''Gairm'' was a

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 ...

quarterly magazine founded in 1951 by

Derick Thomson Derick Smith Thomson (Scottish Gaelic: ''Ruaraidh MacThòmais''; 5 August 1921, Stornoway – 21 March 2012, Glasgow) was a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He was originally from Lewis, but spent much of his life ...

, and Finlay J. MacDonald (Fionnlagh Domhnallach). Its first issue was published in Autumn 1952. MacDonald served as an editor until 1964; Thomson remained present for decades until it ceased publication in 2004, producing just over 200 issues in total. According to Alan Campbell, the magazine was a "one-man show;" he explained that Thomson "sustained something very valuable for a long period of time." Although it had a relatively low circulation, it was influential on Gaelic literature as it was the longest-running Gaelic literary magazine of the 20th century, in circulation for more than twice as long as its predecessor, '' Guth na Bliadhna''. Gairm attempted to encompass a variety of perspectives and themes, and "disseminated a lot of work that we weren't aware of" in the words of Martin MacDonald. As well as being familiar to most literate Gaels, the magazine attracted almost all influential Gaelic writers who were active, including Sorley MacLean,

Iain Crichton Smith Iain Crichton Smith, (Gaelic: ''Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn''; 1 January 1928 – 15 October 1998) was a Scottish poet and novelist, who wrote in both English and Gaelic. He was born in Glasgow, but moved to the Isle of Lewis at the age of two, ...

George Campbell Hay George Campbell Hay (1915–1984) was a Scottish Symbolist poet and translator, who wrote in Scottish Gaelic, Scots and English. He used the patronymic Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa. He also wrote poetry in French, Italian and Norwegian, and ...

, and Dòmhnall MacAmhlaigh. Some of the most influential Gaelic poems of the twentieth century were published in the magazine, most notably " Hallaig" by Sorley MacLean in 1954. ''Gairm'' also published short stories by Eilidh Watt and Iain Crichton Smith. There were also translations (for example the poetry of Anna Achmatova translated by

Crìsdean Whyte Christopher Whyte (''Crìsdean MacIlleBhàin'') is a Scottish poet, novelist, translator and critic. He is a novelist in English, a poet in Scottish Gaelic, the translator into English of Marina Tsvetaeva, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Rainer Maria ...

, Issue 125, Winter 1983–1984) and other Gaelic literary works (by Dòmhnall Eachann Meek or Dòmhnall MacAmhlaigh) were an important part of ''Gairm''. When ''Gairm'' ceased to publish, a new magazine, ''Gath'' (2003–8), took its place, followed by '' Steall'', whose first issue was published in 2016. An index of articles in ''Gairm'' can be found on th
Am Baile
website using thei
newspaper index
search.

Writers for Gairm

* Sorley MacLean *

* Dòmhnall Eachann Meek * Dòmhnall MacAmhlaigh *

Eilidh Watt Eilidh Watt (22 January 1908 – 25 August 1996) was a Gaelic broadcaster and writer from the Isle of Skye. She was a campaigner for equality and women's rights. Early life Eilidh (Helen) MacAskill was born on the Isle of Skye on 22 January ...

* Iain Moireach * Maoilios Caimbeul * Catrìona NicGumaraid * Ruaraidh MacThòmais * Iain MacLeòid * Anna Frater

References

External links

Editorial records
1951 establishments in Scotland Scottish Gaelic magazines Magazines established in 1951 Magazines published in Scotland Scottish Gaelic literature Literary magazines published in Scotland Defunct literary magazines published in the United Kingdom 2004 disestablishments in Scotland Magazines disestablished in 2004 Quarterly magazines published in the United Kingdom {{UK-mag-stub