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Seanfhaclan 4: Fàilte! Aoigheachd, biadh agus deoch.

Mar a tha fios againn, tha dualchas aoigheachd fada is làidir againn air a’ Ghàidhealtachd –  bhiodh riamh fàilte is biadh a’ feitheamh air luchd-tadhail sam bith a thàinig chun an dorais, ged nach biodh mòran agaibh fhèin san taigh, no ged nach biodh sibh ro mheasail orrasan no air a’ chinneadh aca. Agus nuair a bha subhachas sam bith ann, mar bhanais no baisteadh, cha robh caomhnadh air cosgais. Ach aig an aon àm b’ fheudar dhan fhear-an-taighe an aire a thoirt dha na taobhan practaigeach – m.e. biadh, deoch, luchd-chiùil a chur air dòigh agus a phàigheadh – agus mhothaicheadh e cuideachd nuair a bha neach-tadhail a’ mì-ghnàthachadh fhialaidheachd. Mar a shaoileadh sibh, cha bhiodh an fhàilte ceart cho blàth air gach fear, ged b’ fheudar fàilte a bhith ann. Chì sinn a h-uile rud anns na seanfhaclan a leanas – agus iad uile ceart cho fìor an-diugh ’s a bha iad riamh. .

Gaelic proverbs 4: Welcome! Hospitality, food and drink

As we know, we have a long, strong tradition of hospitality in the Highlands – there would always be a welcome and food waiting for any visitor who came to the door, even if you didn’t have much in the house for yourselves, or if you weren’t particularly fond of them or their clan. And when there was any kind of celebration, like a wedding or christening, no expense was spared. But at the same time the hosts had to pay attention to the practical aspects – e.g. to organise and pay for food, drink and musicians – and they would notice when a guest was abusing their generosity. It’s only to be expected that not everyone got an equally warm welcome , though a welcome there had to be. We see all of this in the proverbs which follow – all as true to today as they ever were.

 

1. Furain an t-aoigh a thig, greas an t-aoigh tha falbh.

Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.

2. Am fear a thig gun chuireadh, suidhidh e gun iarraidh.

He who comes uninvited will sit down unasked.

3. Ge milis a’ mhil, cò dh’imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i?

Honey may be sweet, but who would lick it off a briar?

4. Bidh an t-ubhal as fheàrr air a’mheangan as àirde.

The best apple is on the highest bough

5. ’S fheàrr iasg beag na bhith gun iasg idir.

A little fish is better than no fish at all.

6. Gluais faicilleach le cupan làn.

Move carefully with a full cup.

7. Cha deoch-slàint, i gun a tràghadh.

It’s no health if the glass is not emptied.

8. Ge milis am fìon, tha e searbh ri dhìol.

The wine is sweet, the paying bitter.

9. Cha dèan ‘Tapadh leis an fhìdhlear’ am fìdhlear a phàigheadh.

A ‘thank you’ doesn’t pay the fiddler.

10. Am fear a bhios a’ riarachadh na maraig, bidh an ceann reamhar aige fhèin.

The man that divides the pudding will have the thick end to himself.

11. Bidh mìr a’ ghill’ èasgaidh air gach mèis.

The smart fellow’s share is on every dish.

12. Chan fhiach cuirm gun a còmhradh.

A feast is no good without conversation

13. S fheàrr am bonnach beag le beannachd na am bonnach mòr le mallachd.

Better the small scone with blessing than the large scone with cursing.

14. Beathaich thusa mis’ an-diugh, is beathaichidh mis’ thus’ am màireach.

You feed me today, and I’ll feed you tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beinn Uais

 A’ bruidhinn mun Bheinn…. 

Tha sinn uile eòlach air “a’ Bheinn”, comharra-stiùiridh agus samhla Rois an Ear, agus cuspair-còmhraidh maireannach fad deich mhìosan na bliadhna co-dhiù: “Chan eil sneachd air a Bheinn fhathast, ach… / Aidh, cha bhi fada gus am bi an sneachd air ais air a’ Bheinn / Seall, tha sneachd air a’ Bheinn mar-thà /  Tha an sneachd air a’ Bheinn gu math tràth (anmoch) am bliadhna…” (amsaa gun chrìch). Tha druim Bheinn Uais na sheasamh àrd is fada os cionn Linne Chrombaid, ri fhaicinn bho Linne Mhoireibh agus bho fhada a-staigh san tìr, uile-làthaireach is druidhteach.

Ach dè cho eòlach ‘s a tha sinn air ‘ar’ Beinn ann an dà-rìribh? Tha cuid ann an Ros an Ear a tha air a dìreadh, le cinnt, ach tha amharas agam gu bheil cuid fada nas motha ann nach robh riamh air a mullach, mar mi fhìn. Bidh mi a’ togail dealbhan dhi uair is uair, fad bhliadhnaichean, gun eòlas mionaideach a bhith agam mu a deidhinn. Tha i ann, gu simplidh, na cùl-raon dhan “Linne” agus do ar pìos beag den dùthaich. Chuir mi romham barrachd fiosrachaidh fhaighinn a-mach.

‘S e Tèarmann Nàdar Nàiseanta a th’ anns a’ Bheinn, a fhuair an cruth àraidh a tha aice an-diugh aig deireadh Linn na Deighe o chionn mu 10,000 bliadhna, as dèidh iomadh gluasad chreagan is talmhainn tro reothadh is aiteadh na deighe, agus fo bhuaidh nan eigh-shruthan, a  thog ulbhagan bho àiteachean eile air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus dh’fhàg iad sgapte air a’ Bheinn nan “iomraill”.  Air an adhbhar sin tha àrainneachd nàdarra na beinne gu math caochlaideach. Air na mullachan chithar raon còinnich cloimhiche as fharsaing san RA, agus anns na coireachan tha lùsan artaigeach is ailpeach. Ma bhios tu fòrtanach chì thu tàrmachan, no na h-amadain-mhòintich, a thogas an nid air talamh an dròma. Nas ìsle air na leathadan chithar beith-bheag sna boglaichean, critheann agus caorann, agus iomadh seòrsa dhearcan. (Barrachd fiosrachaidh an seo: http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/designatedareas/BenWyvis.pdf )

Tha an luchd-coiseachd glè dheidheil air Beinn Uais cuideachd. ‘S e sreath mhullach a tha innte agus Glas Leathad Mòr am fear as àirde dhiubh (1046m), le seallaidhean farsaing àlainn, agus (a rèir Walkhighlands http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Benwyvis.shtml) ‘s e aon de na Rothachan as fhasa th’ innte – ann an sìde bhrèagha. Ach chan urrainn do dhaoine a bhith cinnteach idir gum bi an t-sìde brèagha air a’ mhullach ged ‘s a bha i aig toiseach na cuairt, mar a fhuair aon choisiche a-mach anns an Dùbhlachd (“A Scary Ben Wyvis”): “…wind must be 70-80 mph on our backs. Can’t walk,wind taking us off our feet and we slide along. Now the snow starts… visibility must be 3-4m in heavy blizzard. Everythings white, no horizon.. compass frozen over cant see it, water frozen cant drink it, slipped on ice, lost eye contact with party…” http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3380

Mar a chithar, ma-thà, faodaidh a’ Bheinn a bhith fìor araidh air ainm ‘Uais’. Chan fhaodar ràdh le cinnt co às a tha an t-ainm sin, ach tha e coltach gu bheil e ceangailte ri ‘uabhas’ air neo ‘fuathas’, an dà chuid le blas gruamach agus drùidhteach. Faodaidh beagan sneachda a bhith air fhàgail anns na coireachan fad na bliadhna, agus tha tradisean ann gum b’ fheudar do Thriath nan Rothach Foulis ballsneachda bho mhullach na Beinne a thoirt dhan rìgh gach Fèill Eòin (meadhan an t-Samraidh) gus am faigheadh e am fearann aige air a’ Bheinn a chumail. Mar a thuirt Thomas Pennant (Tour of Scotland) ann an 1769: ” .. he seems to be in no danger of forfeiting his right by failure of the quit-rent, for snow lies in the form of a glaciere in the chasms of Benwewish, a neighbouring mountain, throughout the year.” http://www.appleby.org.uk/ben_wyvis_history.htm

Ach leugh mi sgeul na b’ ùire mun Bheinn, a tha a’ dèiligeadh ris an ‘uabhas’ aice, agus ‘s e sin uabhas nach eil idir cho nàdarra ris an eagal a bha air an neach-coiseachd a dh’ainmhich mi gu h-àrd – taing do Ross and Cromarty Heritage airson seo:  “One day in August, some years ago, a local mountaineer was coming back down An Cabar when he heard a strange noise some way off. It sounded like one of those plastic containers that cakes come in, being crumpled up. It got louder and louder, and was clearly coming up the hill towards him. It was a nice sunny day, and not even a breeze. He looked about carefully for any sign of wind, or movement of the vegetation, or anything else which might explain what was happening, but there was none. By this time he had got down on one knee in case it was a twister. It continued to approach and eventually passed him about two metres away and disappeared into a nearby rock-face; then all was quiet again. A day or two later, the same man was in Inverness, walking along Ness Walk, when a large lorry pulled up – mostly on the pavement. On the nearside door was the text ‘Ben Wyvis – hill of terror’.” http://www.rossandcromartyheritage.org/communit/p37/ev/oe/p37_ev_oe01.html

Latha air choireigin tha mi fhìn airson coiseachd air mullaich Beinn Uais, gus an stòras nàdarra agus na seallaidhean brèagha fhaicinn, agus gus dearbhadh dhomh fhìn gur urrainn dhomh – ach cha bhi mi a’ dol ann sa gheamhradh agus cha bhi mi nam aonar. Agus anns an eadar-àm leanaidh mi orm a’ togail mo chuid dealbhan…

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Ben Wyvis

We’re all familiar with “The Ben”, landmark and symbol of Easter Ross, and inexhaustible topic of conversation for at least 10 months of the year: “No snow on the Ben yet, but.. / Aye, it won’t be long till the snow’s back on the Ben / Look, there’s snow on the Ben already / The snow’s early (late) on the Ben this year…” and so on, endlessly. Ben Wyvis’s skyline stands high and long above the Cromarty Firth, visible from the Moray Firth and from far inland, omnipresent and impressive.

But how much do we really know about ‘our’ ben? There are certainly a good few in Easter Ross who have climbed it, but I suspect that there are even more, like myself, who’ve never been on the top. I’m forever taking pictures of it, and have been for years, without actually knowing about it in any detail. It’s just there, backdrop to “the Firth” and to our wee bit of the country. I decided to find out a bit more.

The Ben is a National Nature Reserve. It settled into its current shape by the end of the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago,  after many movements of rock and earth caused by the freezing and thawing of the ice, and through the impact of glaciers, which picked up boulders from other places in the Highlands and left them scattered on the Ben as ‘erratics’. For that reason the natural environment of the Ben is very varied. On the tops you see the largest area of woolly hair-moss in the UK, and in the corries there are arctic and alpine plants. If you are lucky you may see ptarmigans, or the dotterels who nest on the ground of the ridge. Further down the slopes you can see dwarf birches in the blanket bog, aspens and rowans, and many kinds of berries. (More information here:  http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/designatedareas/BenWyvis.pdf)

Hillwalkers are also very fond of Ben Wyvis. The Ben is actually a chain of tops, the highest of which is Glas Leathad Mòr (1046 m), with extensive, beautiful views, and (according to Walkhighlands http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Benwyvis.shtml) is one of the easiest Munros – on a fine day.  But there is no guarantee at all that the weather will be fine on the top even if it was when you started out, as one walker discovered (‘A Scary Ben Wyvis’):  “…wind must be 70-80 mph on our backs. Can’t walk,wind taking us off our feet and we slide along. Now the snow starts… visibility must be 3-4m in heavy blizzard. Everythings white, no horizon.. compass frozen over cant see it, water frozen cant drink it, slipped on ice, lost eye contact with party…” http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3380

As we see, then, the Ben can certainly live up to its name, ‘Wyvis’ – an English rendering of the Gaelic ‘Uais’ or ‘Uabhais’.  It can’t be said for certain where the name came from, but it’s probable that it’s connected to the Gaelic word ‘uabhas’ (awe, terror) or ‘fuathas’ (spectre, apparition), both with a distinctly gloomy and impressive flavour. There can be some snow left in the corries all year round, and there’s a tradition that the chief of the Munros of Foulis had to deliver a snowball to the king every Midsummer’s Day if required to, in order to hang onto his land on the Ben. As Thomas Pennant said in his Tour of Scotland in 1769: ” .. he seems to be in no danger of forfeiting his right by failure of the quit-rent, for snow lies in the form of a glaciere in the chasms of Benwewish, a neighbouring mountain, throughout the year.” http://www.appleby.org.uk/ben_wyvis_history.htm 

But I read a more recent story about the Ben, which also deals with the ‘uabhas’ aspect, though this time it’s a less natural terror than the fear felt by our hillwalker mentioned above – thanks to Ross and Cromarty Heritage for this: “One day in August, some years ago, a local mountaineer was coming back down An Cabar when he heard a strange noise some way off. It sounded like one of those plastic containers that cakes come in, being crumpled up. It got louder and louder, and was clearly coming up the hill towards him. It was a nice sunny day, and not even a breeze. He looked about carefully for any sign of wind, or movement of the vegetation, or anything else which might explain what was happening, but there was none. By this time he had got down on one knee in case it was a twister. It continued to approach and eventually passed him about two metres away and disappeared into a nearby rock-face; then all was quiet again. A day or two later, the same man was in Inverness, walking along Ness Walk, when a large lorry pulled up – mostly on the pavement. On the nearside door was the text ‘Ben Wyvis – hill of terror’.” http://www.rossandcromartyheritage.org/communit/p37/ev/oe/p37_ev_oe01.html

One day I’d like to walk along the tops of Ben Wyvis myself, to see the natural heritage and the beautiful views, and to prove to myself that I can do it – but I won’t go in the winter, and I won’t go alone. And meanwhile I’ll just carry on taking my pictures….

Dealbhan san artaigil /Pictures in the article:  2, 3, 6 via Creative Commons Licence – mòran taing / many thanks!

2. Ian Mitchell  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1369455

3. Ian Stewart http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2400032

6. Ian Mitchell http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1369446

Tha na dealbhan eile agam fhìn / all the other pictures are my own

 

Tachartasan ionadal sgoinneil aig BLAS anns an t-Sultain!

Brilliant local BLAS festival events in September!

 

 

Reasabaidhean Àisianach Samhraidh

Fhuair mi na reasabaidhean Àisianach blasda seo bho Janni Diez, Oifigear Leasachaidh Cànain aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ann an Slèite, Eilean Sgitheanach, a nì clasaichean-còcaireachd Gàidhlig an sin cuideachd. Mìle taing, Janni!

Mairt- fheòil le Sabhs Eisirean

200g de mhairt-fheòil

2 spàin de sabhs soidhe

2 spàin de stuthaig

1 spàin de dh’fhìon geal

1 clòbh de chreamh

1 òirleach de dhinsear

1 Piobar uaine

1 uinnean

2 spàin de dh’ola

2 spàin de sabhs eisirean

Leth cupa de shùgh màirt-fheòla

1 spàin teatha de ola seasamain

1 spàin teatha de shiùcar

3 uinneanan an earraich

Geàrr an fheòil ann an striopan fìor thana agus cuir ann am bobhla e leis an fhìon, 1 spàin de sabhs soidhe agus 1 spàin de stuthaig. Fàg e fad 15-30 mion. Sgudaich an dinnsear agus an creamh gu mìn agus geàrr a’ ghlasraich eile ann am pìosan de 1 òirleach.

Teasaich an t-ola ann am wok gus am bi e teth. Cuir an creamh agus an dinnsear ris, ach na loisg e. Cuir na h-uinneanan agus na pioparan ris agus teasaich iad fad 5 mionaidean, ach cha bu chòir dhaibh fàs donn. Measgaich an còrr den stuthaig, an sabhs-soidhe, an sabhs eisgirean, an sùgh màirt-fheòla, an siùcar agus an ola seasamain ann am bobhla. A-nis cuir an fheòil agus an sabhs ris a’ ghlasraich san wok agus cuir mun cuairt e gu tric fad 4 -5 mionaidean. Aig an deireadh cuir na h-uinneanan an earraich ris. Feuch e, agus ma tha salann no piobar a dhìth, cuir sin ris.

 Glasraich Shearbh is Mhilis

1 uinnean

1 clòbh de chreamh

1 piobar dearg no buidhe

10 balgain-bhuachrach 2 churran

1 broccoli

1 càl colaig

1 crogan de bachlagan bamboo

2 spàin de dh’ola

6 spàinean fìon geur

1 spàin Taois tomàta

1 spàin stuthaig

3 spàinean siùcar

2 spàin sabhs soidhe

2 spàin de dh’uisge

Pacaid de bhachlagan soidhe

2 uinnean an earraich

Geàrr na glasraich ann am pìosan de 1 òirleach, reub am broccoli agus an càl-colaig gu flùraichean beaga agus sgudaich an creamh gu mìn. Teasaich an t-ola ann am wok agus praidhig an creamh fad mionaid aig teas meadhanach. Cuir na currain agus am broccoli ris agus praidhig fad 5 mionaidean, an uair sin cuir a’ ghlasraich eile ris. Ann am bobhla, measgaich an fhìon geur, uisge, siùcar, stuthaig agus sabhs soidhe. Nuair a tha a’ ghlasraich gu bhith deiseil, cuir ris an sabhs, na bachlagan soidhe agus na h-uinneanan an earraich air an gearradh. Teasaich e gus am bi e a’ goil, ach na goil e ro fhada, no cha bhi e geur tuilleadh.

 

Asian Recipes for Summer

I got these tasty Asian recipes from Janni Diez, Language Development Officer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig College, Sleat, Skye, who also gives cookery classes in Gaelic. Many thanks, Janni!

Stir-fry Beef with Oyster Sauce

200 g tender beef

2 spoons soy sauce

2 spoons starch thickener (cornflour etc)

1 spoon white wine

1 clove garlic

1 inch of ginger

1 green pepper

1 onion

2 spoons oil

2 spoons oyster sauce

half cup beef stock

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon sugar

3 spring onions

Cut the meat into very thin strips and put in a bowl with the wine, 1 spoon soy sauce and one spoon thickener. Leave for 15 -30 minutes.

Finely chop the ginger and the garlic, and cut the other vegetables into one-inch pieces.

Heat the oil in a wok or equivalent until hot. Add the ginger and garlic, but don’t let them burn or catch. Add the onion and green pepper and cook for 5 minutes, without letting them brown.

Mix the rest of the thickener, soy sauce, oyster sauce, stock, sugar and sesame oil in a bowl. Add this and the meat and marinade to the pan, stirring frequently. Cook for a few minutes, then finally add the spring onions. Season to taste if required.

Sweet and Sour Vegetables

1 onion

1 clove of garlic

1 red or yellow pepper

10 mushrooms

2 carrots

1 broccoli

1 cauliflower

1 tin of bamboo shoots

2 spoons oil

6 spoons vinegar

1 spoon tomato paste

1 spoon starch thickener

3 spoons sugar

2 spoons soy sauce

2 spoons water

packet of soya beansprouts

2 spring onions

Cut the vegetables into one-inch pieces, tear the broccoli and cauliflower into small florets, and finely chop the garlic.

Heat the oil in a wok or similar pan, and fry the garlic for a minute on a medium heat. Add the carrots and the broccoli and fry for 5 minutes, then add the rest of the vegetables.

Mix the vinegar, water, sugar, starch and soy sauce in a bowl.

When the vegetables are almost ready, add the vinegar mixture, the beansprouts and the chopped spring onion and bring briefly to the boil. (Don’t boil too long or it won’t be ‘sour’ at all!)

 

Ainmean-àite 5 – Beurla agus Beurla Ghallda

Mar a chunnaic sinn mar-thà, ‘s e eachdraidh fhada agus gu ìre chaochlaideach a bha aig Machair Rois. Ach tha aon rud ann a bha seasmhach: bha an-còmhnaidh ùidh mhòr aig luchd-riaghlaidh na h-eaglaise agus na stàite anns an dùthaich thorraich fhasgaich aig ceann Linne Mhoireibh. Bha cudromachd ro-innleachdail aig an làrach seo – dh’fheumadh feadhainn a bha a’ strì airson cumhachd poilitigiche, armailtiche, eaconamiche no cràbhaiche air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, air tìr no air muir, bunait a stèidheachadh an sin. Thàinig na daoine seo – rìghrean, uaislean, easbaigean, seanailearan, marsantan – no na riochdairean aca, gu tric à ceann a deas na h-Alba (no fiù ‘s na b’ fhaide air falbh) agus ri ùine thàinig Beurla Gallda no Beurla còmhla riutha.

Chì sinn air na seann mhapaichean (Pont, Blaeu ammsa) gu bheil mòran chruthan Beurla aig ainmean-àite far an robh cruth Gàidhlig aig muinntir na sgìre: Abbotshaven seach Port an Ab, Hilton seach Baile a’ Chnuic, Castle Tarbat seach Caisteal Baile an Lòin (Ballone), agus ri ùine nochdaidh eiseimpleiren ùra air na mapaichean: Mounteagle seach Cnoc na h-Iolaire, Broomton seach Baile a’ Bhealaidh, agus -fields gun chrìoch. Fhuair na sgrìobhadairean-mapa fios bho dhaoine ‘cudromach’ an àite, nach robh gu trice às an sgìre fhèin, fiù ‘s nam b’ e daoine foghlaimte agus fiosrachail a bh’ annta – ministearan, luchd-teagaisg, fir-lagha amsaa. ‘S dòcha gun robh iad den bheachd gur e ainmean ‘nas fheàrr’, nas fheumaile no fiù ‘s nas sìobhailichte a bh’ anns na h-eadar-theangaidhean seo, agus ri ùine bhiodh cuid de mhuinntir na sgìre a’ creidsinn seo cuideachd, agus iad a’ cleachdadh Beurla co-dhiù airson ghnothaichean na b’ fhoirmeile.

Thug luchd na Beurla seo, no in-imrichean saidhbhreachail as an dèidh (no uaislean ionadail ‘Beurlaichte’), ainmean le brìgh phearsanta air na dachaighean agus oighreachdan aca cuideachd: Brucefield seach Cnoc an Tighearna, Arabella seach Am Bog, Ankerville seach Cinn-dèis (Kindeace), Petley, Kimberley, amssa.

Ach bha buaidh na Beurla Gallda ann cuideachd, an dà chuid bho rùnairean is eile às a’ Ghalltachd aig àm nam manachainnean ‘s nan rìghrean, ‘s dòcha ri fhaicinn ann an Hiltoun, Newtoun, Meikle Rany (mapa aig Pont c. 1590), agus bhon fheadhainn eile a thàinig tro na linntean nan tuathanaich, ceàrdan agus iasgairean – Hirsel (croit-caorach bheag), Skinnerton, Fishertown, Carse of Bayfield. Thàinig na daoine sin, à Moireibh no na b’ fhaide gu deas, a dh’obair, gu ìre mhòr, chan ann a riaghladh, agus bha iadsan a’ fuireach taobh ri taobh le muinntir Ghàidhealach na sgìre. Tha e coltach gur e sin an t-adhbhar air an uabhas de dh’ainmean le eilamaidean measgaichte – ainmean Gàidhlig le facal Beurla no Beurla Gallda air a chur riutha – mar Little Tarrel, Easter Rarichie, Lower Pitcalzean, Loans of Fearn, Clay of Allan, Balnapaling, Nigg Mains, amsaa.

Ann an Ros an Ear, agus ann am Machair Rois gu h-àraidh, tha stòras air leth pailt de dh’fhianaisean eachdraidheil, cruinn-eòlach agus sòisealta anns na h-ainmean àite. Le bhith a’ sealltainn gu mionaideach air mapa OS an latha an-diugh, gheibh sinn a-mach cò na sluaghan a bha ann, dè na cànan a bhathar a’ bruidhinn, dè an obair a bha aig na daoine tro na linntean, cò aig a bha cumhachd phoiliteagach no eaglaiseil, agus cuin, agus cò ris a bha am fearann coltach linntean air ais. Bha agus tha am pìos fearainn seo tlachdmhor is luachmhor do dhaoine bhon taobh a-muigh.

Tha am mapa ag atharrachadh fhathast; air mapaichean OS nas ùire chì sinn na h-ainmean as aosta còmhla ris an fheadhainn nas nuaidhe: Pitcalzean agus Balnabruaich dlùth ri taobh ainmean mar ‘Nigg Oil Terminal Graving Dock’ agus ‘Helipad’. Agus ann an cuid bhliadhnaichean eile, leis an leasachadh as ùire san sgìre, ‘s dòcha gum bi seo ag atharrachadh a-rithist, agus sinn a’ sealltainn air mapa Ros an Ear air a bheil aon uair eile Cnoc a’ Mhuilinn Ghaoithe.

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Placenames 5: English and Scots

As we have already seen, Easter Ross has had a long and fairly colourful history. But one thing has remained constant: there has always been immense interest on the part of church and state rulers in the fertile sheltered land at the head of the Moray Firth. This site was of strategic importance; anyone who was battling for political, military, economic or religious control of the Highlands, by land or sea, had to establish a base here. These people – kings, nobles, bishops, generals, merchants – or their representatives all came into the area, often from the south of Scotland (or even further afield), and in the course of time the Lowland Scots or English languages came with them.

We see on the old maps from the 1590s on (Pont, Blaeu etc) that there were many English forms suddenly appearing for places which already had Gaelic names as used by the local population: Abbotshaven instead of Port an Ab , Hilton instead of Baile a’ Chnuic, Castle Tarbat instead of Baile an Lòin (Ballone). Over time new specimens appeared on the maps: Mounteagle instead of Cnoc na Iolaire, Broomton instead of Baile a’ Bhealaidh, and umpteen placenames ending in -field. The map-makers got their information from the ‘important’ folk of the area, who often weren’t locals, even if they were educated, well-informed individuals such as ministers, teachers, lawyers etc. Maybe they actually believed that these Anglicised versions were ‘better’, more useful, or even more ‘civilised’, and over time maybe even some of the locals began to believe that too, as they had already started using English for more formal business.

These English-speakers, and later gentry incomers (or Anglicised local gentry) also gave their homes or estates names with personal significance to them: Brucefield instead of the existing name Cnoc an Tighearna (The Lord’s Hill), Arabella instead of Am Bog, Ankerville instead of Cinn-dèis (Kindeace), Petley, Kimberley etc.

But there was a Scots influence too, both from court administrators and others from the Lowlands at the time of the monasteries and the kings, probably as seen in the names Hiltoun, Newtoun, Meikle Rany on Pont’s map of 1590, and also from those who came over the centuries as farmers or farmworkers, tradesmen and fishermen: Hirsel (small sheep croft), Skinnerton, Fishertown, Carse of Bayfield etc. These people from Moray and further south came, to a large extent, as ordinary workers rather than administrators, and they would have lived side-by-side with the local Gaelic-speaking population.  It’s likely that that is the reason for the large number of mixed names with Gaelic roots and  English or Scots appendages, like Little Tarrel, Easter Rarichie, Lower Picalzean, Loans of Fearn, Clay of Allan, Balnapaling, Nigg Mains etc.

In Easter Ross, and especially on the Seaboard, there’s a wealth of historical, geographical and social evidence in the local placenames. If we look closely at the OS maps even today, we can find out which peoples lived there in the past, what languages were spoken, what work people did there over the centuries, who had the political or ecclesiastical power (and when), and what the land looked like centuries back. This piece of the country was and still is attractive and valuable to those from outside its borders.

The map is still changing. On recent OS maps we see the oldest names side by side with modern ones: Pitcalzean and Balnabruaich close to names like  ‘Nigg Oil Terminal Graving Dock’ and ‘Helipad‘. And it may not be long before that changes again, and (given the latest developments) somewhere on the map of Easter Ross we will once again have a Cnoc a’ Mhuillinn Ghaoithe – Windmill Hill.

Ainmean-Àite 4:

na Gàidheal – Creideamh is Caistealan

Creideamh

Ged a dh’fhaodas a bhith fianais air ‘Draoidhean’ anns an sgìre anns na h-ainmean ‘Port an Druidh’, agus ‘Cadha Port an Druidh’ air Beinn Neig, ‘s dòcha ceangailte ris  na Decantae (c. 120 BC), chan eil eòlas cinnteach againn dè na h-ainmean-àite a dh’fhaodas a dhol air ais chun an àm ron chreideamh Chrìosdail. Mar a chunnaic sinn, ‘s dòcha gur e am facal Gàidhlig ‘righ’ a tha air cùl ‘druidh’. Tha mòran tobraichean ann, gu h-àraidh ann am paraiste Neig, mar Tobar na Slàinte, fhathast ann an-diugh fhèin, air a’ chladach faisg air Port an Druidh, agus Tobar Chormaig, faisg air an tuathanas aig Seannduig. Tha làrach Tobar na h-Iù faisg air ‘an t-sìthean’ (Dùn Rath-riachaidh, Rarichie), agus bha feartan draoidheil leigheis aice a rèir coltais. Bha agus tha saobh-chràbhadh riamh ann anns na bailtean-iasgaich, taobh ri taobh le creideamh Crìosdail làidir, ‘s dòcha air fhagail aca bho àm nan Ceilteach na bu thràithe. Bha an saoghal ro chruaidh ‘s gum biodh iad a’ diùltadh cuideachadh de sheòrsa sam bith.

Ach ‘s ann bhon eaglais Chrìosdail a thàinig an àireamh a bu mhotha de na h-ainmean anns an roinn seo. Bho àm Chaluim Chille co-dhiù bha eaglaisean agus manaich ann, gu h-àraidh aig Port MoCholmaig, (Port Naomh Colmag / St Colman) far an robh manachainn Chruithneach. As dèidh sin thàinig Manachainn Rois.  ‘S e ‘Feàrn’ an t-ainm a bha oirre roimhe, oir dh’imrich a’ mhanachainn bho Fheàrn, faisg air Eadardan, agus ‘s e Fearn an t-ainm a chùm i sa Bheurla. ‘S e Port an Ab an seann ainm ionadail air Baile an Todhair.  Thug Templecroft faisg air Bindal ainm bho Theampall Earach, uamh anns na creagan far an robh (a rèir beul-aithris) seirbheisean-eaglais de sheòrsa air choreigin.

Aig Baile a’ Chnuic tha làrach Caibeal Mhoire ann le ‘Creag na Baintighearna’ air an tràigh, agus ‘Bàrd Mhoire’ (agus Lady Street sa bhaile fhèin, ainm a thàinig le cinnt bho na linntean ron Eaglais Chlèirich.) Tha tobraichean ann an sin cuideachd, m.e. am fear faisg air an allt (is e ga chleachdadh fhathast nuair a bha mise òg), agus fear eile faisg air làrach cladh a’ chaibeil, Lady’s Well, far an deach clann gun bhaisteadh a thiodhlacadh. Thachair an aon rud ri taobh Clach a’ Charraidh, ainm ionadail air Clach Sheannduaig, agus tha e coltach gun deach an fheadhainn a thiodhlachadh an sin cuideachd a dh’eug den cholera. Do na truaghain sin, bha na tursachan Cruithneach iongantach seo, leis na samhlaidhean Crìosdail orra, nan ‘carragh’ dhà-rìribh.

Tha pàirt de Phort MoCholmaig air a bheil Gaza mar ainm; ‘s e ainm bìoballach a th’ ann, agus tha dà mhìneachadh ionadail ann, a rèir Watson: airson ‘s gun robh e mar fhàsach leis a’ ghainmheach a bh’ ann, no air sgàth ‘s gun robh “muinntir Ghaza” (‘Philistines’) aig a’ mhinistear air na daoine an àite leis nach biodh iad a’ dol dhan eaglais tric gu leòr! 

Caistealan is Daighnichean

 B’ fhìach riamh fearann torrach Mhachair Rois a dhìon, agus bho na linntean a bu thràithe tha iomadh ràth, dùn agus caisteal ann, no tha co-dhiù na h-ainmean air fhàgail againn.

ràth            daighneach cruinn (Ceilteach no na bu thràithe)

Rhynie             ràthan (tha dà ann, Rhynie agus Meikle Rhynie)

Rarichie            ràth-riachaidh (air sgàth nan drisean no a’ chonaisg a th’ ann fhathast?) – làrach daignich Chruithnich, air an robh fhathast ‘Danish Fort’ air a’ mhapa OS 1911. Bha muinntir a’ bhaile riamh glè dheònach creidsinn gum b’ ann bho na Lochlannaich a bha gach leac is dùn, fiù ‘s na leacan Cruithneach fhèin (chuala mi fhìn an sgeul gur ann an sin ‘where the three king’s sons were buried’ nuair a bha mi òg), agus bha clann leithid mo mhàthar an-còmhnaidh a’ cladhach airson ‘Viking treasure’ anns na dùin agus fiù ‘s an làrach Caibeal Mhoire.

Ach tha sinn an dòchas gum bi fios a bharrachd againn mu na làraichean Cruithneach seo a dh’aithghearr, leis gum bi planaichean arc-eòlach mòra air an son. http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/new-excavations-to-find-lost-pictish-kingdom-1-2925006

dùn            Dunskaith G. Dùn Sgàth, làrach caisteal Rìgh Uilleim (‘an Leòmhann’)

caisteal            Castlecraig G. Caisteal Crag (sic)  – ceangailte ri Dunskaith, agus làraich no tobhtaichean chaisteil eile air feadh na sgìre, m.e. Caisteal Chathabol, Caisteal Bail’ an Lòin (Ballone) – ‘s e ‘Cast.Terbart’ a bha aig Pont air (c.1590).

Tha fiù ‘s Blàr a’ Chath ann, faisg air Rubha Thairbeirt.

Bha sinn a’ coimhead air mòran seòrsaichean eadar-dhealaichte de dh’ainmean-àite Gàidhlig ann am Machair Rois – bailtean is feartan na tìre, an oirthir, an eaglais agus na daignichean. Tha iomadach ainm-àite Gàidhlig eile anns an sgìre, ach b’ e seo taghadh de na raointean as cudromaiche.  An ath thuras thig cuairt air na h-ainmean-àite Beurla agus Beurla Ghallda.

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Placenames 4

– the Gaels : Faith and Fortresses

Faith 

Though there’s a faint chance that we have evidence of Druids in the area in the names ‘Port an Druidh’ and ‘Cadha (pass, ravine) Port an Druidh’ on Nigg Hill, maybe connected to the ancient Decantae tribe (c. 120 BC), we don’t have any names that go back with certainty to pre-Christian times. As we saw, ‘an druidh’ is probably a corruption of the Gaelic ‘an righ’, the king.

There are many wells, especially in the parish of Nigg, such as the Well of Health (Tobar na Slàinte) by the shore near Port an Druidh, and St Cormac’s Well (Tobar Chormaig) near Shandwick farm. The site of the Well of the Yew (Tobar na h-Iù) is near the ‘fairy hill’ of Rarichie (Dùn Rathriachaidh), and it allegedly had magical healing properties. Superstition, or acceptance of the supernatural, existed and still does in the fishing communities, side by side with a strong Christian faith, probably passed down from earlier Celtic times. In dangerous professions like fishing, no one turned their nose up at the ‘belt and braces’ approach.

But it’s from the Christian church that the majority of faith-related place-names come. From the time of St Columba at least there were churches and monks here, especially in Port MoCholmaig (St Colman’s Port – Portmahomack), where there was a Pictish monastery. Later there followed Manachainn Rois , the Monastery of Ross. Its previous name had been Feàrn (alder tree) as the monastery moved to Easter Ross from Feàrn, near Edderton, and Fearn is the name the Abbey has kept today in English. Balintore’s old local name was Port an Ab, the Abbot’s port. Templecroft, near Bindal, took its name from Teampall Earach, Easter Temple, a cave in the cliffs where (tradition says) church-services of some kind were held. 

Near Hilton there’s the site of Caibeal Mhoire, St Mary’s Chapel, with the rock called ‘Creag na Baintighearna’, Our Lady’s Rock, on the beach, and ‘Bàrd Mhoire’, St Mary’s meadow, and Lady Street in the village itself, a name that has certainly existed since pre-Presbyterian centuries. There are wells there too, near the burn (that one was still being used for domestic water needs when I was young), and another near the chapel cemetary site, Lady’s Well, where unbaptised children were buried. The same thing happened beside Clach a’ Charraidh (Monument Stone), the local name for the Shandwick Stone, and it seems likely that those who died of cholera were also buried there. For these poor souls, the amazing Pictish stones with the Christian symbols on them were monuments, indeed.

There’s a part of Portmahomack called Gaza; it’s a Biblical name, and there are two local explanations according to Watson. Either it was because it was like the desert of Gaza with all the sand, or because the minister referred to the residents as ‘muinntir Gaza’ (people of Gaza, i.e. ‘Philistines’) as they were not in the habit of attending church often enough!

Fortresses

The fertile land of Easter Ross was always worth defending, and from the earliest centuries there are many forts, duns and castles, or at least their names, which have come down to us.

ràth – a Celtic or earlier word for a fortified circular enclosure or mound.

> Rhynie = ràthan + i, place of the mounds (there are two, Rhynie and Meikle Rhynie)

> Rarichie – ràth-riachaidh – ‘fort of the scratching’ (possibly because of the brambles which are still there?). A Pictish fort site, which as late as 1911 was still being called a ‘Danish Fort’ on the OS map. Local people were always very willing to believe that it was the Vikings who were behind every standing stone and mound, even the Pictish stones (I remember myself being told the story ‘that’s where the three king’s sons were buried’ when I was young), and children (like my mother) were always digging for ‘Viking treasure’ below any mound, even on the chapel site.

But we’re hoping to get a lot more information on the Pictish sites here soon with the grand archeological plans that are afoot now:  http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/new-excavations-to-find-lost-pictish-kingdom-1-2925006

dùn – fort

> Dunskaith– Dùn Sgàth, ‘protected fort’, site of a castle built by William the Lion

caisteal – castle

> Castlecraig – Caisteal Creag / Creag a’ Chaisteil – connected to Dunskaith;

and the sites of other castle ruins around the area, e.g. Cadboll Castle (Caisteal Chatabol), Ballone (Bail’ an Lòin) – which was called ‘Cast.Tarbat’ on Pont’s map of c.1590.

There’s even the name ‘Battlefield‘,  ‘Blar a’ Chath’, near Tarbat Ness.

In these last 3 issues we’ve been looking at the Gaelic names that dominate the others around the Seaboard under three main headings – settlements and landscape, the coast, faith and fortresses. In the last installment it’ll be the turn of Scots and English names.

 

 

Ma bhios ùine agus ùidh agaibh a-màireach, Disathairne 25 den Cheitean aig 2f, bidh cothrom math ann na naidheachdan arc-eòlach as ùire mu Chlach Neig a chluinntinn fhad’s a tha sibh a’ coiseachd air Slighe an Easbaig, le deasbad is srùbag as a dhèidh.

Barrachd fiosrachaidh an seo:

http://www.niggoldtrust.org.uk/news.asp

 

If you have time and interest tomorrow, Sat 25 May at 2pm, there’s a great opportunity to hear the latest archaeological news about the Nigg Stone while strolling round the Bishops’s Walk, followed by discussion and refreshments.

Click link above for more information.

 

 

 

 

Chaidh sgoilearan clas 6/7 à Bun-sgoil Chnoc na Creige, ann am Baile Dhubhthaich, air turas gu Pàrlamaid Diluain sa chaidh airson seisean tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.

Class 6/7 GME Craighill Primary, Tain, visited the Scottish Parliament for a Gaelic tour and activities last Monday .

http://parlamaidalba.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/bailedhubhthaich/

Looks like they had fun, especially creating their own MSP profile…