The Ship of the People

Soitheach nan Daoine 

Soitheach nan Daoine Gaelic

Tha sgeulachd uabhasach ann am beul-aithris nan Gàidheal fhathast mu Shoitheach nan Daoine, no Long nan Daoine.

Gu mì-fhortanach, chan e soitheach a bha seo a bhuineadh dha na daoine, ach a bha làn dhiubh, is iad air an toirt am bruid an aghaidh an toil.

Anns a' chlàradh seo, a chaidh a chraoladh air a' phrògram Dealan-dè air Radio nan Gàidheal, ach a tha ri fhaighinn air Tobar an Dualchais, tha Aonghas MacIllFhinnein a' toirt cunntas dhuinn an toiseach air an t-suidheachadh a bh' ann, agus an uair sin air na thachair ann an 1740.

 

The Ship of the People English

There is a terrible story in Gaelic oral tradition still about Soitheach nan Daoine or Long nan Daoine (the Ship of the People).

Unfortunately, this was not a vessel that belonged to the people, but was full of them, as they were kidnapped (against their will).

In this recording, which was broadcast on the program Dealan-dè on Radio nan Gàidheal, but which is available on Tobar an Dualchais, Aonghas MacIllFhinnein (Angus MacLennan) gives us an account first about the situation as it was, and then about what happened in 1740.

 

Angus first talks about how the world of Gaelic had changed after the effect of the Statutes of Iona on Highland nobility:

A transcript of the program is available on the same page.

a' cartadh nan daoine
clearing (out) the people
bhathas gan sgiùrsadh a-null thairis
they were being scourged [driven] abroad
Ghabh airgead agus bathair àite dàimh agus càirdeis
Money and goods replaced bonds and kinship
aonadh nam pàrlamaid(ean)
union of the parliaments
(a) bu tric a chluinnist air am bilean
that was often heard on their lips
a' toirt achmhasan dha mu chuid ana-caitheanaich
reprimanding him for his profligacy

Why don't you have a go at this task! If you have a Gaelic-speaking friend, you could do this together. If you don't—no problem—you can have double the fun!

We've given you these question as a starting point, but you'll certainly have other questions and opinions. 😊

Cuin a thòisich dòigh-beatha nan Gàidheal ag atharrachadh, a rèir Aonghais, agus carson?
When did the Gaels' way of life begin to change, according to Angus, and why?
Dè bha a' toirt air bailtean mar Lannraig Ùr (New Lanark) a bhith a' fàs?
What made towns like New Lanark grow?
Ciamar a bha New Lanark eadar-dhealaichte bho bhailtean eile?
How was New Lanark different from other towns?
Dè ghabh àite dàimh agus càirdeis agus carson a thachair seo?
What took the place of bonds and kinship and why did this happen?
Cò ris a bha na cinn-fheadhna coltach aig an àm, càit an robh iad a' fuireach, dè na cànain a bhruidhneadh iad, agus dè na h-amasan a bh' aca?
What were the chiefs like at the time, where did they live, what languages ​​did they speak, and what were their ambitions?