'Nuair a thig an samhradh thig daoine gu Ceap Breatainn á iomadh àite, luchd ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus luchd ionnsaichte 'sa Ghàidhlig nam measg. Innsidh mi dhuibh beagan mu dheidhinn dithis aca, agus té eile ás an Eilean Cheap Breatainn fhéin.

Thàinig dithis ás an Eilean Bhancoubhair, Niogaidh Polson 's Fiòna Nic a' Ghobhainn, tràth 'san Lunasdal agus dh' fhuiriich iad air a' Chladach a Tuath agus faisg air Màbu fad trì seachdainnean. 'Nuair a bha luadh air a' Chladach a Tuath thàinig iad agus ghabh Fiòna òrain aig a' bhòrd. 'S i a tha math gu seinn agus guth cinnteach binnmhor aice. Ghabh i "Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" cho math 's gun do bhrosnaich i mi gus an t-òran sin dh' ionnsachadh! Tha i cuideachd aig ìre fhileanta 'sa Ghàidhlig 's bidh Niogaidh 'ga h-ionnsachadh còmhla rithe. Tha iad air an cuid Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh le bhith gabhail clasaichean leis an Acadamaidh Gàidhlig an Atlantaig air loigne. 'S fìor mhath a rinn 'ad!

Bha mi aig luadh ré seachdainn Féis an Eilein agus bha daoine aig a' bhòrd an sin nach b' aithne dhomh no nach b' aithne dhomh gu ro mhath, mar Dhòmhnall Mac Dòmhnaill á Bail' an Rìgh ann an Ontairio. Ghabh e "Ma Bhuannaich Thu Nighean Ghrinn" agus cha mhór nach do chuir e bàs mo sheanair ás mo chuimhne leis cho math a sheinn e e. Cluinnear cuid de dhaoine ri strì ris an guth no ri fuinn nan òran gus an deanamh gu buileach ceart, ach cluinnear cuideachd roinn de sheinneadairean aig a bheil comas cho nàdurra 's gur gann nach creidear gu bheil duine 'is fonn mar dithis ag obair còmhla. 'Sann mar sin a bha Dòmhnall. Tha mi a' coimhead air adhart r' a chluinntinn a rithist.

Chuala mi té òg eile ri seinn a 's t-samhradh seo agus ged a tha i air a bhith ann an clasaichean agam o chionn dà bhliadhna, chan ann ach o chionn ghreis a fhuair mi amach, gun dùil agam,  cho math 's a tha i gu seinn. 'S dòcha gum biodh siud nàdurra agus gun i ach seachd bliadhn' a dh' aois! 'S e Drea Shepherd a th' oirre agus chan e seinneadair a mhàin a th' innte. Tha i cuideachd 'na dannsair Gàidhealach mar a tha màthair Ceallaigh Nic Artair, agus nì i dannsa ceum a' bharrachd. Tha i a' togail 's a' cumail suas caochladh phàirt de dhualchas nan Gàidheal.

Co dhiùbh, ghabh i an t-òran "Tàladh na Beinne Guirme" air an àrd-ùrlar air Latha Mór a' Chlachain Ghàidhealach le Màiri Sìne Nic Laomainn 'ga cuideachadh. Chan e òran furasda a tha sin ach chan ann oirre-se a chuireadh a' leithid sin bacadh. Ghabh i gu ro mhath e agus sheall an luchd éisdidh an tlachd le bas-buaileadh fuaimneach bu mhath a thoill i.

Smaoinich mi an dràsda 's a rithist air na seinneadairean gasda a tha' againn 's a bh' againn ann an Ceap Breatainn 's mar nach eil móran aca 'nar measg na 's mo. Chan urrainn do dhuine tha beò an àit' a ghabhail ach tha e 'na thoileachas nach beag dhomh gu bheil seinneadairean òga cho ealanta eòlach ris an triùir seo ann. Tha fuil nan Gàidheal 'na ruith fhathast gu làidir an cuislean nan òg.

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Young Singers

When the summer comes people come to Cape Breton from many locations, Gaelic learners and Gaelic speakers among them. I'll tell you a bit about two of them, and someone else from Cape Breton.

Two people came from Vancouver Island, Nickie Polson and Fiona Smith, early in August and they stayed for three weeks on the North Shore and near Mabou. When there was a milling on the North Shore, they attended and Fiona sang some songs at the table. She is a very good singer with a precise melodious voice. She sang "Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" so well that she inspired me to learn the song myself! She's also at a fluent level in Gaelic and Nickie is learning along with her. They've learned their Gaelic by taking online classes with the Atlantic Gaelic Academy. They've done very well!

I was at a milling during the week of Féis an Eilein and there were people at the table I didn't know or didn't know well, such as Daniel MacDonald from Kingston Ontario. He sang "Ma Bhuannaich Thu Nighean Ghrinn" and I  was stunned at how well he sang. Some people can be heard putting effort into controlling their voice or the tune to get the song just right but other singers have an ability that seems so natural it's hard not to believe the singer and the song aren't two separarte entities working together. That's how Daniel was. I'm looking forward to hearing him again.

I heard a young girl singing this summer and although she has been in some of my classes, it was only recently I realized how well she sings. Perhaps that's normal enough considering she's only seven years old! Her name is Drea Shepherd and she isn't just a singer. She's a highland dancer as is her mother Kelly MacArthur and she step dances. She's learning and continuing various parts of the traditions of the Gaels.

She sang the song "Tàladh na Beinne Guirme" on stage on Highland Village Day with Mary Jane Lamond backing her up. It's not an easy song, but that didn't deter her. She sang it very well and the audience showed their appreciation with a loud applause that she well deserved.

I think sometimes of the excellent singers we have and had in Cape Breton and how many of them are no longer with us. Nobody can take their place, but it gives me considerable pleasure that young singers as artistic and knowledgeable as these exist. The blood of the Gaels still runs strong in the veins of the young.