A new CD of classic Irish and Scottish Gaelic songs was launched at the Royal National Mod in Dunoon on Thursday 19th October last week. The songs all come from the hugely successful Leabhar Mòr, or Great Book of Gaelic, and are sung by some of the greatest tradition bearers and singers in Gaelic Scotland and Ireland.
‘An Leabhar Mòr – Na h-Òrain/The Songs’ was launched in the Park Hotel in Dunoon on Thursday night of the Mod where Kenna Campbell and Art Cormack, who both feature on the CD, sang some of the 19 songs on the CD. Each of the songs is sung by a different Gaelic singer and the Scottish singers include Flora MacNeill, Ishbel MacAskill, Christine Primrose, Anne Lorne Gillies, Margaret Stewart, Rachel Walker, Mary Smith, Finlay MacNeill and Donnie Murdo Macleod. Ireland is represented by Nicolas Toibin, Peadar Ó Ceannabháin, Albert Fry, Gearoidin Breathnach, Roisin Elsafty, Eilis Kennedy, Aine Meirbhic and Padraighín Ní Ullacháin.
The CD is published by Colmcille and Pròiseact nan Ealan (PNE): the Gaelic arts agencies behind the Leabhar Mòr project. PNE Director Calum MacLean said: “Some of the best and most respected exponents of Gaelic song in Ireland and Scotland have contributed to the CD and the songs they sing are all classics from the traditions of both countries. This latest evolution of the Leabhar Mòr project vividly brings to life, in another medium, the deep cultural and linguistic links between Gaelic Scotland and Ireland.
“The poems, artworks and calligraphy of the original Leabhar Mòr exhibition and book continue to inspire interest in the Gaelic arts from all over the world. The exhibition has now been touring for four years and has several more years of touring confirmed. It has been seen by more than a million people in Scotland, Ireland, France, the USA and Australia and exhibited in thirty locations in Ireland alone. It has generated more than 100 associated events and more than 100 schools visits with numerous schools going on to produce their own Leabhar Beag, or Wee Book of Gaelic, with student artwork and poetry. This new song CD can only add to this success.”
The Leabhar Mòr was launched by First Minister, Jack McConnell, in 2002 and brought together the work of more than 200 poets and visual artists from Ireland and Scotland. The 100 Gaelic poems date from the 6th to the 21st centuries and were all nominated by poets as their personal favourites. Thirty of the poems are also songs and it is these that feature on the CD. Fifty visual artists in both countries were commissioned to create new artworks inspired by their chosen poem and a small team of calligraphers and typographers worked with the artists and poets to integrate the selected lines of poetry and the artists’ images. It is anticipated that a new edition of the Leabhar Mor book publication will be reprinted by Canongate within the next few months. For more information on the CD see www.gaelic-arts.com or www.leabharmor.net
gaelic translation:
CUR-AIR-BHOG CD ‘AN LEABHAR MÒR – NA H-ÒRAIN’
Thèid CD ùr de dh’òrain Ghàidhlig iomraiteach bho Èirinn is Alba a chur air bhog aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Dùn Omhain Diardaoin 19mh An Dàmhair an t-seachdain seo. ’S ann às An Leabhar Mhòr, am foillseachadh ealain air leth soirbheachail, a thàinig na h-òrain agus iad air an seinn le cuid de na seinneadairean Gàidhlig as fheàrr agus as ainmeil à Èirinn is Alba.
Thèid ‘An Leabhar Mòr – Na h-Òrain’ a chur air bhog ann an Taigh-òsta Park ann an Dùn Omhainn aig 5.30f oidhche Dhiardaoin a’ Mhòid far am bi dithis sheinneadair a chluinnear air an CD, Kenna Chaimbeul is Art MacCarmaig, a’ seinn cuid de na 19 òrain bhon chlàradh. Tha gach fear de na h-òrain air an CD air an seinn le seinneadair eadar-dhealaichte agus am measg na feadhna à Alba tha Flora NicNèill, Iseabail NicAsgaill, Cairistìona Primrose, Anna Latharna NicIllIosa, Maighread Stiùbhart, Rachel Walker, Màiri Nic a’ Ghobhainn, Fionnlagh MacNèill and Donaidh Murchadh MacLeòid. Agus am measg na feadhna à Èirinn tha Nicolas Toibin, Peadar Ó Ceannabháin, Albert Fry, Gearoidin Breathnach, Roisin Elsafty, Eilis Kennedy, Aine Meirbhic and Padraighín Ní Ullacháin.
Tha an CD air fhoillseachadh le Colmcille is Pròiseact nan Ealan (PNE): na buidhnean ealain Gàidhlig a tha an sàs ann am pròiseact an Leabhair Mhòir. Thuirt Stiùiriche PNE Calum MacGillEain: “Tha cuid de na seinneadairean Gàidhlig as fheàrr à Alba is Èirinn agus air a bheil as motha spèis a’ seinn air an CD seo agus ’s iad sàr òrain uile bho dhualchas an dà dhùthcha a tha iad a’ seinn. Tha an leasachadh as ùire dhen Leabhar Mhòr a’ cur an cèill gu beòthail, tro mheadhan eile, na ceanglaichean domhainn a th’ ann eadar Gàidheil na h-Alba is na h-Èireann a thaobh an cultair is an cànain.
“Tha a’ bhàrdachd, obair-ealain agus snas-sgrìobhadh bho thaisbeanadh an Leabhair Mhòir agus an leabhar fhèin fhathast a’ togail ùidh sna h-ealain Ghàidhlig air feadh an t-saoghail. Tha an taisbeanadh a-nis air a bhith air chuairt fad ceithir bliadhna agus tha grunn bhliadhnaichean eile dhen chuairt air aontachadh. Chunna còrr is millean duine e bho Alba, Èirinn, an Fhraing, na Stàitean Aonaichte agus Astràilia agus chaidh an taisbeanadh a chumail ann am barrachd is 30 àite ann an Èirinn a-mhàin. Tha còrr is 100 tachartas co-cheangailte agus còrr is 100 tadhal-sgoile air a bhith ann air a sgàth, agus rinn tòrr sgoiltean an Leabhar Beag aca fhèin leis an cuid obair-ealain is am bàrdachd fhèin. Chan urrainn nach cuir an CD ris an t-soirbheas seo.”
Chaidh an Leabhar Mòr a chur air bhog leis a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear, Jack McConnell, ann an 2002 agus tharraing e còmhla an obair aig còrr is 200 bàrd is neach-ealain lèirsinneachd bho Alba is Èirinn. Tha an ceud dàn Gàidhlig a’ tighinn bhon 6mh linn suas chun 21mh linn agus chaidh an ainmeachadh uile le bàird mar na dàin as fheàrr leotha. ’S e òrain a th’ ann an 30 de na dàin agus ’s e cuid de na h-òrain sin a chluinnear air an CD. Chaidh 50 neach-ealain lèirsinneachd bhon dà dhùthaich fhastadh gus obair ealain ùr a chruthachadh stèidhichte air na dàin a thagh iad, agus bha sgioba beag de snas-sgrìobhadairean is dealbhadairean clò ag obair còmhla ris an luchd-ealain is na bàird gus a’ bhàrdachd is na h-ìomhaighean aig an luchd-ealain fhighe ri chèile. Thathar an dùil gun tèid lethbhreac ùr dhen Leabhar Mhòr a chur an clò a-rithist le Canongate sna beagan mhìosan a tha romhainn. Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mun CD faicibh www.gaelic-arts.com no www.leabharmor.net
