Iorram (Boat Song) - Sgriobt film Gàidhlig agus Beurla / Gaelic and English Film Script

IORRAM

[BOAT SONG]

SGRIOBT FILM GÀIDHLIG AGUS BEURLA

GAELIC AND ENGLISH FILM SCRIPT

Anns an leabhran seo gheibhear tàr-sgrìobhadh slàn den fhilm aithriseach fad 97 mionaidean, Iorram (Boat Song). Gus cuideachadh le stiùireadh, tha an

teacsa air a bhriseadh suas gu na mionaidean air-sgrìn den tionndadh seo den fhilm. Gheibhear barrachd fiosrachadh mun fhilm, agus càite am faicear

e, aig iorramfilm.com.

Sionopsas den Fhilm

A’ chiad film aithriseachd gu tur ann an Gàidhlig, tha Iorram na dhealbh

liriceach air Innse Gall, an-diugh agus an-dè. Tha an Stiùiriche, Alastair

Cole, a’ toirt an luchd-amhairc air tu-ras-bogaidh a-steach do chridhe

coimhearsnachd a tha air maireadh 1,000 bliadhna, a’ measgachadh

clàran fuaim tasglainn de ghuthan bhon t-àm a dh’fhalbh le iomhaighean

de bheatha nan eilean san latha an-diugh agus ceòl ùr air a chruthachadh

leis an neach-ciùil cliùiteach, Aidan O’Rourke.

Aig cridhe an fhilm tha stòras iongantach de thasglann fuaim, air a

chlàradh le luchd-eitneòlais adhartach Albannach ann am meadhan an

20mh linn, a thadhal air na h-Eileanan an Iar airson glacadh cruadal

agus romansachd beatha air a chur seachad ann an cothromachadh

cugallach leis a’ mhuir.

Tha na clàraidhean seo a’ glèidheadh beul-aithris de dh’uirsgeulan,

ràbhairtean agus cùisean-mulaid a thàinig sìos tro

ghinealaichean de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig.

An cois an traca-fuaime seo de ghuthan, sgeulachdan agus òrain bho na

làithean a dh’fhalbh, tha ìomhaighean dhrùidhteach de ruitheam obrach

làitheil nan eilean, air muir is tìr, air am filmeadh thairis air na trì

bliadhna mu dheireadh.

Tha na cruadalan an cois a bhith ag iasgach agus a’ cutadh anns gach

sìde agus ràithe beo taobh-ri-taobh le geasalanachd, seallaidhean de

mhaighdinnean-mara, sìthichean agus eileanan à sealladh.

Tha a’ chiad sgòr-film le Aidan O’Rourke (bhon chòmhlan Lau a tha air

iomadh duais a choisinn) a’ fighe fuaim agus ìomhaigh ri chèile ann an

cunntas faireachail agus lèirsinneach air saothair, gàire agus call. Bha

a’ mhuir a-riamh a’ beathachadh a’ choim-hearsnachd seo, ged a bha

a’ chumachd aice cuideachd beatha nan teaghlach a bha an urra rithe

a chreachadh.

Tha am film a’ tabhainn cagairean agus faileasan de dhaoine agus de

thachartasan duilich a ghabh àite o chionn fhada, cuimhneachain a tha

fhathast a’ toirt buaidh air beatha nan eilean. Aig àm nuair a tha Alba

agus an RA a’ coimhead ri àm ùr, tha seo mar chuimhneachan gu bheil

snàithleanan eachdraidh agus fèin-aithne aig fìor oir Bhreatainn air am

fighe, dha-rìribh, ann an cumhachd liriceadh a’ chànain Ghàidhlig.

This booklet contains the full transcript of the 97 minute feature length documentary film, Iorram (Boat Song). To assist navigation, the text is divided into

the onscreen minutes. You can find out more about the film, and where to view it at iorramfilm.com.

Film Synopsis

The first cinema documentary entirely in Scottish Gaelic, Iorram (Boat

Song) is a lyrical portrait of life in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, past

and present. Director Alastair Cole takes the audience on an immersive

journey into the heart and soul of a 1,000-year-old community, blending

archive sound recordings of voices from the past with visuals of island life

today and an original score by acclaimed folk musician Aidan O’Rourke.

At the core of the film is an extraordinary trove of sound archive,

recorded by pioneering Scottish ethnographers in the mid-20th century,

who visited the Western Isles to capture the hardship and romance of life

lived in precarious balance with the sea.

These newly restored recordings preserve an oral history of lore and

legends, tall tales and tragedies, passed down through generations of

Gaelic speakers. This soundtrack of voices, stories and songs from the

past is accompanied by moving imagery of the daily working rhythm

of the islands, on land and on water, shot over the past three years.

The tough realities of fishing and gutting in all weathers and seasons

co-exist alongside superstitions and visions of mermaids, faerie folk and

mysterious vanishing islands.

The first film score by Aidan O’Rourke (of multi-award-winning folk group

Lau) weaves together sound and vision in an emotional and cinematic

narrative of toil, laughter and loss. The sea has always sustained this

community, while also holding the power to ravage the lives of the

families who rely upon it. The film offers whispers and shadows of people

and tragic events long since gone, yet whose memory continues to shape

life on the islands today. As Scotland and the UK enter a new future,

this provides a reminder that the threads of history and identity at this

furthest edge of the British Isles are woven, unmistakably, in the lyrical

power of the Gaelic language.

I O R R A M

minute 1.

Tha Gàidhlig air a bhith ga

bruidhinn ann an Innse Gall airson

còrr agus mìle bliadhna.

Chaidh guthan nan eilean an

clàradh airson a’ chiad uair anns

na 1930an.

An-diugh, is e coimhearsnachd an

iasgaich fear de na h-àitichean mu

dheireadh far a bheil an cànan

làidir,

ach tha an t-àm ri teachd mìchinnteach

do gach cuid.

Scottish Gaelic has been spoken

in the Outer Hebrides for over a

thousand years.

The voices of the islands were

recorded for the first time in the

1930s.

Today the fishing community is

one of the last strongholds of the

language

but both face an uncertain future.

minute 2.

Uair is uair agus mi briste

thig mo smuain ort is tu òg

is lìonaidh an cuan do thuigsinn le

làn-mara is mìle seòl

Falamhaichear cladach na trioblaid

le bhuairean is tiùir a’ bhròin

is bualaidh an tonn gun bhriseadh

mum chasan le suathadh sròin

Again and again when I am broken

my thought comes on you when you

were young,

and the incomprehensible ocean fills

with floodtide and a thousand sails.

The shore of trouble is hidden with

its reefs and the wrack of grief,

and the unbreaking wave strikes

about my feet with a silken rubbing.

iorramfilm.com 5

minute 3.

An t-iasgach..airson a' bheò-shlaint

a bheireadh duine ann a sheo le

teaghlach beag

na croitean beaga bochda, cha

dèanadh e sìon ann gun leth-stoc

air choreigin

agus 's e iasgach nan giomach an

leth-stoc a b' fheàrr a bh' ann.

Cha robh an còrr seirbheis ann

‘S e Barraigh am port-iasgaich a b’

fheàrr a bh’ ann an Alba an uairsin

airson iasgach an sgadain

‘S e bha na taobh Searaich a’

tighinn an sin agus bhiodh iad ann

gu meadhan September

‘s gun chàil a’ dol ach eathraichean

siùil

Bhiodh na b’ urrainn falbh às de na

daoine.

Chaidh sinn a Mhalaig le dà

fhichead crann sgadain

Fishing was a way for anyone with

a small family to make a living.

On small infertile crofts they would

need something to supplement their

income

and lobster fishing was the best

way to do that.

There was no other work.

Barra was the best port in Scotland

at that time for herring fishing.

The east-coasters would be there

until mid-September

and it was all sailing boats.

All the men who were able went off

to work.

We went to Mallaig with 40 cran of

herring.

ann an June 1917. That was in June 1917.

Bha, a' fuireach ann am

Beàrnaraigh fad an t-samhraidh

We stayed on Berneray all summer.

6 iorramfilm.com iorramfilm.com 7

minute 4.

minute 5.

Triùir is ceathrar anns na

h-àireachan, 's cadal ann a shineach

Bha iad a' fuireach 's na

h-àireachan 's cha robh iad ach a'

dol a dh'iarraidh provisions mar a

dh'fheumadh iad

Ach an fheadhainn a bha sgothan

aca bha iad a' dol a Bhàgh a'

Chaisteil a dh'iasgach an sgadain

Sgothan a bh' againn, fichead

troigh a dh'fhaid, trì siùil is ràimh

...deich mìle an iar-dheas air Ceann

Bharraigh

Is ga h-iomramh cuideachd

Cha robh einnsean againn, ach seòl

dearg brèagha

There were three or four folk in

each shieling. They slept there.

They stayed in the shielings and

just went for provisions when they

had to.

Those who had their own boats

went to Castlebay to fish for

herring.

We had skiffs. They were 20 feet

long with three sails, and oars.

We'd go out ten miles southwest of

Barra Head.

Rowing, too.

We had no engine, just a nice red

sail.

Nam biodh sìde fhuar ann

dh'fheumadh tu barrachd air a'

ghiomach

Sheasadh an giomach.

A’ cumail nan giomach dh’fheumadh

iad a dhol a-null leotha a h-uile

seachdain

Cha robh thu a’ faighinn airgead

ann gus an robh an seusan ullamh.

Cha robh e gu diofar cha robh

agad ach gabhail a-null rud sam

bith a bha a dhìth ort

Ga roinn a-mach a-rithist

Cha robh an langa ro phailt ann.

Bhiodh trosg ann is sòrnain,

leòbagan agus bodaich

If the weather was cold you needed

more than lobster.

The lobster would keep.

Lobsters had to be taken across

every week.

You didn't get paid until the end of

the season.

It didn't matter. Ruaraidh would

give you anything you needed.

It was shared out.

Ling was scarce. There was cod,

skate, sole, flounder and Atlantic

cod.

Leigeadh seachad an seòl canaidh

mi an dèidh a' chogaidh mu

dheireadh

We stopped using sails, I'd say,

after the last world war.

Lìon mòr airson gu faigheadh tu

iasg mòr lethid sòrnan, easgannan

mòra grànnda

The long line was for catching big

fish like skate and big ugly eels.

Bha ceabain innte

There was a cabin.

Iorram

Boat Song

Bha thu a' dèanamh biadh 's a

h-uile càil a bh' ann.

You cooked food and everything.

Cha robh càil ach mar bu trice

briosgaid, 's dòcha gum biodh

uaireannan ìm againn

It was usually biscuits, occasionally

butter.


minute 6.

Och bha, Bha iasg fad na bliadhna

mu chuairt san loch a-mach ann a

sheo.

Uill a-nis, tha e dìreach a' togail

h-uile facal a tha sinn ag ràdh mar

seo. - A bheil?

Chan eil agaibh ach bruidhinn. Tha

e a’ togail a h-uile facal

A h-uile facal! A h-uile facal

O uill, uill. Nach eil sin math.

Tha e cho soirbh obrachadh leis.

Dìreach a chumail nam làimh agus a

tha a h-uile facal a' dol air. Eil sibh

gam chluinntinn a-nis?

Tha e math.

Taobh Port na h-Àirde, chunnaic

mise bàta, dà dheagh ràmh agus

seòl innt'

N uair sin mi smaointinn an

gabhadh ise faotainn

Oh, yes. Yes, there were fish here

all year round.

- It picks up every word we're

saying. - Does it?

You just have to speak. It picks up

every word.

- Every word! - Every word.

Oh, well, well. Isn't that good.

Yes. It's so easy to use.

You just hold it in your hand and

it records every word. Wait till you

hear it.

It's good.

By Port na h-Àirde way I saw a

boat There were two good oars

and a sail in her

I started to think if she could be

got


minute 7.

Am fanainn fad na h-oidhche gu

seòladh

Would I stay all night just to get

sailing.

Bidh mi gabhail an cuairt leis an

còmhnaidh

I'll be taking a trip with her always.

O tha mi smaointinn a' togail mo

chuid aodaich

Oh, I am thinking of hoisting my

sails

Nuair rachadh tu suas an cnoc air

a' chiad latha de Mhay

When you went to the hill on May

1st

Bàta beag mo ghaoil 's i bha

bòidheach

Little boat of my love she was

beautiful

chan fhaiceadh tu ach bàtaichean

oir ri oir

all you could see was an endless line

of boats

Bàta beag bha uasal a fhuair mi

aig na Suainich

Bidh mi dol an cuairt leis an

còmhnaidh

Little boat that was noble I got

from the Swedes

I'll be taking a trip with her always.

Tighinn a-nuas timcheall a’ Charbh

‘s a’ tighinn ron a’ Mhinch a’ dol a

Bharraigh

coming down round Cape Wrath,

through the Minch, going to Barra.

Bha sinn latha ag iasgach 's gu

dearbh bha i fialaidh

Since we went fishing indeed she

was generous

Chaidh sinn seachad sìos air Maol

Dòmhnaich

We went down past Maol Dòmhnaich

Iasg a bha brèagha ga fhaighinn

mar bu mhiann leinn

Fish that was lovely acquired as we

desired

Chuir sinn dhachaigh biadh de gach

seòrsa

We got every kind of food from it.

O tha mi smaointinn a' togail mo

chuid aodaich

Oh, I am thinking of hoisting my

sails

Bàta beag mo ghaoil 's i bha

bòidheach

Little boat of my love she was

beautiful

Bàta beag bha uasal a fhuair mi

aig na Suainich

Little boat that was noble I got

from the Swedes


minute 8.

Bhiomaid a’ dol a-mach timcheall

air leth May ‘s bhiomaid a-muigh gu

leth September

We would go out around mid-May

and continue until mid-September.

agus buain a' choirce le corran,

ga thiormachadh 's ga chur dhan

iodhlainn

cut the oats with a sickle, dried it

and put it in the stackyard.

S bha sinn an uair sin nar tàmh ag

obair air na clèibh

Nuair a thigeadh November a-staigh

bhiodh an uair sin sgadan an loch

a' tòiseachadh

After that we worked at the creels.

Come November, herring fishing

began in the loch.

Cha robh mar sin cha leithid de

rud ri holiday idir idir agad ga

fhaighinn

There was no such thing as a

holiday.

Aig am mìos February bhiodh tu a'

tòiseachadh air na lìn mhòra

In February, you started on the

long-line fishing

s bhiodh tu ag obair air na lìn

mhòra gu deireadh March

and worked on that until the end

of March.

Mar sin cha robh sguir idir idir idir

ann o rud gu rud

There were no breaks, just one

thing after another.

S aig an aon àm bha againn ri

moine a bhuainn as t-samhradh

At the same time, we had to cut

peats in summer,

Bha againn ri earrach a dhèanamh

airson dà mhart a bheathachadh,

am buntàta airson cosgais na

bliadhna

we needed enough hay to feed

two cows and a year's worth of

potatoes.

bha sin againn ri dhèanamh as

t-earrach

We had to do that in spring.

Nuair a thigeadh am foghar bha

againn ri buain an eòrna le corran

And then in the autumn we cut the

barley with a sickle,


minute 9.

Thòisich mise aig na giomaich

an toiseach còmhla ri Coinneach

Aonghais

I started lobster fishing with

Coinneach Aonghais

Abair thus nam b' e gaoth on iar a

bhiodh ann dh'fheumadh an seòl a

dhol suas

Now, if there was a west wind, the

sail had to go up.

agus gu dearbh 's e fear cho

greannach 's chuala tu riamh. Bha

e laghach gu leòr, ach o uill bha e

greannach

Nan dèanadh tusa, 's nuair a

thòisicheas tu air na giomaich an

toiseach, chan eil...

..bha mise lucky gu leòr, bha m'

athair air mo chùlaibh 's bha e ag

innse dhomh tòrr de rudan a bh'

agam ri dhèanamh

and he was the grumpiest man you

ever met. He was nice enough, but

grumpy.

When you first start lobster fishing,

you don't...

I was lucky, I had my father behind

me, telling me what to do.

“Cuiribh an seòl oirre” chanadh

Dòmhnall Iain, “Och, cuiridh sinn an

t-einnsean oirre”

“Cha chuir sinn an t-einnsean idir.

Cuiribh an seòl oirre.”

Dh'fheumadh tu an uair sin an seòl

fhuasgladh, 's a chur rithe.

Dh’fhalbhadh sinn an uair sin.

Bhiodh Dòmhnall Iain agus athair

shìos anns an deireadh

“Put up the sail.” Dòmhnall Iain

would say, “Let's use the engine”.

“We won't use the engine. Put up

the sail.”

And then you had to unfurl the sail

and hoist it.

We'd set off then. Dòmhnall Iain and

his father astern

agus 's e bhiodh a' dèanamh nan

clèibh dhomh cuideachd

He made my creels, too.

agus mise agus Iain Eairdsidh shuas

anns an toiseach. Suas an seòl.

and Iain Eardsaidh and I at the

bow. Up with the sail.

Coinneach, an eathar beag a bh’

aige. Cha robh innte ach troigh air

fhichead a dh’fhad a bha innte

Coinneach had a small boat, a

21-footer.

Chan fhaigheadh tu sìos ach

tarsainn air gob Gob Àird na Rèidh

's bhiodh a' ghaoth nad aghaidh

You'd barely be past Àird na Rèidh

Point when the west wind would be

in your face.

Agus bha einnsean beag aige

a fhuair e o Nogaran, Tormod

Aonghais,

And he had a small engine he got

from Nogaran, Tormod Aonghais,

seven horsepower

seven horsepower.

Agus shaoileadh tu gur e einnsean

an jumbo a bh' ann. Cha chuireadh

e an t-einnsean a bha siud air.

You'd think it was a jumbo jet

engine. He wouldn't use it.

Rachamaid a-mach as a' gheòla

bheag

We'd set out in the dinghy.


minute 10.

Dh'fheumadh an seòl tighinn

a-nuas agus an crann, “Start i a

Dhòmhnaill Iain”.

Bhiodh e an còmhnaidh le chois,

bualadh “Start i a Dhòmhnaill Iain.

Start i a Dhòmhnaill Iain”.

Naoi uairean às gach deich cha

startadh an rud a bha sin idir.

“Faigheabh a-mach na ràimh. A

Ruairidh, faigh ràmh. Bidh sinn air

tìr. Bidh sinn a-null air fuaidh.”

The sail and mast would have to

come down. “Start it, Dòmhnall

Iain”.

He would kick Dòmhnall Iain. “Start

it, Dòmhnall Iain. Start it Dòmhnall

Iain.”

Nine times out of ten it wouldn't

start.

“Get out the oars. Ruaraidh, get an

oar. We'll be on the rocks.”

O uill, 's e obair dhoirbh a bh' ann.

A-nis, Ruairidh Òg, Dòmhnall Ailig

Dhòmhnaill agus na h-eathraichean

eile

air falbh, shuidheadh iad air an

tòin air an ride

S dh'fhalbhadh iad a-mach gu

Sgeirean Ìomhair agus a-mach gu

Spuir

Oh, well, it was hard work.

Now, Ruaraidh Òg and Dòmhnall

Ailig Dhòmhnaill and the other

boats

would be away, sitting on their

backsides on the ride

and heading out to Sgeirean

Iomhair and Spuir.

Co-dhiù, dh'fhalbhadh an t-einnsean

's dh'fhalbhamaid an uair sin

Anyway, the engine would start and

we'd set off.

dh'fheumadh an seòl 's na ràimh a

phasgadh

The oars and sail had to be put

away.

Nan tigeadh tu ro fhaisg air a'

chliabh a bha sin

And if you got too close to the

creels,

O a Ruairidh gheibh sinn am ball sa

phropellor

“Oh, Ruaraidh, we'll get the rope

caught in the propeller!”

agus nam biodh tu ro fhada bhon

chliabh

And if you were too far from the

creels,

“Och a Ruairidh, a chruthaidhear

bheannaichte, an dèan sinn nas

fheàrr na sin idir?”

“Och, Ruaraidh, can't you do better

than that?”

Dh'fheumadh tu an uair sin

tòiseachadh air bacadh a-staigh

chun a' chliabh

Then you'd have to start backing

into the creels.


minute 11.

Einnsean fad an t-siubhail

Engine all the way.

Smaoinich e

He had a think.

Bha an t-seinnsean aca, a' togail

nan clèibh leis an einnsean agus

sinne gan togail leis na ràimh

O, 's e duine greannach a bh' ann.

'S chan fhaodadh tu a bhith a'

feadaireachd.

Nam biodh tu a' dèanamh

feadaireachd, dh'fhàsadh e cho

greannach. Dh'fhàsadh e cho

greannach.

They lifted the creels with the

engine and we lifted them with the

oars.

Oh, he was grumpy. And you

weren't allowed to whistle.

Oh, if you were whistling, he'd get

so grumpy. So grumpy.

Thuirt i “Till dachaigh, till dachaigh,

till dachaigh” thuirt i

“'S mi nach till!” “Thèid do

bhàthadh, thèid do bhàthadh, thèid

do bhàthadh.”

“Saoil thusa an tèid?” thuirt e

She said, “Return home, return

home, return home”.

“I will not!” “You'll be drowned,

you'll be drowned, you'll be

drowned.”

“I wonder,” he said.

Bodach 's bha e falbh a dh'iasgach.

'S e sin an dreuchd a bh' aige

daonnan, a bhith ag obair air an

iasgach

An old man was going fishing. He

was always working at the fishing.

Ach bha e latha bha seo a' falbh,

dè bh' aige ach leth-bhotal uisgebeatha

na phòcaid

But he set off this day with a half

bottle of whisky in his pocket.

Bha e sunndach sa mhadainn a'

falbh

He set off cheerfully in the morning.

Chuala e smeòrach a’ cur dhith,

“Thèid thu Wick, Thèid thu Wick,

Thèid thu Wick”

He heard a thrush singing, “Go to

Wick, go to Wick, go to Wick”.

“Tà, thèid a ghalghad” thuirt e

“I certainly will”, he replied.


minute 12.

“Co-dhiù, eadar dà cheist agus a

h-uile rud a th' ann, gabhaidh sinn

steall às a' bhotal” thuirt e

Chuir e botal ri cheann

“Anyway, between one thing and

another, I'll take a drink,” he said.

He put the bottle to his lips.

Bha iad ga chunntais mì-lucky.

Tòiseachadh Diluain. Tòiseachadh

Diluain

The first day was thought to be

unlucky.

- Starting on Monday? - Starting on

Monday.

“Dideag eile, dideag eile, dideag eile

fhathast” thuirt i. Ghabh e siud

Smaoinich e. Chuir an smeòrach

dheth a-rithist agus thuirt i

“Another drop, another drop”, she

said. He took one.

He had a think. The thrush piped

up again,

Nan tachradh boireannach ri fear

a bhiodh a' dol a dh'iasgach bha e

deònach tilleadh an uair sin

If a woman met a man on his way

to the fishing, he would turn back.

“Sgob às e, sgob às e, sgob às e”

“Down the hatch, down the hatch,

down the hatch”

S dh'òl e na bha sa bhotal

and he drained the bottle.

Agus an uair sin 's ann a bha an

duine a' gabhail òran ris fhèin

And then, the man was singing a

song to himself,

“'S mairg nach gabh comhairle”

agus thill e dhachaigh

“It's silly to ignore advice,” and he

went home.

Agus cha deach e chun an iasgaich

idir, air obair na smeòraich.

He didn't go fishing, thanks to the

thrush.

Cha robh iad ach a-staigh Diluain.

Cha bhiodh iad deònach a dhol

a-mach Diluain idir

They weren't keen on going out on

a Monday at all.

Nach biodh? Cha bhiodh, nuair a

bhiodh iad a' startadh an toiseach,

a' chiad latha

- Weren't they? - No. They didn't like

starting then.


minute 13.

Seadh? Chan fhaigheadh e sgath

- Really? - He wouldn't catch a

thing.

Bha bodach eile nan luib agus bha e

uabhasach geasagach

But there was an old man there

who was awfully superstitious

Ma b' fhìor cho mì-lucky 's a bha na

boireannaich

Women were supposed to bring

bad luck.

Agus nuair a dh'inns iad dha gun

tug iad an t-uisge do sgothaidh eile

and when they told him that they

had given water to another boat

Bhiodh geasagan uabhasach aig na

h-iasgairean uaireigin an t-saoghail

Fishermen used to be terribly

superstitious.

Bha iad a' creidsinn nan itheadh

iad ugh man rachadh iad chun a'

chuain

They believed that, if they ate an

egg before going to sea,

nach fhaigheadh iad iasg idir

they wouldn't catch any fish.

agus bha feadhainn eile a bha a'

smaoineachadh nam faiceadh iad

coineanach

And there were others who thought

that if they saw a rabbit

nach fhaigheadh iad iasg na bu

mhotha 's gum faodadh iad tilleadh

dhachaigh

they wouldn't catch any fish either

and they may as well go home.

Bha m' athair fhèin turas eile sna

lochannan

My father was at the lochs one

time.

Bhiodh iad a' dol dha na lochannan

an àm a' gheamhraidh, an toiseach

a' gheamhraidh

They would go to the lochs at the

beginning of winter.

An triop a bha seo, thàinig sgoth

eile a dh'iarraidh uisge orra

On this occasion, another boat

came to ask them for water.

Co-dhiù, ge b' e an fheadhainn a

bha mun cuairt aig an àm, thug iad

seachad an t-uisge

Anyway, the crew gave them water.


minute 14.

cha mhòr nach do leum e às a

chraiceann leis an fheirg.

Rug e air dòrnan mòr salainn agus

chaith e san teine e

Thàinig iad a Bhatarsaigh, thàinig

iadsan a thogail nan seadaichean

an toiseach

agus thug iad sin leotha na

teaghlaichean. Bha sin ann an 1908.

Thàinig na teaghlaichean air fad.

he almost jumped out of his skin

with anger.

He grabbed a handful of salt and

threw it in the fire.

They came to Vatersay to build the

sheds first

and then they brought the families

over. That was in 1908. All the

families came.

Bha iad ag iarraidh às a thaobh

nach fhaigheadh iad na bàtaichean

iasgaich a thoirt ann.

Dh'fheumadh iad a bhith ris an

iasgach 's cha robh iad ach ag

iarraidh taigh ri taobh a' chladaich

bhiodh iad toilichte gu leòr nam

faigheadh iad an taigh an taobh a'

chladaich.

Because they couldn't land their

fishing boats.

They had to fish and all they

wanted was a place to build a

house beside the sea.

They were happy as long as they

had a house by the shore.

An robh iad riamh ann am

Miùghalaigh ag obair air giomaich

ma-thà?

Sin an obair a bhiodh aig na seann

bhodaich nach b' urrainn an t-àite

fhàgail, fhios agad, ag obair air na

giomaich

Did Mingulay folk ever fish for

lobsters?

That's what the old men did when

they could no longer leave the

place.

Carson a bha iad ag iarraidh às

co-dhìu, à Miùghalaigh?

Why did they want to leave

Mingulay anyway?


minute 15.

Bhiodh iad ag obair fad an

t-samhradh, pìos math dhen

fhoghar gus an tòisicheadh an

t-sìde a' fàs dona

Bhiodh iad gan toirt do mharsantan

a bh’ ann am Bàgh a’ Chaisteil

They worked throughout the

summer and the autumn until the

weather turned bad.

They sold them to merchants in

Castlebay.

Bha banca againn sna Bàigh ris an

canadh iad Banca nam Bàgh

Agus 's ann ann an còmhnaidh a

bhiomaid ag iasgach as t-samhradh

We had a bank in the Bays of Harris

called Bays Bank.

And we always fished there in

summer.

Mar sin dh'fheumadh iad fhèin na

clèibh agus a h-uile sìon mar sin a

dhèanamh iad fhèin

And they would have to make the

creels and everything themselves.

O iad fhèin a bhiodh a' dèanamh an

iasgaich sin air fad

Oh, they made everything

themselves.

Le fiodh a gheibheadh iad air a’

chladach. - Seadh

- From wood they found on the

shore. - Yes.

Cha robh coilltean ann.

There were no woods for material.

Seadh, 's cha robh craobhan ann.

- Cha robh

- That's right. There were no trees.

- No.

Sgadan Bharraigh an sgadan a b’

fheàrr a bha ri fhaighinn air an

t-saoghal air fad

Barra herring was the best in the

whole world.

O cheann gu ceann dhen t-saoghal

's e sgadan Bharraigh

The best in all the world.

An sgadan a b' fhaisge air sgadan

Bharraigh 's e sgadan na Hearadh

The next best was Harris herring.


minute 16.

Agus sgadan an còrr air a sin a bha

sgadan a bha sinn a’ faighinn ann

a sheo

agus a bha na Barraich a' faighinn

bha a h-uile aonan dhe sin a' dol a

dh'Aimeireaga

The extra herring we caught here,

and the Barra herring,

it all went to America.

Bha tùr anns an iasgach nach eil

duine measrachadh

Ma bha tràghadh ann bha thu

guess dè an ùine a dh'fhanadh tu

on bhanca

There was a knack to fishing that

people don't realise.

At ebbtide, you would guess how

long to stay off the bank,

Sgadan mòr

The big herring.

Agus bha e cho dìomhair

It was very mysterious.

nuair a gheibheamaid sìos air sròn

a th' air a' Phàirc Leòdhasach

When you went beyond a headland

in the Pairc district of Lewis

ris an can iad Rubha Uisinis, bha an

sgadan ag atharrachadh.

called Rubha Uisinis, the herring

changed.

Cha robh an aon bhlas air, cha

robh an aon mheud ann agus cha

robh an aon rèimhreachd ann.

It didn't taste the same, it was

smaller and not so fat.

Dh'fhalbh an sgadan sin - chan eil

e ri fhaighinn an-diugh idir idir. An

sgadan mòr a bha sin a bha sinne

a' faighinn.

That herring has gone. The big

herring we caught is nowhere to be

found now.

A' cheart cho cinnteach 's a

chanaist anns an latha sin, bha tùr

ri iarraidh ann

In those days, you had to have the

know-how.


minute 17.

minute 18.

a rèir neart na tide airson a bhith

ann aig àm an tràghaidh

Oir mura guessadh tu sin ceart cha

robh thu a' dol a dh'fhaighinn dà

chrann sgadain

Nis cha robh leithid de rud ri

sealltainn air combaist no gnè nì

dhen t-seòrsa sin

Cha robh gnè nì ann a bha a'

sealltainn dhut an sgadan ach muc

is sùlaire

Mar sin cha robh thu ach a' dol le

guess gu sìorraidh

depending on the strength of the

tide, in order to hit it at slack

water.

If you didn't guess right, you would

be lucky to get two cran of herring.

And there was no such thing as

looking at a compass or anything

like that.

There was nothing to show where

the herring were except whales and

gannets.

It was just guesswork.

airson an sgadan bheag

Bha thu gad ionnsachadh fhèin aon

uair 's gun dèidheadh tu air bòrd

innte

Bha thu gad ionnsachadh fhèin

anns a h-uile càil a bh’ agad ri

dhèanamh

Bha thu a' piceadh an àirde a h-uile

càil, 's cha bhiodh tu leth-bhliadhn'

nuair a bhiodh tu cho math ri fear

sam bith a bha na broinn

Uill, innsidh ma-thà, chan eil sin

duilich dhomh innse.

for the smaller herring.

You taught yourself once you went

aboard.

You taught yourself everything you

needed to do.

You picked everything up and in

six months, you were as good as

anyone.

Well, I'll tell you, then. That's no

problem.

Na lìn a bh' againn san latha sin

dh'fheumadh iad an dèanamh

special dhuinn fhèin

The nets we had in those days had

to be made especially for us.

Le mogal a bhith na b' fharsainge

na mogal lìn an taobh sear

They had a bigger mesh than the

east-coast nets,

airson an sgadain mhòir a bha seo

for the big herring.

Nuair a thigeadh iasgach August

ann an Snìosort

When the August fishing started in

Loch Snizort,

bha na lìn sin gam pasgadh agus

seat eile a' dol a-mach an uair sin

de mhogal cumhang

these nets were folded away and

another set with a smaller mesh

was used,


minute 19.

Bha Iain, ann a shin, mo

bhràthair, nuair a bha e a' dol a

dh'fheuchainn an test air a' bhan

Iain, my brother, was going to take

the van for the test.

Bha an t-òran agamsa air a

dhèanamh dhaibh mus do ràinig mi

dhachaigh

I had made the song about them

before I reached home.

Ach nuair a thàinig an turn aige,

cha d' fhuair e roimhe idir

Agus thill sinn air ais agus bha am

bàr fosgailte

But when his turn came, it failed.

When we got back, the bar was

open.

Agus seo mar a bhe e a' dol:

S air feasgar dhomh 's mi

faireachdainn pàite, chaidh mi

steach a' bhàr an Tàirbeirt

And this is how it went:

This evening I was feeling parched I

went into the bar in Tarbert

Thadhail sinn ann agus bha

ceathrar de mhuinntir Scalpaigh

ann a shin

We called in and there were four

Scalpay folk there.

S aithne dhomh dithis aca glè

mhath agus 's aithne dhomh an

dithis eile rim faicinn

I knew two of them very well and

the other two by sight.

Bha iad a' sealltainn an graf aig an

echosounder dha na bàrmein ann

They were showing the graph of the

echosounder to the barmen.

Thòisich e air innse dhomh “Siud an

grunnd” ars esan

He started to explain it to me.

“That's the seabed,” he said.

“Siud an sgadan. Chan eil sgadan

ann a sheo idir ach tha e ann a

sheo”

“That's the herring. There's no

herring here, but there is, here.”

“Tarraing siud 's cuir na do phòca e

agus saoilidh iad gur e iasgair thu”

“Put that in your pocket and they'll

think you're a fisherman.”


minute 20.

minute 21.

S dh'iarr mi dràm air a' bhàrman a

chàraich e air mo bheulaibh

S bha Scalpaich anns a' chòmhlan

aig an robh eòlas air an iasgach

I requested a dram at the bar

before he turned to face me

And there were Scalpay men in a

group who had knowledge of the

fishing

Nuair a bhathar a' taghadh

sgiobair, bha an sgioba a' dèanamh

sin

Ged bu leatsa am bàta, cha b' e

tusa an sgiobair

The skipper was chosen by the crew.

You might own the boat, but you

weren't the skipper.

S le graf an echosounder gun d'

rinn iad an clobhd duine dhìomsa

Ach b' e chuimhn' leam o thoiseach

m' òige air na h-eòlaich a b' aithne

dhomh

Chan fheumadh na seòid ud ach

ròpa agus balaiste

Eòlas air a’ chùrsa ‘s air an grunnd

far am biodh bancaichean

S air na fasanan ùra cha b' fhiù

dhaibh bhith fantail

Ach saoilidh fear nach eil eòlach

gu bheil mise an còmhnaidh nam

amadan

On 's e cromagan an dùbhlais rinn

mo leòn le aineòlas

Ach 's iomadh innleachd air an

dèanainn innse air bheil sibhse cho

aineòlach

With a graph on their echosounder

They sought to make fun of me.

But as I remember the beginning

of my youth and the experts that

I knew

The heroes needed nothing but rope

and ballast

Knowledge of the course and where

the ground had banks

They didn't need to wait for the

new fashions

But I imagine that to the unlearned

I shall remain always a fool

It's the damned hooks that grieved

me with ignorance

I could tell of many contraptions of

which you are ignorant

Bha iad a' taghadh mar sgiobair

fear a bha eòlach air seòladh,

eòlach air an tìde-mhara

a leughadh na nèamhan, aig an

robh eòlas farsaing air obair

nàdair gu lèir

Agus am fear a chanadh iad a

bheireadh dhachaigh iad nuair a

bhiodh an Cuan Siar oillteil

sin a bha iad a' taghadh mar

sgiobair

Nise nuair a thigeadh air tìr le iasg

‘s e bean an sgiobair a bha a’ roinn

an èisg

agus ‘s ann nuair a bhiodh iad a’

roinn an èisg,

bhiodh an sgiobair a' faighinn

comharra bhon h-uile duine

A skipper was chosen for his

knowledge of sailing, the tides,

reading the skies, and wide

knowledge of nature in general.

The man they believed would bring

them home from the Atlantic at its

wildest,

that's who they chose as skipper.

When they brought their catch

ashore the skipper's wife divided

the fish.

When the catch was divided

the skipper was given a tag by each

person to mark their share.

S nan tionndaidhean a’ chuibhle

bheirinn dhuibh ur cuibhreann le

fanaidean

If the wheel should turn I would do

my share of mocking.


minute 22.

minute 23.

S e daoine taghte a bh' annta agus

bha iad a' saoilsinn tòrr dhiubh

fhèin 's bha na mnathan a' saoilsinn

an dearbh rud

They had a high opinion of

themselves and so did their wives.

Bhiodh na boireannaich a' falbh a

dh'ionnsaigh a' chutaidh,

A h-uile duine a b' urrainn falbh ach

na cailleachan

The women would be away gutting.

Everyone who could go, went, apart

from the old women

agus feadhainn aig am biodh clann

òga 's mar sin

and those with young children.

Bhiodh iad a' dol a Bhàgh a'

Chaisteil an toiseach gu meadhan

an t-samhraidh

They went to Castlebay first, until

midsummer.

Och bhiodh iad ag obair gu pìos a

dh'fhoghar

They worked until the autumn.

S bha seusan Bhàgh a' Chaisteil,an

uair sin, a' chiad seusan, ullamh

That was the end of the first season

in Castlebay.

S bhiodh iad an uair sin a' falbh

a dh'ionnsaigh a' chost an ear, a

dh'ionnsaigh a' chutaidh

And then, the women would go to

the east coast, to the gutting.

Nise bha Loch Ùrn uabhasach

ainmeil a-muigh an seo airson

sgadain

Loch Hourn was once famous for

herring.

Bha bràthair mo sheanmhair,

Soloman a theireadh iad ris,

My grandmother's brother,

Solomon, his name was,

bha e ag iasgach còmhla ri m'

athair, fhios agad

he was fishing with my father.

Uill, cha do chuir e riamh air ach

bonaid chruinn Balmoral

He always wore a Balmoral bonnet.


minute 24.

minute 25.

Uill, aon oidhche fhuair iad uabhas

sgadain

s cha b' urrainn dhaibh na lìn a

thogail uile

Well, one night they caught so much

herring

that they couldn't haul all the nets.

“Uill” thuirt esan

“leis a h-uile ùpraid is buil a bh'

ann, cha robh cuimhn' agam air

ainm a' bhàta a ghabhail”

“Well”, he said,

“with all the commotion, I forgot to

take the name of the boat.”

Bha bàta a' dol seachad, bàta

deasach às an Fhìn, bha Gàidhlig gu

leòr aca an uair ud

Dh'èigh iad thuca feuch an togadh

iad a dhà dhe na lìn

“Nì sinne sin. Gu dearbh tha àite gu

leòr againn dha.”

Nis an dòigh a th' ann, ma tha bàta

a' togail lìn bàta eile

Tha iad a' faighinn an sgadain agus

a' toirt seachad an lìn

A Loch Fyne boat was passing by.

They spoke plenty of Gaelic in those

days.

They called to them to ask if they

would haul two of the nets.

“We'll certainly do that. We have

plenty of room”, they said.

What happens, if a boat hauls

another boat's nets is,

they keep the herring and return

the nets.

“Bidh sinn gun na lìn a-nis”

Cha robh bàta sam bith a’ dol a

chumail nan lìn bhuapa, ach…

Feasgar a bh' ann, bha bàta a' dol

seachad. “Àh” dh'èigh an sgiobair

“’S e sibhse a thug dhuinne na lìn

a-raoir” “Uill”, thuirt m’ athair, “leis

an fhìrinn,

cò dha a thug sinn na lìn cha robh

cuimhn’ againn air ur n-ainm a

ghabhail.

“We'll have lost the nets now.”

No boat would have kept their nets.

But that evening, a boat was

passing by. “Ah!” cried the skipper.

“You gave us your nets last night.”

“Well,” my father said, “to be

honest,

We didn't know who we'd given the

nets to. We forgot to take your

name.”

Sin an rule. - 'S e

Bha fear seo a’ ceannach an

sgadain. Chaidh iad thuige agus

chreic iad an sgadan.

S thuirt m’ athair, “A Sheumais, cò

dha a thug sinn na lìn a-raoir?”

- That's the rule. - Yes.

They sold their catch to the fish

buyer.

My father said, “Seumas, who did

we give the nets to last night?”

“Tha sibh sàbhailte gu leòr a

dhuinechoir,” thuirt am fear

“Tha 400 bàta ann an Loch Ùrn

aig an àm seo agus tha mi a’

smaointinn gu bheil suas ri 1000

pearsa ann”

“agus tha mi dearbhte cinnteach

nach eil aon duine air a bheil

bonaid chruinn ach e fhèin.”

“You’re safe enough”, said the man.

“There are 400 boats in Loch Hourn

just now and up to 1,000 men, I

think.”

“And I'm pretty sure nobody else is

wearing a Balmoral!”

Ag iasgach an sgadain a shamhradh

san earraich

Fishing for herring in summer and

spring


minute 26.

minute 27.

A' Bhruach, 's ann an Sealtainn 's

a-mach gun an Caol

In the Broch and in Shetland and

out to the Kyle

Bha mi bliadhna ann an Yarmouth

agus cha robh mi ach gu math òg

I spent a year in Yarmouth when I

was pretty young.

Nuair ruigear an cala 's a reicear

an sgadan

Gun tèid ise laiseadh gu daingeann

gach taobh

Gun iongnadh gun tèid iad a-mach

air an òlach

S bidh fuaim ach air òrain 's an

chorus le ....

Och, lost it!

When we reach harbour and the

herring is sold

She will be lashed firmly on each

side

It's no surprise that they go

drinking

They'll make a noise singing songs

with a chorus.

Och, lost it!

Bhiomaid a' falbh aig an Fhèill

Mhìcheil. 'S math tha cuimhn' agam

gum biodh na srùthain againn a'

falbh.

S bhiodh cearcan againn a’ falbh

m’eudail, air a’ phassage.

Bha is aran brèagha. Is iomadach

rud a bhiomaid a' toirt leinn

An t-astar cho mòr on a

dh'fhàgamaid an t-Òban

We would leave at Michaelmas. I

remember taking the struan cake

with us.

And we'd take hens with us on the

passage.

Yes, and lovely bread. We took all

sorts of things with us.

It was such a long way from Oban,

Agus cha robh mòran Beurla aig

an fheadhainn a bha còmhla rinn,

nigheanan òga mar mi fhìn

And young girls like me didn't speak

much English.

Còt' oillsginn oirnn

We wore oilskins.

Jersey boireannaich le putain air a

bheulaibh

A woman's jersey with buttons down

the front.

Agus bhiodh sinn fhìn gam fighe

We knitted them ourselves.

Agus na cragaichean oirnn, na

cragaichean leathair agus an còt’

oilsginn a’ crochadh sìos seachad

orra

And we wore waders, leather

waders with the oilskin on top,

air chor 's nach biodh na casan air

am fliuchadh

to stop our feet getting wet.


minute 28.

Agus bhiodh cuailein air ar làmhan.

Uill, 's e cutair a bh' annamsa

And there were bandages on our

hands. Well, I was a gutter.

seadh, ged a bhiodh sgadan gu leòr

againn

even though we had plenty of

herring.

Bhiomaid ag èirigh aig ceithir

uairean sa mhadainn nuair a

dh'fhàgadh iad sgadan na h-oidhche

Agus a’ dol a dh’obair aig sia

uairean a dh’ionnsaigh bhogsa

chutaidh

Bhiodh an deigh air uachdar an

sgadain nuair a ruigeamaid e

We'd get up at 4am when that

night's herring was landed.

We started work at 6am at the

gutting box.

There would be ice on the herring

when we got there,

Agus nuair a thiginn dhachaigh,

cha b’ urrainn dhomh greim ithe

dhen bhiadh a dhèanadh a bhean

Shasannach

Cha dèanadh iad biadh airson

muinntir Alba ann. Cha b' aithne

dhaibh e.

And when I got home, I couldn't

eat a bite of the food the English

woman made.

They wouldn't make food suitable

for Scottish folk. They didn't know

how.

sa gheamhradh, an Sasainn

in the winter, in England.

Agus chunnaic mise nigheanan

glè fhoghainteach rim thaobh, à

Barraigh

And I saw sturdy Barra girls

fainting.

a' dol ann an laige leis an fhuachd

- O bha bha

- Oh, yes. I can believe that. - With

the cold.

‘S ann aig bean-loidsidh a bhiomaid

a’ fuireach.

We stayed with a landlady.

Bha sinn a' tighinn dachaigh gu ar

dìnnear

We would come home for dinner,


minute 29.

minute 30.

Chan eil fhios agam dè am biadh a

bh' aca fhèin aig an àm.

Chan eil cuimhne ro mhath agam

air

ach cha dèanadh iad soup no grèim

sam bith mar sin idir dhuinn.

Bha mo mhàthair aig a' chutadh,

air falbh ann am Fraserburgh, i

fhèin agus bean Chon

I don't know what sort of food they

ate themselves.

I don't really remember.

But they didn't make things like

soup,

My mother was at the gutting,

away in Fraserburgh, herself and

Con's wife.

Bha mi air a bhith san àird an Ear

's ann an Sasann agus thòisich an

cogadh

’s cha robh sinn tuilleadh a’ dol a

Shasann, sìos an siud.

Bha mise sa Bhruaich nuair a

thòisich an Cogadh Mòr. Bha.

Nach sibh tha sean! - Tha mi sean

ach chan eil mi sean.

I'd been on the east coast and in

England, then the war began

and we didn't go down to England

any more.

I was in the Broch the year the

Great War started. Yes.

- You're very old! - I am old, but

I'm not.

Bha iad an seo latha a' dol a

nigheadaireachd agus cha robh

sgath siabainn aca

They were going to do washing one

day, and had no soap.

O Dhia, tha. - Od ist, dùin do bheul!

- Oh, you are! - You be quiet!

1914 - Cha robh mi sean an uair sin. - 1914. - I wasn't old, then.

Dh'fhalbh i dhan bhùth a

dh'iarraidh siabainn

Cha robh fios aig an duine bhochd,

cha robh e ach a’ toirt a-nall a

h-uile sgath feuch am faigheadh i

an rud a bha i ag iarraidh

B' fheudar dhi mu dheireadh

tòiseachadh air suathadh a làmhan

feuch an tuigeadh e gur ann a’ dol

a nigheadaireachd a bha i.

Cha robh na truaghain ud ach mar

gum biodh balbhain

She went to the shop for soap.

The shopkeeper brought her

everything to see if she could find

what she wanted.

Eventually, she had to start rubbing

her hands

to try to make him understand she

was going to do washing.

They were like poor souls who were

mute.

Cha robh an uair sin. - Seadh

Uill, chan eil mi, air a bhios sinn

a’ bhruidhinn mar seo, chan eil an

inntinn agam a’ faireachdainn sean.

Thuirt e rium aig ceann a chìdh,

's thuirt e rium aig ceann a'

ghàrraidh

Nan tigeadh e a’ Yarmouth leinn

Thuirt e rium aig ceann a chìdh, 's

thuirt e rium aig ceann a' chlobhsa

Nan tigeadh e a’ Lowestoft leinn

Not then, no.

Well, talking like this, my mind

doesn't feel old.

He told me at the end of the quay

He told me at the end of the wall

If he'd come to Yarmouth with us.

He told me at the end of the quay

He told me at the end of the close

If he'd come to Lowestoft with us.

Fear a bh' agam fhìn a-raoir, fear

a bh' agam fhìn a bhòn-raoir

The man I had last night The man I

had the night before

S e bhios còmhla rium a chaoidh

He'll be with me forever.


minute 31.

minute 32.

Fear a bh' agam fhìn a-raoir, fear

a bh' agam fhìn an-uiridh

The man I had last night The man I

had last year

Tha cuimhn' agams nuair a bha mi

nam bhalach san sgoil

Well, I remember when I was a boy,

S e chuireas mun cheann a' ruith

S fhada leam gu ruith an uair, 's

fhada leam gu ruith an seusan

Gus an dèan an trèan am fuaim

Nuair a sheinneas is’ an fheadag,

nuair a sheinneas i na trì

Bidh càch a' dealachadh rin

leannan, 's ann a' teannadh a bhios

mi

Dh'fhigh mi geansaidh dha mo

leannan, dh'fhigh mi geansaidh dha

mo ghràdh

Gus bhith air a' cur nan lìon

He makes my head spin.

I long for the time to pass I long

for the season to end

Till the train will make a noise.

When it plays the whistle When it

plays the three

Others parting from their lovers

While I am going back.

I'll make a jersey for my love I'll

make a jersey for my lover

To wear when he's casting nets.

bha loch shuas os cionn na sgoile ris

an canaiste Loch Bhasaraidh. Tha

an loch ann fhathast.

Agus an àite dhol dhachaigh an

dèidh na sgoile, bhiomaid a' falbh

suas chun na locha bha seo

a sheòlaireachd anns an eathar

bheag a bha seo

eathar a bh' aig Sasannaich ann an

Loidse a' Chaolais nuair a bhiodh

iad ag iasgach

Bhiodh m' athair agus feadhainn

eile a' maoidheadh oirnn, sinn

fuireach air falbh bhon bhàta a

bha siud

there was a loch up above the

school called Loch Vassary. It's still

there.

And instead of going home after

school, we used to go up to this

loch

to sail in this little boat

which the English folk at Kyles Lodge

would use when they were fishing.

My father and others would warn

us to stay away from the boat,

ag ràdh gun dèanadh i call

fhathast, agus cha do dh'èist

sinn riutha co-dhiù, chùm sinn air

adhart

saying we'd come to harm, but we

ignored them and carried on.

Ach co-dhiù, dh'fhàg mise an sgoil

Anyway, I left school

agus ùine an dèidh làimh dh'fhàg

mi na Hearadh uile gu lèir, chaidh

mi gu muir

and some time later I left Harris

altogether and went to sea.


minute 33.

Ach co-dhiù, chaidh Loidse a'

Chaolais a reic.

Chaidh na h-eathraichean a thoirt

far nan lochan iasgaich a bha sin a

bha ceangailte ris an loidse.

Bha feadhainn ann am Beàrnaraigh,

Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh, aig an

robh motor-boat mòr agus bha iad

airson eathar beag a bhiodh aca

Anyway, Kyles Lodge was sold.

The boats were taken off its fishing

lochs.

Some folk on Berneray had a big

motor boat and wanted a small

boat

agus tha cuimhne agam fhathast

gur e mo mhàthair a dh’innis

dhomh ann an litir an rud a

thachair

Fear a bhuineadh, a thàinig à

Scalpaigh, phòs e boireannach

a mhuinntir Bheàrnaraigh agus

thàinig e a dh'fhuireach a

Bheàrnaraigh

and I still remember my mother

writing to tell me about it.

A man from Scalpay married a

Berneray woman and came to live

on Berneray.

a’ ruith air ais ‘s air adhart gu tìr

nuair a bhiodh iad a’ fàgail a’ bhàt

aig acair

to take them back and forth to

shore when they were at anchor.

Thàinig iad a-nall air a' chaolas,

Caolas Stiadair

They came over to Caolas Stiadar

agus thug iad leotha an t-eathar a

bha seo, an t-eathar a bhiodh air

Loch Bhasaraidh

and took this boat away, the boat

that used to be on Loch Vassary.

Cha robh i glè fhada aca, am

feasgar a bha seo bha iad a'

tighinn gu tìr

They hadn't had it very long, when

they were coming ashore one

evening

an dèidh am bàta mòr fhàgail air

acaire.

having left the big boat at anchor.

Chuir an t-eathar car dhi agus

chaidh an triùir bhràithrean a

bhàthadh innte

The boat capsized and three

brothers drowned.

Bha mise air falbh on taigh nuair a

thachair seo

I was away from home when this

happened


minute 34.

Bha eathar beag aige ‘s bhithinn

fhìn ‘s e fhèin a’ dol a-mach leis an

eathar bheag seo, a’ sealgaireachd

‘s ag iasgach.

Bha sinn a’ coimhead air eathar

Iain Ghobha a’ falbh, a’ dèanamh

deiseil airson falbh

Agus le gaoith tuath chaidh iad

a-mach a Loch na Madadh, a' cur

chlèibh

He had a small boat and he and I

used to go out hunting and fishing

in it.

This day we were watching Iain

Gobha's boat getting ready to go.

They went out with a north wind,

out to Lochmaddy to set creels.

Dh'fhalbh i a-mach 's cha robh i fad

air falbh

nuair a bha mi fhìn 's e fhèin aig

ceann an taighe ann a shin agus

chuala mi noise a bha sin

mar gum biodh aeroplane

nowadays

Agus shaoileadh tu gun robh

cliathaich beinne ann 's an noise

a bha seo a' tighinn a-nuas à

cliathaich na beinne

It sailed away and it hadn't got

very far out

when he and I were at the end of

his house, and I heard this noise.

It was like an aeroplane nowadays.

It was as if this noise was coming

down from the side of a mountain.

Thainig e a-nuas. Shaoileadh tu gum

faiceadh tu e gus am buaileadh e

an dachaigh air an rathad a-nuas.

It came down. You could almost

see it and thought it would hit the

house.

Chaidh e chun an t-sabhail, thàinig

an noise agus thàinig e far am

biodh pier anns am biodh a’ gheòla

acasan a’ falbh chun an eathair

When it got to the barn, the noise

went to the pier from where their

boat had left.

Bha Iain Gobha, 's ann leis a bha an

t-eathar

Iain Gobha owned the boat

Bha m' athair innte le Niall Catriona

and my father was aboard with

Niall Catriona,

Alasdair Iain Gobha agus Seonaidh

Dhòmhnaill Gobha

Alasdair Iain Ghobha and Seonaidh

Dhòmhnaill Ghobha.

Agus 's e mac piuthar m' athar a

bha ann an Niall Catrìona, agus b' e

mac bràthair m' athar a bh' ann an

Seonaidh Dhòmhnaill

Niall Catriona was my aunt's son

and Seonaidh Dhòmhnaill was my

uncle's son.


minute 35.

Chaidh iad air tìr an Loch nam

Madadh, chaidh iad dhan taighsheinnse.

Agus nuair a thàinig iad air ais

chun an eathair

chaidh m' athair agus an dithis

bhalach fon deic

mar a bhiodh iad a' dèanamh an

còmhnaidh mur a biodh stoirm no

rud dhen t-seòrsa sin ann

They went ashore in Lochmaddy and

went to the inn.

And when they returned to the

boat,

my father and the two boys went

below deck,

which is what they always did unless

it was stormy, or something like

that.

‘S nuair a chaidh iad a-mach a

choimhead air a son, bha am

bàthadh dèanta

Leis an dragh a ghabh a’ chailleach

bho bhith a’ snìomh cha do chuir i

car cuibheall riamh às a dhèidh sin

Bha i beò gus an robh i glè ghoirid

dhan a’ cheud ‘s cha robh dhuan

aice riamh tuilleadh nuair a bhiodh

i leatha fhèin ach

When they went out to look for it,

they had drowned.

The old woman never touched a

spinning wheel again.

She lived to nearly 100 and her

constant refrain after that was,

“mo chòignear fhèin, mo chòignear

fhèin”

Ghabh i grèim air an fhacal a bh’

ann a shin. Bha na h-oghaichean ‘s

na mic aice ann.

“my own five, my own five”.

She kept saying it. Her grandsons

and sons were lost.

Dh’fhalbh iad ma-thà à Loch nam

Madadh, le breeze beag de ghaoith

a tuath

They left Lochmaddy in a light

northerly breeze.

Agus nuair a bha iad sìos gu taighsolais

Rubh' an Fhigheadair

And when they were at Weaver's

Point lighthouse

thàinig blast gaoithe, chuir e fairis

i.

they were caught by a blast of wind

which capsized them.

Còignear innte, dh'fhaodadh tu

ràdh anns an aon teaghlach

A crew of five; all from the same

family.

Bha seanmhair ag obair air snìomh

a latha ann a shin, fad an latha

agus cha tug i for do dhroch shìde

no càil ann

The grandmother was spinning

all day and didn't notice the bad

weather.

Bha i a' snìomh, 's thàinig an

naidheachd nach tàinig an t-eathar

dhachaigh

She was spinning and news came

that the boat hadn't come back.


minute 36.

minute 37.

Bha Oighrig againne ann an

Rucaidh, fhuair ise am blast gaoithe

a bha siud

Cha robh fhios aice ciamar…

Gum biodh e air innse gun robh

rudeigin dol a thachairt

Nuair thàinig àm an iasgaich oirnn

‘s a thriall gach fear air falbh

An turas nach do riaraich sinn, bha

‘n t-iasgach buileach doirbh

Bha an-shocair 's droch shìd'

againn, bha uisg' gaoth is stoirm

Cha mhòr nach d' rinn mi gluasad le

mo chòta ruadh dhan arm

Mo bheannachd aig a’ charpaintear

a thog am bàta ruadh

Bha giuthas agus làrag innt’ is pàirt

dhen darach ruadh

Pleataichean dhen phràisich air an

t-sàil aice mun cuairt

Our Oighrig was in Rucaidh and was

hit by that blast of wind.

She didn't know how...

It was like an omen.

When the fishing season came and

every man set off

It was a disagreeable trip the

fishing was difficult

We had bad weather rain and wind

and storm

I nearly took my brown coat and

went to join the army.

My blessing on the carpenter who

built the brown boat

It was made from fir and larch and

some hard oak

It had brass plates round about

the heel

Ged bheir an turas tàire dhi chan

àrainn i na luaths

Chan eil fhios agam an robh e

riamh an dèidh a thighinn dhan a’

bhaile

Ann am Pabail sin thall, bha criutha

an eathar aca 's iad a' falbh a

dh'iasgach a-mach

mu mheadhan-oidhche as

t-samhradh

Bha e ag ràdh gur e latha a bh’

ann ‘s gum faiceadh tu.

Bhiodh iad a’ cluinntinn siud mar

gum biodh e mìltean air falbh

thall eadar sin is Garrabost

Laoighre, laoighre, laoighre. Bha

iad dha chluinntinn

s cha robh iad a’ coimhead càil ‘s

cha robh fios aca duda bh’ ann

Chaidh an cù, an cù sìth, chaidh e

mar sin seachad air am beulaibh.

And a difficult journey wouldn't slow

her down.

I don't know if he'd ever been to

the village at that time.

Over in Bayble a boat crew were

going out fishing

one summer night around midnight.

He said it was daylight; that you

could see.

They began to hear a sound, which

seemed to be miles away,

between there and Garrabost.

They could hear its cry,

but they couldn't see anything and

didn't know what it was.

The dog, the fairy dog passed by in

front of them.

Cù mòr, chan fhaca iad riamh a

leithid

A big dog - they'd never seen the

like.


minute 38.

Cù mòr dubh agus bealta buidhe

mu amhaich

Bealta mu amhaich. Chaidh e null

seachad,

A big, black dog with a yellow belt

round its neck.

A belt round its neck. It passed by,

agus thàinig an oiteag a bha seo

chun an taighe agus leig i ràn às,

cha mhòr nach do leag i an taigh

Thachair sin dà thriop no trì

and the wind howled through the

house.

That happened two or three times.

‘s bha e ag ràdh, ‘s ann a-nuas

far a’ phuirt mhòir a thàinig e,

far am biodh iad a’ fàgail nan

eathraichean

and he said it came down from the

place where they left the boats.

Tha mi fhìn a’ creidsinn sna

sìthichean. Gun robh iad ann. Gun

teagamh, bha iad ann.

- I believe in fairies. - That they

existed. Undoubtedly. Yes.

Na h-elves a tha sin. Tha, tha - And elves and things like that. -

Yes.

‘S iomadh uair a chuala mi mo

mhàthair ‘s feadhainn a’ bruidhinn

air feadhainn a thogadh leis an

t-sluagh

Bha i ag ràdh gun robh fear às

an Iochdar a’ falbh air an t-sluagh

daonnan

Fear air an robh Frank

An oidhche bha seo cha robh mòran

san taigh

Rinn iad airson a chumail a-staigh,

dh’fheumadh e falbh a h-uile

oidhche tha teansa

A h-uile duine bha staigh, grèim air

an duine, ga chumail a-staigh

My mother used to tell stories

about the fairy host lifting people.

She said there was a man in

Iochdar that was always being

taken by them.

A man called Frank.

One night, there weren't many folk

in the house.

They tried to keep him in. He had to

go every night.

Everyone who was in, they held on

to the fellow, to keep him inside


minute 39.

An triop mu dheireadh a thàinig e

cha mhòr nach robh an taigh na

theine. B’ fheudar a leigeil a-mach.

The last time it happened the house

was almost on fire. They had to let

him go.

Dh'fhalbh e air an t-sluagh mar a

b' àbhaist

He went off with the fairy host as

usual.

Cha chreid mise nach ann a

dh'Aimeireaga a chaidh an duine mu

dheireadh

I think he finally went to America.

Bha sluagh a’ falbh tron adhair

ceart gu leòr, daoine a’ falbh air

an t-sluagh bha iad dhan togail.

The fairy host used to take people

right enough.

Chuala mise m' athair ag innse

dhomh gun robh iad còmhla ri fear

a dh'fhalbh air an t-sluagh

e a’ tighinn dhachaigh on chreag

chudaigean.

My father told me he was with a

man who was taken by the host

on his way home from rock fishing.

An turas a bha seo bha

eathraichean a’ dèanamh air a’

phort agus bha e a’ failleachadh

orra faighinn air tìr

On this occasion, boats were

heading to port and failing to get

ashore.

Nuair a bha an t-iasgach pailt ann

an Leòdhas mu dheireadh an 19mh

linn deug

bhiodh daoine ag iasgach a-mach

à Port Nis

When fishing was plentiful on Lewis

around the end of the 19th century,

men fished out of Port of Ness.

Bha dà eathar a’ tighinn, tè às

dèidh tè

An dàrna tè, 's e an sgiobair

a bh' oirre Dòmhnall Mac an

t-Sasannaich, Dòmhnall Gobha

Two boats were coming in, one

after the other.

One was skippered by Dòmhnall Mac

an t-Sasannaich, Dòmhnall Gobha

Agus 's e bliadhna ainneamh nach

robh iasgair air a chall

And barely a year went by without

a fisherman being lost.

Chaill muinntir Nis tòrr

eathraichean

The people of Ness lost many boats.

Aon oidhche chaidh ceithir sìos

One night, four were lost.


minute 40.

minute 41.

agus an sgiobair eile, bha a

bhràthair Alasdair a’ tighinn às a

dhèidh

Co-dhiù, nuair a bha iad a' tighinn

dlùth air Port Nis

and the other skipper, his brother,

Alasdair was following behind.

Anyway, when they were getting

close to Port of Ness

Cha deach an còrr a ràdh

An cuala sibh mu dh'èirich dhomhs

Latha dh’fhalbh mi leis an tràl

Nothing more was said.

Did you hear what happened to

me?

The day I went with the trawl.

ghabh sgoth Dhòmhnaill muir

eagallach agus chaidh i thairis

Dòmhnall's boat was capsized by a

fearsome wave.

Bha Alasdair a’ tighinn ‘s nuair

a bha e a’ dol seachad air an

sgoth ‘s i air a beul foidhpe, bha

a bhràthair air a h-uachdar air a

druim

When Alasdair passed the upturned

boat, his brother was clinging to

the keel.

Cha do stad Alasdair. Chùm e a' dol

seachad

Alasdair didn't stop. He carried on.

Nuair a chaidh e seachad air an

eathar cha tuirt duine facal ris

When he passed the boat, no one

said a word to him.

Ach nuair a ràinig iad

Steòrnabhagh, thuirt fear dhen

sgioba ris

But when they reached Stornoway

one of the crew said,

“Alasdair, carson nach do stad

thu a dh’fheuchainn ri togail do

bhràthair bho druim na sgoth?”

“Alasdair, why didn't you stop to

try to pick up your brother from

the keel?”

“Iain” ars esan “nan robh mise air

dèanamh sin,

“Iain,” he said, “If I had done that,

bhiodh sia banntraichean eile ann

an Nis a-nochd”

there would be six more widows in

Ness tonight.”


minute 42.

minute 43.

Bhris an rachd 's gun shreachd an

seòl

The traveller broke and the sail

tore.

Bha fear thall aig Clachan nan Luib

ris an canadh iad Iain Beag

There was a man over at Clachan

na Luib called Iain Beag.

Chaill mi mo thriùir bhràithrean òg

Chan eil mac aig m’ athair beò

Cha toir caoineadh daoine beò

I lost my three young brothers.

My father has no sons left alive.

Weeping won't bring people back.

Cha robh e a’ carachadh à bùth

Alasdair Fhearghastain

Co-dhiù, latha bha seo thàinig e

a-staigh le peile beag

He was never out of Alasdair

Ferguson's shop.

One day he came in with a small

pail

agus thug e tasdan do dh'Alasdair

Rob, fear na bùth, mar a chanas

sinn

and gave a shilling to Alasdair Rob,

as he was called, the shopkeeper

airson fiach tasdain an sgadain

fhaighinn

for a shilling's worth of herring.

Thuirt Alasdair gum faigheadh e

siud, “O thalla, tha bharailt an siud

ri taobh an dorais, thalla fhèin

a-mach”

Alasdair told him to help himself

from the barrel by the door.

Dh’fhalbh Iain Beag a-mach agus

chuir e fiach an tasdain mar gum

biodh dhan pheile

Iain Beag went out and pretended

to put a shilling's worth of herring

in the pail.

Ach co-dhiù nuair a bha deiseil

dh’èigh Alasdair Rob a-staigh e.

When he was ready to go, Alasdair

Rob the shopkeeper called him in.

“Trobhad, feuch an tèid thu a-nall

le telegram a th’ air tighinn an seo

dha nàbaidh.”

“Will you take this telegram to your

neighbour?”

“Fàg am peile ann a shin gus an till

thu” ars Alasdair. Rinn e sin.

“Leave the pail there until you come

back”, said Alasdair.


minute 44.

Dh’fhalbh Iain Beag ‘s fhad ‘s a bha

e a’ toirt seachad na telegram gun

dad na broinn

Iain Beag set off and while he was

away delivering the blank telegram

Cha chreideadh càch facal dheth

Ach co-dhiù, thug e orra tilleadh

They didn't believe a word of it.

Anyway, he made them turn back

chaidh Alasdair a-mach a

choimhead air a’ pheile, bha fiach

leth-chrùn sa pheile de sgadan

Alasdair went out to check the pail,

which contained half a crown’s

worth of herring.

Agus mun d’ fhuair iadsan gu

cladach an oidhche sin, thàinig gèil

a bha doirbh

and by the time they got ashore

that night, a fierce storm had risen.

Thug e às uileag e

He emptied it.

Thàinig Iain Beag, “Cà’il an sgadan

agam?”

Iain Beag came back. “Where's my

herring?”

“O thàinig…” ag ainmeachadh leithid

seo à Loch Euphort, “agus ‘s e fiach

tasdain a bha dhìth oirre fhèin

“So and so came from Locheport

for a shilling's worth of herring,

s thug mise dhi na bha sa pheile

agadsa”

so I gave her the contents of your

pail.”

“O nighean an diabhail, ‘s i fhuair

am bargan” ars esan!

“That damned woman got a

bargain”, he said!

Cha b' fhiach na breugan aig Iain

Beag

Iain Beag's lies weren't worth it!

Bha criutha sgoth a bha seo

a-muigh fada sa chuan aig iasgach

sgadain

Well, the crew of this boat was

quite far out at sea herring fishing.

Agus chunnaic an duine aig piuthar

m’ athar, chunnaic e maighdeannmhara

And my auntie's husband saw a

mermaid.

Thuirt e ri càch gum faca e

maigheann-mhara

He told the others he'd seen a

mermaid.


minute 45.

Bhriseadh na sgothan a bh’ air an

acaire agus nam biodh iadsan air

fuireach aig muir an oidhche sin

Bha iad fhèin air an call

Bha bàta aig a' bhàillidh mhòr agus

daoine aige ag iasgach dha

Boats at anchor were wrecked and

if they'd stayed at sea that night

they would have been lost.

The Big Bailiff had a boat and

people fishing for him.

Tha cuimhn' aice sin air na daoine

a bhith air an cur a-mach às na

Buirgh agus na taighean air an

losgadh

Dh’obraich iad an rathad sìos dha

na Bàigh, a dh’Fhionnsbhagh ‘s dha

na h-àiteachan sin

She could remember people being

evicted from Borve and the houses

being burned.

They moved up to the Bays, through

Finsbay and places like that.

Chuir e na lìn co-dhiù, lìn sgadain,

‘s nuair a thàinig na h-iasgairean a

thogail na lìn

Anyway, he cast the herring nets

and when the fishermen went to

lift them

cha robh aca ach pìosan de lìn

the nets were in bits.

Chaidh muc-mhara air feadh na lin

tron oidhche agus shrac i na lìn ‘s

bha iad caillte.

A whale had torn them in the night.

Chaidh sinn air tìr agus bha bodach

an sin agus thuirt e “Nach math an

gnothach nach robh fearann aice”

When we went ashore an old man

there said, “It's just as well she

didn't have land.”

“Nan robh fearrann aig a' mhucmhara

“If the whale had land,

bhiodh am bàillidh na bhoil

a-nochd, dha chlìoradh a-mach”

the bailiff would be demented

tonight trying to drive her off it.”

Bha e olc gu leòr ann an dòigh

He was bad enough.


minute 46.

Bha iad ann an àirighean ‘s tha

làrach nan àirighean fhathast

eadar seo agus na Bàigh

They went to shielings. The ruins

are still there, between here and

the Bays.

B' esan a ghluais MacLeòid gu bhith

a' dèanamh nan Clearances. Sin

mar a bha.

It was he who incited MacLeod to

clear the land. That's how it was.

Am bad a chaidh iad nuair a rinn

iad àirighean dhaibh fhèin, eil fhios

agad

Agus cha robh sluagh anns na Bàigh

sin idir chun a sin

They made shielings for themselves,

you know.

There were no people in the Bays

before that.

Chuir e à Pabaigh iad, 's à Eansaigh

's chuir iad à Cilleagraigh iad

Muinntir Phabaigh a chionn gun

robh iad a' dèanamh an uisgebheatha

People were cleared from Pabbay,

Ensay and Killegray.

The Pabbay folk were accused of

making whisky.

Cha robh e fit airson sluagh ann

ged a chaidh iad ann.

Ach chaidh iad ann nuair a chaidh

an cur a-mach às na dachannan

It wasn't fit for human habitation.

But they went there when they

were evicted from their homes.

ach cha b' ann ach a chionn

gun robh iad airson an t-eilean

fhaighinn

Bha an talamh cho math

But that wasn't it. They wanted the

island.

It was such good land.

Sin a-nis dhut eachdraidh na

Stiùbhartaich, an fheadhainn a

bha ann an cumhachd an àm nan

Clearances

An seann Stiùbhartach a bha seo,

‘s e bàillidh a bh’ ann aig MacLeòid

na Hearadh

That's the story of the Stewarts,

who were in charge at the time of

the Clearances.

This old Stewart fellow, he was

bailiff to MacLeod of Harris.

Bha iad gan iarraidh a-mach às.

Chlìor iad a-mach iad

Chlìor iad na daoine a-mach às a

h-uile àite

- They wanted them out. - They

cleared them out.

They cleared the people from

everywhere.


minute 47.

Bha iad gan ceangal agus 's iadsan

a bh' anna sin

They were tying them up. They

certainly were.

“Falbhaidh tusa le beannachd Dhè”

ars esan

“You will go with God's blessing”.

Agus gan tilgeil air bòrd, mar gun

tilgeadh tu.. Tha barrachd chùraim

an-diugh a’ cur a’ chruidh air bòrd.

Dìreach. - Bha siud ann. Bha iad

gan tilgeil air bòrd. Bha, bha.

Ceangailte.

And throwing them aboard like...

Cattle are put aboard with more

care nowadays.

Yes, indeed. That happened. They

threw them onto the boats, tied up.

“Ach ‘ille mhòir a tha ga cheangal,

cha tèid leatsa cho math agus a

thèid leis an fhear a tha thu a’

ceangal”

“But big fellow who is tying him up,

you won't fare as well as the man

you are tying up.”

Bha, mar gum biodh dròbh. Bha,

na bu mhiosa na dhèanadh tu air

na mucan.

Yes, like a drove. Worse than you

would treat pigs.

Bha sin ann a-rèir cuimhne seann

daoine

That happened within living

memory.

Gun deach daoine a chruinneachadh

's a cheangal 's an cuir air bòrd

People were rounded up and tied

up and put on the boat.

Bha gu dearbh, agus bha fear sa

bhaile againne ann a sheo, duine

mòr, seachad air sia troighean

Yes, indeed. And there was a man

in our village, a big man of over

six feet.

Agus 's e bha ceacharra .Bha e air

fear dhiubh.

And he was mean. He was one of

them.

Agus bha sagart air choreigin,

thàinig e far an robh e, “An da, cha

toil leam,” ars an sagart “ an rud a

tha thu ris idir”

And a priest approached him and

said, “I don't like what you're

doing”.

Dh'èigh e a-nall air an fhear a bha

e a' dol ga cheangal

He called over to the man he was

going to tie up and said,


minute 48.

Bha iad a’ tuiteam sna puillmhònadh

leis nach robh iad

cleachdte ris an àite

They were falling in the peat bogs

because they weren't used to the

place.

Bha e rough, cha robh daoine ann

chun an siud fhèin

It was rough. They were the first

people to live there,

Sin agad an fheadhainn a dh'fhalbh

aig na Highland Clearances

those who were evicted during the

Highland Clearances.

Uachdaran a bh' ann a sheo, an

toiseach an toiseach. Sin an tè a bu

choireach.

The laird who was here to begin

with, she was the one to blame.

S e bha i a' toirt an ùghdarras aice

fhèin dha na maoir a bha foidhpe

agus dhan bhàillidh

Bha dhìth oirre an t-eilean a bh’

ann a sheo gun Chaitligeach idir a

bhith ann

She authorised the factor and the

bailiff to do it.

She wanted there to be no Catholics

on this island.

Seadh

Bha an t-àite a bh’ aig an duine

sa, an taigh a dh’fhàg e ‘s a h-uile

sìon a dh’fhàg e,

Yes.

This man's place; his house and all

the possessions he left behind,

ach an sguabadh air falbh às an

seo agus bha i a' toirt dhaibh

leithid seo a dh'airgead

But she swept them out of here. She

gave them a sum of money

Gun cuireadh an government, gun

clìoradh e air falbh iad a Chanada

air fad.

so that the government would clear

them all away to Canada.

S ann. Bha iad dìreach, na maoir a'

tighinn thugad mar gun tigeadh iad

chun an duine sa ann a sheo

Oh, yes. The bailiffs just came along

and said,

"Feumaidh tusa falbh gu ruige

Canada, thu fhèin 's do theaghlach".

“You have to go to Canada. You and

your family”.


minute 49.

bha iad a’ cur Pròstanach nad àite

Dè bh' ann ach spite a thaibh a'

chreideamh Chaitligich

Bha na daoine bochda a bh’ ann a

shin a’ falbh, ‘s bha feadhainn a’

teicheadh, fhios agaibh, a’ dol a

dh’àiteachan eile

Bha feadhainn a' teicheadh dhan

choille. Bha iad air an teicheadh às

an àite buileach glan.

Ach bha gu leòr dhiubh nach do

ràinig riamh Canada

Cha deach ach an tilgeil a-mach air

a' mhuir. - Seadh

Bha piuthar màthar dhomhsa mi

fhìn... Rinn iad a leithid eile ann am

Mùideart.

Agus a-mach an Gearasdan an sin,

Fort William, is Àrasaig is Mòrair

Tha mi ann an èiginn

a Protestant would be put in his

place.

It was nothing but spite towards

the Catholic faith.

These poor people left, chased out,

you know, to other places.

Some fled to the forest. They were

chased out of the place altogether.

But there were many who never got

to Canada.

- They were just thrown overboard.

- Yes.

My mother's sister... They did the

same thing in Moidart.

And in Fort William, Arisaig and

Morar.

I am in distress


minute 50.


Chan fhaigh mi mach Didòmhnaich

's mo bhrògan air trèigsinn

Mise tha gu cianail am-bliadhn' ann

as t-samhradh

‘s mi 'g obair air an iasgach 's mi

sìor dhol an call ris

Na marsantan ag iarraidh na

fiachan ma Chaingis

Tha 'n talamh gun an sìol 's tha mo

chiall gu dol aimhreit

I am in distress

I can't get out on Sunday my shoes

have had it.

Sad am I this year in summer

Working at the fishing and making

a loss

The merchants wanting their debts

paid by Whitsun

The land without grain and my

senses in confusion.

Chan fhaigh mi mach Didòmhnaich

's mo bhrògan air trèigsinn

Bha stoirm mhòr againn ann

an 1934. Bha còig eathraichean

a-muigh a-mach à Tolastadh

Thill triùir ac’, mus robh a' ghèile

aig a h-àirde

ach bha dà eathar gun sgeul orra,

an Rìbhinn Òg agus am Bonnie Lass

Thòisich crowd dhaoine a' falbh nan

cladaichean 's nan creagan a tuath

‘s an àird.

I can't get out on Sunday my shoes

have had it.

We had a big storm in 1934. There

were five Tolsta boats out.

Three returned before the gale

reached its height,

but there was no sign of two boats,

the Rìbhinn Òg and the Bonnie Lass.

A crowd of people began to roam

the shores and the cliffs



I am in distress

I am in distress

Agus chuala balach beag, Dòmhnall

Greum, shaoil esan gun cual' e guth

dhaoine

and a small boy, Dòmhnall Graham,

thought he heard voices


I am in distress


minute 51.

shìos fo bonn creig aig màs Rubha

Tholastaidh

Chaidh e sìos agus bhruidhinn e ri

na daoine

at the foot of a cliff at the bottom

of Rubha Tholastaidh.

He went down and spoke to the

men.

Thàinig an lifeboat an ceann trì

uairean a thìde ‘s thàinig iad air tìr

sàbhailte

The lifeboat arrived three hours

later and they got ashore safely.

Bha an Rìbhinn Òg ann an oisean

cùil bheag, air cùl clach an rubha

The Rìbhinn Òg was in a small

corner behind the headland.

Dhìrich Dòmhnall Greum suas

a-rithist

Dòmhnall Graham climbed back up.

Choinnich Coinneach Mhurchaidh

Bhuidhe ris, èildear, seann

saighdear

Coinneach Mhurchadh Bhuidhe

met him. He was an elder and old

soldier.

Thuirt e ri Dòmhnall e dhol dhan

a' Phort Oifis, cuir a dh'iarraidh

lifeboat

He told Dòmhnall to go to the post

office and send for the lifeboat.

Bha e air innse dhaibh gun robh an

crann air briseadh agus na ràimh

aca air briseadh

They had been told the mast was

broken, and the oars.

S chaidh Coinneach fhèin sìos. Airson

trì uairean a thìde bha e na shuidhe

sa chreig

Coinneach himself went down. He

sat on the cliff for three hours.

Dh'fhaighnich mise dha, “Carson a

rinn thu sin”

I asked him why he did that.

Ars esan, “Cha dhèanainn càil a

dh'fheum dhaibh

He said, “I couldn't do anything to

help them,

ach ‘s mathaid gun robh mi a’

dol a’ thoirt beagan cofhurtachd

dhaibh

but I might be able to give them

some comfort”.


minute 52.

Ach an uair sin bha e, tha mi a’

creidsinn, uair sa mhadainn agus

cha robh sgeul air am Bonnie Lass

Murchadh Barbal an sgiobair a

bh'oirre

Chaidh a shàbhaladh nuair a chaidh

torpedo anns an t-soitheach aige

aig àm a’ chogaidh

Ach chaill a h-uile duine cha mhòr a

bhuineadh dha mhàthair am beatha

aig muir

Chaidh a seanair a bhàthadh air a'

chreagach

Mìosan an dèidh sin, thàinig a chorp

air tìr air Tràigh Sheilibhig, ‘s bha

an corp cho fada air a dhol

Chaidh a h-athair fhèin a bhàthadh

ann an Gallaibh

Chaidh an duin' aic' a bhàthadh ann

an Gallaibh

Agus aig an àm sin bha ise a'

fuireach air a' ghleann agus nuair a

dh'fhalbh am bàta à Griais

By then it was about 1am and there

was no sign of the Bonnie Lass.

Murchadh Barabal was the skipper.

He was rescued when his ship was

torpedoed during the war

but nearly all his mother's relatives

were lost at sea.

Her grandfather drowned rock

fishing.

Months later, his corpse came

ashore at Tràigh Sheilibhig, badly

decomposed.

Her father drowned in Caithness.

Her husband drowned in Caithness.

At that time she was living in Glen

Tolsta and when the boat left from

Gress

minute 53.

‘S cha do thill e He didn't return.

B' e sin ceala-deug mus do rugadh

an nighean aice, Doileag

Chaidh bàthadh a dithis bhràthair

aig àm a' chogaidh, fear anns a'

Mhediterranean

‘s fear eile thall ann an New

Zealand

Nuair a chaidh an Iolaire às an

rathad ann an Steòrnabhagh, air

Là na Bliadhn' Ùire, 1919

Chaidh bàthadh a cliamhain, an

duine aig Doileag

S bha muinntir a' bhaile gu lèir

cinnteach gun robh Murchadh, a

mac, nach robh sgeul air

gun robh e… air èirigh dhàsan na

dh'èirich dhan chòrr

Ach mu cheithir uairean sa

mhadainn agus i fhathast dorch

chual iad fuaim seòl, slat an t-siùil

a’ bualadh sa chrann

That was a fortnight before her

daughter, Doileag, was born.

Her two brothers drowned during

the war, one in the Mediterranean

and the other over in New Zealand.

When the Iolaire was wrecked in

Stornoway on New Year's Day 1919

her son-in-law, Doileag's husband,

drowned.

The villagers were all certain

that her son, Murchadh, who was

missing

had met the same fate as the

others.

But around 4am, while it was still

dark,

they heard the sound of a sailyard

hitting a mast.

bha i a' seoladh tarsainn bun a'

ghlinne agus bha i a' smèideadh ris

an duin' aic’.

and sailed past the glen, she waved

to her husband.

Dh’èigh cuideigin, “Seo i. Seo am

Bonnie Lass a’ tighinn”

Thàinig i a-steach

Somebody cried, “Here she is. The

Bonnie Lass is coming”.

She came in.


minute 54.

minute 55.

Chuira’ ghaoth a-mach dhan a’

Mhinch, dhan Chuan Sgìth i

Bhiodhte ag obair air stàimh 's air

ceilp

Bha thu ag èirigh ma dh’ fhaoite

aig sia uairean sa mhadainn, bha

thu a' gabhail grèim agus bha thu

a' falbh chun a' chladaich

The wind had blown her out into

the Minch.

We worked at the seaweed.

You got up around 6am, had a bite

to eat and headed for the shore.

Bha iad gan tomhas a-muigh ann a

shin. Cha robh sin a ghràidhein ach

camouflage

Aig Dia tha bhrath dè an tomhas a

bh' ann

Na thogradh iad a dhèanamh ort.

Cha robh math dhut do bheul

fhosgladh.

They weighed it out there. That was

just camouflage.

It didn't matter how much it

weighed.

They did as they liked. There was no

point opening your mouth.

Bha thu a' tòiseachadh a' cliopadh

nan stamh

Cha bhiodh fhios agad cò an

nàbaidh a bhiodh rid thaobh gus an

soilleiricheadh an latha

agus bhiodh sin suas gu naoi

uairean agad sa gheamhradh

agus chan fhaigheadh tu sgillinn

agus cha robh fhios agad dè bha

thu a' dol a dh'fhaighinn gu ceann

na bliadhna

Ma dh'fhaoite nuair a bha dùil agad

ri £6 ma dh’fhaoite gun e £2 a

gheibheadh tu

You started cutting the seaweed.

You couldn't see who was next to

you until daybreak,

which would be around 9am in the

winter.

And you wouldn’t get a penny!

You didn't know how much you

were going to get until the end of

the year.

You might be expecting £6 and get

£2.

Bha sin ann, 's mi fhìn ris.

Gun sìon ach all the time a'

dèanamh persecution air na daoine

bochda

Agus bha na cogaidhean ann gun

teagamh.

Ach 's e a' Chiad Chogadh a thug

rudeigin de shoilleireachadh dha

seo.

Agus nuair a thàinig am fear mu

dheireadh rinn e aristocrats dhiubh

uile, daoine mòra

S deagh ghovernment! 'S ma ‘s e

a’ phàrlamaid fhèin an-diugh a th’

agad, na Lords mhòra

That's how it was. I did that.

All the time, persecuting the poor

people.

And there were wars without doubt.

But the First World War brought

some clarity to this.

And the last one made aristocrats

of them all, toffs.

Some government! And if today's

parliament is all big lords,

‘s e diofar Lords a th' annta seach

na làithean a bh’ ann a shiud.

they're different lords from the

ones you had in those days.

Cha robh an uair ud ach nan

canadh tu "marbh an duin' ud" -

"Right o, marbh sa mhionaid e"

In those days, if they said, “Kill that

man”, “Right-oh”. He'd be dead.


minute 56.

Bha St Job uabhasach foighidneach

agus thàinig mì-fhortain uabhasach

air

St Job was very patient and he

suffered terrible misfortune.

Tha fhios agam gun do chailleadh

cha mhòr na bha de dh’fhireannaich

ann am Pabaigh

I know that most of the men of

Pabbay were lost

Dh'fhalbh an teaghlach air, chaill e

na beathaichean agus bhris e fhèin

a-mach na chàr-sgriob

He lost his family, his livestock and

was covered with sores.

aon latha air an treas latha

shamhradh nuair a bha iad sa

chuan ‘s thàinig stoirm orra

when they were caught in a storm

at sea on May 3rd.

S thàinig an droch spiorad latha

bha seo far an robh e

The evil spirit came to him one day

Bha nis ceathrar aca san aon

sgothaidh

Four men went out in the same

boat.

agus làn de làmhan de dh'airgead

aige ga ghlioganachadh

and offered him untold wealth if he

cursed God.

"Mallaich Dia" ars esan, “agus

gheibh thu siud. "Cha mhallaich"

arsa St Job, "An Dia thug dhomh e

's e thug bhuam e"

“I will not,” said St Job. “God gave it

to me and God took it away”.

"Ach, mallaich Dia" ars esan "Seall

fhèin mar a tha thu nad dhuine

truagh ann a shin"

“Curse God,” he said. “Look at the

state you're in”.

"Cha mhallaich" arsa St Job "Cha

mhallaich mi idir e"

“I will not,” said St Job. “I won't

curse him at all.”

"Ach mo mhallachd air an latha a

thug a dh'ionnsaigh an t-saoghail

mi"

“But I curse the day I was born”.

Agus sin agaibh an treas latha

Shamhradh

And that day is May 3rd.

Bha iad ag ràdh gun robh e air

a mhallachadh agus nach bu chòir

duine dhol gu muir an treas latha a

shamhradh

It was said to be cursed and

nobody should go to sea on May

3rd.


minute 57.

A' cheathrar a bha a' fuireach san

àite, eil fhios agaibh, Pabaigh

Daoine òga a bh' annta

Bha fear aca singilte, ach bha an

fheadhainn eile pòsta 's dh’fhàg iad

teaghlaichean

Dh'fhàs i mòr orra 's iad sa chuan

‘s bhàthadh a' cheathrar aca

Dh'fhàg dithis dhiubh triùir

Dòmhnall Beag Choinnich agus

Raghnall Ailig.

Agus Ailig Pabach; esan aon tè. Aon

nighean

Agus Iain Mòr ‘Illeasbaig, bràthair

na Ruadhaig. Cò mheud a tha sin,

ceathrar?

Bha Dòmhnall Bàn Mac a’ Phì

a-muigh an latha sin ach fhuair

esan dhachaigh sàbhailte

Sin far an robh call doirbh an eilein

Phabaigh

Aon sgeul eile a chuala mi

s ann bho sheann bhodach san Àrd

Dorcha

They were from the same place,

Pabbay.

Young men.

One was single, but the others were

married with families.

The wind rose when they were out

and all four drowned.

Two of them left three children;

Dòmhnall Beag Choinnich and

Raghnall Ailig.

And Ailig Pabach; he left one child.

A daughter.

And Iain Mòr 'Illeasbaig. How many

is that? Four.

Dòmhnall Bàn Mac a Phì was out

that day, but he got home safely.

That was a great calamity for the

Isle of Pabbay.

The other story I heard

came from an old man in Àird

Dorcha.


minute 58.

thuirt e rium gum b’ aithne dha

bàta chaidh a chur suas gu bràigh

a’ chladaich

He told me he knew of a boat that

was pulled up onto the shore

am beachd gur e sin an solas a

bhathar a' faicinn iomadh bliadhna

roimhe sin

that was the light that had been

seen in it many years before.

chionn gun robh sgioba a’ bhàta

a’ faicinn solas timcheall air a

deireadh

because the crew were seeing a

light around the stern

Bhiodh na h-eathraichean a’ dol

a-mach a dh’iasgach an uair ud air

an oidhche

The boats used to go out fishing at

night at that time.

air oidhcheannan nuair a bhiodh

iad ag iasgach

when they were fishing at night.

Ghabh iad eagal gun tachradh

bàthadh innte

They were afraid that there would

be a drowning

agus thug iad gu bràigh a'

chladaich i

and pulled it up on the shore.

Chuir iad ann an geodha sàbhailte i

agus chaidh a fàgail an sin

They put it in a sheltered cove and

left it there.

is lìonadh le uisge i

It filled with water.

Thachair aon fheasgar gun robh

clann a' cluich timcheall oirre

One day, children happened to be

playing around it

agus thuit caileag bheag mu

cheithir bliadhna dh’aois innte.

Chaidh a bàthadh

and a little girl, about four years

old, fell in and drowned.

‘S ann le lainntear a chaidh a corp

a thogail aiste

Her body was lifted out by the light

of a lantern

agus bha am bodach a dh'inns an

sgeula dhomh

and the old man who told me the

story believed that


minute 59.

Bhiodh e suas meadhan-oidhche no

uair sa mhadainn nuair a thigeadh

iad dhachaigh

It would be around midnight or 1am

before they came home.

agus bhiomaid a' dol gan

coinneachadh le cuinneagan a

dh'iarraidh an èisg

And we'd meet them with buckets to

collect the fish.

Agus an oidhche sa bha mi fhìn is

Màiri Anna Ruairidh Dhòmhnaill

This night, myself and Màiri Anna

Ruairidh Dhòmhnaill

a' dol sìos a choinneachadh an

eathair

were going down to meet the boat.

Bha sinn a'dol seachad, anmoch of

course

And we were passing... It was late,

of course,

sinn a' dol seachad air taigh

Catrìona Nèill

and we were passing Catriona

Nèill's house

agus chan fhaca sinn càil na b'

fheàrr na an uinneag a lìonadh le

feamainn

and we thought we'd cover her

window with seaweed.

Lìonadh suas uinneag a' bhedroom

aice le feamainn. Agus dh'fhalbh

sinn

agus a làrna-mhàireach 's cha robh

Catrìona ag èirigh. Thàinig e suas

gu meadhan-latha 's bha Catrìona

gun èirigh

We covered her bedroom window

with seaweed. And off we went.

Next morning, Catriona wasn't

getting up. It was midday and

Catriona wasn't up!

leis an fheamainn air an uinneig

aice!

Agus an row a fhuair sinn. Bha

fhios aice glè mhath cò rinn e

with the window covered with

seaweed!

We got such a row. She knew very

well who was responsible.

Bha dùil aice gur e an oidhche a bh'

ann agus an rùm dubh dorcha

She thought it was night time, the

room was so dark,


minute 60.

Am biodh sibh a' creidsinn ma-thà

ann am bòcain? - Bha

Bhiodh sibh a' cluinntinn gu leòr mu

bhòcain. Och bhiodh mu dhèidhinn

nam bòcan. Sinne bh' anna sin

- Did you believe in ghosts? Yes. -

Oh, yes.

- You heard about them. - We

certainly did.

Cha chuala mise guth mu na rudan

sin ach gun cuala mi gun robh

leithid de rud ann.

Agus dè a-nis mu dhèidhinn eachuisge?

I didn't hear anything about those

things, just that they existed.

And what about water-horses?

‘S mu dhèidhinn nan sìtheanaich?

Mu dhèidhinn nan sìtheanach

cuideachd.

S mu dhèidhinn an sluagh. An

Sluagh. Bha

Bhathar a’ creidsinn ann a shin. O

eudail bhathar a’ creidsinn ‘s bha

eagal romhpa cuideachd

- And about fairies? - About fairies,

too.

- And what about the fairy host? -

The host, yes.

- They believed in them? - Yes, and

they were afraid of them, too.

Cuideachd, chuala mi mu dhèidhinn

each-uisge cuideachd.

Ach an cuala sibh duine fhaicinn?

Cha chuala. - Cha chuala

Oh, I heard about water-horses,

too.

But did you hear about people

seeing them?

- No. - No.

Bha. Tha mi cinnteach gun robh.

- Bha

- Yes, I'm sure they were. - Yes.

Agus maighdeann-mhara? An cuala

sibh naidheachd mun dèidhinn…

And mermaids? Did you hear stories

about...

Chuala mi mun mhaighdeann-mhara

ceart gu leòr gun robh a leithid

ann.

I heard about mermaids right

enough, that such things existed.

An cuala sibh duine am faicinn?

Did you hear of people seeing them?

Gun fhaca duine maighdeann-mhara

nuair a bha e a-muigh ag iasgach

People seeing mermaids when they

were out fishing,

No nuair a bha e mun chladach

or around the shore?

Cha chuala - Cha chuala sibh sìon?

- No. - You didn't hear that?


minute 61.

minute 62.

Bha gille a mhuinntir na dùthcha

sa, muinntir Loch Baghasdail, bha e

ag iasgach san àirde an ear

A local man and some men from

Lochboisdale were fishing in the

east.

Thilg a h-uile fear aca a-mach

sgadan agus bha ise am bàrr

Each one threw a herring

overboard and she stayed on the

surface.

Agus gu dè a thàinig am bàrr an

dèidh a' bhàta ach a' mhaighdeannmhara

Dh'iarr an sgiobair an toiseach

agus fhuair e sgadan agus thilg e

a-mach e

agus dh'fhan ise am bàrr agus cha

do charaich i

Dh'iarr esan air a' chriutha, a h-uile

fear aca a thilgeil a-mach sgadan

and what should surface behind the

boat but a mermaid.

The skipper threw a herring

overboard and she stayed where

she was.

She didn't move.

Then he asked each member of the

crew to throw out a herring.

Dh'fhalbh an gille a bha seo agus

thilg e fhèin a-mach sgadan

Agus cho luath 's a thilg am fear sin

a-mach i, chaidh i fodha

Agus nuair a thàinig iad gu tìr thug

an sgiobair dha a thuarastal agus

chuir e dhachaigh e

Uill a’ bhliadhna sin fhèin chaidh a

bhàthadh

Nuair a bhiomaid ag obair a

m-eudail a-muigh sa Bhruaich

This boy threw out a herring

and as soon as he did, she went

under.

And when they came ashore, the

skipper gave him his pay and sent

him home.

That year he drowned.

When we were working out in the

Broch

bhiodh an sgadan trom orm

the herring was heavy work.


minute 63.

S e duine mu seach againn a

gheibheadh tighinn a-staigh a

ghabhail balgam tì

We took it in turns to come in for a

cup of tea,

Bha sinn fhìn a saoilsinn gun

robh na Barraich brèagha, an

fheadhainn a b'aithne dhuinn

And we thought the Barra boys we

knew were handsome.

is pìos lof, ìm, càis no dad.

Sin na b' urrainn dhut a dhèanamh.

Bha thu a-muigh ag obair.

Nis Disathairne bhiomaid ag obair

gu feasgar

a piece of bread, butter and cheese

or something.

That was all you could do. You were

out working.

Now, on Saturday we would work

until the afternoon.

O gillean gasta ceart, laghach.

Bhiodh iad a’ tighinn a thadhal

oirnn air an oidhche nam biodh iad

air tìr

Bha sinne ann an rùm gu h-àrd

Lovely boys. They would come and

visit us if they were ashore.

We were in the upper room.

Agus an uair sin, gar dreasadh

fhèin

And then, we dressed up.

Blouse a dhèanainn fhìn dh'fhaoite,

no blouse a dhèanadh cuideigin

dhomh

A home-made blouse, made by

myself or by somebody else for me.

Nam biodh tastan agam a m' eudail

a gheibheadh còta suppat, siud a

dhèanainn,

Well, if I had a shilling I'd have a

suppat coat made;

gus a bhith orm brèagha air feadh

na h-oidhche agus apran pinc no

liath

something nice to wear in the

evening, and a pink or blue apron.

Airson 's na bha de nigheanan

Leòdhasach sa Bhruaich, Eòghainn,

There were plenty of Lewis girls in

the Broch, too.

agus gillean cho brèagha ri gillean

a chunnaic thu riamh air an

t-saoghal

And the boys were as handsome as

any you ever saw.


minute 64.

Iadsan gu h-ìseal ann a sheo agus

sinne gu h-àrd

They were below and we were

above.

O bha truas agam fhìn ris, 's gun

mi a' faicinn duine mar siud ro thric

I felt sorry for him; I seldom saw

someone in that state.

Agus bha Ealasaid Churaidh cho

math gu gabhail nam port, port-abeul,

's bhiomaid a' dannsa ris

Ealasaid Currie was very good at

singing puirt-a-beul and we would

dance to it.

Thug e fhèin dhomh ruidhle

cuideachd, chan eil cuimhn' a'm cò

eile bha siud

I dare say he danced a reel with

me, too. I don't remember who else

was there.

Nuair a chluinneadh na Leòdhasaich

shìos sinn, bha dùil aca gur e de

ghille bh' ann a bha seinn

When the Lewis folk below heard

her, they thought it was a boy

singing.

“Bha dùil agam gur e do bhràthair

a bh' ann, a seinn dhuibh 's sibh a'

dannsa.”

“I thought it was your brother

singing so you could dance.”

"Chan e. Ach thigibh a-staigh agus

dannsaidh sibh fhèin"

“No. You come in and dance with

us.”

Dh'enjoyig mi a bhith a' dannsa ann

treiseag bheag, ruidhle no dhà

I enjoyed dancing for a little while,

having a reel or two.

Laochain, cò thàinig oidhche dhan

taigh againn aig beul na h-oidhche

ach gum b' e Robin

A man came to our house one night.

Uill, cha b' aithne dhomh fhìn e

Well, I didn't know him,

agus dh'innis nigheanan Barrach

eile dha càite robh sinn agus thàinig

e

but other Barra girls told him

where we were and he arrived.

Agus bha smùid uisge-beatha air

He was blind drunk on whisky.

"O Dhia, Ruairidh, an tu tha seo?" “Oh, God, Ruaraidh, is that you!”

“'S mi.” Shuidh e air mullach cistidh

“Yes.” He sat on a chest.


minute 65.

Co-dhiù, bha e a’ faighinn na tì

agus chuala mi fhìn tè de chlann

Churaidh ag ràdh

Anyway, they were going to get tea

and I heard one of the Curries say,

“Thalla, beir air an t-sòda arain

agus cuir làn spàinne sa chupa dhe"

“Go and get the bicarbonate of

soda and put a spoonful in the

cup”.

San tì aige - Seadh a-nis

- In his tea. - Yes.

Agus feumaidh gun robh e a' dol a

dhèanamh math dha air shàillibh

gun robh dràm air

And it must have been going to do

him some good since he was drunk.

A' toirt dha diop!

They gave him a 'dip'!

Bha sin a-nis cho math. Dreas

bhrèagha agam agus apran

Everything was good. I had a pretty

dress and an apron,

ach nuair a thigeadh tu a

Bharraigh chuireadh tu seachad i

but you would put them away when

you went to Barra.

Tha mi a' creidsinn gun cuireadh

- Chuireadh, cha leigeadh an nàir

leat a' cur ort

- I suppose you would. - You'd be

embarrassed to wear them.

Sin a-nis an dreas a bh’ oirnn.

Aodach a bh’ againn airson

Didòmhnaich ga ghlèideadh airson a

dhol dhan eaglais.

So, that's how we dressed. Our

Sunday best was kept for going to

church.

Àite math a bh' ann a Haidhsgeir

fuireach ann aig an àm sin

Haisgeir was a good place to stay.

An turas no dhà a chaidh mi a-mach

ann an 1914, bha Sealtainneach,

agus fear a bhuineadh taobh a

mhàthair

I went out in 1914 and there was

a Shetlander and a man whose

mother

do dh'Uibhist, 's e MacGuaire a bha

san taigh-sholais an t-Haidhsgeir

belonged to Uist, a MacQuarrie,

they were in the lighthouse in

Haisgeir.


minute 66.

Dh'iarr iad le chèile orm cuir

a-staigh airson an taigh-sholais,

gun robh feadhainn a dhìth orra,

agus rinn mi sin

Uill, cha tàinig am bàta aig an àm,

am bàta a bha a' cuairteachadh, a'

ruith air na taighean-solais uileag.

Mus tàinig an ath chothrom mu

chuairt airson am bàta a thighinn

bha mise air gabhail sna Scouts

Uill an dèidh nan ceithir bliadhna

nuair a thàinig mi dhachaigh

chaidh mi air ais a Haidhsgeir a

dh'iasgach ann an 1920

Bha MacGuaire, bha e gun fhalbh,

Dh’innis e dhomh,

"Tha bàta due an ath-sheachdain,

agus bidh Lieutenant Paxton innte"!

"Thig mise gad iarraidh airson gun

ùraich sinn an application agad

airson na taighean-sholais

Mar a thuirt, b’ fhìor. Thàinig am

bàta.

Dh'iarr e orm m' ainm a

sgrìobhadh, a thug e an uair sin

dhà no trì cheistean dhomh, simple

multiplication

And they both asked me to apply

to work in the lighthouse, so I did

that.

Well, the boat didn't arrive;

the boat that went round the

lighthouses.

And by the time the next chance

came I had joined the Lovat Scouts.

When I came home after four years

I went back to Haisgeir for the

fishing in 1920.

MacQuarrie, the principal, was still

there and he said,

'There's a boat due next week and

Lieutenant Paxton will be aboard”.

“I'll collect you and we can renew

your application for the lighthouse.''

That's what happened. The boat

came.

He asked me to write my name

and then gave me a few questions,

simple multiplication.


minute 67.

"The most important, what's your

age?" Dh'innis mi dha.

“The most important, what's your

age?” I told him.

Air tìr a-raoir, 's air muir a-nochd,

air tìr a-raoir, 's air muir a-nochd

Ashore last night, at sea tonight

ashore last night, at sea tonight

"Uill" ars esan " Tha mi duilich ach

tha thu dà bhliadhna thairis air an

aois a tha sinn a' ceadachadh"

“Well,” he said, “I'm sorry, but

you're two years over the age

limit.”

Air tir a-raoir, ‘s air muir a-nochd

tha fear as docha leamsa

Ashore last night, at sea tonight is

the man I like the best.

"Aon cheist" ars esan, "Gabh mo

leisgeul, a bheil thu pòsta?"

“One question,” he said. “Excuse me,

but are you married?”

“Chan eil” arsa mise. “Agus dè mu

dhèidhinn” arsa mise

“No,” I said. “What of it?”

“Tha dà bhliadhna allowance aig

duine pòsta”

“There's a two-year allowance for

married men.”

“Uill chan urrainn dhomhsa” 's e

falbh, bha e na dhuine cho furasta

bruidhinn ris

“Oh, well,” I said... He was very easy

to talk to.

"Chan urrainn dhomhsa falbh agus

m' aghaidh a thoir air nighinn òg

air choireigin, agus faighneachd am

pòs i mi ‘s gheibh mi dhan taighsholais!"

“I can't ask a girl to marry me, just

to get a job at the lighthouse!”

Aig mùir a-raoir, 's air tìr a-nochd,

aig mùir a-raoir, 's air tìr a-nochd

At sea last night, ashore tonight at

sea last night, ashore tonight

Aig mùir a-raoir, 's air tìr a-nochd

At sea last night, ashore tonight...

No - Mary, No use.

- No, Mary. No use. - Eh?

No, no. Chan eil e ceart. Tha e ro

àrd

No, no. It's not right. It's too high.


minute 68.

minute 69.

Chan eil m o leannan ann an seo, o

chan eil cha bhi a-noched

My sweetheart is not here oh, no,

and he won't be tonight

Honeydew a-staigh am bàgh, o tha

shottie aig mo ghràdh

The Honeydew is in the bay my love

gets a shot now

Chan eil mo leannan ann an seo, 's

cha dèan mi suas ri strainnsear

My sweetheart is not here and I

won't make up to a stranger.

Honeydew a-staigh am bàgh, 's i

praidhbheat aig MacIvor

The Honeydew is in the bay privately

owned by MacIvor.

S an eainnsean-room a tha mo

luaidh, san einnsean-room a tha mi

luaidh

San einnsean-room a tha mo luaidh,

chan fhaigh e nuas 's e trang ann

S e deckhand a tha nam luaidh, 's e

deckhand a tha nam luaidh

S e deckhand a tha nam luaidh 's

chan fhaigh e nuas mar gheall e

My love is in the engine room my

love is in the engine room

My love is in the engine room he

can't come up, he's busy.

My love is a deck hand my love is a

deck hand

My love is a deck hand he can't

come up without their leave.

Fairweather a-staigh am bàgh,

Fairweather a-staigh am bàgh

Fairweather a-staigh am bàgh, 's

dearg suas aig m' annsachd

Criutha ann an Galtrigeal a-muigh

ag iasgach nan lìn mhòra

Bha iad a-muigh agus chunnaic

iad long far a bheil an taigh-solais

an-diugh

The Fair Weather is in the bay the

Fair Weather is in the bay

The Fair Weather is in the bay my

darling has raised the red light.

A crew in Galtrigill were out longline

fishing.

They were out and they saw a ship

out where the lighthouse is today.


minute 70.

“O dhìoll” ars iadsan “pirate” “It's a pirate,” they said.

"Chan eil iad seo ach a' marbhadh

's a' cur fodha dhaoine"

Bha breeze math air a’ mhuir agus

studaig iad gun gearradh iad na

lìn mhòra

gun cuireadh iad buta orra agus

gun teicheadh iad lem beatha gu

tìr.

Math 's gun robh na bodaich, mun

d' fhuair iad na lìn a ghearradh

agus buta a chur orra bha long

a' sìor

“They kill people, these folk.”

There was a good breeze on the

water and they decided to cut their

long lines,

tie them to a buoy and flee ashore

for their lives.

By the time they cut the lines and

tied them to the buoy

Ach thàinig iad a-nall co-dhiù leis

an eagal

Thàinig e a-nuas agus thug e dhaibh

botal uisge-bheatha agus botal

branndaidh

"Seo,” ars esan. Biodh drama

agaibh nuair a thèid sibh air tìr."

Bha iad a' coimhead air a chèile

greis, na daoine, agus cha robh

guth aca dhan duine.

But they were so frightened they

went over anyway.

The man gave them a bottle of

whisky and a bottle of brandy.

“There you are. Have a dram when

you get ashore.”

They looked at each other for a

while and forgot all about the man.

bha long dìreach gu bhith air am

muin.

Chuir e suas an long air a’ ghaoith.

“Bheil sibh ann, fhearaibh” ars

esain.

"Thigibh a-nall" ars esan, “far a

bheil mi dol a’ bhruidhinn ribh”.

Cha robh Beurla aca ach 'Yes' is 'No'

Bha iad a’ smaoineachadh gun robh

iad a' dol gan toirt air falbh gu

rìoghachdan foreign

nach biodh duine dhiubh ri fhaicinn

gu bràth tuilleadh

the ship was almost on top of them.

It drew alongside. “Hello, folks.”

“Come on over so I can have a

word,” said the man.

They didn't speak English, apart

from 'yes' and 'no'.

They thought they were going to

take them away to foreign lands

never to be seen again.


minute 71.

Dh’fhalbh e. “Uill,” ars iadsan, nach

fheuch sinn an stuff aig an duine

seo, feuch dè th’ ann”

Chan eil fhios agamsa, 's dòcha gur

e puinnsean a th' ann

The ship left. “Well,” they said, “let's

try this man's stuff, see what it is.”

“I don't know. It might be poison,”

said one.

Thòisich e a' snìomh muran a-staigh

agus chuir e i na ceirle mòr.

h-uile sìon mar seo gus bhith aige

sa sgothaidh a-nis

He started twisting marram grass

and made a big ball of twine

to take with him in the boat.

Bha seann bhodach ann, “Tha fhios

agamsa dè an stuff a th’ ann” “Dè

an stuff a th’ ann?”

There was an old man there. “I

know what stuff it is.” “What stuff

is it?”

“Double Regal, nall tè dhiubh”

“Double Regal. Pass one over.”

Bodach ann a siud, seann duine bh’

ann.

There was an old man.

Bhiodh iad ag iasgach, na gillean

aige, Bha e fhèin ag iasgach on a

bha e na ghille òg

He'd been a fisherman since his

youth.

An t-iasg a bha a' chlann a' toirt

dhachaigh, cha do chòrd e ris-san

idir. Bha e ag ràdh nach e iasg

ceart a bh' ann

His sons were fishing, but he didn't

think much of the fish they brought

home.

“Dè seòrs' iasg a bhiodh tu a'

faighinn ma-thà? "Nach fhaod thu

fhèin a dhol ga iarraidh, feuch am

faigh thu nas fheàrr e ma-thà"

“What kind did you catch, then? You

go fishing tomorrow if you can do

better.”

Bha e gu math cinnteach gum

faigheadh e iasg gu math na b'

fheàrr na siud

He was quite certain he could catch

better fish.


minute 72.

Co-dhiù, dh’fhalbh e comh’ riutha

an latha bha seo. Bha ‘n t-sìde

math.

Thuirt e nam b’ ann an seo a

bhiodh iad ag iasgach

nach b' iongnadh nach fhaigheadh

tu iasg a chòrdadh ri duine.

"O, feumaidh sibh a dhol beagan

nas fhaide air falbh na seo."

Anyway, he set off with them this

day. The weather was fine.

He said, if that was where they

fished,

it was no wonder they didn't catch

anything worthwhile.

“You have to go much farther out

than this.”

Thoiribh a-staigh an t-acair ma-thà

sa mhionaid

Chuir iad suas an seòl ‘s chuir iad

na ràimh oirre ‘s a h-uile sìon

Thòisich e a' dèanamh ghadan dhen

iasg, a' cur a dhà orra

“Och,” thuirt iad eatorra fhèin,

“’s ann craicte a tha e” agus chan

iongnadh ged a chanadh

“Raise the anchor at once.”

They hoisted the sail and put out

the oars.

He began to string the fish together

in pairs.

They thought the old man was mad.

Dh'fhalbh iad a-mach. Chuir iad

a-mach an t-acair agus thòisich iad

ag iasgach.

Off they went. They put out the

anchor and started fishing.

Chunnaic iad dìreach an rud

sgrathail. a bha seo, cnap de

bheinn, a' sìor sheòladh orra

They saw this huge mountain rising

in the sea and bearing down on

them.

Thòisich an t-iasg air gabhail 's air

tighinn a-staigh. Iasg mòr 's iasg

brèagha. Bha an sgoth làn.

They were catching plenty of fish.

Big, beautiful fish. The boat was

full.

Cha b' iongnadh nach fhaigheadh

sibh iasg a chòrdadh riumsa, far an

robh sibh ag iasgach."

“No wonder you weren't catching

anything where you were fishing.”

Bha sibhse ag iasgach san lòn-shitig

“It was like fishing in a slurry pool.”

Co-dhiù, thuirt fear "Ged a chaidh

sinne mach fada "

Anyway, one of them said, “We may

have gone out far,

nach ann fada mach a tha an sgoth

a tha a-muigh an siud"

but not as far as that boat”.

“Bheil thu a' faicinn sgoth?” ars

esan “Tha” Tha an t-àm againn

falbh.”

“Do you see a boat?” he asked.

“Yes.” “It's time to go.”


minute 73.

Chan fhacas leithid riamh

"Bidh sinne dhìth air a shàilleabh.

Dè thug ort a dhol a-mach an seo"

Uill, a laochain, dè bh' anns a'

chnap mhòr de bheinn? Beathach

sgràthail Muc-mhara

Bha iad a’ teannadh air a’ chladach

‘s cha robh am beathach a’

dealachadh riutha. Dealaichidh i

rinn gun teagamh, na gabh eagal

sam bith tuilleadh.

The boys had never seen anything

like it.

“It'll be the death of us, coming out

so far.”

Well, the beast the size of a

mountain was a whale.

They were approaching the shore

and the beast was still bearing

down on them.

Nuair a thàinig ise dìreach chun a'

bhanca, thàinig an ceann am bàrr,

bha an caolas cho cumhang

agus chan fhaigheadh am beathach

a bha cho mòr tionndadh a-mach.

Bha e a' flodadh ann a shin.

“Seo a-nis. An latha a chuir thu

mise nam chabhaig. Cha chuir thu

duine às mo dheidh tuilleadh. Tha

mi gu math toilichte cur crìoch ort.”

When the whale breached by the

sandbank the channel was so

narrow

and the beast was so big that

it couldn't turn around. It was

floating there.

“There you go. You won’t bother

me again. I’m glad to see the back

of you.”

Bha eilean air choireigin ann ‘s bha

cùiltean eatorra. Thèid sinn a-staigh

eadar an cùil ‘s an eilean.

He told them to head for a channel

between an island and the shore

Tillidh i an uair sin ‘s chan urrainn

dhise faighinn seachad air. Air an

eilein.

which would be too narrow for the

whale.

Ann am meadhan an eilein bha

banca de ghainmhich.

There was a big sandbank in the

middle.

Bha fhios aigesan gun robh e ann,

cha robh sìon a dh'fhios aig càch

gun robh e ann

The old man knew about it, but the

others didn't.

Dh'fhàg e iasg ann am beul an eilein

He threw out a brace of fish by the

island.

Chaidh ise fodha. Chaith e gad

a-mach far an robh am banca

The whale dived for the fish. He

threw out a brace by the sandbank.


minute 74.

minute 75.

S bha esan ann a shin agus dè bh’

aige ach tè dhe na riofals aige am

falach anns an sgothaidh

agus chuir e trì peilear troimhe.

An da, chuir e crìoch oirre

Mo shin-seanair, bha e na sgiobair

air an eathar a dh'fhalbh a-mach à

Gabhsann uaireigin a dh’iasgach

nuair a bha daoine a' fuireach

ann an Gabhsann, mus deach a

bhriseadh an toiseach

And the old man took a weapon he

had hidden on the boat

and shot it three times.

He finished it off.

My great-grandfather was a

skipper on a boat that fished out

of Galson

when people were living in Galson,

before it was first broken up.

agus chaidil iad a-muigh sa chuan

co-dhiù

agus bha athair Ruairidh

Dhòmhnaill Íc Dhòmhnaill san Àird

air eathar eile

air watch mar a their iad

Agus nuair a dhùisg an sgiobair

aigesan, dh'fhaighnich e càite an

deach eathar Iain 'Ic Thormoid.

Agus thuirt e gun do ghabh i

a-mach à sealladh orr

They slept out at sea

and Ruaraidh Dhòmhnaill 'ac

Dhòmhnaill's father from Aird in the

other boat

was on watch, as they say.

When his skipper woke up, he asked

where Iain 'ic Thormoid's boat went.

He said it had headed out of sight.

Chan eil fios agam gu math dè

bhliadhna a bh' ann

Tha mi fhìn còrr is trì fichead

bliadhna

Agus tha sin ag innse gur fhada

bhuaithe

Co-dhiù bha eathar eile còmhla

riutha

I'm not sure what year it was.

I'm over 60 years of age

and that tells you it was a long

time ago

Anyway, there was another boat

with them.

"Uill," thuirt am fear eile "ma 's e

sin an taobh a ghabh i, cha till i an

taobhs'"

Co-dhiù, ‘s ann mar sin a bha. Thill

an t-eathar ach cha do thill an

sgioba.

Thàinig an t-eathar slàn fallainn,

leis na ràimh paisgt air na

tobhtaichean aice

“Well,” said the other fellow, “if it

went that way, it won't come back”.

Anyway, that's how it was. The boat

returned, but not the crew.

The boat came back intact, oars

laid across the thwarts

gu àite ris an can iad Tràigh Chrois

ann an Nis

to a place called Cross Beach in

Ness.

Agus bha am bonaid a bhiodh air

mo shin-sheanair san toiseach aice

And my great-grandfather's cap

was in the front of the boat.

Chaidh an sgioba a ghoid dhith

The crew was taken.


minute 76.

Co-dhiù, far an deach an reic thall

anns na West Indies

thurchair gun tàinig boireannach a

shealltainn orra

agus bha fear dhe na daoine a bh'

ann eireachdail

Agus dh’fhaighnich i dha, "Am pòs

thu mise" ars ise "ma bheir mi às

an seo thu? Às an àmhghair anns

an robh e

agus thuirt e gum pòsadh

Agus bha am fear sin, ged as ann à

Borgh a bha e, bha e pòsta aig tè a

mhuinntir Dhàil o Thuath

ris an canadh iad a’ Chaimpriobhaid

Bha ise se a’ gabhail fadachd nach

robh e ri tighinn, bha iad air an

cunntadh air chall co-dhiù, nach

tilleadh iad tuilleadh,

agus phòs i a-rithist

Meall bhliadhnachan an dèidh

dhaibh falbh 's ann a thàinig an

duine sa a' marcachd air each

Anyway they were sold in the West

Indies.

A local woman happened to visit

them

and one of the men was handsome.

The woman asked him if he would

marry her if she would help him

escape his anguish

and he said he would.

And that man, although he was

from Borve, he was married to a

woman from North Dell

called A' Chaimpriobhaid.

She longed for his return, but they

were presumed lost

and she remarried.

Several years after they

disappeared this man arrived on

horseback.


minute 77.

Nuair a bha e a' dol seachad

air Dail o Thuath, chunnaic e a'

Chaimpriobhaid a' dol tarsainn air

an rathad

le cliabh mònadh air a druim

s dh'fhaighnich e do chuideigin cò

an tè a bh' ann a siud.

Agus dh'innis an duine sin gur e

banntrach fear dhen a chaidh a

chall air eathar Iain 'ic Thormoid

agus gun phòs i ann an seo o

chionn ghoirid

Nuair a chual' esan gun phòs i, thill

e an taobh on tàinig e. Cha do rinn

e e fhèin aithnichte idir.

Dh'inns e sin nuair a ràinig e far an

robh e a' dol anns na West Indies

agus thurchair gun robh ministear

an sin ris an canadh iad Maighstir

Uilleam

Bha nighean aigesan agus thàinig i

seo air cuairt

As he passed North Dell he saw A'

Chaimpriobhaid crossing the road

with a creel of peats on her back.

He asked somebody who the woman

was.

The man told him she was the

widow of one of Iain 'ic Thormoid's

lost crew

and that she had recently

remarried.

When he heard this, he went back

where he came from without

making himself known.

He explained what happened when

he got back to the West Indies

and there happened to be a

minister there called Rev William.

He had a daughter who came here

to visit


minute 78.

agus ‘s i a dh’innis mar a thachair

Bha suim mòr agams dha na seann

bhodaich ud san taigh-cèilidh.

Dh'ionnsaich sinn tòrr bhuapsan

and it was she who told what had

happened.

I had great respect for the old men

in the ceilidh house. We learned

from them, too.

Dè a-nis mu dhèidhinn na

sgeulachdan? An robh sibh ag

èisteachd ri sgeulachdan

O, cha robh sinne ag iarraidh

sgeulachdan idir. -Na h-òrain a bha

sibhse ag iarraidh

What about the stories? Did you

listen to stories?

- Oh, we didn't want stories. - You

wanted songs.

minute 79.

“Dè dhèanadh tu ann an siud”

“Carson a dhèanadh tu siud”

Bha freagairt ann 's bha adhbhar

ann airson a h-uile càil

Mar bu trice 's e cèileadairean a

bhaile a bhiodh a' tighinn

ach minig agus minig a thigeadh

daoine à baile eile

“What would you do there? Why did

you do that?”

And there was an answer, and a

reason for everything they did.

Usually, it was the people of the

village who visited.

But more and more, folk from

other villages

Òrain airson luadh a bha sinne ag

iarraidh

Am biodh na bodaich sna

cailleachan ag innse sgeulachdan

mun cuairt an teine?

Bhiodh, bhiodh mo sheanair fhèin

ag innse sgeulachdan

do dh'fheadhainn mar sin a

thigeadh dhachaigh air chèilidh.

Bhiodh iad a’ gabhail sgeulachdan,

We wanted songs.

Did the old folk tell stories around

the fire?

Yes, my grandfather would tell

stories

when people came to visit.

a bhiodh air an rathad dhachaigh

agus bhiodh iad cinnteach gun

tadhladh iad san taigh againne

Bha aghaidh an t-sluaigh gu mòr

air an dachaigh

who were on their way home would

call in to our house.

We would have lots of guests.

Eadar a h-ochd agus dusan

bliadhna, sin an t-àm

anns am bithinnsa a' cluinntinn a'

chuid as motha dhe na sgeulachdan

o m' athair

I would have been between eight

and twelve years old

when I heard most of the stories

from my father.

Nuair a bhiodh coigreach ann

bhiodh an còmhnaidh rud às ùr aige

Strangers would always have

something new to tell.

Sgeulachd no dòcha òran no

seanchas air choreigin eile

A story, or song, or some other

kind of lore.


minute 80.

Agus bhithinn gan toirt leam

cuideachd. Ach an uair sin, thòisich

mi air falbh on taigh

agus a bhithinn a' dol am measg

feodhainn eile agus a' cluinntinn

naidheachdan a bhiodh ann am

pàipearan

naidheachdan a-null 's a-nall eadar

na daoine fhèin

bha mi a' dìochuimhneachadh, fhios

agaibh, na sgeulachdan a bh' aig

m' athair

Uaireigin an t-saoghail bhiodh

Lochlannaich a' tighinn le

bàtaichean a thogail creiche a

dh'Uibhist

Thachair an t-àm a bha seo, gun do

thadhail iad air àite ris an canar

Baile Ràghnaill ann an Uibhist a

Tuath

Bha iad air feadh a' chruidh, far

an robh buaile mòr dhiubh, bha sùil

aca a-mach air eilein Heidhsgeir

s cha robh iad eòlach air an rathad

‘S e an oidhche a bh’ ann agus chuir

iad am bàta air tìr anns an Dìg

Mhòr ann am Paibil agus ghabh iad

suas romhpa.

And I learned them then, too. But

then I went away.

I met other people and heard other

stories, from the papers.

Stories that people were telling

back and forth.

I was forgetting the stories my

father had.

Once upon a time Scandinavians

used to come on raids in ships to

Uist.

This time they happened to come to

a place called Balranald in North

Uist.

They were raiding cattle there and

were looking out towards Haisgeir.

They didn't know how to get there.

It was night time and they landed

the boat in Paible and went ashore.


minute 81.

Agus a' chiad taigh a thachair

riutha cha robh a' fuireach ann ach

seann bhodach.

The first house they came to was

occupied by an old man.

Bha iad a' ruith sìos ris a' chladach

agus bha iad an seo a' teannadh

air rubha mòr

They were sailing by the shoreline

and approaching a big headland.

Rug iad air a' bhodach agus thug

iad leotha e. Thuirt iad ris nach

èireadh beud dha, gum biodh e

sàbhailte gu leòr

nach robh a dhìth orra ach e a

dhèanamh an rathaid dhaibh tro

Chaolas Heidhsgeir

agus thilleadh iad air ais leis agus

chuireadh iad air tìr e gu sàbhailte

They kidnapped him and said he

would be safe enough;

all they wanted him to do was pilot

them through the Sound of Haisgeir

and they would return him safely

to shore.

Thuirt am bodach riutha “Cumaibh

gu math a-staigh ris an rubha seo”

Chùm iad a-staigh glè fhaisg air an

rubha agus nuair a bha iad dìreach

aige

thuirt fear a bha sa bhàta, “Dè

a-nis an t-ainm a th' air an rubha

tha seo?”

The old man told them to keep close

in to the headland.

They did so and when they were

almost there

one of those aboard asked him

what the headland was called.

B' fheudar dhan bhodach falbh

cuide riutha

The old man had to go with them

agus rinn e an rathad dhaibh tro

Chaolas Heidhsgeir

and they made their way through

the Sound of Haisgeir.

Earrach a bh' ann. Thàinig an t-sìde

dona agus thòisich cabhadh

It was springtime. The weather

turned bad and there was a

blizzard.

Bha e a' teannadh air Heidhsgeir

agus bha e cho mì-thoilichte

They were approaching Haisgeir and

he was so displeased

agus bha e a' smaoineachadh na

bheachd fhèin nan gabhadh car

sam bith idir dèanamh a ghabhadh

an cur a dhìth agus na sàbhaileadh

e fhèin

and was trying to think of ways to

do away with the raiders and save

himself.


minute 82.

“Uill” ars am bodach “chan eil mi

glè chinnteach dè an t-ainm a

bh'air reimhe”

“Well,” said the old man, “I'm not

sure what it was called before,

‘S bhiodh iad a' fuireach ann an

taighean nuair a rachadh iad air

tìr ann a shin

They would stay in people's houses

when they went ashore.

“ach tha mi cinnteach gur e Rubha

nam Marbh a bhios a-nochd air”

but it will be known as the

Headland of the Dead tonight”.

nan daoine fhèin 's iad coibhneil

gu leòr

The locals were very hospitable.

Bidh Rubha nam Marbh a-nochd air

“It will be known as Headland of the

Dead tonight.”

Ach, co-dhiù nuair a bha iad a-mach

am meadhan, Caolas Èirisgeidh

Anyway, when they were in the

Sound of Eriskay

Gheàrr e cruinn leum à toiseach a

bhàta agus bhuannaich e tìr

Mun do thàr duine air sion a

dhèanamh, bha am bàta air

bualadh, bha i na sgealban air a'

chladach.

He jumped off the prow and made

it ashore.

Before anybody could do anything,

the boat was smashed to

smithereens on the shore.

thug iad an aire do shlige crùbaig

's i a' snamh air an uisge, agus

partan beag na broinn

they noticed a crab shell, swimming

along, with a partan inside.

Bhiodh iad a' dol a dh'iasgach dhan

Eilean Sgitheanach uaireigin leis na

sgothan beaga a bh' aca, às na

h-eileanan ann a sheo

They used to go fishing to Skye in

their small boats.

Dh'fhalbh am bodach a bha seo -

MacInnes

This old man set off, a MacInnes -

Tha pàirt dhen t-sinnsreachd

aige shuas mu Ghleann Dail san

Èirisgeidh fhathast

some of his people are still in

Glendale and Eriskay.

Dh'fhalbh e fhèin 's an triùir mhac

's iad a' dol a dh'ionnsaigh Loch

Pol an Ròthag 's iad a' dol a dh'

ionnsaigh an sgadain foghair

He and his three sons set off for

Loch Pol an Ròthag to fish for

autumn herring.


minute 83.

Thuirt am fear a b’ òige dhe na

gillean, “Slige na crùbaig, nach ì

tha dìonach,” 's dh’fhalbh e son an

ràmh a bhualadh oirre.

‘S ars am bodach, “Gabh ri rud sam

bith a thachras”.

The youngest son went to prod it

with his oar

but his father told him to leave it

alone.

S nam biodh tu air an ràmh a

bhualadh orm bha mi bàite

Bha mo sheanmhair-sa, 's ann am

Miùghalaigh a thogadh i, màthair

mo mhàthar

“If you had hit me with the oar I

would have drowned.”

My grandmother was brought up on

Mingulay, my mother's mother.

Ghabh an gille a' chomhairle. Chaidh

iad seachad co-dhiù.

The boy did as he was told.

Co-dhiù, an oidhche sin ràinig iad

Ròthag agus chaidh iad chun nan

taighean a b' àbhaist a bhith aca

Anyway, they reached Ròthag and

went to the usual houses.

Cha robh annt' ach taighean beaga

piullach

They were just little houses.

"B' olc bu chòir dhomh àit' a thoirt

dhutsa 'ille òig"

'I shouldn't be offering you

anywhere to stay.''

"Carson?" ars esan

“Why?”

"Da, cha mhòr nach do chuir thu

crìoch orm ’s mi a' falbh à Cille

Bhrìghde

“You nearly killed me on my way

back from Kilbride,

far an robh mi a' togail toradh

nam beathaichean

where I was stealing the goodness

from the cattle by witchcraft.”

nam phartan beag ann an slige

chrùbaig

“It was me in the crab shell.


minute 84.

Bha i na nighinn òig agus bha

iad as t-earrach a' dol a bhuain

thodhair

She was a young girl and in autumn

they harvested seaweed.

Agus chunnaic iad a-rithist

cuideachd e, mun do bhàthadh na

Pabaich

And they saw it again, too, before

the Pabbay drowning.

Dh'fhàg mo shin-seanair, dh'fhàg ise

air sgeir a' buain an todhair leatha

fhèin.

Agus nuair a thigeadh iad fhèin,

dh'obraicheadh iad an todhar

My great-grandfather left her on a

reef by herself, harvesting seaweed.

They would come along and lift the

seaweed.

Bha iad ga fhaicinn ma

Mhiùghalaigh

Ailein Duinn 's e beul a b' annran

It was seen around Mingulay.

Brown-haired Alan of the musical

voice

Ach co-dhiù, bha i crom a' buain an

todhair

Anyway, she was bending, cutting

the seaweed

s chual' i am fuaim a bha seo agus

thog i a ceann

and she heard this noise and looked

up.

s bha an t-each mòr a bha seo

bìdeag an taobh a-muigh dhen sgeir

There was this big horse near the

reef.

Bha i ag ràdh mar gun robh sligean

a' fàs air

And she said shells seemed to be

growing on it.

Agus leis an eagal a ghabh i

tharraing i an corran agus gheàrr i

a' chorrag cho dona

And she got such a fright she cut

herself so badly with the sickle

agus theab nach leighiseadh i

it barely healed.

Agus nuair a thàinig a h-athair bha

ise gus an t-saoghal fhàgail leis an

eagal.

By the time her father came back

she had almost died of fright.

Cha dèanadh iad sin gu sìorraidh

tuilleadh, duine fhàgail air sgeir

leis fhèin.

But nobody was ever left there by

themselves again.


minute 85.

minute 86.

Dh'aithnichinn fhìn an toiseach bàt'

thu

I'd know you in the bow of a boat

Taobh ri taobh 's iad gun anail

Side by side and no longer

breathing

Faoileag bheag o fhaoileag mhara

Teann a-nall is innis dhomh an

naidheachd

Little seagull oh, seagull of the

ocean

Come over and tell me your news

Cùl ri cùl a' leigeadh fala

Cha robh seo ach gu dè bha dol

a bhith ann am Miùghalaigh ach

banais

Back to back, leaking blood.

There was going to be a wedding

on Mingulay

Cai'n do dh'fhàg thu na fir gheala

Dh'fhàg mi iad an eilean mara

Where did you leave the fair men?

I left them in the island of the sea

s cha robh uisge-beatha aca airson

na bainnse

Ann am Pabadh, bha fear ris an

canadh iad An Clansach, agus

bhiodh e a' dèanamh an uisgebheatha.

and they had no whisky for the

wedding.

There was a man in Pabbay called

Clancy who made whisky.

Cha robh plana na b' fheàrr na

dhol a dh'ionnsaigh a' Chlansaich a

dh'iarraidh an uisge-bheatha

The plan was to go to Clancy for

the whisky.

Thug an Clansach na pigeachan

mòra bha seo dhaibh

Clancy gave them these big whisky

jugs.


minute 87.

Chuir iad san sgoth iad agus bha

iad dìreach a-mach beul an t-sluic

leis an sgothaidh

They put them in the boat and they

had just set off

Bha lìon-mhòra aca san sgothaidh

agus chuir iad pigeachan uisgebheatha

nan suidhe

They had a fishing net in the boat

that they put the whisky jugs in

nuaiur a nochd an cutter, an tè aig

an fheadhainn a bhiodh a' tighinn

às an dèidh, muinntir an uisgebheatha

Cha robh ach thug na seòid a

dh'ionnsaigh nan ràimh 's chuir iad

na ceithir ràimh oirre

Agus a-nis a-rèir choltais, na

h-àiteachan tha shuas ann a shiud,

nuair a bhios an làn a' tighinn

a-staigh

when the exciseman's cutter

appeared.

The men took up the four oars.

Apparently, in these places up

there, when the tide comes in

aig bun tràigh Mhiùghalaigh

Rinn iad fhèin air a’ chladach, ‘s

cha robh iad dìreach air fhalachadh

aig a' chladach nuair a nochd an

cutter mun cuairt

Co-dhiù, thàinig iad dìreach a

dh'ionnsaigh a' chladaich agus

bha na Miùghalaich air tighinn a

dh'ionnsaigh a' chladaich iad fhèin.

and left them on the sea bed.

They had just hidden it and gone

ashore when the cutter appeared.

Anyway, they came ashore where

the Mingulay folk were.

a' lìonadh no tràghadh gum biodh

sruthan a' goil mar gum biodh poit

dìreach a bhiodh a' goil

the currents are like a boiling pot.

Ach bha na Miùghalaich cho eòlach

But the Mingulay folk were experts.

Bha an cutter cho fada air deireadh

orra, ghabh iad tro na sruthan,

cha robh iad eòlach air an t-sruth

ann

The cutter was far behind them

because they didn't know the

currents.

Bha na Miùghalaich a' fuireach ris

a' chladach

The Mingulay folk stayed so close to

the shore

agus bhiodh iad cho goirid ris a'

chladach uaireannan 's gum biodh

an ràmh aca ris a' chreig

that sometimes their oars touched

the rock.

Agus eadar a h-uile rud a bh' ann

ràinig iad Miùghalaigh

And between one thing and another

they reached Mingulay.


minute 88.

Ghabh iad am broinn na sgothadh,

muinntir a' chutter, 's thog iad

gach eile a bh' innte

Sheaft iad a h-uile sgath a bh' innte

ach cha d' fhuair iad sgath ach dhà

no trì dhubhain mheirgeach

S cha robh aig a' chutter ach

tilleadh agus dh'fhalbh a h-uile rud

a bh' ann 's air a bha iad cinnteach

nach tigeadh an cutter tuilleadh

dh'fhalbh iad 's thog iad an lìon

Agus abair sibhse gun robh banais

am Miùghalaigh an oidhche sin

Cha robh duine ann nach robh air

a dhalladh

Bhiodhte fuathasach trom air an

tombaca, air a’ smocadh

agus bha dhòigh againn ann a sheo

gum biomaid a’ toirt na pìob dha

chèile

An latha bha seo anns a’ bhàta,

bha trìuir a bha seo, bha iad a'

toirt seachad na pìob mu seach

dhan fhear sa ‘s dhan fhear ud eile;

‘s iad a’ togail nan cliabh ghiomach

Ach co-dhiù bha iad ullamh a

thogail nan cliabh

The excisemen went into the boat

and searched every bit of it.

They didn't find anything but a few

rusty hooks.

The cutter just had to go and when

they were sure it wasn't coming

back

they lifted the net.

There was quite a wedding in

Mingulay that night.

Everyone was blind drunk.

People used to be heavy smokers

and we had a custom here of

passing the pipe to each other.

This day in the boat, three men

were passing the pipe around

from man to man, as they lifted

the lobster creels.

Anyway, they finished lifting the

creels.


minute 89.

Sin nuair a bha phìob math maidse

a chur rithe an uair sin air an

rathad dhachaigh

Ach co-dhiù, cha robh sgeul air a'

phìob aig an fhear sa

That's when it was good to light a

pipe; on the way home.

Anyway, this man lost his pipe.

thog iad an cliabh a bh' ann a sheo

Agus bha giomach mòr, brèagha sa

chliabh

agus a' phìob aige na bheul.

they lifted this one.

And there was a fine, big lobster in

the creel

with the pipe in its mouth.

s bha i aige ga smocadh anns an

sgothaidh agus e ga thoirt do chàch

mar a bhiodh i aige fhèin

s cha robh sgeul idir aige oirre, 's

bha e a' faighneachd "An tug mise

dhut i?" - Cha tug"

He'd been smoking it on the boat

and he'd passed it around the

others,

but there was no sign of it. He was

asking, “Did you take it?” “No.”

Agus cha robh dòigh na b' fheàrr

air

na leigeil leis a’ ghiomach a bh’ ann

a shin, gun gearradh na h-ìghne

mhòr aige

And there was nothing else for it

but to leave the lobster alone,

without touching its claw

"Feuch a bheil i agadsa?" "O chan

eil" "'S ann agad fhèin a bha i mu

dheireadh"

“Check if you've got it.” “I don't.”

“You had it last.”

"Chan eil bìdeag dhi agamsa" " Chan

eil i agamsa co-dhiù"

“I haven't got it.” “I don't have it,

anyway.”

Cha robh cothrom air. Chaidh iad

dhachaigh, 's nuair a ràinig an

duine seo an taigh

It couldn't be helped. They went

home and when this man reached

his house

rinn e dìcheall air pìob fhaighinn a

bha a-staigh roimhe aige fhèin.

he went to fetch another pipe.

Agus bha seo math gu leòr airson

a dhol chun nan giomach leatha

a-màireach air ais

It was good enough to take back to

the lobster fishing the next day.

Agus nuair a bha iad dìreach a'

togail nan cliabh, a' tighinn air tìr

dhan sgothaidh

And when they were lifting the

creels and bringing them on board


minute 90.

minute 91.

air thoir 's gum biodh a thoil fhèin

aige agus 's ann air sàillibh na

pìoba. ‘S e a’ phìob a shàbhail e.

Chaidh eathar a chall ann an Dail

o Thuath

because of the pipe. The pipe saved

it.

A boat was lost from North Dell.

"Nuair a dh'fhosgail mise an doras"

ars esan "'s a chaidh mi a-steach"

"'s e criutha na h-eatharsa a chaidh

a chall,” as esain, “a bha nan suidhe

aig bòrd ag òl leann.”

“When I opened the door and went

in,

the crew of the boat that was lost

were sitting at a table drinking

beer.”

Co-dhiù 's e eathar ùr a bh' ann 's

chaidh a call a-mach air a' Bhutt

It was a new boat and it was lost

near the Butt.

Bha e feagalach an imagination a

bh' aig an duine sin

What an imagination that man had.

Co-dhiù, 's ann a thuirt esan gun

robh iad an latha sa a-muigh goirid

an dèidh dhan eathar sin a bhith

air a call

But anyway, he said they were out

this day soon after that boat was

lost.

Ist bha de yarnaichean an siud

Ud 's math a dh'innseadh an Cabar

an fheadhainn sin

Oh, there were so many yarns.

The Cabar was good at telling them.

Agus 's e na luaidheachan a bh' ac',

na duirgh

"Co-dhiù" ars esan "dh'fhairich mi

an luaidh a steigeadh agus chan

fhaighinn air an dubhan a thoirt

às"

They were using hand-lines with

plummets.

“Anyway,” he said, “I felt the

plummet sticking and I couldn't get

the hook out”.

O, abair e. He sure was.

Nuair a dhèanadh e suidhe an àirde

ann an spare bunk

Tha ghrian dol a thighinn a-mach

feasgar

Sitting up in the spare bunk.

The sun is going to come out this

afternoon.

"Uill" ars esan "Cha robh air ach

dh'fhalbh mi sìos."

"Dh’fhalbh mi sìos air an t-sreang

‘s ’eil fhios agaibh a bhalachaibh

c’aite an robh an dubhan steigte?"

“Oh, well,” he said, “there was

nothing else for it.”

“I followed the line down and do

you know where the hook was

stuck?”

Tha, feumaidh e a dhèanamh

Steam suas an deireadh agus

gheibh thu tionndadh a-mach

Glè mhath, haul thusa an-dràst

It has to be done.

Steam up your end and then you'll

be able to turn.

All right, you haul now

"Tha,” ars esain, “ann an doras

taigh-seinnse ann an New Zealand!"

“On the door of a pub in New

Zealand!”

agus nì sinne haul le chèile a-rithist

Bodach ann am Barraigh agus

cha robh cuimhn' aig duine cuin a

thàinig e ann

and we'll haul later.

There was an old man in Barra.

Nobody could remember when he

arrived there,


minute 92.

agus cha robh fhios gu dè an aois

a bha e.

or how old he was.

"O uill a-nis" ars am bodach, "tha

sibh a-nist aig an iolla dhòigheil"

“Well,” he said, “you've reached the

good rock”.

Agus bhiodh muinntir an taighe ag

iasgach an uair sin sa Chuan an Iar,

ag iasgach langannan is throsg

Dh'fhàs am bodach dall agus nuair

a thigeadh iad leis an iasg

bhiodh e ga fheuchainn le a

làmhan agus chanadh e "Ho, cha do

ràinig sibh an iolla dhòigheil idir"

"far am faigheadh sibh an t-iasg

ceart"

Ach an triop a bha seo 's ann a

bheireadh iad leotha am bodach

comhla riutha

The people in the house fished in

the Atlantic in those days for ling

and cod.

The old man became blind. When

they brought home the fish

he would feel them with his hands

and say, “You didn't reach the good

rock,

where you catch the right fish”.

But this time they took the old man

with them.

"Gheibh sibh iasg a-nis"

"Thòisich iad sin a' tarraing

langannan is throsg gus an robh

am bàta brùcadh"

"A bheil sibh a' faicinn fearann"

thuirt am bodach "an àite sam

bith?"

Tha còir agaibh air fearann a

thogail

"Tha" arsa fear aca "Tha sinn a'

faicinn eilean" ars esan

“You'll catch fish now.”

They started landing ling and cod

until the boat was full.

“Do you see land anywhere?” said

the old man.

“You should be able to see land.”

“Yes,” said one of them. “We can see

an island.”

Thug iad leotha am bodach

anns a’ bhàta agus a h-uile àite

dh'fheuchadh iad a-mach dorgh

They took the old man in the boat

and everywhere they cast their lines

‘s nuair a bheireadh iad a-staigh

beathach èisg, dh'fheuchadh am

bodach e

and caught a fish, he would feel it

and say,

"O, cùmaibh a-mach" ars esan "chan

eil sibh aige fhathast"

“Keep going. You haven't reached

it yet”.

Cha robh sgeul air fearann aca

They were out of sight of land.

Thug fear aca a-staigh trosg,

dh'fheuch am bodach e

They landed a cod and the old man

felt it.


minute 93.

“Cumaibh thuige ma-thà” thuirt am

bodach

Ràinig iad an t-eilean “Eil sibh a'

faicinn taigh an seo?” thuirt am

bodach

“Tha” thurt iad “Tha taigh air

mullach an eilein an seo”

“Thèid sinn ann” ars esan “agus

gheibh sinn biadh ann” ars esan

Chaidh iad suas dhan taigh agus

cha robh a-staigh ach cailleach

“Head for it, then,” said the old

man.

They reached the island. “Do you see

a house?” said the old man.

“Yes,” they said. “There's a house at

the top of the island.”

“Well, we'll go there and get food,”

he said.

They went to the house and there

was an old woman there, alone.

Sheall iad a-mach air a' bhàta, dè

thruaigh ach bha an t-eilean a' dol

fodha

Mach a ghabh iad chun a’ bhàta

agus cha robh sìon ach gun d'

fhuair iad innte. Cha robh sgeul air

an eilein.

Sin agad Rocabarra a tha air chall

agus chan fhaigh duine e gus

am faigh Ruairidh nan Trì

Ruaidhreachan e

They looked out at the boat, and

saw the island was sinking.

They barely made it back to the

boat before the island disappeared.

That's the lost island of Rocabarra.

It will only be found by Ruaraidh of

the Three Ruaraidhs.

Nuair a nochd am bodach a-staigh,

thuirt a’ chailleach, "O an tu tha

seo a chùthaidh?" ars ise

When the old man came in, the old

woman said, “Is that you?”

minute 94.

Fhir a' bhàta

O Boatman

"O tha treis ann" ars am bodach “It's been a while,” said the old

man.

Dh’fhaighnich a’ chailleach, "A bheil

do stamag a' leantail riut fhèin

gu math fhathast, a chùthaidh?"

ars ise

"O,” thuirt am bodach. “'S fhada

on a b' fheudar dhomh an crios a

theannadh" ars esan

The old woman asked if he still had

a good appetite.

He said it was a long time since he

had to tighten his belt.

Fhir a' bhàta

Fhir a' bhàta

Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit an

tèid thu

Bha mi raoir ann an seòmar uaine

Far an tric an robh na h-uaislean

O Boatman

O Boatman

My farewell to you wherever you

go.

For a time last night I was in a

room

Where the gentry were often found

Nuair a ghabh iad an seo am

biadh, thuirt am bodach riutha

When they had eaten, the old man

said,

Ag òl fìon ann ‘s gun deur ga

thruailleadh

Drinking wine without wasting a

drop

"Seallaibh a-mach air a’ bhàt'

'illean mun èirich dad dhi"

“Check the boat, boys, in case

anything happens to it”.

agus fear a' bhàta ga chur mun

cuairt ann

And the boatman passing it round.


minute 95.

minute 96.

s tha mo chrìdh-sa tùrsach deurach

Mar eala bhàn an dèidh a reubadh

s i ri tàmh ann an lochan feurach

Is càch gu lèir 's iad an dèidh a

trèigsinn

Gheall mo leannan dhòmhsa

prèasant

Gheall e gùn dhomh air dhath na

pheucaig

Fàinne òr chur air aona mheur thu

S tha eagal ormsa gun d' rinn e

dìochuimhn

S tha mo ghaol-sa thall air fairge

Fleasgach uallach an leadain

chalmaich

My heart is drowning in tears

Like a white swan that's been torn

apart

Abiding in a grassy loch

Abandoned without a thought

My beloved promised me a present

He promised me a peacock-coloured

gown

A gold ring for my finger

But I fear he has forgotten

My love is across the sea

A noble long-haired boy

S mòr mo dhùil ri thu thighinn

a-nall às

An èirigh grèine air mhadainn

shamhraidh

S tha mo ghaol-sa an taobh thall

a' gheata

Lainnir òr a-muigh air aitreabh

B' fheàrr leam fhìn gum beirinn

mac dhut

S gun òlta fìon ann an tìm a'

bhaistidh

S tha mo chriosan a' dol an àirde

Chan ann o fhìdhlear na o

thàidhlear

Ach o stiùireamaiche a’ bhàta

Am fear a sgrìobhadh 's a leughadh

Gàidhlig

I yearn for your return

At sunrise on a summer's day

My love is on the other side of the

gate

A maiden outside her dwelling

I would like to bear you a son

And drink wine at his baptism

And my belt is rising

Not from a fiddler or a tailor

But from the helmsman of the boat

The one who could write and read

Gaelic


minute 97.

Fhir a' bhàta

Fhir a' bhàta

Fhir a' bhàta

Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit an

tèid thu

O Boatman

O Boatman

O Boatman

My farewell to you wherever you

go.


Tha am film a’ tabhainn cagairean agus

faileasan de dhaoine agus de thachartasan

duilich a ghabh àite o chionn fhada,

cuimhneachain a tha fhathast a’ toirt buaidh

air beatha nan eilean. Aig àm nuair a tha

Alba agus an RA a’ coimhead ri àm ùr, tha

seo mar chuimhneachan gu bheil snàithleanan

eachdraidh agus fèin-aithne aig fìor oir

Bhreatainn air am fighe, dha-rìribh, ann an

cumhachd liriceadh a’ chànain Ghàidhlig.

The film was produced by Bofa Productions

and Tongue Tied Films, in association with

MG ALBA and the support of the National

Lottery through Creative Scotland. The film’s

development also benefited from the support

of Newcastle University, The University of

Edinburgh, Film at Culture Lab, and the UK

Economic and Social Research Council.

www.iorramfilm.com

© Bofa Productions 2022

Iorram (Boat Song) - Sgriobt film Gàidhlig agus Beurla / Gaelic and English Film Script

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