Martin MacIntyre's Top 10 Gaelic Books
Martin MacIntyre's Top 10
- Deireadh an Fhoghair
- An Aghaidh Choimheach
- An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn
- Tocasaid ’Ain Tuirc
- Sporan Dhòmhnaill
- Eimhir
- Sgeul gu Latha
- Fo Sgàil a’ Swastika
- Faclair Gàidhlig
- Am Bìoball
Seo ma-tà deich leabhraichean as toigh leam fhìn gu mòr. Leabhraichean a thug buaidh orm nuair a leugh mi an toiseach iad, ach cuideachd feadhainn gu ’n do thìll mi barrachd air aon uair is gu ’n tìll mi a-rithist ’s cinnteach. Thagh mi gun an cur ann an òrdugh 1 gu 10 no 10 gu 1 ach math dh’fhaodte a-rèir a’ ghnè-sgriobhaidh as motha tarraing dhomhsa: ficsean an toiseach is às deaghaidh sin bàrdachd, beul-aithris, eachdraidh-beatha, leabhar-teacsa is eile.
Here are ten Gaelic books that I value greatly and which made a strong impression when I first encountered them. I have re-visited them all since and will undoubtedly return to them in the future. I decided not to rank them 1 to 10 or 10 to 1 except perhaps as regards my own preference of genre: fiction first, then poetry, spoken-word, biography, textbook and miscellaneous.
Deireadh an Fhoghair le Tormod Caimbeul
The End of Autumn by Norman Campbell
Nobhail dhrùidhteach air triùir a tha seachad air foghar am beatha ann am baile a tha pìos math a-steach na gheamhradh.
An intense moving novel whose three principal characters are beyond the autumn of their lives, and the village they inhabit well into its winter.
An Aghaidh Choimheach le Iain Moireach
The False Face by John Murray
Sgeulachdan goirid geura air ioma cuspair ann an guth eagnaidh cinnteach. Sgrìobhadh a ghlèidh annas fad mòran bhliadhnachan.
Sharp well crafted short stories on a range of subjects with a variety of strong characters in a clear assured voice. Writing that has, over the years, retained much of its original surprise.
An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn le Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul
The Night Before We Sailed by Angus Peter Campbell
Nobhail chumhachdach thomadach, a’ chiad tè dhe a seòrsa sa Ghàidhlig, air cùrsa is co-dhùnaidhean aona teaghlaich à Uibhist a Deas
Ambitious, powerful, epic novel, the first of its kind, on the fortunes of a South Uist family. A lyrical page-turner which explores subjects such as culture, love, religion, regret and atonement.
Tocasaid ’Ain Tuirc le Donnchadh MacGillIosa
‘Tocasaid’ son of Iain of ‘The Hog’ by Duncan Gillies
Sgeòil eirmseach ait a tha mothachail air saoghal a tha fìor is mas fhìor. Tha an CD le cainnt bhlasta Niseach Dhonnchaidh is Dhòmhnaill Ruaidh a’ cur ri tlachd is àrainn an leabhair.
Witty quirky short-stories which relate key events in the lives of a cluster of characters in real and surreal worlds. The corresponding CD read superbly by Duncan and Donald Ruadh in vivid Ness Gaelic deepens the experience.
Sporan Dhòmhnaill le Dòmhnall ‘Ruadh’ Mac an t-Saoir
Donald’s Purse by Donald MacIntyre
Bàrdachd bharraichte san t-seann nòs air a deasachadh leis an Urramach Somhairle Mac a’ Mhaoilein. Leabhar làn aoir is òran sgaiteach a sheinnear le sunnd nar latha ach cuideachd rannan gaoil, òrain phoilitigeach is dàin fhada nach cluinnear leth cho tric ’s a dh’ iarramaid.
High quality traditional poetry by the Paisley Bard edited by The Rev Somerled MacMillan. A book full of satire and humorous songs which are still very much part of contemporary repertoires but also containing love verses and political songs and longer compositions which it would be good to hear more often.
Eimhir le Somhairle MacGill-Eain
Eimhir by Sorley MacLean
Dàin ghaoil mhìorbhailteach is air am filleadh riutha cuspairean mòra mar dhualchas, dleastanasan pearsanta agus poilitigs na Roinn Eòrpa. A’ Bheurla aig Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn a’ co-fhreagairt orra ’s gam foillseachadh gu pongail snasail.
A series of passionate love poems interlaced with major themes such as cultural fidelity, inheritance, personal duty, and European politics. Iain Crichton Smith’s adept translations create an amazing fusion of the minds and sensibilities of two of Scotland’s finest 20th Century writers.
Sgeul gu Latha le Eòs MacNìll 's Iain Seadhach
Tales Until Dawn by Joe Neil MacNeil and John Shaw
Na bha deiseil ri liubhairt an ceann is air teangaidh fìor sheanchaidh, Eòs Nìll Bhig às Eilean Cheap Bhreatainn. Is bu dhìcheallach dealasach an t-eòlaiche a chruinnich is a dheasaich a’ bheul-aithris, an t-Ollamh Iain Seadhach.
The world described and the vast lore retained by one Cape Breton Island Storyteller: Joe Neil MacNeil. Collected, researched and interestingly presented in Gaelic with parallel English translation by leading scholar Dr. John Shaw.
Fo Sgàil a’ Swastika le Dòmhnall Iain MacDhòmhnaill 's Bill Innes
Under the Shadow of the Swastika by Donald John MacDonald & Bill Innes
Eachdraidh-beatha air àm sònraichte is air spiorad treun mhic an duine ann an cruaidh-chàs. Tha an t-ùghdar na phrìosanach aig na Gearmailtich san dàrna cogadh an deidh gèilleadh Naoimh Bhaileiridh. Air a chur dhan Bheurla gu taitneach le Bill Innes agus dà CD na chois le aithris cheòlmhor shiùbhlach Dhòmhnaill Iain.
Poignant biography relating one man’s experiences as a German prisoner of war following the surrender at St. Valéry–en–Caux. Sensitively edited and translated by Bill Innes. Donald Iain’s musical reading of the text on CD is hauntingly evocative of the time and circumstances.
Faclair Gàidhlig le Eideard Dwelly
Gaelic Dictionary by Edward Dwelly
Cùl-taic is ciste ulaidh gach neach aig a bheil ùidh sa chànan no a smaoinich riamh air dà fhacal a chur an eagaibh a chèile. Obair iongantach a rinn am bancair Sasannach seo eadar 1881 is 1911. Faclair thar gach faclair!
Major support manual and treasure chest for anyone with an interest in words, including those who have the temerity to try and write a few sentences. An amazing achievement by this English banker between 1881 and 1901. The Gaelic Dictionary!
Am Bìoball
The Bible
Còrr air millean facal de shàr-sgoilearachd agus Gàidhlig shaidhbhir rim faotainn sna eadar-theangachaidhean o chiad chànanan nan Tiomnaidhean. Cnàimh-droma foghlam is litearras na Gàidhlig a-nuas tro na ginealaich nuair a b’ e cion-diù no cur às an àbhaist.
Over a million words of scholarship and rich language in these translations of the Old and New Testament from the original Hebrew and Greek. The bedrock of Gaelic education and literacy down through the generations when abject neglect or extirpation were the norm.
- Am Bioball
The Bible in Scottish Gaelic - Eimhir
When this book was published in 1943, Sorley MacLean's poetry captured the imagnation of the nation and brought to the attention of many the richness of modern Gaelic poetry. This volume contains MacLean's original poems alongside the English translations of his work by Iain Crichton Smith. - An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn
The story follows a young boy from South Uist. As he crouches by the edge of the loch, he is deciding whether or not to throw the stone-skiffler he's holding. It is 1913 and his two older brothers are down on the machair already deciding to throw their dice and head for the trenches. - Tocasaid 'Ain Tuirc
Viking, Gaelic and many other influences come to bear on these 16 short stories of glorious imagination, quirky rich humour and larger than life characters.