Bilingual transcription: Eachdraidh

Watch this còmhradh (conversation) with Etta, Sophie and Pàdraig.

PÀDRAIG: Dè a tha romhad ma-thà Sophie?

What do you have planned Sophie?

SOPHIE: Tha mi airson nas urrainn dhomh fhaighinn a-mach mun a h-uile eilean air an tadhail mi.

I want to find out as much as possible about every island I’m going to visit.

ETTA: Tha iad uile coltach ri chèile ann an cuid de dhòighean. A thaobh chleachdaidhean, an dualchais, na Gàidhlig agus an eachdraidh.

They are all alike in some ways. In their traditions, heritage, Gaelic and history.

SOPHIE: A bheil iad gu math eadar-dhealaichte san latha an-diugh?

Are they quite different?

ETTA: Tha iomadh atharrachadh air tighinn air na h-eileanan bhon a bha mise òg.

There have been many changes in the islands since I was young.

PÀDRAIG: (Le gàire) Tha iad air làrach dhìneasaran a lorg ann an cuid de dh’eileanan.

(with a smile) They’ve found dinosaur footprints onsome islands!

ETTA: Chan eil mi buileach cho aosta sin, tapadh leat a Phàdraig. Nuair a bha mise beag bhiodh a’ chlann uile a’ coiseachd dhan sgoil.

I’m not quite that old Padraig! When I was young, the children would walk to school.

PÀDRAIG: Am biodh a h-uile duine a’ bruidhinn Gàidhlig nuair a bha sibhse beag?

Did everyone speak Gaelic back then?

ETTA: Bhitheadh far an robh sinne a’ fuireach, agus bhiodh Gàidhlig aig a’ chloinn uile. Bhiodh feadhainn a bh’ air tighinn a-steach dhan choimhearsnachd a’ bruidhinn Beurla –tidsearan mar eisimpleir. B’ e Beurla a bhiodh aig na h-uaislean.

All the children had Gaelic where I lived. Some who had moved to the community spoke Gaelic – teachers for example. The gentry all spoke English.

SOPHIE: Carson a bha uaislean ann an àite cho beag?

Why did a place so small have gentry?

ETTA: ’S ann leotha a bhaan t-àite, an oighreachd agus an caisteal. Cha bhiodh iad a’ fuireach ann fad na bliadhna. Bhiodh iad a’ tighinn a dh’iasgach agus a shealg.

They owned the place, the estate and the castle. They didn’t live there all year. They would come to fish and hunt.

SOPHIE: Tha eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd gu math brònach. Tha mi air a bhith a’ leughadh mu dheidhinn Màiri Mhòr nan Òran.

Highland history is quite sad. I’ve been reading about Màiri Mhor nan Òran.

PÀDRAIG: A bheil thu air cur romhad a dhol dhan Eilean Sgitheanach ma-thà?

Do you plan to go to the Isle of Skye then?

SOPHIE:Tha miann agam a dhol ann…

I have a desire to go there…

ETTA: Agus….

And…

SOPHIE: Thèid mi dhan Eilean Sgitheanach air mo shlighe dha na h-Eileanan an Iar!

I’ll go to Skye on my way to the Western Isles.

PÀDRAIG: Dh’ionnsaich sinne mun bhàrdachd aig Màiri Mhòr anns an sgoil.

We learned about Màiri Mhòr’s poetry in school.

ETTA: Cha robh sinne ag ionnsachadh ann an leasain eachdraidh ach cinn-latha chudromach mar 1066!

We only learned important dates like 1066 in history lessons!

SOPHIE: Ach dè mu dheidhinn eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean –na cuspairean a tha anns na h-òrain aig Màiri Mhòir?

But what about the history of the Highlands and Islands –the topics that Mairi Mhor writes about?

ETTA: Cha bhiomaid ag ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn sin idir. B‘ e àm eadar-dhealaichte a bh‘ ann. Tha clann an latha an-diugh ag ionnsachadh barrachd mun eachdraidh fhèin.

We didn’t learn about that at all. Children today learn more about their own history.

SOPHIE: ’S e bana-ghaisgeacha bha ann am Màiri Mhòr. Bhiodh i a’ bruidhinn a-mach mu na fuadaichean agus mu strì an fhearainn.

Mairi Mhor was a hero. She would speak out about the clearances and land struggles.

SOPHIE: Agus cha do sgrìobh i facal bàrdachd gus an robh i caogad bliadhna a dh’aois!

And she didn’t write a word of poetry until she was 50 years old.

ETTA:Cha b’ e sin a bha cudromach tro na làithean sgoile agamsa. Dè tha romhad fhèin a Phàdraig nuair a bhios a’ bhliadhna seo den chùrsa seachad?

What’s ahead of you, Padraig, when this year of the course is over?

PÀDRAIG: Bidh samhradh fada romham. Bidh mi a’ cluiche ceòl ge bith càit am bi mi.

I have along summer ahead. I will be playing music wherever I am.

SOPHIE: Dè mur deidhinn fhèin Etta? Dè tha romhaibh? Bliadhna thrang eile anns an ionad?

What about you Etta? What do you have planned? Another busy year in the hub?

ETTA: Math dh’fhaodte neo ’s dòcha gu bheil an t-àm agam gabhail air mo shocair.

Maybe or perhaps it’s time to take it easy.

PÀDRAIG: Neo cleas Màiri Mhòr agus tionndadh gu bàrdachd!

Or you could be like Mairi Mhor and turn to poetry!

In the conversation, Pàdraig referred to làraichean coise dìneasair (dinosaur footprints) which were found  in the north–east of the Isle of Skye.

There is a Dinosaur Museum in Staffin, and there is a good deal of information around the area on bilingual information boards by the project Druim nan Linntean (Ridge of the Ages).

It’s on the beach at An Corran that the best dinosaur footprints can be seen.