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06/04/2009

Tha litir bheag na seachdain-sa aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's short letter for learners is introduced by Ruaraidh MacLean.

5 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Apr 2009 19:00

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An Litir Bheag 205

Bha Pàdruig Moireasdan à Griomasaigh ag obair ann am Beal Feirste. Bha e ag obair air soitheach. Bha sin anns a’ bhliadhna naoi ceud deug ’s a h-aon-deug (1911). Chunnaic e an soitheach mòr, an Titanic, a’ dol air bhog. ’S e latha mòr a bha ann. Bha mòran de shluagh a’ bhaile air bruach na h-aibhne. Bha iad a’ coimhead na Titanic a’ dol air bhog. 
Bha iad a’ feitheamh gu sàmhach. Thòisich an Titanic air slaighdeadh sìos. Bha na daoine ag èigheachd, “There she goes! There she goes!” Bha dà bhodach Èireannach faisg air Pàdruig. Bha pìob chrèadhach aig gach duine aca. Bha seacaidean clò orra. Bha, agus bonaidean. Bha Pàdruig ag èisteachd riutha. Bha iad a’ bruidhinn ri chèile. Thuirt fear aca rudeigin iongantach ris an fhear eile. Innsidh mi dhuibh ann an tiotan dè thuirt e. Dh’fhalbh am bàta don abhainn. Bha i air flod. Bha mòran a’ dèanamh gàirdeachas. Ach cha robh am bodach ri taobh Phàdruig. Thionndaidh e ris an fhear eile. Thug e a phìob a-mach às a bheul. Thuirt e ann am Beurla, “Mark my word, Pat, she’ll be an unlucky ship.” Dè chunnaic am bodach Èireannach air an latha sin? Am faca e manadh? Chaidh Pàdruig agus criutha a’ bhàta aige air ais don t-soitheach aca. 
Bha iad a’ bruidhinn ri chèile mun chùis. Bha iad a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn airson làithean. Dè chunnaic am bodach? Carson a thuirt e, “Mark my word, Pat, she’ll be an unlucky ship.”? Ge bith dè chunnaic e, bha e ceart. Bidh fios agaibh dè thachair don Titanic air a’ chiad turas aice aig muir. Ma tha ùidh agaibh anns na stòiridhean aig Pàdruig Moireasdan, tha cruinneachadh dhiubh ann. Chuir Comann Coimhearsnachd Ghriomasaigh an cruinneachadh ann an clò. ’S e an t-ainm air an leabhar Thugam agus Bhuam. Agus sin e bhuam an-dràsta.

The Little Letter 205

Peter Morrison from Grimsay was working in Belfast. He was working on a vessel [ship]. That was in the year 1911. He saw the big ship, the Titanic, being launched. It was a great day. Many of the city’s folk were on the river bank. They were watching the Titanic being launched. They were waiting quietly. The Titanic started to slide down. The people were shouting, “There she goes! There she goes!” There were two old Irishmen close to Peter. Each had a clay pipe. They had tweed jackets on. And hats. Peter was listening to them. They were speaking to each other. One of them said something surprising to the other man. I’ll tell you in a moment what he said. The boat went into the river. She was floating. Many people were delighted. But the old man next to Peter was not. He turned to the other man. He took his pipe out of his mouth. He said in English, “Mark my word, Pat, she’ll be an unlucky ship.” What did the old Irishman see on that day? Did he see an omen/supernatural warning? Peter and the crew of his boat went back to their vessel. They were talking to each other about the matter. They were talking about it for days. Why did he say, “Mark my word, Pat, she’ll be an unlucky ship.”? Whatever he saw, he was correct. You’ll know what happened to the Titanic on her first voyage. If you are interested in Peter Morrison’s stories, there is a collection of them. Grimsay Community Association printed the collection. The book is called Thugam agus Bhuam [to me and from me]. And that’s it from me just now.

Broadcast

  • Mon 6 Apr 2009 19:00

All the letters

Tha gach Litir Bheag an seo / All the Little Letters are here.

Podcast: An Litir Bheag

The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

An Litir Bheag air LearnGaelic

An Litir Bheag is also on LearnGaelic (with PDFs)

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