Ruidhl' an Fhìdhleir/The Fiddler's Reel

Anmoch a 's t-samhradh an uiridh thàinig grunn de dhaoine còmhla gus fiolm Gàidhlig a dheasachadh ann an Ceap Breatainn. 'S e "Ruidhl' an Fhìdhleir" a bh' air 'is chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Marc Almon às a' Bhaile Mhór.

A' cheud turus a thachair mi ris a h-uile duine 'san sgioba, bha sinn aig an eas Uisge Bhàn faisg air Badaig. Bha suidheachan ri 'n losgadh ann a' shin, agus smaoinich mi gum b' e àite ro mhath a bh' ann airson cuid de shuidheachan anns na fiolmaichean " Tighearna nam Fàinneachan" a rinn Seumas Camshroin.

Bha an latha breagha aig an toiseach ach thàinig an t-uisge. A rithist thàinig e 'na thuil. 'S gann a chunna mi tuil na bu truime ach chum a h-uile duine ris an obair aca gu gaisgeil, agus 's i a bu ghaisgeile dhe na h-uile, an té a bha suas ri rìomhach a chumail oirnn agus an t-uisg' a' ruith 'na sruthan air ar n-aodainn!

Chaidh a' mhór-chuid dhe na suidheachan an losgadh aig a' Chlachan Ghàidhealach 'sna làithean an déidh sin, Bha e 'na mhór-thoileachas dhomh a bhith ann còmhla ri Shannon NicDhòmhnaill, Tad Hargrave agus Pàdruig Bennet agus a bhith bruidhinn na Gàidhlig riutha ( 's iad uile fileanta ) . Bu bheag am feum a bh' againn air a' Bheurla shearbh!

'San t-Sultainn 'sa chaidh chunna mi am fiolm anns an Eaglais Mhalagawatch aig a' Chlachan Ghàidhealach 'nuair a chaidh a shealltainn air a' cheud turus ann an Ceap Breatainn. Bha a' ghrian air dol fodha agus dalladh na h-oidhche 'ga bhacadh aig lampaichean 'is chroisgeanan a' cur uampa ann an sgaoileadh cheò … mar gun robh nàdur fhéin a' toirt dreach dìomhair luantach do 'n àite 'son na h-oidhche àraidh sin.

Tha mi ro làidir 'nam bheachd gu bheil oidhearpan mar seo (fiolmaichean, dealbhan-cluich' agus obraichean ealain eile) riatanach airson daoin' òg' a bhrosnachadh gus Gàidhlig a thogail – obair mhath ùigheil shealbhach a bhith ri fhaotainn dhaibh 'sa Ghàidhlig. Nach ann againne a tha na sgeulachdan!!!

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In late summer of last year a group of people came together to make a Gaelic film in Cape Breton. It was called "The Fiddler's Reel" and it was written by Marc Almon from Antigonish.

The first time I met with everyone on the team we were at the Uisge Bàn Falls near Baddeck. Some scenes were to be shot there and I thought the place would be excellent for some of the scenes from the "Lord of the Rings" movies that James Cameron made.

It was a beautiful day at the start, but the rain came. Later it came in a torrent. I"ve seldom seen heavier rain but everyone kept on heroically, and the most heroic of all was the lady who was keeping our make-up on with the rain running in streams on our faces!

Most of the other scenes were shot at the Highland Village in the following days. It was a great pleasure for me to be together with Shannon MacDonald, Tad Hargrave and Patrick Bennet and speaking Gaelic with them (they're all fluent). We had little use for English!

Last September I saw the film in the Malagawatch Church at the Highland Village when it was shown for the first time in Cape Breton. The sun was after setting and the darkening of the night was held back by lamps and kerosene lanterns glowing in a diffused fog… as if nature itself was giving a mysterious and dramatic look to the place for that special night.

I strongly believe that projects like this (movies, plays, and other artistic endeavours) are indispensable to encourage young people to learn Gaelic – good, interesting, profitable work to be available to them in Gaelic. And don't we have the stories!!!