Dh’fhoillsich an Siorram Alasdair MacNeacail an cruinneachadh ainmeil aige de sheanfhaclan Gàidhlig ann an 1881. A’ bhliadhna às dèidh sin, bhris aimhreit an fhearainn a-mach le neart anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. Chuir siud uabhas air MacNeacail agus sgaoil e bileag Ghàidhlig a dh’iarraidh air na croitearan gèilleadh don lagh. Tha an teacsa sin againn, ach nas iongantaiche buileach lorgadh freagairt bho chuid dhe na croitearan.
A’ leughadh mu cho measail ’s a bha daoine air an t-Siorram Alasdair MacNeacail (1827–1893), à Husabost, san Eilean Sgitheanach, tha e furasta a bhith air aon inntinn. Chaidh a ràdh gun robh e ‘among the most popular of nineteenth century Gaels in public life’.[1] A bharrachd air a bhith na neach-lagh, bha e na sgoilear Gàidhlig, na bhàrd, na neach-sgrùdaidh sgoiltean, na dheasaiche, agus na bheatha-eachdraiche. Dh’obraich e air ath-leasachadh a’ Bhìobaill Ghàidhlig. Nuair a chaidh Cathair na Ceiltis a stèidheachadh aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, b’ e MacNeacail agus cha b’ e Dòmhnall MacFhionghain a bha an t-Ollamh John Stuart Blackie ag iarraidh air a son. Ach dhiùlt e i.[2] Cleas Ghàidheal eile, bha ’àrd-chomasan eanchainn air an cothromachadh le àrd-chomasan corporra. Shreap e corra bheinn airson a’ chiad turais. Nam measg, bha a’ bheinn as àirde sa Chuiltheann agus sna h-eileanan gu lèir, a tha ainmichte air MacNeacail chun an latha an-diugh: Sgùrr Alasdair. Agus, ’s e an cruinneachadh aige-san, A Collection of Gaelic Proverbs and Familiar Phrases (1881), am fear as fhaide agus as fheàrr a tha againn fhathast.
Tha cuid air bruidhinn mu laigsean an duine cuideachd. Mar eisimpleir, chaidh a ràdh nach do chuir e a chuid chomasan gu làn-bhuil a-riamh. Bha e lunndach leisg, no ’s dòcha gun do chuir droch shlàinte bacadh air.[3] Tha am memoir a chaidh fhoillseachadh mu dheidhinn ann an 1893 le a charaid, Walter Smith, gu h-annasach cruaidh air.[4] Chan eil mòran ùidh againn ann an sin seach ann an taobh eile dhe a phearsantachd nach bi air a mholadh nas motha: a sheasamh poileataigeach. ’S e an fhìrinn a th’ ann, ged a b’ e sàr Ghàidheal a bh’ ann an Alasdair MacNeacail, mar dhuine-uasal, bha clas ga sgaradh bhon ghnàth-Ghàidheal, agus bha sealladh a chlas fhèin aige.
Tha Smith a’ cur an cèill gun robh meas is gràdh aige do mhuinntir na Gàidhealtachd, bhon robh e sgaraichte a thaobh inbhe, ach nach do rinn e cus airson an cuideachadh:
He must have seen [nuair a bha e na neach-sgrùdaidh sgoiltean sna 1860an] the wretched condition of the crofters, and I know that he felt their miseries keenly. But he was not an inventive politician, and did not take the initiative in any proposal to redress their grievances. In after years, indeed, he was one of the Commissioners, under Lord Napier, who inquired into the Crofter question, and he took a lively interest in the matter.[5] But then also it may be questioned whether his enjoyment in sailing from island to island, and watching the mists and the sunsets, was not quite as strong as his wish to get Parliament to legislate on their behalf. His was the artistic, rather than the practical, temperament; and the sight of the squalidest “black houses” in Lews would not have prevented him from singing a pleasant song in the evening. Not that he did not sympathise with those poor folk; but he knew that in spite of their poverty, there was not a little cheerful piety in their homes.[6]
’S ann ann am prìomh thùs a’ bhrath-bhloga seo, ‘Tagradh MhicNeacail’ mar a bheir sinn air, a tha an fhianais as fheàrr air poileataigs ghlèidhteach Alasdair MhicNeacail – co-dhiù ann an 1882. ’S e a’ phoileataigs seo, agus chan e gun robh e ‘mì-phractaigach’, ro ‘ealanta’, no gann de spionnadh a bha dha-rìribh ga chur an aghaidh croitearan eilean ’àraich.
Chuir e iongnadh orm nach do thog sgoilearan an tùs seo roimhe co-cheangailte ri MacNeacail no Aimhreit an Fhearainn. Ach, fhuair mi lorg air nòta a sgrìobh Ewen Cameron agus Andrew Newby a tha a’ soilleireachadh corra rud agus a’ cur ri ar tuigse air a’ cho-theacsa.[7] Fhathast, bhruidhninn mu dheidhinn an seo air an adhbhar gum bu chòir dhuinn eachdraidh nan Gàidheal a sgrùdadh ann an Gàidhlig, agus dh’fhaodamaid tighinn gu co-dhùnaidhean eile le sealladh Gàidhealach air an eachdraidh sin. Ach, a bharrachd air sin, lorg mi fiosrachadh eile co-cheangailte ris an tùs nach do chleachd Cameron is Newby. Na mheasg sin, tha litir bho chroitearan Ghleann Dail a’ freagairt argamaidean MhicNeacail.
Bheir sinn sùil air ‘Tagradh MhicNeacail’, agus air na prìomh phuingean aige. An uair sin, beachdachaidh sinn air mar a chaidh bruidhinn mu dheidhinn: ann an cuid de phàipearan-naidheachd taiceil; agus mu dheireadh ann an tùsan a chuir na aghaidh aig an àm.
An Teacsa agus a Cho-theacsa
AN APPEAL TO THE AGITATORS.
Sheriff Nicolson of Kirkcudbright has issued the following stirring address to the crofters in the disaffected districts:—
Do Thuath an Eilean Sgiathanaich, gu h-Araid an Gleanndail ’s ’am Braigh Phortrigh.
A mhuinntir mo chridhe!
’D e seo na naigheachdan eagalach a tha ’tighinn h-ugainn oirbh? ’S beag a shaoil mi riamh gun tigeadh an là a chluinninn a leithid a’ tighinn á Eilean mo rùin, à Gleanndail gu h-àraid, dùthaich m’òige, ’s á Braigh Phortrigh, dùthaich mo shinnsre, dha ’m bu dual a bhi ’n an daoine sìochail!
’S mi tha cianail an diugh. ’S beag mo shùnnd ’s mo cheòl gàire mu’n Eilean a’s tric a tha mi ’luaidh! Bha sinn muladach ’n uair a chuala sinn mu’n chall mhór a thainig oirbh toiseach a’ gheamhraidh, ach ’s miosa leinn a’ naigheachd ’tha seo.[8] ’S ioma duine, tha mise cinnteach, ann an cearnaibh fad as, a bhios dhe’n fhaireachadh cheudna.
Bha mi bho chionn ghoirid an Duneideann, a’ toirt eachdraidh bheag, le móran toilinntinn, mu na Gàidhil chaomh; agus thubhairt mi, ged is mór a dh’fhuiling iad, ’s a tha cuid dhiubh fhathasd a’ fulang, nach ionnan iad ’s na h-Eireannaich thruagh. Mu ’n dubhairt am fear roimhe, “Cha b’ ionnan O Brian ’s na Gàidhil.” Tha ’n Gàidheal, arsa mise, fearail, tapaidh, ach tha e ciallach, cneasda, stòlda, onorach, modhail. Cha toir e droch cainnt airson droch dhìol; cha tog e làmh an aghaidh uachdarain no ughdarrais; cha diùlt e màl a phàigheadh, ge duilich gu’m bi e; cha ’n ’eil e ’g iarraidh an fhearainn dha fhéin; cha ’n ’eil e ’g iarraidh ach ceartas, agus a bheò far an d’ rugadh e.
Ach a nis,—mo chreach! Tha Sgiathanaich ag atharrais air na h-Eireannaich, ’g an deanamh fhéin ’n an cuis-bhùird ’s n’ an cuis-eagail.
Mo chàirdean gràdhach, na smaoinichibh gur h-ann mar sin a gheabhar ceartas no buaidh. Cha ’n ann! Cha ’n ann! Cha tig as ach trioblaid agus nàire. Tha mo chridhe goirt a’ smaoineachadh air. Chuala mi le uamhas gu robh cuid anns an Eilean ’g am ainmeachadh fhein am measg na feadhnach a tha ’brosnachadh nan Sgiathanach gu aimlisg, ag ràdh gur h-ann aca fhéin a tha còir air an fhearann. Builgean air teanga nam briag! Cha dubhairt mi facal dheth—cha ’n ’eil mi cho [ain]eolach ’s cho baoth ’s gu ’n canainn a leithid!
Mar thubhairt Pòl beannaichte, “O Ghalatianacha amaideach, Co chuir druidheachd oirbh?”[9] Tha mi ’guidhe oirbh, na dichuimhnichibh an teagasg ciatach ud[,] Lean gu dlùth ri cliù do shinnsre. Be’n cliú-san riamh a bhi earbsach, rianail, uasal, umhal do ’n lagh. Ma tha fìor aobhair gearain agaibh, cha’n eagal nach fhaigh sibh ceartais; ach cha’n ann le ainneart agus ùpraid agus làmhachas-làidir a gheabh sibh e gu bràth. Esan a bhriseas an lagh, brisidh e ’cheann fhéin. An ainm na h-uile ni ’tha math agus ion-mhalta, na toiribh masladh air ar n-ainm, agus aobhar bròin do ur fìor chàirdean, eadar Ghàidhil ’us Ghaill.
“Fa dheoidh, a bhràithre, ge b’ e nithe ’tha urramach, ge b’e nithe ’tha ceart, ge b’e nithe ’tha fìor-ghlan, ge b’e nithe ’tha ion-ghràidh, ge b’e nithe ’tha ion-mholta; ma tha deadh-bheus air bith ann, ma tha moladh air bith ann, smuainichibh air na nithibh sin!”[10]
Bho ur caraid dileas agus ur fear-dùthcha,
ALASDAIR MAC NEACAIL,
a rugadh ann a Husabost, agus a tha nis a’ fuireach an Cill-chuibeirt.
Deireadh an Earraich, 1882.
An interpretation of the above runs as follows:—
MR DEAR FRIENDS,—What dreadful news is this that has come to us about you? Little did I think I should ever hear of the like coming from the island I love, particularly from Glendale, the country of my youth, and the Braes of Portree, the country of my ancestors, whose nature it was to be peaceable people. I am very sorrowful to-day. Small is my delight in thinking of the island I have so often praised. We were sorrowful to hear of your great losses at the beginning of winter; but this news is far more grievous. Many a man, I am sure, in places far away will feel the same. I was lately in Edinburgh giving a short account, with much satisfaction, of the Highlanders, and I said, “though they have suffered much, and some of them suffer still, they are very different from the miserable Irish. As the old saying has it, ‘O’Brien was very different from the Gael.’ The Highlander is manly, spirited, but he is sensible, devout, quiet, honest, courteous. He will not give bad language in return for bad usage. He will not refuse to pay the rent, though it be difficult for him. He does not seek the land for himself; he seeks only justice, and to be allowed to live in the place where he was born.” But now alas, Skyeman are imitating the Irish, and making themselves objects of derision and of dread. My dear friends, don’t think it is so you will get justice. Nothing will come of it but trouble and shame. And now it has come with a vengeance! My heart is sore to think of it. I head with disgust that I was mentioned myself in Skye as one of those who were stirring up the people to mischief, and telling them that the land belonged to themselves. I said nothing of the kind. I am not so ignorant or so mad as to use such language. As St Paul said, “Oh, foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you!” I beseech you do not forget that excellent old saying. Follow close the fame of your fathers. Their fame ever was to be trustworthy, orderly, honourable, obedient to the law. If you have any real causes of complaint, there is no fear but you will get justice; but it is not by violence, and uproar, and high-handedness that you will ever get it. “He that breaks the law breaks his own head.” In name of everything that is good and praiseworthy, bring no shame on our name, and sorrow to all your true friends, whether Highland or Lowland. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”—From your faithful friend and fellow-country man, Alexander Nicolson, one who was born in Husabost, now residing in Kirkcudbright.[11]
Seo mar a chaidh teacsa na bileig – a’ tòiseachadh ‘Do Thuath an Eilean Sgiathanaich […]’ – a sgaoileadh a-rithist anns an Northern Chronicle. Bha an teacsa ann an Gàidhlig a-mhàin,[12] agus rinneadh tionndadh Beurla dheth anns na pàipearan, mar a chìthear gu h-àrd. Tha fios againn gun do chuairtich an Tagradh mar bhileag air an Eilean Sgitheanach as t-earrach 1882.[13] Chaidh an teacsa a chlò-bhualadh a-rithist ann an grunn phàipearan-naidheachd, nam measg eile bha an Oban Times (29 Giblean 1882); Inverness Courier (25 Giblean 1882); (Aberdeen) Evening Gazette (22 Giblean 1882); Dundee Advertiser (24 Giblean 1882), Glasgow Evening Citizen (22 Giblean 1882). Cha robh ach eadar-theangachadh Beurla anns na trì mu dheireadh sin.[14]
1. ’D e seo na naigheachdan eagalach a tha ’tighinn h-ugainn oirbh? […] à Gleanndail gu h-àraid, dùthaich m’òige, ’s á Braigh Phortrigh […]
Tha e ro choltach gum b’ e Blàr a’ Chumhaing, air 19 Giblean 1882,[15] a bhrosnaich sgrìobhadh na bileig, a thuilleadh air iomairtean nan croitearan a bha a’ dol bhon t-Samhain 1881, co-dhiù, sa Bhràighe agus, bhon Ghearran 1882, ann an Gleann Dail. (Faic an Loidhne-ama airson tòrr a bharrachd co-theacsa agus airson faicinn mar a bha an dà iomairt a’ tachairt mun aon àm.) Bha croitearan a’ Bhràighe ag iarraidh ionaltradh Bheinn Lì, agus ann an Gleann Dail bha na croitearan, am measg rudan eile, ag iarraidh ionaltradh Bhatairsteinn. Sguir cuid de bhailtean a bhith a’ pàigheadh màl, agus fiù ’s ro Bhlàr a’ Chumhaing, chaidh fòirneart a chleachdadh no a bhagairt an lùib ghnothaichean, m.e. ann an sgrios na bàirlinn sa Bhràighe air 7 Gearran, agus ann an sanasan bagraidh a chuireadh suas aig oifis-phuist Ghleann Dail air 23 Màrt.
Chan eil ceann-là air a’ bhileig ach ‘Deireadh an Earraich, 1882’. Ach, chaidh eadar-theangachadh a chlò-bhualadh ann am pàipearan-naidheachd cho tràth ri 22 Giblean 1882, beagan làithean às dèidh Bhlàr a’ Chumhaing, a chuireadh 19 Giblean. A bheil sin ro fhaisg? Tha fios againn gun do sgap an sgeulachd mun Bhlàr ann am pàipearan-naidheachd cho luath ris an latha às dèidh sin, m.e. ‘Arrest of Skye Crofters’, Daily Review (Dùn Èideann) (20 Giblean 1882).
2. ’S beag a shaoil mi riamh gun tigeadh an là a chluinninn a leithid a’ tighinn á Eilean mo rùin […]
Bha a’ bhileag ag amas air na croitearan Sgitheanach a chiùineachadh. Ach, b’ urrainnear a ràdh gun do dh’fheuch MacNeacail ri am maslachadh a’ cleachdadh a chliù mar Sgitheanach agus Gàidheal, agus inbhe mar ùghdarras. Bha na croitearan, mar eisimpleir, ‘’g an deanamh fhéin ’n an cuis-bhùird ’s n’ an cuis-eagail’.
Mar a tha MacNeacail fhèin ag innse, bha ceangal pearsanta aige ri Gleann Dail, ‘dùthaich m’òige’ – thogadh e gu math faisg air, ann an Husabost an cois Loch Dhùn Bheagain – agus, a thaobh sinnsireachd, ris a’ Bhràighe, ‘dùthaich mo shinnsre’. Mar sin, dh’fhaodadh gun toireadh na croitearan spèis àraid do na bhiodh aige ri ràdh.
Air an làimh eile, tha deagh theans ann gun robh MacNeacail fo uallach rudeigin a dhèanamh, agus e air a nàrachadh am measg nan urracha mòra air a’ Ghalltachd. Gu h-àraid air sgàth ’s gun robh cuid a’ cur às a leth gun robh e a’ cur taic riutha: ‘Chuala mi le uamhas gu robh cuid anns an Eilean ’g am ainmeachadh fhein am measg na feadhnach a tha ’brosnachadh nan Sgiathanach gu aimlisg […]’.
3. [… T]hubhairt mi, ged is mór a dh’fhuiling iad, ’s a tha cuid dhiubh fhathasd a’ fulang, nach ionnan iad ’s na h-Eireannaich thruagh.
Tè de phrìomh argamaidean MhicNeacail ’s e gun robh sgaradh a thaobh nàdar is fèin-aithne eadar Gàidheil Albannach agus Èireannaich. B’ ann mar sin a bha cùisean agus, dh’fheumte an sgaradh sin a dhaingneachadh. Bha na h-Èireannaich mì-chliùiteach airson aimhreit agus fòirneart san fharsaingeachd agus gu sònraichte mun àm sin an lùib Chogadh na Talún (am prìomh cheum eadar 1879 agus 1882), agus poileataigs nàiseantach. Rachadh am breithneachadh seo a neartachadh le murtan dithis dhen luchd-riaghaltais a b’ àirde an Èirinn ann am Páirc an Fhionnuisce air 6 Cèitean 1882.
Air an làimh eile, bha na Gàidheil Albannach gu tur eadar-dhealaichte. B’ urrainnear argamaid gun robh iad chun an sin nan sàr ìochdarain dhìleas, a’ sabaid às leth ìmpireachd Bhreatainn, agus a’ gabhail gu fulangach ris na fuadaichean agus ris gach anaceartas eile. Tha tomhas math dhen fhìrinn an siud. Chaidh an sgaradh seo cho fada san 19mh linn gun robh Gàidheil Albannach air am meas mar Bhreatannaich eu-coltach ri gnàth-Èireannaich, agus fiù ’s gun do dh’fhuiling Èireannaich gràin-chinnidh air dòigh nach robh fìor mu Ghàidheil Albannach.[16]
4. Ach a nis,—mo chreach! Tha Sgiathanaich ag atharrais air na h-Eireannaich […].
An dragh a bh’ air MacNeacail ’s e gun robh na h-Èireannaich, mar gum b’eadh, a’ truailleadh nan Gàidheal Albannach len eisimpleir de dh’eas-ùmhlachd is giùlan an-riaghailteach. Cha robh fios dè cho fada ’s a rachadh cùisean a thaobh fòirneart, ciamar a sgaoileadh e, no dè an cron a dhèanadh e air inbhe nan Gàidheal gu nàiseanta. A’ tarraing air an Tiomnadh Nuadh ann a bhith a’ faighneachd ‘Co chuir druidheachd oirbh?’, tha MacNeacail a’ cur mun aire gun robh Èireannaich no, co-dhiù, droch chinn-ghràisge air cùlaibh ghnothaichean. Chan eil an aimhreit ‘nàdarra’ do na daoine. Tha fios againn gun robh diofar dhòighean ann a dh’fhaodadh poileataigs Chonradh na na Talún a bhith air buaidh dhìreach a thoirt air croitearan Sgitheanach: leis mar a bhiodh cuid dhiubh ag iasgach far còsta na h-Èireann, tro chuairteachadh bhileagan Èireannach, a’ leughadh Iain MacMhuirich no ann an conaltradh ri eagrachaidhean ann an Glaschu.[17] Ach, cha robh na Sgitheanaich air an stiùireadh le Èireannaich no fo gheasaibh aca. B’ ann a bha ginealach ùr ag èirigh a dhiùlt gabhail ri cùisean mar a bha iad san Eilean. Tharraing iad air innleachdan agus brosnachadh Èireannach dìreach mar a dh’ionnsaich Gàidheil eile bhuapasan.
5. Mo chàirdean gràdhach, na smaoinichibh gur h-ann mar sin a gheabhar ceartas no buaidh. […] Ma tha fìor aobhair gearain agaibh, cha’n eagal nach fhaigh sibh ceartais; ach cha’n ann le ainneart agus ùpraid agus làmhachas-làidir a gheabh sibh e gu bràth.
Tha MacNeacail a’ guidhe air na croitearan a leughadh na bileig seo, no don rachadh i a leughadh, a bhith a’ sgur dhen aimhreit agus gun a dhol nas fhaide sìos an rathad Èireannach. Gu follaiseach, tha sin a’ gabhail a-steach cleachdadh fòirneart – an aghaidh ùghdarrasan, chroitearan eile, no fiù ’s seilbh. Ach, mar a chithear anns an tuairisgeul aige den ‘deagh Ghàidheal’, tha e a’ dol tòrr nas fhaide na sin:
Cha toir e droch cainnt airson droch dhìol; cha tog e làmh an aghaidh uachdarain no ughdarrais; cha diùlt e màl a phàigheadh, ge duilich gu’m bi e; cha ’n ’eil e ’g iarraidh an fhearainn dha fhéin […].
Feumaidh na Gàidheil a bhith ùmhail don lagh an-còmhnaidh, ge be dè cho dona ’s a tha e. Feumaidh iad a bhith modhail, iriosal, foighidneach, agus fad-fhulangach. Cha bu chòir dhaibh diù a thoirt do bheachdan a cheasnaicheadh còir nan uachdaran air an fhearann. Chan eil cead aca stailc-mhàil no gnìomh dìreach sam bith eile eagrachadh. Chan eil e soilleir ciamar a bha leithid MhicNeacail a’ smaoineachadh a gheibheadh daoine ceartas. Chan eil e fiù ’s gu cinnteach ag aithneachadh tàbhachd nan gearanan aca – ‘Ma tha fìor aobhair gearain agaibh […]’. Na b’ anmoiche, dh’fhritheil MacNeacail air Coimisean Napier, an Coimisean Rìoghail a dh’èist ri gearanan nan croitearan. Ach, cha rachadh an coimisean sin a chur air bhonn mura b’ e an gluasad aimhreiteach a sgaoil air feadh nan coimhearsnachdan croitearachd. Agus, cha bhiodh ìmpidh sam bith air an riaghaltas Libearalach reachdas fearainn ùr a chur an gnìomh mura robh Comann an Fhearainn ann agus na bh’ ann de thaic aca.
’S ann a tha MacNeacail a’ cur an cèill ideòlas a bha agus a bhios a’ sìor-thogail ceann nuair a bhios na mithean a’ toirt dùbhlan do na h-ùghdarrasan: seachnaibh gach aimhreit agus rachaibh tro na seanailean dligheach ma tha gearan agaibh. ’S e an fhìrinn nach deach fìor atharrachadh sòisealta a thoirt a-mach a-riamh gun aimhreit is buaireadh, gun bhriseadh an lagh, agus gun fhòirneart air choireigin – fiù ’s ged nach robh na gluasadan an sàs san aimhreit fòirneartach iad fhèin.
6. “Cha b’ ionnan O Brian ’s na Gàidhil.” […] Lean gu dlùth ri cliù do shinnsre. […] Esan a bhriseas an lagh, brisidh e ’cheann fhéin.
Tha e garbh fhèin inntinneach mar a tha seanfhaclan air an cur gu feum san Tagradh airson taic a chur ri argamaid MhicNeacail. Bha e dìreach air A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases fhoillseachadh ann an 1881, agus thàinig an dàrna eagran a-mach ann an 1882, san aon bhliadhna ris a’ bhileig. Mar sin, bha ùghdarras anns na seanfhaclan seo. B’ ann a bha MacNeacail a’ feuchainn ri cridhe nan leughadairean a ruigsinn, agus dualchas Gàidhlig a chleachdadh an aghaidh gluasad nan croitearan.
An rud mu dheidhinn sheanfhaclan, ge-tà, thèid agad air diofar sheasamhan a dhìon a rèir nan abairtean a thaghas tu agus a rèir mar a thèid am mìneachadh.
Anns a’ chiad eisimpleir an seo, ‘Cha b’ ionnan O Brian ’s na Gàidhil’, tha MacNeacail a’ cleachdadh seanfhacal airson Gàidheil Albannach a chur an aghaidh nan Èireannach. Nochd seo an toiseach ann an cruinneachadh Mhic an Tòisich ann an 1785, gun mhìneachadh sam bith. Nuair a chaidh a chlò-bhualadh às ùr ann an cruinneachadh MhicNeacail tha nòta ann: ‘That O’Brian was an Irishman is all that we know of him’. Mar sin, tha e feumail airson argamaid na bileig, ach ann an da-rìribh, chan eil fios againn dè dìreach a tha e a’ ciallachadh![18][19]
Tha an dàrna eisimpleir, ‘Lean gu dlùth ri cliù do shinnsre’, cho ainmeil ’s a ghabhas chun an latha an-diugh. ’S e an sluagh-ghairm a th’ aig a’ Chomann Oiseanach agus aig comainn Ghàidhealach eile. Tha e air aithris gun abhsadh ann an rosg Gàidhlig. Mar a tha MacNeacail ag innse ‘This is supposed to be Ossianic,—said by Fingal to Oscar’, agus tha e gu tric air a chrìochnachadh: ‘Lean gu dlùth re cliù do shinnsre, ’S na dìbir a bhi mar iadsan’.[20] ’S ann tric a cheasnaicheas mi ciamar a tha daoine ga thuigsinn san latha an-diugh. Gu h-eachdraidheil, tha e gu follaiseach glèidhteach agus uaireannan co-cheangailte ri cliù nan Gàidheal mar shaighdearan air a’ bhlàr-chatha. Tha MacNeacail ga mhìneachadh mar seo san Tagradh: ‘Be’n cliú-san riamh a bhi earbsach, rianail, uasal, umhal do ’n lagh’. Agus, tha ideòlas gu math coltach ris a’ nochdadh cho tràth ri 1829 ann an sgeulachd aig an Urr. Tormod MacLeòid:
[…] bi dìleas, onarach, mar bha na daoin’ o’n d’ thainig thu. Seas thusa ri d’ righ agus ri laghannaibh na rioghachd, agus na biodh companas agad riu-san a tha ’g iarruidh gu mi-riaghailt.[21]
B’ urrainn dhuinn dol an aghaidh a’ mhìneachaidh seo. Dè an cliù agus cò na sinnsirean a tha sinn ag iarraidh a leantainn? Na h-ìochdarain dhìleas no na croitearan reubaltach?
Tha coltas air ‘Esan a bhriseas an lagh, brisidh e ’cheann fhéin’ mar sheanfhacal. Ach, a dh’innse na fìrinn, chan urrainn dhomh a lorg ann an àite sam bith eile – fiù ’s ann an cruinneachadh MhicNeacail.
Tha gu leòr de sheanfhaclan eile againn nach tigeadh a rèir argamaidean MhicNeacail. Chaidh ‘Is treasa tuath na tighearna’ a chleachdadh le Comann an Fhearainn, a bharrachd air ‘Clanna nan Gàidheal an guaillibh a chèile!’ – a dh’fhaodadh a bhith a’ ciallachadh diofar rudan, gu dearbh, ach ann an co-theacsa Aimhreit an Fhearainn a sheas airson dlùth-chomann nan daoine san strì.[22] Saoil an do mhùch MacNeacail seanfhaclan is abairtean na chuid cruinneachaidh a mheasadh e mì-fhreagarrach? Gu bhith cothromach dha, tha eisimpleirean ann, can, dhen ghràin a bh’ aig daoine air na bàillidhean:
Cuiribh air! Cuiribh air!
’S e ’chuireadh oirnne;
’S ma dh’éireas e rithist,
Cuiridh e ’n corr oirnn!
Ach, tha na nòtaichean aige gar stiùireadh air falbh bho cho-dhùnaidhean radaigeach. Air an aon taobh-duilleig ri corra abairt mu bhàillidhean, tha e ag ràdh:
The Celts of Scotland have never, in modern times, so far as I know, maltreated, much less killed, a factor, steward, or magistrate. They have often been treated unjustly; but they are neither so quick of tongue, nor so unsparing of hand, as their Irish brethren.[23]
Ann a bhith a’ bruidhinn air ‘Is treasa Tuath na Tighearna’, tha e èasgaidh gus gleans a chur air brìgh na h-abairt agus a phutadh air ais ann an seann eachdraidh:
This is a remarkable saying, to have originated among a race distinguished by their subordination and fidelity to their natural chiefs and lords. It belongs to a time when the rights of the Clan or Tenantry were real, and believed in by themselves.[24
’S e an geàrr-chunntas a bh’ aige air seanfhaclan is abairtean co-cheangailte ri ‘LANDLORD AND TENANT’:
Some of these sayings are remarkable, and worthy of attention, all the more, that the people whose thoughts they express are naturally contented, quiet, tractable, averse to innovation, agitation, or violence.[25]
Dh’fhoillsich e siud an toiseach ann an 1881 agus nochd e a-rithist san dàrna eagran ann an 1882 nuair a bha an ceòl a’ dol air feadh na fìdhle san Eilean Sgitheanach. Feumaidh ’s gun robh MacNeacail a’ faireachdainn tàmailteach dha-rìribh nach robh an tuath gan giùlan fhèin mar bu chòir.[26]
7. “O Ghalatianacha amaideach, Co chuir druidheachd oirbh?” […] “Fa dheoidh, a bhràithre, ge b’ e nithe ’tha urramach […]”’
Cleas nan seanfhaclan, tha na h-earrannan seo bhon Tiomnadh Nuadh – Galàtianaich 3:1 agus Philipianaich 4:8 – cudromach ann a bhith a’ conaltradh ris na croitearan agus gus cuideam moralta a thoirt do dh’argamaid an Tagraidh. Bha an Eaglais Shaor anabarrach làidir am measg muinntir an Eilein Sgitheanaich. Na b’ anmoiche, air 30 Faoilleach 1883, shoirbhich le ceathrar de mhinistearan na h-Eaglais Shaoir aig coinneamh ann an Gleann Dail a bhith a’ toirt air na daoine tarraing air ais bho aramach agus cluas èisteachd a thoirt do riochdaire bhon riaghaltas. B’ ann mar sin a ghèill ‘Martairean Ghleann Dail’ agus a dh’aontaich iad ri cùirt a sheasamh. (Faic an Loidhne-ama). Mar sin, bheireadh na croitearan an aire do sheasamh a’ Bhìobaill. Ach, chì sinn mar a fhreagair iad fhèin na casaidean nan aghaidh a’ tarraing air an dearbh thùs.
Freagairtean ris an Tagradh: Taiceil
Tha fios againn gun do tharraing Blàr a’ Chumhaing agus na thàinig às a dhèidh aire an t-saoghail air croitearan agus an cuid ghearanan. Bha aithrisean an luchd-naidheachd a thadhail air an Eilean Sgitheanach garbh fhèin cudromach airson an gluasad a mhisneachadh agus a neartachadh.[27] A’ leughadh nan pàipearan-naidheachd aig an àm, ge-tà, ann an 1882, tha e iongantach cho àicheil, nàimhdeil ’s a bha mòran dhiubh ris na croitearan.[28] An seo, cha toir sinn sùil ach air corra eisimpleir de dh’aithris a tha a-mach air Tagradh Alasdair MhicNeacail.
A rèir a’ Pherthshire Constitutional & Journal, chan e buaidh mhòr nan croitearan a bh’ ann am Blàr a’ Chumhaing ach a chaochladh: b’ iad na h-ùghdarrasan a fhuair làmh an uachdair. Seo a’ bhreith thàireil aca air na thachair – agus thoir fa-near an coimeas a nì iad ri Èirinn:
THE poor misguided crofters of Skye have had a sharp lesson. But it must be owned that they needed it. The vigorous and determined action of the authorities, and the promptitude and energy of the police, have made it plain to the sadly ignorant islanders that Scotland is not Ireland,—that the law cannot in this country be defied with impunity. The circumstances attending the arrest of the ringleaders prove that had the authorities been one whit less prompt in their action, the outbreak might very soon have assumed a much more dangerous form, and demanded much more severe measures of repression.[29]
Mhol am pàipear gu mòr an oidhirp a bh’ aig an t-Siorram air dol san eadraiginn. Tha iad fhèin cinnteach gu bheil tùs na trioblaid a’ tighinn à Èirinn, ach cuideachd gun robh droch làimhseachadh is poileasaidhean an riaghaltais Libearalaich rin coireachadh. Tha iad a’ bruidhinn mu na croitearan mar chlann a tha feumach air socrachadh às dèidh stiùirichean (tantrum) mus èist iad ri reusan nan inbheach.
The well-timed Gaelic letter of Sheriff NICOLSON is a step towards this; and the whole country is indebted to the SHERIFF for attempting to address words of common-sense to the misguided people. Whether the crofters are as yet quite in a frame of mind to receive and profit by the warm hearted and gushing remonstrances of the SHERIFF, may be doubted. But his letter will at least show them that there are those, whose real friendship for them they cannot doubt, who are grieved at the mad steps which evil advisers in other quarters, more selfish and less friendly, have prompted them to take. And by and bye, when they have cooled down a little, the discontented Skyemen will be more ready to welcome the good offices of other friends who may propose to ask them in a quiet and sober tone to explain what it is all about. “Who hath bewitched the foolish Galatians?” the SHERIFF wonders. It might be said in answer to this question, we fear, that the bewitchment comes directly from Ireland, and indirectly from the PRIME MIINISTER, and Mr BRIGHT and Mr CHAMBERLAIN. It is only to be hoped that the management of the little bit of trouble which has appeared in Skye will be taken in hand with more caution and common-sense than has been bestowed on the bigger and blacker troubles of Ireland.[30]
Bha an Greenock Advertiser cuideachd deimhinnte às gun robh dlùth-cheanglaichean eadar croitearan a’ Bhràighe agus na h-Èireannaich, agus rinn iad leudachadh orra sin:
The connection between the disaffected crofters of the Braes and the Irish Land League is now known to be of the most intimate description. The branch of the Land League in Glasgow contains a number of Highlanders, and with these the crofters were in communication previous to the outbreak. In addition to this, a number of the disaffected crofters had attended Land League meetings in Ireland, where they would imbibe the poison that is now bearing such lamentable fruit. Some of the crofters were in the habit of eking out their living by fishing operations, and last year these operations were extended to the Irish coast. When there they found their way to the Land League meetings advocating the non-payment of rent, and they determined to import the Irish weapon for application in the Highlands.[31]
Ach, bha am pàipear dòchasach nach rachadh cùisean am miosad mar a thachair ann an Èirinn. Le beagan a bharrachd co-fhaireachdainn do na croitearan na na bh’ aig a’ Pherthshire Constitutional, chreid iad ‘the truest kindness to the disaffected tenants themselves is to nip the agitation in the bud’. Bha Tagradh MhicNeacail uabhasach feumail, ma-thà, chun na crìche sin: bha e càirdeil ach daingeann ann a bhith gan ceartachadh agus gan stiùireadh air falbh bho mhì-laghalachd sam bith:
The Highlanders have made a serious mistake, but it is not to be imagined for a moment that they would find it possible to imitate the murderous and fiendish deeds of their Irish brethren. […] The address of Sheriff Nicolson is exceedingly well-timed. He speaks to them as one of themselves, and in their common Gaelic language. He shares alike the sympathies and traditions of the Gael, and the crofters cannot for a moment doubt his kindly interest in all that is best for their prosperity. His address is admirable in form and substance; it breathes the language of friendship and conciliation; and on this account, as also from the eminence of his social and authoritative position, it must come home to them with commanding force. […][32]
Fiù ’s anns an Òbanach, pàipear a dh’fhàs tòrr na bu radaigiche nuair a thòisich Donnchadh Camshron (Òg) air a dheasachadh na b’ anmoiche ann an 1882,[33] bha ùghdar a’ chuilbh ‘Our Edinburgh Letter’ gu làidir air taobh an t-Siorraim MacNeacail. Bheachdaich an colbh ud air na tachartasan dràmadach san Eilean Sgitheanach, an uair sin, tha e a’ tionndadh gu Tagradh MhicNeacail agus b’ ann fon sin a nochd teacsa an Tagraidh fhèin le eadar-theangachadh.
Bha an sgrìobhadair seo dhen bheachd, mura robh na croitearan faiceallach, gum feuchadh na h-uachdarain ri cuidhteas fhaighinn iad uile gu lèir. Cheasnaich e cuideachd an robh fìor adhbhar gearain aca. Cleas thabloidean san latha an-diugh, tha e a’ cur mun aire nach bu chòir dhaibh a bhith a’ seasamh an còirichean oir bha daoine eile ann na bu mhiosa dheth.
Sheriff Nicolson, himself by ancestry connected with Braes, has issued a leaflet in Gaelic, addressed to and distributed among the Skye crofters, giving them good and sound advice, which no man is better qualified to give; and we hope it is not too late to have the desired effect. [We append at foot copy of the Gaelic address and its translation into English.] If the crofters, instead of listening to such advice, will prefer to imitate the Irish, we are much afraid the landlords will make a clear sweep of them off the soil altogether, which we consider would be nothing less than a national calamity as well as a national disgrace. As they are situated, the crofters of Skye have no doubt a struggle to make ends meet; but, upon the whole, we believe there is not more cause of complaint or more distress among them than there is to be met with in cities such as this [Edinburgh] and Glasgow. The 5 or 6 acre croft, with its piece of hill pasture and other concomitants, is a paradise we think compared with the comfortless life to be eked out in the slums of large towns, among dens of infamy and shame, in pinching poverty and helpless misery, in an atmosphere thick with the fumes from countless stalks and chimneys, &c., […] To the poor Highlander city life is often worse than the grave.[34]
Mu dheireadh, tha dà litir gu math inntinneach le Gàidheal thall thairis san Òbanach mu mhìos às dèidh sgapadh Tagradh MhicNeacail anns na pàipearan-naidheachd. Chan aithne dhuinn cò bh’ ann an Ailein Ruadh, ach tha e a’ seasamh a-mach mar aon Ghàidheal, a thuilleadh air luchd-naidheachd, a chuir taic ri seasamh MhicNeacail. Sa chiad litir aige, tha e cho faisg air argamaid an t-Siorraim tha e mar ’s gu bheil e ag ath-ghairm a phrìomh phuingean. Ach, ’s dòcha gum bu chòir dhuinn a bhith beagan faiceallach oir chan eil e a’ toirt iomradh air an Tagradh.
FACAL A DUTHAICH CHEIN.
A Chlanna mo Chridhe,—Am measg na h-ùpraid fhearainn a tha air ghur ’n ’ur measg tha mi an dòchas nach dean sibh ni ’s am bith mi-naomha a bhios ’n a nàire do na suinn a ghin sibh, do’n tìr ’s an d’ àraicheadh sibh, no do ’n chreideamh a tha sibh ag aideachadh. Ma ni, ’s i chliù a gheibh sibh o gach tìr, “Nach h-e na h-Eirionnaich iad!” Bidh facal is fhaide againn uair eile ma ’s e sin toil Deasaiche a’ phaipeir. Le spéis agus seirc, is mise,
AILEIN RUADH.[35]
Tha e coltach gur e na leanas an ath litir a gheall e. An seo, tha e a’ cumail a-mach gu lag, gu bheil e ann an da-rìribh air taobh nan croitearan. Ach, ’s e am fuasgladh aige gum bu chòir don tuath bhochd san Eilean Sgitheanach eilthireachd a dhèanamh. Tha deagh theans ann gun do rinn e fhèin siud, ge be cò às a bha e. Tha e a’ cur sìos air croitearan a’ Bhràighe le a bhith a’ toirt tuairisgeul air an strì aca mar ‘b[h]làr na cloinne bige air bruthaichean fuar fliuch Eilein-a’-Cheò’. Chan eil e a’ tuigsinn carson a bhiodh croitearan ‘a’ leth-bhàsachadh air na creagan neo-fhaoilidh […] ’nuair a tha fearann math ach beag a nasgaidh ri fhaotainn ann an dùthaichean eile’. Dh’fhaodadh gun robh sin fìor do chuid. Ach, b’ ann a bha na croitearan a’ sabaid airson roghainn a bhith aca. Agus, bha iad a’ dìon an cuid choimhearsneachdan Gàidhealach is an ceangal ri tìr an dùthchais. Bha puingean Ailein Ruaidh, air an làimh eile, nan cuideachadh do na h-uachdarain agus an cuid cumhachd, agus ag amas air gluasad nan croitearan a lagachadh. Tha e comharraichte, ge-tà, gu bheil e mar gum b’ eadh a’ freagairt cuideigin, mas fhìor, ann an deasbad – ‘dheanadh tusa a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’n a fàsach!’ – mar ’s gu bheil fios aige nach biodh na bh’ aige ri ràdh measail aig daoine.
AN DUTHAICH CHEIN.
Na Sgiathanaich ’s Tor-mòr[36] ag òl air a chéile a’ tighinn á Ionar-nis![37] Cha’n e dà latha a bha acasan ach trì. Nach e ’n caraid gràdhach cridheil Iain-eòrna féin. Am fraoch a ghabh teine aig Gead-an-tàilleir chaidh a bhàth-adh air druim a’ Chaoil. Sud mar chrìochnaich blàr na cloinne bige air bruthaichean fuar fliuch Eilein-a’-Cheò. Is e b’ fheàrr. ’Nuair a bheir na Gàidheil am monadh orra a rithist air son an còirichean biodh an cùisean aca air an òrdachadh ni’s fheàrr agus ni’s laghaile. An fhiach na criomagan truagha fearainn a tha aig cuid do na Gàidheil a bhi ag obair riutha? An cumadh iad teaghlaichean beò ged nach biodh màl idir orra? Tha mi a’ tuigsinn gu’m bheil cuid do Thuath bheag an Fhrisealaich[38] a’ fàgail an eilein. ’S e chanas mi-féin co-dhiù[,] Rinn sibh gu math e; c’arson a bhiodh sibh a’ leth-bhàsachadh air na creagan neo-fhaoilidh ’san dùthaich so ’nuair a tha fearann math ach beag a nasgaidh ri fhaotainn ann an dùthaichean eile, agus sin fo riagh-ladh sìobhalta gun taing [n]i’s feàrr na a th’agaibh ’s a’ Ghàidhealtachd? Their feadhain nach do ghiùlain cliabh riamh air an druim, agus nach d’o[i]brich riamh aon latha le spaid, O[ ]dheanadh tusa a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’n a fàsach! Is mi nach deanadh n’am b’urrainn mi. Cha’n’eil nàire orm aideachadh gu’m b’fheàrr leam cuid do na glinn agus do na bruthaichean fhaicinn fo chaor-aich ’s fo fhéidh na bhi faicinn nan Gàidheal bochd ann an sud gun bhiadh gun eudach mur faigheadh iad iad troimh chosnadh air Ghalldachd. Ged tha mi labhairt mar so cha’n’eil teanga an giallaibh Gàidhealach is luaithe a thogas a guth air taobh còirichean “nam mac” na mo theanga féin, ged is mi-féin a tha ga ràdh!
AILEIN RUADH.[39]
Freagairtean ris an Tagradh: Na Aghaidh
Tha sinn a’ tionndadh a-nis, mu dheireadh thall, gu tùsan bhon bheagan sheachdainean às dèidh clò-bhualadh Tagradh an t-Siorraim a chuir na aghaidh gu dìreach, sgairteil. An tùs as fheàrr gu lèir, ge-tà, ’s e litir – nach deach a cleachdadh roimhe le luchd-eachdraidh – a sgrìobh croitearan Ghleann Dail fhèin mar fhreagairt do MhacNeacail. Chaidh seo a chur an toiseach gu fear ‘John M‘Lean’ ann an Glaschu, a bhiodh a’ togail ceann anns an Òbanach, agus dh’iarr esan air an deasaiche a chlò-bhualadh air 8 Ceitean.
Glasgow, 8th May, 1882,.
Sir,—Sheriff Nicolson lately addressed an epistle to the foolish Galatians in Skye in very meek and despairing strains; but, alas! such is the perfidiousness of human nature, that the well-weant pastoral has produced an effect opposite to what it was intended to do. Personal considerations forbid me say anything that might detract from Sheriff Nicolson, but at the same time I cannot refuse to comply with a request which his lordship’s friends in Glendale have made; I have, therefore, to ask if you, Mr Editor, will kindly give space to following letter:—
“Mr John M‘Lean, Glasgow. Dear Sir,—Many thanks for your kind advice. We desire to inform you and our friends in Glasgow, that we never entertained for a moment a thought to break the law of the nation, but we think it proper to say that we do not consider landlord law the law of the country. We mean to be united against all comers, and moreover, we mean to have a voice in making the laws, under which we may live, and will not allow ourselves to be robbed any longer by a band of rascals.
You want to know about our state here in Glendale; you would have seen a full report of our proceedings in the Oban Times and N.B. Daily Mail. We have nothing new to say, but that we will have our own, no matter what our landlords may do or say. You will be glad to hear that the women on Dr. Martin’s estate got payment this season for drying the fish. They got 1s. a day, and this is the first payment since he became owner of Nicolson’s estate. It was the former owner who took away our horses and sheep; and when Martin came in he introduced slavery in the form of free labour. For to mention everything would take too long just now, but a few of our men will call upon you soon and explain how we stand now. We got a letter from Nicolson’s son (the Sheriff), and we must say he had little to do when he wrote such silly nonsense. He compares us to the Irish; well we think it proper to tell him that the Irish and Scotch came from the same father (God), and one would think a man so well educated as Sheriff Nicolson, had that much historical knowledge. He knows better than most men how we have been ill-used, but he never raised his voice in solemn protest against our oppressors. We would have thought more of him had he offered to defend his unjustly imprisoned fellow-islanders, but instead of that he advises us to remain like the Israelites in bondage. We know well the reason which made him write, but do not want to wound his feelings if he keeps his letters for those who wish them. * * * * Glendale, 4th May, 1882.” I am afraid Sheriff Nicolson has underrated the intelligence of his friends in Glendale.—l am, &c., JOHN M‘LEAN.[40]
A bhalaich ort! Nach eil siud math?
Tha mi fhathast ag obrachadh a-mach cò bh’ anns an Iain MhacGillEathain seo. Ach, na fhacal-toisich tha e a’ breugnachadh amas MhicNeacail fhèin, agus dòchas an luchd-taic aige, gun cuidicheadh an Tagradh ann a bhith a’ mì-mhisneachadh aimhreit nan croitearan Sgitheanach: ‘the well-weant pastoral has produced an effect opposite to what it was intended to do’. Tha fios gun do sgaoil an aimhreit agus gun do dh’fhàs i na bu dèine anns na mìosan is bliadhnaichean às deidh a’ Ghiblein 1882. Chan eil an Leathanach fhèin deònach ionnsaigh a bharrachd a thoirt air an t-Siorram, ged a tha an tòna aige soilleir gu leòr. Tha e a’ fàgail sin, a’ cleachdadh fhaclan ìoranta, aig ‘his lordship’s friends in Glendale’ – cuimhnich gun tuirt MacNeacail riutha gum b’ e ‘[an] caraid dileas agus [am] fear-dùthcha’.
Cò na daoine ann an Gleann Dail a sgrìobh an litir? Chan eil fhios againn, agus tha an ainmean air an dubhadh às. An tàinig iad cruinn ann an coinneamh airson bruidhinn mu na casaidean nan aghaidh? Shaoileamaid gur dòcha gun tàinig. Tha an litir aca goirid, pongail, urramach, gramail, diadhaidh, le deagh gheur-fhaclan do an nàimhdean.
A’ toirt aghaidh air a’ chàineadh gun robh iad a’ briseadh an lagha, tha iad a’ cur an cèill na fìrinn nach ionnan an-còmhnaidh an lagh agus ceartas. Mar a tha fear de na seanfhaclan ann an cruinneachadh MhicNeacail fhèin ag ràdh: ‘Is cam ’s is direach a thig an lagh’ – .i. tha laghan ann a tha ceart is mì-cheart.[41] Tha iad a’ sgrìobhadh, ‘we do not consider landlord law the law of the country’ agus, mar sin, cha bhi iad ga ghlèidheadh tuilleadh.[42]
Co-cheangailte ri mì-laghalachd anns an Tagradh bha a’ chasaid gun robh na croitearan ri fòirneart: bha iad gan giùlan fhèin ‘le ainneart agus ùpraid agus làmhachas-làidir’. Gu h-inntinneach, chan eil iad gu follaiseach a’ togail seo, agus chan eil iad a’ bodraigeadh leudachadh air na thachair gu ruige sin. ’S ann a tha iad ag ràdh ri daoine a bhith a’ leughadh nan aithrisean slàna anns na pàipearan-naidheachd (bha an North British Daily Mail, gu sònraichte, agus an t-Òbanach reusanta taiceil.[43]) Tha iad ag innse, ‘[w]e mean to be united against all comers’, ‘[we] will not allow ourselves to be robbed any longer by a band of rascals’, agus ‘we will have our own, no matter what our landlords may do or say’. Tha e ri thuigsinn gum feum iad an còirichean a sheasamh ge be dè a thachras. ’S iad na h-uachdarain – am ‘band of rascals’ – agus an lagh aca a tha dha-rìribh fòirneartach, agus bidh aig na croitearan ri an dìon fhèin.[44]
Tha iomradh air cuid dhe na gearanan eile aca, a bharrachd air ionaltradh Bhatairsteinn. Cha robh na boireannaich a’ faighinn pàigheadh airson iasg a thiormachadh bhon uachdaran, an Dr Nicol Martin, gu bho chionn ghoirid. Tha iad air an uabhasachadh gum feum iad mòrlanachd a dhèanamh dha – ’s e sin saothair gun phàigheadh air an oighreachd. Agus tha slaic ga toirt air teaghlach MhicNeacail: ‘[i]t was the former owner who took away our horses and sheep’. Fhuair an Dr Nicol Martin am fearann aige bho theaghlach Alasdair MhicNeacail ann an 1840.[45] Tha barrachd ghearanan aca, ach tha iad gan sàbhaladh airson litir eile.
An uair sin, tha iad dha-rìribh a’ càineadh an t-Siorraim: ‘[w]e got a letter from Nicolson’s son (the Sheriff), and we must say he had little to do when he wrote such silly nonsense’. Cha robh e riamh air an taobh. ‘[H]e never raised his voice in solemn protest against our oppressors’ agus cha do rinn e sìon airson a bhith a’ dìon ‘his unjustly imprisoned fellow-islanders’. Tha iad a’ cur air shùilean dhuinn gun robh adhbhar pearsanta aige airson an Tagradh aige a sgrìobhadh: ‘[w]e know well the reason which made him write, but do not want to wound his feelings’. Saoil a bheil iad a-mach air MacNeacail a’ dìon a chliù agus inbhe am measg daoine leòmach na Galltachd?
Tha na croitearan, a rèir coltais, coma mu dhaoine ag ràdh gu bheil iad ag atharrais air na h-Èireannaich. Tha iad a’ diùltadh an sgaraidh a tha MacNeacail a’ dèanamh, ach chan ann an seo, co-dhiù, air sgàth dlùth-chomann nan Gàidheal, .i. Gaelic solidarity. ’S e daonnachdas/uileachd (universalism) Chrìostaidh a tha iad a’ togail nan argamaid: ‘the Irish and Scotch came from the same father (God)’. Agus, tha an creideamh làidir ga chur an cèill a-rithist anns na faclan cumhachdach faisg air an deireadh. ‘[MacNeacail] advises us to remain like the Israelites in bondage’. Tha fios againn gun robh an cànan, am meatafor, diadhaireachd an t-saoraidh seo anabarrach cudromach ann an gluasad nan croitearan.[46]
Tha litir croitearan Ghleann Dail ann am Beurla ged a bha an Tagradh fhèin ann an Gàidhlig. ’S dòcha gun robh iad ag amas air Goill agus luchd-leughaidh nas fharsainge a chuireadh taic riutha. ’S dòcha gun robh iad na bu chleachdte ri litrichean a sgrìobhadh ann am Beurla co-dhiù. An do leugh Alasdair MacNeacail an fhreagairt aca? Ma leugh, ’s cinnteach gun tug e droch chlisgeadh dha. Na b’ anmoiche, bha aige ri suidhe a dh’èisteachd (gu mì-chofhurtail?) ri fianais nan croitearan ann an Gleann Dail nuair a thadhail Coimisean Napier air an sgìre air 19 Cèitean 1883.
Nach math gu bheil tùsan mar seo ann a cheadaicheas dhuinn taobh eile na sgeulachd a chluinntinn, taobh nan daoine fhèin? San litir seo, tha sinn a’ faighinn a’ faighinn beagan a bharrachd tuigse air faireachdainnean is rùintean croitearan Ghleann Dail aig an àm:
‘we mean to have a voice in making the laws, under which we may live’.
Nochd an dàrna freagairt a tha seo ris an Tagradh anns an dearbh àireamh den Òbanach air 13 Cèitean. Bha Cameron is Newby eòlach air an tùs seo, ged nach eil iad a’ bruidhinn mun litir tòrr na bu chudromaiche le croitearan Ghleann Dail. Tha iad a’ soilleireachadh dhuinn gum b’ e ùghdar a’ phìos, ‘Rob Roy Jr.’, na ‘Liverpool-based Gael who, like the other Liverpool correspondents of the Oban Times, seems to have had close relations with the radical Irishmen of the city’.[47] ’S e a th’ againn sgeig-aithris no parodaidh sgoinneil air bileag an t-Siorraim. An àite a bhith a’ cronachadh nan croitearan ’s ann a tha i gan àrd-mholadh, agus i a’ dèanamh sin le bhith a’ tionndadh gach puing a bh’ aig MacNeacail na aghaidh.
‘Now, bravo!’, tha Rob Roy Jr. ag ràdh, ‘the Skyemen are at last imitating the Irish, making themselves the object of sympathy and hope’.[48]
Tha an litir sgaiteach, èibhinn agus gu math dàna. Eu-coltach ri Ailein Ruadh, tha an Rob Ruadh Òg seo a’ sealltainn mar a dh’fhaodadh émigré Gàidhealach a bhith a’ brosnachadh aimhreit nan croitearan aig astar, agus gan grìosachadh ri dhol nas fhaide. Gu dearbh, tha e a’ cumail a-mach nach ann ach tro aimhreit a gheibh iad ceartas, agus tha e fiù ’s a’ dìon tomhas de dh’fhòirneart:
Ye will certainly get justice, if ye stand fast one to another. It is only by a few deeds of violence and high-handness that ye can direct attention to your grievances. He that breaks a bad law helps to amend it.
Dìreach mar a chleachd MacNeacail iomraidhean bhon Tiomnadh Nuadh airson argamaid a dhaingneachadh, agus mar a bha creideamh daingeann air a thaisbeanadh ann an litir croitearan Ghleann Dail, tha Rob Roy Jr. cuideachd a’ lorg às-earrannan bhon Bhìoball a chuireas taic ris-san. Chleachd e faclan eile bhon aon leabhar a chleachd MacNeacail, Galàtianaich: ‘For, breth[ren], you have [been] called unto liberty’. Ach, tha e a’ glèidheadh na h-earrainn mu dheireadh bhon Bhìoball a bh’ anns an Tagradh oir, tha e coltach, gun do shaoil e gun robh e na bu fhreagarraiche airson adhbhar ceartas nan croitearan na propaganda nan uachdaran.
Tha corra phuing a th’ ann caran dà-sheaghach, agus mì-shoilleir. An robh an t-ùghdar a’ creidsinn a h-uile rud a sgrìobh e an seo? Bhon teacsa agus bhon bheagan as aithne dhuinn mun duine air cùl an ainm-phinn, tha e coltach gun robh. B’ fhiach e barrachd fhaighinn a-mach, ge-tà.
TO THE CROFTERS OF SKYE,
ESPECIALLY IN GLENDALE AND THE BRAES OF PORTREE.
(After Sheriff Nicolson.)
DEAR PEOPLE,—What grand news is this that we hear of your? I little thought that the day would come so soon when I would hear such tidings from the “bravest of islands,” above all from Glendale, the country of my ancestors, whose nature it was to be peaceable people until trampled upon. Joyful am I to-day; great is my gladness concerning the island I always praise. We were sorry (and no more) to hear of your great loss at the beginning of the winter, but we are now exceedingly pleased at this news. Many a man in far away parts will feel the same. I was in Edinburgh giving a short account, with much pleasure, of the brave and long-suffering Highlanders, and I said—much as they have endured and are enduring from factor-greed—they are not so harshly dealt by as the patriot Irish, who are called “miserable” by certain newspapers. As it was said of old, “O’Brien was different from, and should be treated differently to a Highlander!” The Highlander, I said, is manly, smart, but he is sensible to wrong, devout in believing his landlord’ insensibility to him, steady in the faith of his rights, courteous even to an unfeeling factor, and knows when he is down-trodden and rack-rented. He will not give bad language for bad usage, but will decline to have the bad usage. He will not lift his hand against rulers, however despotic and selfish, or against authority, however harsh and grinding. He will not refuse to pay his rent, whatever it may be, or however unjust. He seeks not the land for himself, although his life-long labours have been spent on it for the benefit of others; he seeks only justice, which is his due, and which he shall yet have, and he wants to live no longer in the stye-huts of the place where he was born. Now, bravo! the Skyemen are at last imitating the Irish, making themselves the object of sympathy and hope. My dear friends, don’t think that by any other means you will get justice or victory. By no means. There will come of it but justice and fame. My heart is glad to think of it. I heard with delight that I was mentioned by some in Skye as one of those who were stirring up the people to mischief, and that I said the land belonged to themselves. “Blessings attend the truthful tongue.” I have said such a thing, for I am not so ignorant of your real conditions of existence as not to say so, and I do not fear its effects on my official position or any social status amongst the gentry. As blessed Paul said, “Have ye suffered so many things in vain?”[49] also “For, breth[ren], you have [been] called unto liberty.”[50] I beseech you do [?not] forget that noble doctrine, “Follow closely the fame of your fathers,” who were never serfs or spirit-crushed slaves, suffering all the woes of eviction without murmur. Their fame was ever to be obedient to the (factor) law, however tyrannical or full of sorrows; they moved about with the factor’s foot on their neck, and spoke not of their misery; they endured hunger and death that their landlord might have plenty. Remember these things my friends. You have real cause of complaint. Ye will certainly get justice, if ye stand fast one to another. It is only by a few deeds of violence and high-handness that ye can direct attention to your grievances. He that breaks a bad law helps to amend it. In the name of all that is good and praise-worthy, ye have brought honour to your name and glory to all your friends. (Ye shall see who they are now.) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are untrue, these scorn; whatsoever things are dishonest, these hate; whatsoever things are unjust, these defy; whatsoever things are impure, these purify; whatsoever things are unlovely, these weed; whatsoever things are of good report, these gain; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, do ye these things.” Amen!—Your faithful friend and countryman,
ROB ROY, jr.[51]
Air 26 Giblean 1882, dìreach beagan làithean às dèidh Bhlàr a’ Chumhaing, ràinig Iain MacMhuirich Port Rìgh ann an cuideachd Éadbhaird Mhic Aodha (Edward McHugh) a’ riochdachadh Chomann Breatannach an Fhearainn (an National Land League of Great Britain). Ghabh iad an uair sin cuairt air a’ Bhràighe, agus air a’ chòrr dhen eilean, a thoirt seachad teachdaireachd radaigeach de nàiseantachadh fearainn do na croitearan.[52] Anns an nòta aig Cameron is Newby, tha iad a’ toirt iomradh air mar a thachair MacMhuirich air Tagradh MhicNeacail an toiseach:
I met two clergymen in the town of Portree, one of them with a bundle of copies of a silly leaflet in Gaelic which a sheriff in another part of Scotland printed to act as a wet-sheet on the minds of the people… ‘Oh, we sympathise with the people,’ the younger of the two said, while the other seemed ashamed of the bundle of twaddle which he had been asked to circulate.[53]
Èibhinn agus eas-urramach do MhacNeacail, tha a’ chriomag seo fhèin a’ toirt fianais dhuinn air mar a sgaoileadh an Tagradh: le ministearan no pearsachan-eaglaise – chan eil an eaglais ainmichte – agus ’s dòcha aig seirbheisean. Tha e inntinneach cuideachd gum biodh leisg air pearsa-eaglaise an toirt a-mach.
Tha an tùs mu dheireadh agam coltach ri seo. Gu dearbh, bha mi a’ smaoineachadh an toiseach gur e an aon litir a bh’ ann ann an àite eile. Nochd an cunntas seo air aimhreit an fhearainn san Eilean Sgitheanach air 13 Cèitean 1882 anns a’ phàipear United Ireland, clò-bhuailte ann am Baile Átha Cliath. Aig a cheann tha na faclan ‘The Scottish Gael’ air a leantainn le ‘Special Correspondenge of United Ireland’. Na lùib, tha an earrann seo mun t-Siorram MacNeacail:
Sheriff Nicolson has written some good Gaelic songs; he has written excellent English papers, several of them on Skye itself, and during the past year he has turned out a volume of Gaelic proverbs, modestly said to be a new edition of Macintosh’s collection, but which is to a very large extent a new work, with an English translation. It is not only a very large collection of the gems of thought left by our Celtic forefathers in Scotland, but it accounts for the origin of many of them. The sheriff, from some weakness with which he was seized about the time of the breaking out of “the disturbance in Skye,” has rather disgusted his friends and admirers by sending forth a silly leaflet, in which he expresses sentiments suggestive of the idea that he is more anxious to earn the favour of the authors of the Coercion Bill, by throwing a wet blanket over the Skye crofters, than he is to see his fellow-countrymen do anything to throw off the slavish yoke of Anglo-Norman feudalism.[54]
Chan fhaic mi iomradh air an tùs san dàrna litreachas, ach tha mi stèidhichte sa bheachd gur e Iain MacMhuirich a-rithist a sgrìobh seo . Tha na h-argamaidean cho coltach ris agus fiù ’s na h-abairtean: tha e ag ainmeachadh an ‘silly leaflet’ mar a rinn e anns an litir chun an Irish World; tha MacNeacail ag amas air a bhith ‘throwing a wet blanket over the Skye crofters’, agus anns a’ chriomaig eile tha e ag ràdh gun deach a chlò-bhualadh ‘to act as a wet-sheet on the minds of the people’. Agus, tha fios gum bitheadh MacMhuirich a’ cur ri pàipearan-naidheachd Èireannach gu tric.
Tha MacMhuirich, ma-thà, cothromach ann a bhith a’ toirt spèis do dh’Alasdair MacNeacail mar shàr Ghàidheal agus sgoilear. Ach, chan eil e a’ glèidheadh a theanga nuair a thig e gu mearachd mhòr na bileig. Sgrìobh MacNeacail i, da rèir-san, air sgàth laigse air choireigin a thàinig air agus, ri a linn, ‘[he] has rather disgusted his friends and admirers’. Nuair a tha e air a ràdh gun robh MacNeacail ‘anxious to earn the favour of the authors of the Coercion Bill’ tha MacMhuirich a-mach air Achd an Fhòirnidh (Coercion Act) a thug Uilleam Gladstone a-steach ann an 1881.Thug siud cumhachd don stàit daoine a chur ann am prìosan an Èirinn, gun chùis-dheuchainn, nan robh amharas ann gun do ghabh iad pàirt ann an Cogadh na Talún. Mar sin, tha an Siorram, ann am beachd MhicMhuirich, coma mu dheidhinn ceartas do a cho-luchd-dùthcha ach èasgaidh a bhith air fhaicinn leis a’ chlas-riaghlaidh a’ dèanamh rudeigin gus an strì aca a mhùchadh.
A’ conaltradh ris na h-Èireannaich, tha Iain MacMhuirich a’ cur cuideam air na bha ann an cumantas eadar iadsan agus na Sgitheanaich – is Gàidheil Albannach san fharsaingneachd. Tha e a’ sealltainn mar a bha iad le chèile air an cleachdadh le an luchd-ainneirt (oppressors) fhèin airson daoine brùite eile air feadh an t-saoghail a cheannsachadh agus fhoireigneachadh. Tha e a’ mìneachadh mar a tha an dà shluagh a’ strì airson chòirichean is saorsa, agus an diaspora aca a’ coiteachadh ’s a’ togail airgead às an leth. Tha e a’ dèanamh fiughair ri tòrr a bharrachd co-obrachadh eadar Gàidheil ann an Alba is Èirinn. Agus, tha e ri thuigsinn gum feum na h-Albannaich ionnsachadh bho na h-Èireannaich, a tha air a bhith ri spàirn gu math nas fhaide ’s nas dorra, ma tha iad ann an da-rìribh mu an saoradh fhèin.[55]
Ann am faclan eile, tha e a’ cur casaid mhòr MhicNeacail, gu bheil na ‘Sgiathanaich ag atharrais air na h-Eireannaich’ bun os cionn.
Skye, like Ireland, has sent forth too many of her sons to fight the battles of others, with the results of weakening herself and fastening upon her neck more firmly the yoke of the oppressor. One other respect in which the two islands resemble each other comes to light almost for the first time at the present juncture. Her sons, who were sent away with a vengeance, are now organising in Glasgow, Dundee, and elsewhere, and raising funds, as the Irish are doing in America, to support those who remain to work their emancipation out. It is to be hoped that the present movement will help towards letting the Celts of the greater and the lesser islands see more clearly eye to eye, than they have done for some generations. There would hardly seem to be a good reason why they ever ceased to understand and to take an interest in each other.
[…] In the meantime, the iron has entered into the flesh of the patient Celts of [Scotland],[56] and the voice of calumny is up against them as soon as they succeed in gaining the public ear. But even calumny will do some good; it will show the Scots of Albyn that they are only tolerated so long as they are subservient. The moment they become troublesome, by talking of any rights of their own, they will come in for the treatment usually given to the Irish.[57]
Tha MacMhuirich air an aon ràmh ri croitearan Ghleann Dail nan litir a thaobh an diofair eadar ceartas agus an lagh, agus dh’aontaicheadh e gu mòr gu bheil moraltachd a’ Bhìobaill air an taobh. Ach, tha lèirsinn nas fharsainge aige agus tòrr a bharrachd aige ri ràdh mun cheangal Èireannach. Dè mu dheidhinn fòirneart? Chomhairlich MacMhuirich do na croitearan an-còmhnaidh gun fòirneart a chleachdadh, ach thuig e ro mhath nach b’ ionnan fòirneart nan aintighearnan agus fòirneart nam mithean. ’S e a bha cudromach nach strìochdadh iad do an nàimhdean ge be dè cho garbh ’s a dh’fhàsadh cùisean.
Seo na sgrìobh e san aon chunntas:
[… E]verything has been done that could be by the pro-landlord papers to poison the public against the agitators. So far as can be seen, the people are determined not to give into this violence, and the trial [cùis-dheuchainn fir a’ Bhràighe air 11 Cèitean 1882] is sure to result in a great exposure of the system under which these poor people have been groaning for so long. The attack by the police has fanned the embers, the prosecution will blow them into a blaze. The people has no intention of doing any violence; but they now see and feel what they have got by their subserviency in times past.[58]
Co-dhùnadh
Tha amannan ann nuair a tha e do-sheachanta gun taobh poileataigeach a ghabhail. Ann an 1882, às dèidh Bhlàr a’ Chumhaing a bharrachd air toiseach na h-aimhreit ann an Gleann Dail, thagh an Siorram Alasdair MacNeacail taobh nan uachdaran an aghaidh nan croitearan. Rinn e sin le bhith a’ sgrìobhadh bileag ann an Gàidhlig agus ga sgaoileadh san Eilean Sgitheanach. Bha a’ bhileag a’ maslachadh nan croitearan a bha an sàs, agus gan càineadh airson mì-laghalachd, fòirneart, agus a bhith ag atharrais air na h-Èireannaich. B’ ann a bha na h-Èireannaich air am meas gu nàdarra mì-dhìleas agus reubaltach. An seo, lean sinn cuid de bhlàr nam beachdan a chuireadh, air sgàth Tagradh MhicNeacail, anns na pàipearan-naidheachd – agus tha e brìgheil gum b’ ann às an Òbanach a thàinig cuid mhath dhe na prìomh thùsan. Chuireadh am blàr seo cuideachd, tha e coltach, air beul an t-sluaigh, ’s dòcha ann an coinneamhan is litrichean eile, agus b’ ann anns an dà chànan a bha e.
Bha a’ mhòr-chuid dhe na pàipearan-naidheachd nàimhdeil do dh’aimhreit nan croitearan, agus tha deagh eisimpleirean againn de luchd-naidheachd a’ cur làn-taic ris an Tagradh air an adhbhar sin. B’ ann a thuig iad gun robh bileag MhicNeacail na ball-airm feumail leis gun deach a sgrìobhadh le Gàidheal Sgitheanach fhèin, agus fear cho cliùiteach. Lorgadh fiù ’s dà litir bho Ghàidheal thall thairis, Ailein Ruadh, mar gum b’ eadh ag ath-aithris prìomh phuingean MhicNeacail. Cha do dh’ainmich an t-ùghdar an Tagradh, ach tha e coltach gun robh e air a leughadh. Thog esan eilthireachd mar fhuasgladh don amhreit. Agus, ’s e seann argamaid a bha siud a bh’ aig na h-urracha mòra Gallta agus Gàidhealach a tholladh fo oidhirp sam bith aig na daoine cùisean a leasachadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Bho thòisich e air sgrìobhadh, rinn Iain MacMhuirich dian-sabaid ris an argamaid sin. Tha e inntinneach, ge-tà, nach robh guth sam bith aig Alasdair MacNeacail air eilthireachd na Thagradh. (Cha robh cus de mholadh sam bith aige do na croitearan.)
An aghaidh bileag MhicNeacail, thug sinn sùil air tùs air leth nach deach a chur gu feum roimhe: freagairt bho chroitearan Ghleann Dail fhèin. Mar a sgrìobh Iain MacGillEathain, a chuir an litir chun an Òbanaich, ‘Sheriff Nicolson has underrated the intelligence of his friends in Glendale’. Thug iad prìomh phuingean an t-Siorraim a-mach às a chèile. Agus, an rud a tha a’ seasamh a-mach mu litir seo nan croitearan ’s e cho rùn-suidhichte ’s a bha iad air cumail orra gus am faigheadh iad buaidh. Cha do rinn a’ bhileag feum sam bith ann a bhith gan socrachadh – mar a chì sinn cuideachd anns na thachair às dèidh làimh – ach ’s dòcha gun robh e cuideachail ann a bhith gan daingneachadh an aghaidh charaidean breugach.
Ma bha aon émigré Gàidhealach againn a bha air a nàrachadh mu dhol a-mach nan Sgitheanach, bha fear eile againn, Rob Roy Jnr. ann an Liverpool, a bha, a rèir coltais gu mòr air bhioran mun naidheachd às an Eilean. Rinn e magadh dàna air Alasdair MacNeacail le a bhith ag ath-sgrìobhadh na bileig aige ann am Beurla gus am biodh i gu làidir air taobh nan croitearan. Tha Rob Ruadh Òg a’ dol cho fada gu bheil e a’ moladh tomhas de dh’fhòirneart. Agus, dh’fhaodadh gu bheil esan na eisimpleir air mar a dh’fhaodadh cuid dhe na daoine as cathachail (militant) airson Aimhreit an Fhearainn a bhith fada air falbh bhon Ghàidhealtachd, agus ’s dòcha a’ cur bheachdan ùra poileataigeach air ais thuice.
Rinneadh argamaid gum b’ e Iain MacMhuirich (John Murdoch) a sgrìobh an tùs mu dheireadh a chàin an Siorram Alasdair MacNeacail, fon ainm no tiotal ‘The Scottish Gael’ ann an pàipear-naidheachd Èireannach. Bhruidhinn e cuideachd mu dheidhinn a bhith a’ lorg an Tagraidh ga sgaoileadh le pearsachan-eaglaise ann am Port Rìgh ann am pàipear-naidheachd Èireannach-Aimearaganach. Bha mòran ann an cumantas eadar seasamh MhicMhuirich agus croitearan Ghleann Dail, mar a bhite an dùil. Ach, bha MacMhuirich air fear de luchd-teòirig gluasad nan croitearan agus b’ e a b’ fheàrr air mì-chliùthachadh MhicNeacail a fhreagairt. Air sgàth ’s gun robh e mion-eòlach air aimhreit na fhearainn ann an Èirinn agus sa Ghàidhealtachd, b’ urrainn dha ceanglaichean a dhèanamh eadar an dà iomairt agus bha lèirsinn na bu mhotha aige de cho-obrachadh Èireannach-Albannach. A’ sgrìobhadh ann an pàipearan Èireannach, bha e a’ cumail fios riutha mu na bha a’ dol am measg tuath na Gàidhealtachd agus a’ sireadh an taic. A’ gabhail cuairt air an Eilean Sgitheanach is eile, mar a rinn e seachdain às dèidh Bhlàr a’ Chumhaing ann an cuideachd Éadbhaird Mhic Aodha, tha mi cinnteach gun leigeadh e fios do na croitearan mu na bha a’ tachairt am measg an co-Ghàidheil ann an Èirinn.
Tha e nochdaidh mar a tha creideamh a’ togail ceann ann an tùsan air gach ceann dhen deasbad: airson an lagh is ùmhlachd do na h-ùghdarrasan, air an dàrna làimh; airson ceartas is saorsa, air an làimh eile. Tha mar a chuir croitearan Ghleann Dail am moraltachd Chrìostaidh an aghaidh creideamh MhicNeacail gu sònraichte cumhachdach. (Cha tug MacMhuirich iomradh air creideamh ach sgrìobh e na h-uiread mu dheidhinn co-cheangailte ri ath-leasachadh fearainn, m.e. ann an Iubile nan Gaidheal).[59] Chleachd Alasdair MacNeacail dùthchas nan Gàidheal an aghaidh aimhreit nan croitearan, ann an riochd nan seanfhaclan air an robh e fhèin na ùghdarras. Cha do thog duine sam bith a bha an aghaidh an Tagraidh seanfhaclan nan cuid fhreagairtean. Ach, tha fios againn gum bitheadh seanfhaclan, òrain is gnèithean eile de chultar nan Gàidheal air an cleachdadh le gluasad nan croitearan. Agus, bhiodh MacMhuirich a-rithist, a’ daingneachadh nan ceanglaichean cultarach a bh’ aig na Gàidheil ri Èirinn cuideachd.
Chan eil an an t-àm a tha seachad dha-rìribh seachad. Bha na h-argamaidean a rinn Iain MacMhuirich mu cho deatamach ’s a tha dlùth-chomann eadar Gàidheil na h-Alba is na h-Èireann fìor anns na 1880an agus fìor san latha an-diugh. Nar n-aonar, tha Gàidheil Albannach iomallaichte agus lag. Còmhla ri Gàidheil na h-Èireann, tha sinn nas treasa. Comhla ri chèile thèid againn air tarraing bho thobar domhainn co-roinnte de dh’eòlas, cultar, eachdraidh…agus radaigeachd.
Bha Alasdair MacNeacail ceart dragh a bhith air gun rachadh na Sgitheanaich nan Èireannaich. ’S e cunnart a bh’ ann an sin do dh’uachdarain ’s don chlas-riaghlaidh, gu sònraichte nan sgaoileadh a leithid. Aig an àm sin agus ri ar linn-ne, ma tha Gàidheil Albannach ag iarraidh obair a dh’ionnsaigh an saorsa fhèin agus saorsa shluaghan brùite eile air feadh an t-saoghail ’s e a’ chiad cheum a bhith ‘ag atharrais air na h-Èireannaich’. ’S e sin a bhith nan reubaltaich, ag àicheadh Bhreatainn, chogaidhean, agus ìmpireachd.
Mar a thuirt Iain MacMhuirich, bu chòir do mhuinntir ‘Old and New Scotia’, .i. muinntir na h-Èireann is na h-Alba, a bhith ‘pulling together in the cause of humanity’.[60]
T. MacAilpein (25.4.24)
[1] Ian MacDonald, ‘Alexander Nicolson and his Collection’, ann an Alexander Nicsolson, deas., Gaelic Proverbs (Dùn Èideann: Birlinn, 2003 [1996]), td. vii.
[2] Ibid., td. viii.
[3] Thuirt Eanraig MacGilleBhàin (Fionn), ‘his energy was somewhat crippled by a lethargic constitution’. Luaidhte ann an ibid., td. xiii. Bhruidhinn Walter Smith mu a thrioblaidean slàinte ann an Alexander Nicolson; Walter Smith, Verses, with Memoir (Edinburgh: David Douglass, 1893), tdd 15–16; 21.
[4] Smith ann an Nicolson, Verses, tdd 1–22.
[5] Bha Eanraig ‘Fionn’ MacGilleBhàin tàireil nuair a chuala e gun robh MacNeacail, ‘the landlord’s son’ gu bhith air Coimisean Napier ann an 1883 còmhla ri ceathrar uachdaran, agus ‘the Celtic Professor’! Luaidhte ann an Donald E. Meek, ‘Radical Romantics: Glasgow Gaels and the Highland Land Agitation, 1870–1890’, ann an Sheila Kidd, deas., Glasgow. Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal (Glaschu: Oilthigh Ghlaschu, 2007), td. 165.
[6] Nicolson; Smith, ibid., tdd 10–11.
[7] Ewen A. Cameron agus Andrew Newby, ‘Alas, Skyemen are imitating the Irish’: A note on Alexander Nicolson’s ‘Little Leaflet’ concerning the Crofters’ Agitation’, The Innes Review 55:1 (2004), 83-92. Tha eadar-theangachadh dhen bhileig cuideachd a’ nochdadh ann an Roger Hutchinson, Martyrs: Glendale and the Revolution in Skye (Dùn Èideann: Birlinn, 2015), gun td. san eagran didseatach. Agus, tha iomradh air a’ bhileig, stèidhichte air Cameron is Newby, ann an Allan W. MacColl, Land, Faith and the Crofting Community (Dùn Èideann: Edinburgh University Press, 2006), td. 103.
[8] ‘A terrible storm on November 21 [1881], when 250 Skye fishing boats were completely destroyed and over 150 severely damaged, increased the agitation for reduction of rents.’ MacPhail, Crofters’ War, td. 37.
[9] ‘Ò Ghalàtianacha amaideach! Cò a chuir draoidheachd oirbh? Fa chomhair ur sùilean bha Crìosd air a thaisbeanadh gu soilleir air a cheusadh’ (Galàtianaich 3:1). An Tiomnadh Nuadh (Dùn Èideann: Comann Bhìoball na h-Alba, 2017).
[10] ‘Mu dheireadh, a bhràithrean, ge b’ e rudan a tha fìor, ge b’ e rudan a tha urramach, ge b’ e rudan a tha fìreanta, ge b’ e rudan a tha fìorghlan, ge b’ e rudan a tha àlainn, ge b’ e rudan a tha ionmholta; ma tha sàr‑mhathas no nì sam bith ann a tha airidh air moladh, smaoinichibh air na rudan sin’ (Philipianaich 4:8). Ibid.
[11] ‘An Appeal to the Agitators’, The Northern Chronicle, Diciadain, 26 Giblean, 1882.
[12] Tha Hutchinson ag ràdh gun deach a’ bhileag a sgaoileadh anns an dà chànan: ‘A day or two before John Murdoch and Edward McHugh arrived in Skye they were preceded by a leaflet in both Gaelic and English, titled “Address to the People” and authored by Sheriff-Substitute Alexander Nicolson of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright’, Martyrs (2015), gun td. san eagran didseatach. Bhiodh e math seo a dhearbhadh le a bhith a’ lorg lethbhreac a tha air mhaireann dhen bhileig. Ach, tha a h-uile iomradh air ann am pàipearan-naidheachd ag innse gun robh i ann an Gàidhlig a-mhàin. Faic an ath bhonn-nòta, agus m.e. ‘Sheriff Nicolson […] has issued a leaflet in Gaelic, addressed to and distributed among the Skye crofters […]’, Oban Times (29 Giblean 1882).
[13] M.e., ‘[Nicolson] has written an address in Gaelic for circulation in the island [of Skye] in the form of a leaflet’, Glasgow Evening Citizen (22 Giblean 1882).
[14] Tha mi an dùil gun deach a chlò-bhualadh cuideachd ann an Duilleagan Gàidhlig Life and Work, iris Eaglais na h-Alba. Ach, cha d’ fhuair mi air an àireamh a lorg gu ruige seo fiù ’s ann an cruinneachadh an Oll. Dòmhnall MacFhionghain, ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann.
[15] Air adhbhar air choireigin, tha Cameron is Newby a’ cumail a-mach gum b’ ann air 18 Giblean a bha Blàr a’ Chumhaing. ‘Alas, Skyemen are imitating the Irish’ (2004), 86.
[16] Tha Devine air bruidhinn mu mar a dh’atharraich sealladh nan Gall ’s nan Sasannach air Gàidheil às dèidh Chùil Lodair agus mar a thug sin buaidh, gu h-ìre, air an taic a fhuair iad ri linn Ghaiseadh a’ Bhuntàta (bho 1846):
[… T]he changed perception of Highland society which took place over the century between the Jacobite defeat at Culloden and the potato famine also had a major impact on the collection of relief funds: ‘Before 1745 the Highlanders had been despised as idle, predatory barbarians. . . but after 1746, when their distinct society crumbled so easily, they combined the romance of a primitive people with the charm of an endangered species’.40 Between 1800 and 1846 a series of influences combined both to sentimentalise the Highlander and place the Highlands not simply in the consciousness of the middle and upper classes of Britain but also firmly on the world map. […] The Highlanders were now represented in some quarters as ‘a pure peasantry’, noble rustics whose martial virtues had not been contaminated either by urban vices or mischievous radicalism.
T.M. Devine, The Great Highland Famine (Dùn Èideann: Birlinn, 2021 [1988]) [Eagran didseatach], tdd 190–191.
Thogadh an t-uabhas de dh’airgead do Ghàidheil taobh a-muigh na Gàidhealtachd ri linn a’ chliù a bh’ aca ann an sòisealtas Breatannach. Agus, chaidh an sgaradh bho Èireannaich a dh’fhuiling gort aig ìre fada na bu mhotha:
On the other hand, the ‘virtuous’ Highlanders were contrasted with the unregenerate Irish as a race who were far more deserving of assistance. The romantic associations of Highland society were fully exploited. The people of the Highlands were not only brave and daring in war but also ‘peaceful, patient and submissive’ in the face of the great disaster which had overwhelmed them. […] In contrast, the Irish were ‘unruly and turbulent’ and did not have the same claim on the generous feelings of the philanthropic.
Devine, ibid., tdd 193–194.
Mar sin, tha fianais againn fada ro na 1880an agus Aimhreit an Fhearainn gun robh nan Gàidheil gu tric air am meas ann an dòigh tòrr na b’ fheàrr na an càirdean taobh thall Shruth na Maoile. A bharrachd air sin, bhiodh na h-urracha mòra leithid Alasdair MhicNeacail, no Charaid nan Gàidheal na bu tràithe, a’ brosnachadh a leithid de sgaradh agus ag iarraidh gun gabhadh Gàidheil Albannach ri fèin-aithne dhen t-seòrsa seo – dìleas, rianail, Breatannach.
Air an làimh eile, cha bu chòir dhuinn cus a dhèanamh dhen chliù seo mar adhbhar nach robh gort mòr dha-rìribh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd mar a bha ann an Èirinn. Tha Devine a’ liostadh grunn adhbharan. Agus, cha robh e an-còmhnaidh fìor nach robh Gàidheil Albannach air am meas mar chinneadh ìochdarach fa leth. Mar eisimpleir, tha Devine ag innse, ‘[Sir Charles] Trevelyan […] viewed the inhabitants of the north as racially inferior. They were Celts exactly the same as the inferior Irish, “except that they are not turbulent or bloodthirsty” (ibid., td. 206). Tha deasbad anns an litreachas air an ìre chun an do dh’fhuiling Gàidheil Albannach gràin-chinnidh san 19mh linn. Cf. Krisztina Fenyô, Contempt, Sympathy and Romance: Lowland Perceptions of theHighlands and the Clearances During the Famine Years, 1845–1855 (Linton an Ear: Tuckwell Press, 2000), agus lèirmheas Ewen A. Cameron (Journal of Scottish Historical Studies 2001 21:1, 77-79): ‘even the central idea, the existence of a racist outlook, is insufficiently substantiated’.
[17] Air iasgach ann an Èirinn, MacPhail, The Crofters’ War, td. 38; ‘The anonymous, mischievous author of the first [sanas rabhaidh ann an Gleann Dail] seemed to have some knowledge of Irish threatening letters’, td. 55; ‘Tormore [am bàillidh] had been impressed by rumours of Irish pamphlets circulating in Skye’, td. 56; air Iain MacMhuirich (John Murdoch) a’ sgaoileadh bheachdan Èireannach, td. 38; air na ceanglaichean eadar an Skye Vigilance Committee agus Conradh na Talún ann an Glaschu, td. 33.
[18] Donald Macintosh, A collection of Gaelic proverbs, and familiar phrases (Dùn Èideann, 1785), td. 76; Alexander Nicolson, A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases, based on Macintosh’s collection [An Dàrna Eagran] (Dùn Èideann: Maclachlan and Stewart, 1882), td. 86.
[19] Dè na seanfhaclan Gàidhlig a dhearbhas am bann dùthchasach eadar Gàidheil Albannach agus Èireannaich? Smaoinicheamaid air seanfhaclan (is beul-aithris) na Fèinne. Seo na sgrìobh Alasdair MacNeacail fhèin mun deidhinn:
The number of sayings that refer to Fionn or Fingal, and the people of whom he was head, the Feinne, whom we prefer not to call ‘Fenians’ (see Note on ‘Cha d’ thug Fionn,’ p. 100), is considerable; and there is no class of sayings more frequently quoted in the Highlands and referred to, since time immemorial. The Fingalian fairplay, As strong as Cuchullin, Iike Ossian after the Feinne, Conan’s life among the devils, and many others, are still among the familiar phrases in every Celtic household in Scotland. Very curiously, not one of them is included in the Irish Proverbs hitherto published. This does not of course imply that they are unknown in Ireland. It would be inexplicable if they were not; and Canon Bourke (who, it is to be hoped, will yet publish the collection of Irish Proverbs of which he gave a specimen in his Grammar,) informs me that he has been familiar with some of them from his childhood. But it strengthens the belief that the whole story and poetry of Fionn and the Feinne have been more deeply implanted, and better preserved, whatever the reason be, among the Scottish than among the Irish Gael. (Nicolson, ibid., td. xxx) [mo chuideam].
Ann a bhith ag argamaid airson aonadh poileataigeach eadar Gàidheil na dà dhùthcha, bhruidhinn Iain MacMhuirich mu cho cudromach ’s a bha Èirinn ann an cultar nan Gàidheal Albannach. M.e. anns an Irish World (15 Iuchar 1882), luaidhte ann an Andrew G. Newby, Ireland, Radicalism and the Scottish Highlands, c. 1870–1912 (Dùn Èideann: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), td. 66.
[20] Nicolson, A collection, td. 299. Tha an cruth slàn a’ nochdadh ann am ‘Briathran Fhinn re Oscar’ – ged nach eil mi cinnteach dè cho sean ’s a tha siud – ann an J.F. Campbell, deas., Leabhar na Fèinne, Leabhar I (Lunnainn: Spottiswoode & Co., 1872), td. 157.
[21] An t-Urr Tormod MacLeòid (Caraid nan Gàidheal), ‘Sgeul’ mu Mhàiri nighean Eoghainn bhàin’, An Teachdaire Gae’lach, Àireamh V (Mìos Meadhonach an Fhogh’raidh, 1829), 99. Agus tha fear dhe na caractaran ag innse, ‘cha’n’eil fuil na ceannairc ann am chuislibh’, 100.
[22] Chithear a dhà dhiubh air teisteanas ballrachd Eachainn MhicDhòmhaill, sinn-seanair Dhòmhnaill Meek, san Highland Land Law Reform Association – aig toiseach Donald E. Meek, deas., Tuath is Tighearna / Tenants and Landlords (Dùn Èideann: Comann Litreachas Gàidhlig na h-Alba, 1995). ’S e ‘IS TREISE TUATH NA TIGHEARNA’ an cruth a chleachd iad, agus bha cuideachd às-earrann ann am Beurla de ‘A‑nis tha tairbhe na talmhainn airson nan uile’ (Eclesiastes 5:9).
[23] Nicolson, A collection, td. 146.
[24] Ibid., td. 289. Agus a-rithist: ‘Tenantry are stronger than laird. (In its original sense this would be, Tribe is stronger than Chief. See Skene’s Celtic Scotland, Vol. III., chap. iv. and vi.)’, td. xxviii.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Seo cuid de sheanfhaclan eile ann an cruinneachadh MhicNeacail (1882) a tha a-mach air ceartas sòisealta no ris am faodamaid ceangal a dhèanamh: Is àirde tuathanach air a chasan na duin’-uasal air a ghlùinean (td. 211); Cha bhi suaimhneas aig éucoir, no seasamh aig drochbheairt (td. 85); Is cuagach ceartas an eucoirich. The justice of the unjust is twisted. (td. 386); Is ann a bhios a’ chòir mar a chumar i. / Bidh a’ chòir mar a chumar i (td. 212); Is sona gach cuid an comaidh; is mairg a chromadh ’n a aonar (td. 287); Is mairg a chuireas air chùl a dhaoine fhéin (td. 266); ‘I have heard of even a stronger sentiment expressed in another island at the burial of a factor who had taken in a great number of confiding people, left lamenting, not for him, but for their hardly earned money. One of these victims, a sturdy old man, stood by the grave when all was over, and shaking his fist at it, said, ‘Na’m bu tig a’ là a dh’éireas tu-sa as a sin !'”—May the day never come when you’ll rise out of that!’ (td. 146); Bha dorus Fhinn do ’n ànrach fial. Fingal’s door was free to the needy. (td. 56); Is mairg nach beathaich a thruaghan (td. 279); Cha robh caraid riamh aig duine bochd. The poor are ever friendless, The poor is hated even of his own neighbour.—Prov. xiv. 20. In contradiction to this, those who have had any experience among our poor know that their kindness to one another is often very great, and much beyond that of the rich (td. 124); Is fhearr a bhi bochd na ’bhi briagach, Better be poor than a liar (td. 238); Breac á linne, slat á coille, ’s fiadh á fireach,—méirle nach do ghabh duine riamh nair’ aisde. A fish from the pool,a wand from the wood, a deer from the mountain—thefts no man ever was ashamed of. — Al. Slat á coille, fiadh á doire, breac á buinne—trì rudan as nach do ghabh Gaidheal nàire riamh. The free doctrine of this old saying is still held in the Highlands, but there is very little poaching, notwithstanding (td. 70); Léintean farsainn do na leanban òga. Wide shirts to young bairns. […] The moral significance of this, in favour of freedom of thought to new generations, is remarkable (td. 300); Cha bu leis a laidhe no ’éirigh. His lying down and rising up were not his own. Said of one in a state of bondage, or much worried. Somewhat similar is[:] Cha bu shaoghal dhaibh am beatha tuille. Their life were life to them no more (td. 87); Is cam ’s is direach a thig an lagh. The law comes crooked and straight (td. 222); Is beag ’s is mór a th’ eadar a’ chòir ’s an eucoir. There is little and much betwixt right and wrong (td. 217); Calum beag a chur a dhìth, gu Murchadh mór a reamhrachadh. Starving little Malcolm to fatten big Murdoch. Robbing Peter to pay Paul (td. 75).
[27] ‘Within a few days of the “battle” having occurred there were in Skye no fewer than eleven journalists, representing newspapers as far apart geographically and politically as the Inverness Courier, The Scotsman, the London Standard and the Freeman’s Journal of Dublin. Their reports, not least their descriptions of the conditions in which Hebridean tenants lived, undoubtedly helped to swing public – and especially radical – opinion in the crofting community’s favour.’ Ach, saoilidh mi gum bi daoine uaireanan ag aibheiseachadh buaidh nam meadhanan, agus tha James Hunter a’ cumail air, ‘[…] public opinion would not of itself have moved the government to make concessions to crofters. That was achieved only by further agitation and above all by the development of a crofters’ political movement.’ The Making of the Crofting Community (Dùn Èideann: John Donald, 1976), td. 136 (mo chuideam).
[28] Seo pìos math dha-rìribh a’ daingneachadh na puing sa le Albannach gun urra – ach tha an ìre mhath cinnteach gum b’ e Iain MacMhuirich a bh’ ann – ann am pàipear Èireannach:
There has been more written about Braes, during the past ten or twelve days, than has been written about the whole island in the papers since the beginning of the century. The result is that, again, as is the case of Ireland, a vast quantity of material for fostering prejudice has been vomited forth by the anti-Celtic press. But there are exceptions. It should be acknowledged that the Aberdeen Free Press, which was represented by a Highlander, has done good service in supplying details, which are remarkably correct, as far as they go, and well put. The N. B. Daily Mail has done good work, and so has the Daily Review in Edinburgh. The rest of the Scotch papers must be left under a cloud of their own making. The Newcastle Chronicle is giving better grounded reports, with the view of connecting the present with the past; and partly, too, to correct the errors propagated by the other papers. ‘The Scottish Gael’, United Ireland (13 Cèitean 1882) (mo chuideam).
[29] ‘The Skye Crofters’, Perthshire Constitutional & Journal (26 Giblean 1882).
[30] Ibid.
[31] ‘Sheriff Nicolson and the Skye Crofters’, Greenock Advertiser (24 Giblean 1882). Gu h-inntinneach, bha cuid, co-dhiù, a cheasnaich nach robh tuilleadh ’s a chòir ga dhèanamh dhen bhuaidh Èireannaich: ‘The Echo contains the following as a passing note:— […] It is a mistake to suppose that the movement in Skye is an outcome of the Irish Land League. The grievance and the discontent existed long before the Land League was heard of. Ann an ‘Address to the Crofters by Sheriff Nicolson’, (Aberdeen) Evening Gazette (22 Giblean 1882).
[32] ‘Sheriff Nicolson’, Greenock Advertiser.
[33] MacPhail, Crofters, td. 11. Cuideachd, faic: Hunter, Making, td. 144.
[34] ‘Our Edinburgh Letter’, Oban Times (29 Giblean 1882).
[35] Oban Times (20 Cèitean 1882).
[36] B’ e Dòmhnall MacDòmhnaill, ‘An Tòrr Mòr’ (Tormore), am bàillidh mì-chliùiteach a bh’ ann an Gleann Dail nuair a thòisich an ùpraid an sin. Bha a leithid de dh’eagal air ro na croitearan gum biodh a’ falbh le gunna. Bha e cuideachd na bhàillidh ann an oighreachd a’ Mhorair Dòmhnallach ro 1880, agus thuirt muinntir a’ Bhràighe gum b’ esan a gheall Beinn Lì dhaibh. MacPhail, Crofters’ War, tdd
53–56; 39. Feumaidh mi aideachadh nach aithne dhomh cò air a tha Ailein Ruadh a-mach nuair a dh’innseas e gun robh ‘Na Sgiathanaich ’s Tor-mòr ag òl air a chéile’.
[37] Dh’fhaodadh gu bheil seo a-mach air cùis-chùirt fir a’ Bhràighe ann an Inbhir Nis air 11 Cèitean 1882. An robh ‘An Tòrr Mòr’ ann?
[38] An Caiptean Uilleam Frisealach, uachdaran oighreachd Chille Mhoire. Faic: MacPhail, ibid., tdd 27–36.
[39] Oban Times (3 Ògmhios 1882).
[40] ‘Sheriff Nicolson and the Brae Crofters’, Oban Times (13 Cèitean 1882).
[41] Nicolson, Gaelic Proverbs, td. 222.
[42] Bidh a’ cheist seo a’ sìor-thogail ceann ann an gluasadan airson atharrachadh sòisealta. Seo na sgrìobh Martin Luther King Jnr. bhon phrìosan ann am Birmingham gu a cho-phearsachan-eaglaise, 16 Giblean 1963:
One may well ask, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: There are just laws and there are unjust laws. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ (1963), ri fhaighinn air fad an seo: <https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html> (inntrigte 22.5.24).
[43] MacPhail, Crofters, td. 11.
[44] Saoil dè smaoinich muinntir Ghleann Dail mu na bh’ aig a’ bhàrd Niall MacLeòid, a bha e fhèin à Gleann Dail, san òran ‘Na Croitearan Sgitheanach’: ‘seasaibh gu làidir […] Chan ann le mì-riaghailt / ach tuigseach is ciallach / gun lùbadh gun fhiaradh / am briathran no ’n gnàths’; agus ‘Gach oighr’ agus bàillidh, / Gun fhoill is gun àrdan, / Rin daoine cho càirdeil, / Mar bha iad bho thùs’ (mo chuideam). Sgrìobh Somhairle MacGill-Eain, Dòmhnall Meek, agus Meg Bateman mu cho do-chreidsinneach agus caran lag ’s a bha òrain phoileataigeach Nèill MhicLeòid. Faic: Meg Bateman, deas., Bàird Ghleann Dail / The Glendale Bards (Dùn Èideann: Birlinn, 2014), tdd xxviii-xxix; 8–9; 77–86.
[45] Ibid., td. 53.
[46] Faic: D. E. Meek, ‘“The land question answered from the Bible”; the land issue and the development of a Highland theology of Liberation’, Scottish Geographical Magazine 103(2), (1987), 84–89.
[47] Cameron is Newby, ‘“Alas, Skyemen are imitating the Irish”’, 87.
[48] An àite: ‘Ach a nis,—mo chreach! Tha Sgiathanaich ag atharrais air na h-Eireannaich, ’g an deanamh fhéin ’n an cuis-bhùird ’s n’ an cuis-eagail’.
[49] ‘An do dh’fhuiling sibh na h‑uiread de rudan gu dìomhain – mas ann dha‑rìribh gu dìomhain a bha e?’ Galàtianaich 3:4 (An Tiomnadh Nuadh 2017).
[50] ‘Oir chaidh ur gairm gu saorsa, a bhràithrean, ach a‑mhàin na cleachdaibh ur saorsa mar chothrom dhan fheòil, ach tro ghràdh, dèanaibh seirbheis dha chèile.’ Galàtianaich 5:13 (ibid.).
[51] Oban Times (13 Cèitean 1882).
[52] Newby, Ireland, Radicalism, td. 68.
[53] Cameron is Newby, ‘“Alas, Skyemen are imitating the Irish”’, td. 87. B’ ann bho litir a bha seo a sgrìobh Iain MacMhuirich chun a’ phàipeir radaigich Èireannaich-Aimearaganaich, an Irish World (10 Ògmhios 1882).
[54] ‘The Scottish Gael’, United Ireland (13 Cèitean 1882).
[55] Bha sgrìobhadairean/labhraichean eile ann an guasad nan croitearan a bha cuideachd gu mòr air taobh nan Èireannach, leithid Eanraig MhicGilleBhàin (‘Fionn’) agus a bhràthair, Iain MacGilleBhàin (‘Iain Bàn Òg’). Faic: Meek, ‘Radical Romantics’, tdd 164, 166. Lorg mi an sàr thàirgreachd a leanas le I.B.O (.i. Iain Bàn Òg/Iain MacGilleBhàin) ann am pàipear MhicMhuirich a’ bhliadhna mus do thòisich an aimhreit gu ceart san Eilean Sgitheanach:
Tha mise ag radh riut gu bheil na Gaidheil a’ dusgadh as an t-suain anns an robh iad o chionn iomadh bliadhna, agus chi thu gun bhi fada beo gu’m bi goil am measg do luchd-duthcha, a cheart cho cinnteach ’s a tha i feadh nan Eirionnach, mur cuirear tilleadh ann an cleachdainnean eucorrach nan uachdran.
(I.B.O., ‘Litir as a’ Cheardaich’, The Highlander (Iuchar 1881), 17).
[56] ’S e ‘the patient Celts of Ireland’ a tha anns an teacsa thùsail, ach tha e follaiseach bhon cho-theacsa gu bheil e a-mach air Gàidheil Albannach an coimeas ris na h-Èireannaich.
[57] ‘The Scottish Gael’, ibid.
[58] Ibid.
[59] John Murdoch, Iubile nan Gaidheal: Fuasgladh an Fhearainn a reir a Bhiobuill (Glaschu: 1883). Sgrìobh mi am meata-dàta don teacsa airson DASG (Oilthigh Ghlaschu) an seo: https://dasg.ac.uk/corpus/textmeta.php?text=211&uT=y.
[60] The Highlander, 6 Oct. 1880. Luaidhte ann an Newby, Ireland, Radicalism, td. 44. ’S e leabhar Newby an eachdraidh as fheàrr a th’ againn air na ceanglaichean eadar Èireannaich agus aimhreit an fhearainn air Gàidhealtachd na h-Alba.
A' Cheàrdach 
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