Germany and Poland.

Murdo Beaton from Balmeanach in Skye was one of the organisers of the tour and Friday 21st November he presented a talk to the Gaelic Society of Inverness on the tour. Bill McGonagle illustrated the talk with pictures that were taken on he tour and a short film on the 51st Highland division was shown.

Air 14mh Samhain bha dìnnear againn aig an Taigh Òsda Loch Ardail ann an Inbhir Nis. Ro ’n dìnnear, fhuair sinn ro-shealladh dhen leabhar ùr aig Catriona Lexy Chaimbeul — Samhraidhean Dìomhair.  Bha ceannard Comunn Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Seonaidh Ailig Mac a Phearsain, a’ bruidhinn as dèidh an dìnnear agus bha òrain againn bho Mairead Callan agus puirt air an fhidheall bho Daibhidh Boag. ’S e deagh oidhche a bh’ ann agus bu mhath leinn taing a thoirt dhan a h- uile duine a bha còmhla riunn!

Our Annual Dinner took place on Friday 14th November at the Lochardil House Hotel, Inverness. A special event was held before the dinner — a preview of Catriona Lexy Campbell’s excellent new novel Samhraidhean Dìomhair — arranged by the Gaelic Books Council. The Gaelic Society of Inverness Chief, Seonaidh Ailig MacPherson, joined us from Cape Breton and gave a talk after the meal. Musical entertainment was provided by Margaret Callan (song) and David Boag (fiddle). A great evening was had by all.  Thanks to all those who came along.

Air Dihaoine 7mh Samhain, bidh Denis Rixson a’ toirt seachad òraid: “The Hebridean Traveller”. Bidh an òraid aig 7.30f aig an Ionad Netley, Rathaid an Easbaig, Inbhir Nis.

On Friday 7th November, Denis Rixson will deliver a lecture entitled “The Hebridean Traveller”. The lecture will be held at 7.30pm at the Netley Centre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness. All welcome.

Fledgling Gaelic-language channel BBC Alba has pa a new milestone by reaching a high of 610,000 viewers.

Gaining this many viewers is a large step in the right direction for the newly-formed channel. Head of BBC Alba Margaret Mary Murray went on record saying that this was “an excellent start”.

The debate over bilingual signage in Caithness continues, the Press & Journal reports.

Nine out of the area’s ten councillors have come out against bilingual signage in their area.  

Speaking on the subject Independent councillor David Bremner said:

The council should respect the differences that exist within the different counties of the Highlands. We’re not anti-Gaelic, but let’s not waste public money on something the public don’t really want here.

Whilst Caithness council seems to be forming a bloc of opposition to the bilingual signage policy, the issue is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.

We would like to inform members and friends that the Gaelic Society talk which was scheduled for Friday 24th October (Calum Fearghusdan, MA, Eilean Leòdhais — “A Ghàidhlig a b’ aithne dhomh”) has been cancelled for the time being, with a view to holding the talk next year. This is because there is a concert being held in Eden Court Theatre on the same night to celebrate the life of the late Simon Mackenzie. The concert will feature many well-known Gaelic singers and Gaels. Tickets are priced at £20 and will go towards Simon’s legacy — The Simon Mackenzie Trust. Tickets are on sale at the Eden Court Box Office.

Metro has a mini-interview with the new Gaelic Ambassador of the Year, Julie Fowlis.

While the interview is neither long nor particularly deep, it is still worth a read, if only as an opportunity to get to know the language’s new ambassador slightly better.