Carn 3

Turrys sy Ghàidhealtachd


(The writer made his first visit to Lewis and Harris. The language is stronger than he thought, but the coming of television seems to have got children to talk English among themselves).


Mee er dy henney, hug mish shilley er ny hEllanyn Sheear son y chied cheayrt. Hie mee marish carrey as va shin loayrt Gaelg Vanninagh car y traa. Myr shen, va fys ec ny Gaeil Albinagh dy row shin nyn Gaeil jeh sorch ennagh. Hie shin trooid yn Ellan Skianagh - sheilym dy vel y Ghàidhlig goll sheese tappee dy liooar ayns shen. Agh ny yei shen as ooilley, cheayll shin Gàidhlig dy liooar ayns bar ayns Doon Veagan. Gys ny Harrey eisht as Lioas. Er y vaatey veih Uig gys Tarbert ny Harrey, roshtyn y Tarbert anmagh syn oie. Eisht harrish ny sleityn gys Carlovaie ayns Lioas raad hannee shin rish shey laa.

Ta Gàidhlig dy liooar ayns Carlovaie, ga nagh row ee ec ben y thie. Va mish coontey eh doillee agglagh cur er sleih Gàidhlig y loayrt rhym! Cho leah as hoig ad dy nee joarree mish, v'ad loayrt Baarle, car y traa. Ga dy row sleih ennagh ayn yinnagh loayrt magh son y Ghàidhlig, va'n chooid smoo jeu sheiltyn ullee dy cheau ersooyl ee. Agh hug niart ny Gàidhlig ayns Lioas yindys orrym as va shin jeant magh lesh shen, dy jarroo. Bunnys dy chooilley ghooinney as ben as Gàidhlig oc. T'ad gra dy ghow ny paitchyn toshiaght dy loayrt Baarle eddyr oc hene tra haink y chellooish paart dy vleeantyn er-dy-henney. S'olk shen.

Eisht my-yiass gys Avinsoie ayns ny Harrey, faggys da cashtal ta Sostnagh er chionnaghey. Ta'n fer shoh gra Sir Hereward Wake rish hene as t'ad gra dy vel eh ass e cheeall. By haitnyssagh lhien arraneyn Alex McKay ayns yn oik-postys raad hannee shin. Fy-yerrey hooar shin sleih va arryltagh dy loayrt Gàidhlig rooin. Dy jarroo, ta'n Ghàidhlig ayns Lioas as ny Harrey foast lajer dy liooar. Agh b'olk lhien ny paitchyn Baarlagh shen.

Brian Mac Stoyll