
24/06/2011
Litir na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's letter for learners from Roddy MacLean.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh 623
Duration: 05:00
Litir 623: Fairtirchill – Eaglais an Dùin
Bha mi o chionn ghoirid ann am fear de na glinn as fhaide – agus as bòidhche – ann an Alba. Tha Gleann Lìomhann ann an Siorrachd Pheairt ann an ceann a deas na Gà idhealtachd – an ìre mhath ann an meadhan na h-Alba. A bharrachd air a bòidhchead, tha an sgìre sin ainmeil airson eachdraidh agus beul-aithris. Ann an Litir leth-cheud ’s a dhà (52), air ais sa bhliadhna dà mhìle (2000), dh’inns mi dhuibh mun riaghladair Ròmanach, Pontius Pilat. ’S e Pilat a cheadaich ceusadh Ìosa Chrìosd. A rèir beul-aithris, rugadh e ann am Fairtirchill ann an Gleann Lìomhann oir bha athair ann an Alba mar phà irt de dh’arm na Ròimhe.
           ’S e baile beag brèagha a th’ ann am Fairtirchill. Agus chan eil e cho fada on a bha Gà idhlig aig muinntir an à ite. Chithear sin anns a’ chladh, ri taobh na seann eaglais, far a bheil carragh-cuimhne cogaidh ann. Sgrìobhte air a’ charragh, tha seo: To the Glory of God and in Memory of Those from Fortingall district who fell in the Great War 1914-1919. Agus an aon rud ann an Gà idhlig: Chum Glòir Dhè agus mar Chuimhneachan orra-sa a thuit à Fairtichill ann sa Chogadh Mhòr 1914-1919.
Dè tha an t-ainm Fairtirchill a’ ciallachadh? Bha mi a’ leughadh là rach-lìn an latha eile a bha a’ cumail a-mach gur e “Feart nan Gall” a bh’ ann, the Stronghold of the Strangers. Uill, cha chreid mi gu bheil sin ceart. Chì sibh gur e Fairtichill seach Fairtirchill a th’ air a’ bhaile air a’ charragh-chuimhne. Ach tha e dearbhte gun robh an dà rna “r” anns an ainm o shean. Bha an t-ainm clà raichte ann an dà cheud dheug is ceathrad (1240) mar Forterkill. Bha Uilleam MacBhà tair dhen bheachd gu bheil kill a’ riochdachadh na Gà idhlig cill, no church. Agus bha e dhen bheachd gu bheil fortair a’ ciallachadh dùn no caisteal. Mar sin tha Fartairchill a’ ciallachadh “eaglais an dùin”.
’S dòcha nach eil sibh ag aithneachadh an fhacail Ghà idhlig fortair. Ach seo na sgrìobh MacBhà tair mu dheidhinn: “I have learned recently from Mr Duncan Campbell, late editor of the Northern Chronicle, a Glenlyon man, that one of the ancient round forts in Glenlyon is called in Gaelic an Fhortair [f-h-o-r-t-a-i-r]”. Agus bha MacBhà tair dhen bheachd gun robh an aon tùs aig Fortair ann an Gleann Ìle agus Forthar ann am Fìobh. Bha e a’ smaoineachadh gur e fortair facal Gà idhlig a thà inig bhon Chruithnis o shean, gu dearbh bhon t-seann Cheilteis verterae – a tha clà raichte ann an seann là mh-sgrìobhainnean.
Agus an robh dùn ann am Fairtirchill? Gu dearbh, bha. Ri taobh na h-eaglais tha Baile na Creige. Agus os cionn sin tha creag, mar a bhiodh dùil bho ainm a’ bhaile. Bha tùr cruinn air mullach na creige sin anns an t-seann aimsir. Mar sin, tha “eaglais an dùin” a’ dèanamh ciall.
Tha deagh theans ann gun deach an eaglais a thogail air là rach a bha naomh do na pà ganaich Cheilteach a bha a’ fuireach anns an sgìre mus tà inig a’ Ghà idhlig agus Crìosdachd. Agus ri taobh na h-eaglais, tha tè de na craobhan as sine anns an Roinn Eòrpa – craobh-iubhair ainmeil air a bheil, ann am Beurla, the Fortingall Yew. An robh na pà ganaich ag adhradh dhi? Bheir sinn sùil air a’ cheist sin an-ath-sheachdain.
Faclan na Litreach
Abairtean na Litreach
fear de na glinn as fhaide: one of the longest glens; ceann a deas na Gà idhealtachd: the southern Highlands; a bharrachd air a bòidhchead: in addition to its [her] beauty; eachdraidh agus beul-aithris: history and oral tradition; mun riaghladair Ròmanach, Pontius Pilat: about the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate; a cheadaich ceusadh Ìosa Chrìosd: who authorised the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; arm na Ròimhe: the army of Rome; chan eil e cho fada on a bha Gà idhlig aig muinntir an à ite: it’s not so long since the local people spoke Gaelic; cha chreid mi gu bheil sin ceart: I don’t think that’s correct; gun robh an aon tùs aig Fortair ann an Gleann Ìle agus Forthar ann am Fìobh: that Fortair in Glenisla and Forthar in Fife have the same origin; a thà inig bhon Chruithnis o shean: that came from the Pictish language in ancient times; bha tùr cruinn air mullach na creige sin: there was a round tower on the summit of that crag; tha deagh theans ann: there is a good chance; gun deach an eaglais a thogail air là rach a bha naomh do na pà ganaich Cheilteach: that the church was built on a site that was sacred to the Celtic pagans; tè de na craobhan as sine anns an Roinn Eòrpa: one of the oldest trees in Europe; ag adhradh dhi: worshipping it.
Puing-chĂ nain na Litreach
Chum Glòir Dhè: To the Glory of God. Chum, a preposition which takes the genitive case, is rather old-fashioned and might be considered a little “Biblical” today. It can be translated as “to, for, in order that, for the purpose of”; its full expression is a chum. Here are some examples of how it might appear: a chum a’ chùis a mhineachadh dha (in order to explain the matter to him), gum biodh na h-uile air an dèanamh a chum do ghlòire (may all things be done for your glory), thà inig iad dham ionnsaigh a chum mo chuideachadh (they came to me for the purpose of aiding me).
GnĂ thas-cainnt na Litreach
Chithear sin anns a’ chladh: that can [will] be seen in the graveyard.
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