Bho chionn beagan bhliadhnaichean chaidh làrach lìn a chuir air bonn, "Cainnt Mo Mhàthar". Rùnaich grunn de dhaoine gum biodh e feumail cainnt agus cuimhneachan nan seann daoine Ghàidealach ann an Ceap Breatainn a ghléidheadh do na linntean ri teachd. Nach ann ceart a bha iad!

Aig an toiseach cha robh ach cuid bheag de dhaoine dol a bhith ann, ach o 'n nach riochdachadh sin gu freagarrach na dualan-cainnt air feadh an eilein, chaidh an àireamh a leudachadh gus an diugh tha fichead duine 'sa seachd ann. Agus abair cainnt bhreagha!

Faodar éisdeachd ri pàirtean dhe na h-ogallamhan agus tha cuid bheag dhiubh air an tar-sgrìobhadh cuideachd. Cluinnear dual cainnt á iomadh ceàrn' an eilein, agus 's e an rud a th' ann 's gun cluinnear Gàidhlig 'ga bruidhinn gu nàdurra le daoine aig a bheil Gàidhlig bho 'n ghlùin.

Seo roinn dhe na daoine a bhios ri 'n cluinntinn ann. Cha chan mi guth air cuspairean a thog iad o 'n a bha móran dhiubh aig gach duine. Mar sin chan innis mi ach beagan mu 'n deidhinn.

Mòr ni'n Mhurchaidh Dhòmhnaill (Nic Aonghais) á Sgeir Dhubh - 'Nuair a bha dithis chaileagan air a' Chladach a Tuath airson Gàidhlig a thogail, chaidh iad gu Mòr gus a h-ionnsachadh. Tha leanaban aig an dithis ac' a nis agus is cinnteach gun togar 'sa Ghàidhlig iad.

Ailean Ruairidh Aonghais Dhòmhnaill Uilleim (Mac Leòid) á Catalone - Nach còrd e rium 'nuair a bhios mi aig Luadh, Ailean fhaicinn! 'S esan a tha math air òrain luaidh a ghabhail, agus spòrsail càirdeil ann an còmhradh.

Micheal Jack Mhìcheil Dhòmhnaill Ìomhair (Mac Néill) á Gleann na Maiseadh - Seo fear cho còir ris an do thachair mi riamh. 'Nuair a bha mi ri theasgasg aig Taigh nan Gàidheal ann an Sudnaidh, 's iomadh turus a rinn e gu caoin mo chuideachadh 's mo cheartachadh, 's the mi fada 'na chomain.

Catrìona (Nic Dhùghaill) Potribny á Sudnaidh - Bha Catrìona an làthair aig Taigh nan Gàidheal cuideachd agus dh' ionnsaich mi móran bhuaipe. Cha chreid mi gum faca mi riamh i gun ghàir' air a gnùis, 's gun fhacal coibhneil ri ràdh.

Tha mi 'n dòchas gum bi ùine agaibh gus ceilidh a chuir air na daoine air leth seo.

*****

My Mother's Speech

A few years ago a website was started, "Speech of my Mother." A group of people decided that it would be useful to save the language and the memories of the Gaelic elders in Cape Breton for the generations to come. They were right!

At the start there was only to be a few speakers, but since that wouldn't represent the island as a whole, the number was extended to include the twenty-seven speakers that are there today. And what beautiful language!

Parts of the interviews can be listened to, and some of them are transcribed also. Dialects from many areas of the island can be heard, and the thing is, you can hear Gaelic being spoken naturally by native speakers.

Here is a selection of the people who can be heard here. I won't get into the subjects they discussed since there are a lot of them from every person. Therefore I'll just say a little bit about them:

Sadie daughter of Murdoch Donald (MacInnis) from Skir Dhu - When two young women from the North Shore wanted to learn Gaelic, they went to Sadie to learn it. Each of them has a child now and they will surely be raised in Gaelic!

Allan Roderick Angus Donald William (MacLeod) from Catalone - Aren't I happy when I'm at a milling and I see Allan there! He is exceptional at singing milling songs (waulking songs) and entertaining and friendly in conversation.

Michael Jack Michael Donald Ivor (MacNeil) from Benacadie Glen - This is as fine a man as I've ever met. When I was teaching at Taigh nan Gàidheal in Sydney he helped and corrected me gently many times, and I am much in his debt.

Catherine (MacDougall) Potribny from Sydney - Catherine was at Taigh nan Gàidheal also and I learned a lot from her. I don't think I've ever seen her without a smile on her face and a kind word to say.

I hope you have some time to visit with these exceptional people.