Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...
prose. The name Ùr-sgeul is a Gaelic word which translates variously as: a romance, a novel or a recent tale.
History
Ùr-sgeul was founded in 2003 as a project to promote new Gaelic fiction, and finished in 2013. The project, taken forward by
CLÀR
CLÀR is a Scottish Gaelic publisher. Established in 1996, the company is run on a voluntary, independent basis and based in Inverness, Scotland. It was the publisher for the Ùr-sgeul project, specialising in new Gaelic fiction.
Publishing Poli ...
, was conceived under the auspices of the Gaelic Books Council and with a start-up grant of £50K from the
Scottish Arts Council
The Scottish Arts Council ( gd, Comhairle Ealain na h-Alba, sco, Scots Airts Cooncil) was a Scottish public body responsible for the funding, development and promotion of the arts in Scotland. The Council primarily distributed funding from the ...
. In its short history, Ùr-sgeul has been prolific, and has contributed significantly to the recent resurgence of the Gaelic novel. Ùr-sgeul is particularly notable for advancing modern genres and themes in Scottish Gaelic literature, and for the modern look and feel of the design of the novels.
Ùr-sgeul's most critically successful title to date was the epic novel, ''An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn'', by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul. Heavily influenced in both structure and theme by the works of
Leo Tolstoy
Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...
, ''An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn'' was short-listed for the Saltire Book of the Year Award in 2004. Since then, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul has produced three further novels for Ùr-sgeul, and a novella for CLÀR.
In 2008, Ùr-sgeul was featured on the half-hour Gaelic arts program on BBC2, Ealtainn. In 2008, Ùr-sgeul also branched into
avant-garde
The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...
music publishing and released a CD mixing Gaelic prose and modern Gaelic music by the rock band,
Na Gathan
Na Gathan is a Scottish Gaelic Indie rock band from the Isle of Skye.
History
Na Gathan were formed in 2007 and first came to national attention in Scotland when they appeared in a piece on the Rapal music programme on BBC2 that documente ...
. That same year, Ùr-sgeul approached
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
(, ) is the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government with responsibility for Gaelic.Der Schadel von Damien Hirst, edited by Michael Klevenhaus, launched at the FilmAlba festival in Bonn, Germany.
Finlay MacLeod was presented with the first ever annual Donald Meek Literary Award in 2010, at a ceremony at the
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) is a book festival that takes place in the last three weeks of August every year in Charlotte Square in the centre of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. Billed as ''The largest festival of its k ...
for his Ùr-Sgeul title, Gormshuil an Righ, his first ever Gaelic novel for adults.
In 2011, the novella ''Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich'' by Alasdair Caimbeul was published. A Gaelic commentator provided a throw-away comment in The Scotsman newspaper: "Tha Alasdair a’ Bhocsair a’ creidsinn ann an daoine ’s ann an Leódhas ’s ann an Gàidhlig agus sin, a réir choltais, è.". "Alasdair Caimbeul believes in people, in Lewis, and in Gaelic, and this, it seems, is it."
Moral dilemmas, subversion and law breaking constituted the broad themes explored in the 2011 collection, Saorsa (Freedom). 13 new short stories from 13 writers were published, as follows:
*''Luathas-teichidh'' by Tim Armstrong
*''Dh'fhalbh sin, 's thàinig seo'' by Maureen NicLeòid
*''Dorsan'' by Annie NicLeòid Hill
*''An Fhianais'' by Màiri Anna NicDhòmhnaill
*''An Comann'' by Seonaidh Adams
*''Saorsa gun chrìch'' by Mìcheal Klevenhaus
*''An Drochaid'' by Mona Claudia Wagner
*''Sandra agus Ceit'' by Seònaid NicDhòmhnaill
*''Playa de la Suerte'' by Gillebrìde Mac 'IlleMhaoil
*''Iain MacAonghais'' by Neil McRae
*''Euceartas Ait'' by Cairistìona Stone
*''An Dotair Eile'' by Pàdraig MacAoidh
*''Chanadh gun do chuir i às dha'' by Meg Bateman
Aonghas MacNeacail
Aonghas MacNeacail (born 7 June 1942), nickname ''Aonghas dubh'' or ''Black Angus'', is a contemporary writer in the Scottish Gaelic language.
Early life
MacNeacail was born in Uig on the Isle of Skye on 7 June 1942. He was raised in Idrigil, ...
wrote the introduction for Saorsa.
The Ùr-Sgeul website www.ur-sgeul.com, the German-Gaelic collaboration www.ur-sgeul.de and the digital pages www.ur-sgeul.com/digital/ - featuring audio, video and written materials for learners and native speakers - were axed in July 2011 following a decision by the Gaelic Books Council.
In 2014,
The Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
explored the contribution of Ùr-Sgeul to the revitalization of Gaelic fiction.
Books
*'' Saorsa'' short story collection edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey, 2011
*''Air a Thoir'' by Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2011
*''Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich'' by Alasdair Caimbeul (Alasdair a' Bhocsair), 2011
*''Suthainn Sìor'' by Norma NicLeòid, 2011
*''An Druim Bho Thuath'' by Tormod Caimbeul, 2011
*''Impireachd'' by Iain F. MacLeoid, 2010
*''Teas'' by Maoilios Caimbeul, 2010
*''Gormshuil an Rìgh'' by Fionnlagh MacLeòid, 2010
*''A' Ghlainne agus Sgeulachdan Eile'' by Mairi E. NicLeòid, 2010
*'' Der Schadel von Damien Hirst'' edited by Michael Klevenhaus and Joan NicDhòmhnaill, 2009
*''Cainnt na Caileige Caillte'' by Alison Lang, 2009
*''Tilleadh Dhachaigh'' by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2009
*''Samhraidhean Dìomhair'' by Catrìona Lexy Chaimbeul, 2009
*''An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst'' Vol 3 (paper) - Stories 15-21, 2008
*''An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst'' Vol 2 (paper) - Stories 8-14, 2008
*''An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst'' Vol 1 (paper) - Stories 1-7, 2008
*''Taingeil Toilichte'' by Norma NicLeòid, 2008
*''Am Bounty'' by Iain F. MacLeòid, 2008
*''An Latha as Fhaide'' by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2008
*''Dìomhanas'' by Fionnlagh MacLeòid, 2008
*''Cleas Sgathain'' by Mairi Anna NicDhomhnaill, 2008
*''Slaightearan'' by
Tormod MacGill-Eain
Norman Hector Mackinnon Maclean (Scottish Gaelic: Tormod MacGill-Eain; 26 December 1936 – 31 August 2017) was a Scottish Gaelic comedian, novelist, poet, musician and broadcaster. He is the only person to have won both Bardic Crown and Gold M ...
, 2008
*''An Taigh-Samhraidh'' by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2007
*''Malairt Sgeil'' by Donnchadh MacGillIosa agus Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2007
*''Shrapnel'' by Tormod Caimbeul – Tormod a’ Bhocsair, 2006
*''Ùpraid'' by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (translation from Irish), 2006
*''Dìleas Donn'' by Norma NicLeòid, 2006
*''Gymnippers Diciadain'' by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2005
*''Na Klondykers'' by Iain F. MacLeòid, 2005
*''Am Miseanaraidh'' by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, 2005
*''Dacha Mo Ghaoil'' by
Tormod MacGill-Eain
Norman Hector Mackinnon Maclean (Scottish Gaelic: Tormod MacGill-Eain; 26 December 1936 – 31 August 2017) was a Scottish Gaelic comedian, novelist, poet, musician and broadcaster. He is the only person to have won both Bardic Crown and Gold M ...
, 2005
*''Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là'' by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2004
*''Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc'' by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa, 2004
*''An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn'' by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2003
*''Ath-Aithne'' by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2003
Talking Books
*''Shrapnel'' by Tormod Caimbeul – 4 CD set, 2007
*''Gymnippers Diciadain'' by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – DVD, 2007
*''Na Klondykers'' by Iain F. MacLeòid – DVD, 2007
*''Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là'' by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul – DVD, 2007
*''Am Miseanaraidh'' by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn – 2-CD set, 2005
*''Dacha Mo Ghaoil'' by Tormod MacGill-Eain – 3-CD set, 2005
*''Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc'' by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa. – 3-CD set, 2005
*''Ath-Aithne'' by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – 6-CD set, 2004
Other publications
*''Claigeann Damien Hirst'' by Na Gathan - CD, 2008
*''Ruigidh Sinn Mars'' by Na Gathan - CD, 2008