Allan Campbell - 27.2.25
Tha h-uile latha na latha sgoile, a rèir seanfhacail, agus pailt cho cinnteach tha gach latha cuideachd na cheann-bliadhna dha cuideigin, neo rudeigin An-diugh tha mi airson cinn-bliadhna sònraichte a chomharrachadh dha dà bhuidheann àraid. An toiseach, gum meal Buidheann-togail Chlann MhicLeòid Cheann Loch Gilb an naidheachd is a’ chompanaidh stèidhichte, agus air fàs is soirbheachadh, fad caogad bliadhna! Ri linn an cuid fhreumhan san Eilean Sgitheanach, tha e air a bhith na urram dhòmhsa eòlas air a bhith agam air an teaghlach seo fad còrr air seasgad bliadhna!
Bha Coinneach agus Murchadh, nach maireann, a stèidhich a’ chompanaidh nan co-aoisean leam agus dh’fhàg sin an ceangal nas treasa, ach chan eil turas a smaoinicheas mi air an teaghlach nach tig am pàrantan, Alasdair agus Ciorstaidh, agus an cuid sàr aoigheachd Gàidhealach nam chuimhne. Chì mi gum bheil a’ chompanaidh a’ cleachdadh gach innleachd agus ealantas as ùire sa ghnìomhachas sam bheil i an sàs, ach gum bheil a cuid modh-obrach traidiseanta, agus bu dual agus b’ iomchaidh sin dha stiùirichean bho shliochd dhaoine gasta da-rìribh! Buaidh is piseach dha Buidheann-thogail Chlann Mhic Leòid san ath chaogad bliadhna!
An-diugh tha co-labhairt air obair-leasachaidh Gàidhlig a’ gabhail àite ann an Steòrnabhagh, far am bheil Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) a’ cur crìoch air bliadhna de shreath thachartasan leis an robh esan a’ comharrachadh dà fhichead bliadhna bho chaidh a stèidheachadh. Mar an dàrna ceannard a bh’ air a’ bhuidheann tha mise a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith an làthair, a dheasbad innleachdan leasachaidh dhan chànan, gu sònraichte am measg òigridh. Gun teagamh bidh cothrom ann cuideachd eòlas ùrachadh le mòran eile, agus urram a thoirt dha lèirsinn agus spàirn nan iomadh neach a chuidich CnaG a thoirt gu bith, agus a thug taic dha chuid obrach anns gach dòigh. Ged a b’ e seo a’ chiad bhuidheann a chaidh a stèidheachadh le taic an Riaghaltais mar bhuidheann-leasachaidh Gàidhlig, tha e cudromach cuimhneachadh nach robh ùghdarras oifigeil sam bith aig CnaG agus gun robh gach adhartas a rinn e mar thoradh air conaltradh agus co-obrachadh dìcheallach agus faiceallach. Cha robh na h-uile ann an coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig idir a’ tuigsinn cho beag cumhachd ’s a bh’aig CnaG agus ‘s iomadh càineadh tàmailteach agus mì-iomchaidh a dh’fhuiling sinne a bha nar luchd-obrach thar nam bliadhnaichean. Ach tha e gu tur iomchaidh dha CnaG a bhith moiteil gur ann à fuaran a chuid obrach iomadh-fhìllte a dh’fhàs uimhir de na tha cor a’ chànain a’ mealtainn a-nise, agus tha e fìor a ràdh nach biodh mòran den taic oifigeil agus an inbhe a th’ aig a’ chànan idir ann mur a b’ e na rinn CnaG!
Leugh mi bho chionn ghoirid mar a thuirt Bàrd Mhealaboist, Murchadh MacPhàrlain, ri Mairead NicLeòid aig a’ chòmhlan Na h-Òganaich, nuair a thòisich iad ri ùidh a ghabhail anns na h-òrain aige. Thuirt e gun robh esan a’ toirt na cloiche bhon chuaraidh, ach gun robh e an urra rithese a snaigheadh! Dleastanas leantainneach nan Gàidheal, oir tha mòran snaighidh agus clachaireachd a dhìth air cor na Gàidhlig fhathast!
Just as every day is a school-day, it is also an anniversary for a person or an organisation, and today I wish to congratulate two organisations on special anniversaries.
Firstly, congratulations to MacLeod Construction of Lochgilphead on 50 successful years serving their industry in Argyll and the Islands, and beyond, sustaining much important employment. Their family roots in Skye have meant that I have had the pleasure of knowing the Macleod family for nearly 70 years, and I have wonderful memories of traditional Highland hospitality at Alasdair and Ciorstaidh’s home at Achnaba. Kenny and the late Murdo were contemporaries, and this strengthened a lasting connection. Led by descendants of truly fine people, Macleod Construction are modern in industry technique, but appropriately traditional in business style and ethic, and I wish them well for the next 50 years.
Today, in Stornoway, a conference will discuss the challenges of strategies for youth in Gaelic language development. The conference will also complete a year-long series of events during which Comunn na Gaidhlig (CnaG) has marked its 40th anniversary, and as the organisation’s second CEO, I very much look forward to being present. This will also be an opportunity to salute the vision and vigour of the many involved in creating CnaG and supporting its work in over the years. Although CnaG was the first Gaelic development organisation formally supported by government, many members of the Gaelic community did not understand the limitations of its authority, and staff frequently endured misguided and unjust criticism. Effectively a voluntary body, albeit with public funding support, CnaG’s remarkable achievements were built on effective consultation and cooperation, and it should be justly proud of the fact that Gaelic would be very much weaker today but for its wide-ranging activities.
The Gaelic bard Murdo MacFarlane famously said to Margaret MacLeod of the group Na h-Oganaich (The Young Ones), when it first took interest in Macfarlane’s songs, that while he “quarried” the song she should dress the “stone”. There is much “dressing”, and building of Gaelic, still required from all its users and friends.
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