An Cridhe Cabaire / The Tell-tale Heart

Ma shuidh sibh riamh ag éisdeachd ri sgeul 'ga h-innse, no ma dh' éisd sibh ri Stiùbhart Mac 'Illeathain air a' ChBC, bidh làn fhios agaibh air cho tlachdmhor 'sa tha e sgeul tarruingeach a chluinntinn aig seanchaidh coileanta seach a leughadh no a faicinn mar fhiolm.

'S e seanchaidhean a bh' annainn bho shean agus cluinnear sin fhathast ann an còmhradh dhaoine ann an Ceap Breatainn. Gur tric is coma leinn cuspairean an t-saoghail air fad; bidh sinn amach air naidheachdan beaga éibhinn air gnothaichean a thachair o chionn iomadh bliadhna no o chionn ghries, agus théid an aon sgeul aithris iomadh turus ma 's math gu leòir i! Agus ma 's tusa cùis-mhagaidh na sgeòil, feumaidh tu bhith beò 's ag aithneachadh nach téid e air dìo-chuimhne gu ceann do shaoghail!

'Nuair a chaidh na sgeulachdan againn a chuir air chlò 'nan leabhraichean, cha neònach leam nan robh móran 'nam beachd gur e cùis neo-dhualchasach a bh' ann. Cha robh na sgeulachdan againn ach airson innse! A dh' aindheoin bacaidhean mar sin a dh' fhaodadh a bhith ann, chaidh ar sgeulachdan a sgrìobhadh 'nam buannachdan do mhìltean. Ged is e beul-aithris a 's dual dhuinn, 's e na leabhraichean a sgaoil beartas ar cuid bhàrdachd air feadh an t-saoghail, 's bhitheamaid uile na bu bhochda dheth as an aonais.

A nise, anns a' cheud linn air fhichead, tha innleachd eile a' dol a chraobh-sgaoileadh nan sgeulachdan, agus 's e sin fiolmaichean. Chìthear sin ann an Alba an diugh le stéisean bhogsa-dhealbhan air a shònrachadh do 'n Ghàidhlig a mhàin. Chìthear cuideachd ann an àiteachan nach saoileadh sibh…

Ann an Caroilìona a Tuath rinn Seumas Mac Labhruinn fiolm o chionn ghoirid air ainm "An Cridhe Cabaire." 'S e ath-rìochdachadh do 'n gheur-sgeul ainmeil aig Edgar Allan Poe a th' ann ach rinn Seumas iomadh rud innleachdach tarruingeach gus dreach ùr a chuir air. Dhe na chunna mi dheth gu ruige seo, chanainn gun cuireadh e grìs tro cnàmhan daoine turus no dhà!

Thathar an dòchas gun téid a cheud fhaicinn ann an Alba Nuaidh a 's t-samhradh 'sa tighinn. Tha e an ìre mhath deiseil a nis agus tha mi gu mór air bhioran a' feitheamh ris! Tha mi glé thoilichte gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig a' faighinn àte anns a' mheadhan seo mar a fhuair i anns na leabhraichean an linn ar sinnsearan. Tha e cuideachd 'na mhór-thoileachadh dhomh moit cho mór a bhith aig daoine bho chaochladh àite air a' Ghàidhlig 's air dualchas nan Gàidheal 's gun dean iad gnothaichean mar seo. Gum fàs i 'sa h-uile h-àite 's a h-uile dòigh!

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The Tell-tale Heart

If you've ever sat and listened to a story being told, or if you've listened to Stuart MacLean on CBC, you'll know how pleasant it is to listen to an interesting story told by an accomplisfed storyteller, instead of reading it or seeing it on film.

We were storytellers from ancient times and that can still be heard in the conversations of people in Cape Breton. We often have little interest in the subjects of the world at large; we'll be telling short funny stories about things that happened years ago or recently, and the same story can be told many times if it's good enough! And if you are the butt of the joke in the story, you'll have to live with the knowledge that it won't be forgotten until the end of your days!

When our stories were published as books, I wouldn't be surprised if there were many who thought it was not a traditional thing. Our stories were only to be told! Regardless of what may have been opined, our stories were written to the advantage of thousands. Although our tradition is an oral one, it's the books that spread the wealth of our prose and poetry throughout the world, and we would all be the poorer without them.

Now in the 21st century, another invention is set to broadcast the stories, and that's movies. It can be seen in Scotland with a television station dedicated to Gaelic only. It can also be seen in places you wouldn't think…

In North Carolina James Lawrence has recently made a film called, "The Tell-tale Heart". It's an adaptation of the well known short story by Edgar Allan Poe but James has made many an interesting innovation to put a knew look to it. From what I've seen of it so far, I'd say it will put shivers in the bones of a person or two!

It's hoped that the first showing will be in Nova Scotia this summer. It's ready now and I'm on pins and needles waiting for it! I'm very pleased that Gaelic is finding a place in this medium as it did in books in the time of our ancestors. It's also a great pleasure for me that peple from a variety of places are proud enough of their Gaelic langauge and heritage that they would do things like this. May she grow everywhere and in every way!