An excellent collection by a Gaelic poet from Scotland - read it if you can

(A slightly edited version of this review was published in An tUltach, Meitheamh/June 2014)

Is bailiúchán dánta é‘Fo Stiùir a Faire’ leis an fhile as Oileán Leòdhas na hAlban, Màiri NicGumaraid. Is sa Ghàidhlig atá na bun-dánta, ansin leaganacha taobh leo leis an fhile Liam Prút. Agus an leabhar seo léite agam, thuig mé go ndearna mé neamart as gan an file breá seo a léamh roimhe.

Cruthaíonn na dánta go bhfuil saibhreas i gcónaí sa dá Gaeilge. Tá an file sna luath-50idí. Is sin an ghlúin go gcuirtear ina leith gan Gaeilge, mar a bhíodh, bheith acu. Tá cónaí uirthi sa Pháirc, ceantar ar ar chósta thoir Leòdhais. Tá sé amuigh ar an cheantar go bhfuil an Gàidhlig lag ann. Níl sé chomh lag sin, nó tá saibhreas teangan ar achan leathanach anseo.

Tá an file préamhaithe i saol saol Leòdhais. Baineann a cuid dánta le h-idir saol comhaimseartha an oileáin, agus leis an dúchas ann. Baineann ‘A Ruith Nam Faileasan’ (‘A’ Rás na Scáth’) lena a h-óige féin sna luath-80idí, í ag dul amach go Steòrnabhaigh (an baile mór ar an oileán) oíche Aoine ‘a dhanns ar falbh na seachtaine’ (‘ag damhsa uainn an tseachtain’). Ní scléip amháin a bhíonn ar shiúil ag deireadh na seachtaine: tá an creideamh Cailvineach ina dhlúth-chuid de shaol an phobail. Tá sé sa dán ‘Aois Leòdhais III’: ‘’S air an cùl còisir ciùil/ guidhe maitheantais bheith dlùth/ gach call a d’fhulaing gach dachaigh.’ (‘S ar a gcúl chóisir ceoil/ ag guí maithiúnas a bheith gar/ in aghaidh gach caillteanais a d’fhulaing gach teach’).

Tá omós chomh maith do cheann de na dánta móra Gàidhlig, ‘Clann-Nighean An Sgadain’ le Ruaraidh MacThòmais (go ndearna Cathal Ó Searcaigh leagan dhe sa Ghaeilge againn féin). Tá ‘Aidhleaceadh Nighean a Sgadain’ ag Nic Gumaraid: ‘Robh fhios agat idir/ guna scrìobh fear òran mu heidhinn do sheòrs’. (‘An raibh a fhios agat in aon chor/ gur scríobh fear amhrán mar gheall ar do shórt’). Tugann an dán omós don sár-dán, agus do na mná óga a bhíodh ag obair i dtionscal na scadán thart ar 100 bliain ó shoin.

Ní ar a h-áit dúchas amhain atá aird an fhile, ná baol air. I measc na ndánta anseo, tá omós do Bobby Sands, ‘Bobby Sands a Chaochail’ (‘Bobby Sands a d’Éag’).

Is file í a scríobhann cuid mhór, b’fhéidir an iomarca. Is é ‘For Paula Yates’ an t-aon dán Béarla anseo. Ní éiríonn leis mar dhán. Tá sin ainneoin an lámh in uachtar bheith ag an Bhéarla, go fiú ag daoine gur Gaeilge ón gcliabhán atá acu. Tá sé le sonrú sa dán nach bhfuil rithim an Bhéarla ag an fhile, malairt an ghreim atá aici ar rithim an Gàidhlig.

‘Fo Stiùir a Faire’ le Màiri Nic Gumaraid. Coiscéim €12/£10

by Anton McCabe

Ireland's oldest known priest

(An edited version of this was published in the Irish Times on July 19th 2014)

Father Ambrose O’Gorman – born 24^th April 1912, died June 15^th 2014-07-16

Fr Ambrose O’Gorman, who has died in his 103^rd year at a nursing home in Belleek, Co Fermanagh, was believed to be Ireland’s oldest priest. Two weeks before his death he concelebrated the funeral Mass of a fellow resident.

He spent most of his ministry in Greater London, excepting a short spell in the Swansea area. In Greater London, he survived the Blitz. During one German air raid he hid under a chair, saying the Rosary. The Blitz affected his view of life. “I do remember saying I was never going to learn German," he later said. He also endured the food rationing of those years. Once, hearing the confession of a Donegal woman, he smelled food. The penitent produced a cooked chicken, and the pair ate it in the confessional.

The Blitz was not his only dice with danger. In 1960 he emerged unscathed when the plane carrying him crash-landed at Heathrow Airport and went on fire.

Ambrose O’Gorman was born near Killygordon, Co Donegal, fourth of seven children to Michael O’Gorman, a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and native of Co Sligo; and his wife Noreen (née Maguire), a native of Fermanagh. The family moved, first to Kilmacrenan (Co Donegal), then Strabane.

When the RIC was disbanded in 1922, they settled in Ballyshannon. There the next door neighbours were the Corscadden family. A Corscadden daughter, Hazel, was later mother of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He began primary schooling at the De La Salle Brothers national school in Ballyshannon. However, his mother withdrew him because of the brutal regime. He continued primary education at Creevy National School. His secondary education was at Belcamp College in Dublin, run by the Oblate Fathers. By then, he felt a calling to the priesthood, but the Oblates turned him down.

However, the Salvatorian Fathers accepted his application. He studied at their seminary in England and was ordained at 28.

He retired to Ireland in the early 1990s. In the nursing home, he attended to the spiritual needs of Catholic residents. He maintained a wide circle of friends, with former parishioners from England keeping in touch. He loved to chat with visitors to the home, of all ages and backgrounds, and usually found he could make some connection.

He is survived by his nephews, nieces, and their families.

View of the Scottish Referendum from a Gaelic-speaking island.

A slightly edited version of this piece was published in An tUltach, Meitheamh (June) 2014). The piece is based on interviews with people on Barra. From those, it seems that younger people are more pro-Independence: the older wary of change.

le hAnton Mac Cába

Dala pobal na hAlban i gcoitinne, beidh pobal Eileain Bharraigh ag vótáil sa reifreann ar an neamhspléachas Mí Mhéain Fómhair. Tá an t-oileán Gaeltachta sin 60 míle amach ó chósta thiar na hAlban. Is le Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba an toghcheantar, ag an dá phairlimint. Ainneoin sin, is beag iomrá atá ar fheachtas – bíodh sé sin dearfach nó séantach.

Agus mé ann Mí na Bealtaine, chuir mé ceathrar faoi agallamh.

Is pinsinéar í Curstie Peggy Mac Leòid, í an-gafa le cúrsaí Gàidhlig. “Níl fhios agam an mbeidh mé ag vótáil ‘tá’ nó ‘níl’, nó níl oiread sin eolais agam faoi,” ar sise. “.Níl athrú de dhíth orm, nó tá mé breá sásta an dóigh go bhfuil sinn.” Ní bhfuair sí  go leoir eolais ó ceachtar den dá thaobh “agus mar Gaeilgeoir, ní dóigh liom go mbeadh tionchar ar bith aige ar an teanga, bealach amháin nó bealach eile.”

Tá sí míshásta nár tháinig ceachtar taobh go Barraigh le ceisteanna a fhreagairt. “Ní raibh rud ar bith againn ar an oileán,” ar sise. D’éist le gach rud ar an raidió agus teilifís “agus ó thaobh lucht ‘Tá’, níor fhreagair siad na ceisteanna atá riachtanach againn.”

Tá seans ann go mbeadh buntáistí le neamhspléachas. “Táimid ró-fhada chun siúil ó Westminster,” ar sise. “Sílim go bhfuilimid go fírínneach ar an imeall, agus thiocfadh dó go mbeimis níos fearr as (dá mbeadh neamhspléachas ann).” Ar an taobh eile, is ar tír mhór atá an chuid is mó dá teaghlach, imní uirthi faoi chúrsaí fostaíochta acusan.

Ní ábhar mór cainte an Reifreann. Tá cuid mhór den mhuintir lena mbíonn sí ag meascadh ina h-aoisgrúpa féin, iad bainte le cúrsaí traidisiúin. “An barúil a fhaighim uathu, ná cosúil liom féin nach bhfuil athrú de dhíth orthu,” ar sise. Ábhar eile imní “má vótáileann tú ‘tá’, níl bealach ar bith pillte ann.” Dar léi gurb iad an t-aon óg is mó atá ar son an neamhspléachais, dála garmhac léi atá 16.

Baineann Patricia Ross leis an ghlúin sin, í ina macléinn meánscoile 16 bliain atá ag caitheamh vóta don chéad uair. “Tá mise ag dul a vótáil ‘tá’ mé féin, agus sílim go mbeidh sé go hiontach d’Albain,” ar sise. Bheadh neamhspléachas ar leas an chultúir i gcoitinne. “Sílim go mbeidh an Gàidhlig níos feiceálaí ná mar atá anois,” ar sise. Aithníonn sí nach bhfuil aois-grúpa s’aici ar aon tuairim, ach í den bharúil go bhfuil a dtacaíocht ag dul I dtreo an neamhspléachais. Tá an-suim ag an aois-grúpa sa reifreann. “Tá cuid mhór cainte ar scoil, nó tá (an Reifreann) ag teacht Mí Mheáin Fómhair,” ar sise.

Níor mhaith léi a rá cén toradh a bheidh ann. “B’fhéidir ‘ní’ ag an bhomaite, ach de réir mar a thagann an rud níos cóngaraí, gheobhaidh siad amach níos mó faoi,” ar sise. “Níl móran eolais ag tromlach mo chairde faoi go fóíll.”

Is ar ábhair difriúla a dhiúltaíonn cuid dá cairde don neamhspléachas. “Mar nach mbeifimis ag fanacht san Eoraip,” ar sise. “Ní maith leo Alex Salmond chomh maith – agus NATO, tá siad rud beag ait faoi sin, deir siad nach mbeidh Sasana dá gcosaint níos mó – agus leithéidí gan an púnt Sasanach bheith níos mó acu. Ach is mion-rudaí iad sin, dar liom.”

Is Gaeilgeoir eile é Seonaidh Beaton, pinsinéar, agus seanóir in Eaglais na h-Alba.

“Go pearsanta, níl aon ró-shuim agam ann,” ar seisean. “Chaith mé mo shaol sa chabhlach trádála, ceathracha’s a naoi bliain dhe, agus d’oibrigh mé amach as Londain, Learpholl, Glaschú, agus fuair mé amach go raibh na Sasanaigh go raibh mé ag obair leo níos sásta cuidiú liom ná an mhuintir lena raibh mé ag obair in Albain. Ar chúis simplí – ba cuma leis an Sasanach cé tú, nó cad é rinne tú, nó cén creideamh a bhí agat – má bhí tú oiriúnach don phost, fuair tú an post. In Albain, ba cheist eile ar fad a bhí ann. Tháinig mé ar dhaoine ait agus mé ag éirí post a fháil, iad ag éirí rudaí a fháil amach – nár thaitin liom.”

Níl fhios aige, fiú, an bhfuil sé ag dul a vótáil – cé, tríd is tríd, gurbh fhearr leis Albain fanacht mar atá.

Dála Curstie Peggy, tá sé gafa le cúrsaí pobail, agus ní rud é a pléitear go forleathan. Tá Riaghaltas na h-Alba chomh fada chun siúil le Rialtas Westminster. “Tá siad chomh fada chun siúil i nDùn Èideann agus a thiocfadh leo a bheith,” ar seisean. “Go fiú i Steòrnabhaigh (mar a bhfuil ceannceathrú Comhairle nan Eilean Siar), tá siad chomh fada chun siúil agus is féidir a bheith ó Bharraigh.

“Chomh fada agus a bhaineann leis na h-Eileanan an Iar, is áit é Dùn Èideann nach raibh baint ar bith againn leis. Ba Ghlaschú an príomh-áit mar a mbíodh muid ag tarraingt. Bhí sé mar a bheadh an dara baile againn. Bhí mé féin i mo chónaí ann le 30 bliain. Dùn Èideann – ní dóigh liom go raibh mé i nDùn Èideann leath-dhosaen uair le mo shaol. “

Dar leis nach ndéanfadh rialtas neamhspléach níos mó ná mar atá dá dhéanamh faoi láthair. Ó thaobh na polaitíochta, tá caitheamh aige i ndiaidh na Líobrálaigh, nó “b’iad an t-aon dream a rinne rud ar bith do na crótéir.”

Tá bialann agus greim gasta ag Rahul Bahri. Tá sé ar an tacadóir is aitheanta de chuid Rangers i mBarraigh. Ní cleachtaíonn sé níos mó an creideamh Musulmach lenár tógadh é.

Dar leis gur mhaith an rud é go mbeadh rogha ag daoine. “Tá mise ag dul a vótáil tá,” ar seisean. Tagann an chúis “ón gcroí don chuid is mó. Ní saineolaí mé ar chúrsaí gheilleagair, ach níl mé dall orthu ach oiread.” Aithníonn sé nach bhfuil eacnamaithe ar aon intinn. “Dar liom féin go mbeimis níos fearr as, agus b’fhearr liom dá dtarlódh sé daichead bliain ó shoin nuair a fuarthas an t-ola.” Tá tábhacht le cúrsaí gheilleagair “ach is ón gcroí atá cuid dhe. Is tír faoi leith é Albain. Ní thuigim cad chuige go bhfuil eagla ar dhaoine roimh seo. Ní fheicim rud ar bith atá ag dul a tharlú go bunúsach, ó thaobh na teangmhála le Sasana.”

Dar leis go vótáilfeadh an tromlach ar Bharraigh ar son an neamhspléachais. Níl sé iomlán cinnte “ach sin an mothú a fhaighim.” Beidh an t-aos óg ag vótáil ar son an neamhspléachais.

“Dar liom go ndearna an feachtas ‘Ní’ praiseach den bhfeachtas s’acu, ní de bharr bheith chomh séantach sin amháin, ach na rudaí áibhéalacha a deireann siad – mothaíonn tú go bhfuil cuid den mhuintir seo den bharúil go mbeidh deireadh leis an domhain má fhaigheann Albain neamhspléachas,” ar seisean. “Sílim go raibh an tAontas ar leas phoibail na Breataine – b’fhéidir ní ar leas na ndaoine sa dúiche gurb as do m’athair agus mo mháthair.” Fiú ansin, thug an tImpireacht buntáistí. Ainneoin coireanna, níorbh iad na Sasanaigh na cóilinigh ba mheasa, ach “tá a lá thart.”

Is mionlach iad na hAlbanaigh sa Bhreatain. “Is cuma cén vóta a chaitheann muidne, táimid ag dul an rud atá de dhíth orthusan a fháil cibé ar bith,” ar seisean. Is náisiún ársa é Albain, níos sine ná an Ríocht Aontaithe. Is don náisiún ársa sin atá dílseacht Rahul.

Vincent O'Halloran - traditional musician who brought the West of Ireland to London

(a slightly edited version of this was printed in the Irish Times of July 5th 2014)

by Anton McCabe

Vincent O’Halloran – Born September 3^rd 1942, died Mary 11^th 2014

Vincent O’Halloran, who has died after a long battle with cancer, was a master of the accordion, and a fine traditional singer, whose gifts made him a fixture on the Irish traditional music scene in London. A native of Inishbofin, Co Galway, he lived his adult life in England.

He was a mainstay of London’s Irish traditional music scene from the 1960s. Traditional music was part of the glue that held the Irish community together in his early days there. Large numbers came to sessions, as places where the Irish gathered.

O’Halloran had both the musical ability and the personality to make a session lively and enjoyable. Wherever he played, he brought the west of Ireland to London. He was an energetic, strong and accurate accordion player. He played jigs and reels with theatrical flourish, but his speciality was waltzes, especially the Cuckoo Waltz. Reg Hall of Topic Records heard him at sessions, and persuaded O’Halloran to make his only record, ‘The Men of the Island’ with his brother Dessie (O’Halloran).

However, his most spectacular performance was while perched on a rock in Inishbofin Harbour. He had gone out in a currach, and climbed up on the rock.

Vincent O’Halloran was born on Inishbofin in the September 1942, youngest of nine children to Martin O’Halloran, a shopkeeper and retired member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and his wife Jane (née Prendergast). Inishbofin was a musical island, the O’Hallorans part of that music. His mother was a concertina player. As a child, his eldest brother, Christy, taught him the accordion.

His primary education was in the island’s national school, followed by secondary education as a boarder at St Mary’s College in Galway. Soon after secondary school, he moved to London, working as a carpenter. Except for a few years in Swindon, London was home for his adult life. Until shortly before his death, he regularly played at a couple of sessions in South London.

Three weeks before his death he paid his last visit to Inishbofin. Despite his frailty he played a powerful session in the Dolphin Hotel with a group of other island musicians.

Vincent O’Halloran is survived by his daughter Bridie: son Vincent: sisters Mary Joe and Bernadette: brothers Malachy and Desmond (Dessie): four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his wife Kathleen, and son Michael.

Sir John Gorman - Obituary. An edited version of this was published in the Irish Times of June 7th

by Anton McCabe

Sir John Gorman – born February 1^st, 1923, died May 26^th 2014

Sir John Gorman, who has died, was the only Catholic to be a senior elected Unionist representative in the North since World War Two. He was an Ulster Unionist representative, first to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, then from 1998 to 2003 to the Northern Ireland Assembly. He chaired the Forum, and was the Assembly’s Deputy Speaker. He was a respected Forum chair. When disorder erupted he became slightly red in the face, gave the unruly a headmasterly look over the top of his glasses – and was obeyed.

He was earlier a war hero, winning the Military Cross for bravery in World War Two.

John Reginald Gorman was born in February 1923 outside Omagh, Co Tyrone, eldest of four children to Jack Gorman, a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) District Inspector, and his wife Annette (née O’Brien), both Catholics, Munster natives, and strong Unionists. 

Gorman was educated at the Loreto Convent, Omagh: Rockport School, Co Down: the Imperial Service College in Windsor, England: and Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. At 18 he joined the British Army and was commissioned a lieutenant, landing in Normandy a fortnight after the D-Day landings. Gorman won the Military Cross by driving his tank straight down a hill, ramming a better-armoured German tank, and putting it out of action.

After the War he followed his father into the RUC, entering as a District Inspector.

During the IRA campaign of the 1950s, he liaised with the authorities in the Republic in drawing up lists of suspects to be interned. He also carried out liaison between MI5 operating in the North and MI6 in the Republic.

With the IRA campaign over, he took on new challenges at the British Overseas Airline Corporation (now part of British Airways). There he was successively Head of Security: Head of Personnel: Manager for the USA: and Manager India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He refused the position of Manager Southern Africa, because such meant building relations with white minority regimes.

After nearly 20 years, he returned to the North in 1979 as Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman (a combined post) of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. He was proud to have left a high quality housing stock on retirement.

He is survived by hi wife Heather: daughters Angela and Rosanagh: son Johnny: grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Justin.