| Reference Number | 128 |
| Title | An Teachdaire Ùr Gàidhealach |
| Author | N/A |
| Editor | Maclean, Lachlan |
| Date Of Edition | 1835-36 |
| Date Of Language | mid 19c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1800-1849 |
| DateMacro | Mid 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | D. Macfarlane [thus Scottish Gaelic Union Catalogue] |
| Place Published | Glasgow [thus Scottish Gaelic Union Catalogue] |
| Volume | 9 issues. Published monthly from Nov. 1835 to August 1836. No issue was published in March 1936. |
| Location | National and academic (Aberdeen) libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Various |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Various |
| GeoMacro | Various |
| GeoX | |
| GeoY | |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Prose and Verse |
| Register Ed | Literature, Prose and Verse |
| Genre | Literature and Information |
| Medium | Prose & Verse |
| Rating | B Monthly periodical containing stories, articles, and poems on a variety of subjects. Subjects include local and international history and geography, religion, and language. Most issues contain short sections on the ‘markets’ and small news items. Includes some of Rev. Dr Norman MacLeod’s ‘conversations’. Includes some love poems and some religious poems. |
| Alternative Author Name | N/A |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 22cm x 14.5cm |
| Short Title | An Teachdaire Ùr Gàidhealach |
| Reference Details | NLS: Hall.211.c.5(2) Bound at the back of a volume containing Cuairtear nan Gleann in NLS. |
| Number Of Pages | 248 pages over 9 issues giving an average of around 24 pages per issue. Pages are numbered consecutively throughout the 9 issues. |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | The following information is taken mainly from Thomson, Companion to Gaelic Scotland (1994, p. 181). Lachlan Maclean was born in Coll in 1798. He became a shopkeeper in Glasgow and was a Gaelic enthusiast. He had two nicknames: Lachlann na Gàidhlig and Lachlann nam Mogan. Maclean contributed to An Teachdaire Gaelach and Cuairtear nan Gleann under a variety of pen names, including Am Bùirdeiseach Bàn, An Gaidheal anns a’ bhaile, Eóghan Og and MacTalla. He was a prolific writer, and Prof. Donald MacKinnon rated him as ‘among the four best Gaelic prose writers’. MacLean also published a history of Iona, a book on etiquette, and Adhamh agus Eubh, which was published in 1837, and which was notable for its suggestion that Gaelic was the language spoken in the Garden of Eden. He wrote hymns as well as Gaelic prose. MacLean edited An Teachdaire Ùr Gaidhealach during its short run from November 1835 to August 1836. He died in 1848. A more detailed account of Maclean’s life can be found in Eachann MacDhughaill’s article, ‘Lachlann nam Mogan’ in An Gaidheal 46 (1951, pp. 31-34). |
| Contents | Each issue (‘Àireamh’) contains a number of articles, stories, and poems. Some of the articles are presented in the form of a letter and a number of them are religious in nature. Àireamh I, contains the following: Roimh-radh (pp. 1-2), Failte do’n Teachdair’ Ur (pp. 3-5), Guth O Mhactalla (pp. 5-6), Searragan Uisge, no Buideil Uisge Rioghachdan na h-Aird-an-Ear (pp. 6-9), Toimhseachain, air neo dubh-Fhocail, nan Innseanach (pp. 8-11), Crotachan na Beinne (pp. 11-14), Dan Spioradail (p. 15), Bas a’ Chriosduidh (pp. 15-16), Blar Hohenlinden (pp. 16-17), Na Peathraichean (pp. 17-19), Na Coig Spilgeinean Grain (pp. 19-20), Melchisedec (pp. 21-22), A’ Mhuileid agus an Asal (p. 22), Sgeul mu Bholtaire an t-Ana-creideach (p. 23), An Duine Sona (p. 23), Math air a Thoirt o h-Olc (p. 23), Mion-chunntas mu’n Bhiobull (p. 23), Sgiorradh Muladach (p. 24), and Freagraidhean D’ ar Cairdibh (p. 24). Author’s names are usually, but not always, provided. A number of the authors’ names supplied are pen-names. |
| Sources | |
| Language | This text contains a variety of stories, articles, and poems. The stories include Mac Iain Ghìorr (pp. 53-56); Sgeul Beag Firinneach mu Thaibhse no mu Thannasg a Chunnacas le Duine Urramaichte an t-Ard Bhreitheamh Sasunnach Powel (p. 71); and Mo Chót’ Ur (pp. 91-94), an interesting and humorous story about going shopping on Princes St. in Edinburgh: ‘Cha do chuir mi mo nèapaiginn shìoda ìnnseanach ann am bhroilleach, oir mhothuich mi gu’m b’ iad aona chuid peasain no feaghain air an robh cótaichean a bha air caitheamh mu’n bhroilleach a chleachd sin a dheanamh; chuir mise mo nèapaiginn ann am pòca mo chóta agus leig mi le cirb bhig dhi crochadh a mach—gun fhios domh’ (p. 92/1). Many of the stories are religious, including Am Ministeir agus Fear nan Caonnag (pp. 56-57); Sgeul Beag Firinneach Mu Thimchioill Bearradair Feusaig, no Barbair Teisteil (pp. 107-08); and Am Fior Dhuin’-Uasal (p. 41), which begins ‘’Se ’m fior dhuin’-uasal oglach Dhé, Maighstir an t-Saoghail, agus a Sheirbhiseach Féin. ’Se Deadh-bheus a Chèaird, Meòrachadh a shùgradh, so-thoileachas ’fhois, agus Sonas a Dhuais’ (p. 41). There are a large number of articles on such topics as local and international history and geography, and also religion. Scottish history and geography are represented by Am Madadh-Alluidh Mu Dheireadh (p. 40) and An Taghairm (pp. 52-53), which includes the following description: ‘B’e so an seòrsa Druidheachd no Buidseachais bu ghràineala ’s a b’ eagallaiche bh’ air a chleachdadh sa’ Ghàidhealtachd anns na lìnntibh dorcha chaidh seachad. ’Sann ’an eilean Mhuile bha ’n Taghairm mu dheireadh air am bheil cùnntas againn, o chionn seachd fichead bliadhna’ (p. 52). We also find articles on Eilean Irt (p. 68); Sean Eachdraidh na Gaidhealtachd, which tells the tale of Cailein-Mac-’Illeaspa-Mhóir, ’ridire Loch-Odha agus ceann-feadhna gaisgeil nan Caimbeulach (pp. 111-12); Naidheachd Mu Bhliadhna Thearlaich (pp. 112-14); and Mort na Ceapach (pp. 179-81 and pp. 193-97). With regard to world history and geography, Nithe a’s Fiach an Cumail air Chuimhne (pp. 40-41) contains facts and figures from around the world, e.g. ‘’S i Russia an dùthaich a’s fuaire de’n t-saoghal, agus Birman ann an Innsibh na h-aird-an-ear, a’s teotha’ (p. 41); Andreas Hofer’ agus Luchd-Aiteachaidh na Tyrol (pp. 114-17); Righ Alfred (p. 145-46); and Blar Chorunna, agus Bas Shir Iain Moore (pp. 146-49 and pp. 159-63), which begins: ‘Air maduinn an dara-la-deug do’n cheud mhìos, bha ’n t-arm Frangach a’ sìor dhol am meud aig taobh sruth Mhero. Gu ro sheòlta ghabh Bonaparte seilbh ann an uile thighean baile Pherillo. Bha iad a’ deanamh uiread fhuaim gach latha a’ losgadh oirnn le ’n cuid ghunnacha-móra ’s gu’n do chuir iad taobh a mach nan sreathan fo fhiamh …’ (p. 146). There are articles on a variety of other subjects, such as Aireamhadh nan Gaidheal ann an Glascho (p. 47), Meudachd agus Cudthrom Long-Chogaidh Cheud Gunnacha-Mora (pp. 125-26), and Tigh-Eiridinn Rìoghail Ghlascho (pp. 164-67). Two articles deal with the natural world – Mu’n Ghrein (pp. 246-47) and Mu’n Druchd (pp. 36-37), in which the following information is given: ‘’Nuair a bhios drùchd tróm ann, their daoine gu’m bi latha teth ann am mâireach. Mar a’s soilleire an t-àile san oidhche, no mar is anmige na neòil, is ann a’s pailte ’n drùchd’ (p. 37). There are also some articles on religion. A series of articles entitled Melchisedec (pp. 57-59, 73-86, etc.), includes the following: ‘Cha mho is dearbhadh air gu’n d’ thug Melchisedec aran agus fìon do Abraham, oir ma’s e Criosd a bh’ ann, b’e féin Tighearna na talmhainn uile a bheathaich clann Israeil anns an fhàsach 40 bliadhna le aran o nèamh’ (p. 58). Other religious articles include Dochas (pp. 61-62), Ismael ann am Fàsach Bheer-Seba (pp. 97-98), and Suipeir an Tighearna (pp. 121-23), which makes the following distinction: ‘Tha seadh no dhà aig an fhocal feòil anns a’ Bhìobull. Tha e ann an aon àit’ a’ ciallachadh an nàduir choirbte, thruaillidh, a ta air a bhreth leinn (Rom. vii. 5.)—ann an àit’ eile nàdur daonna Chriosd’ (p. 121). There are two articles about Catholicism, An Creideamh Pàpanach (pp. 217-18) and Mu Chuirt Dhiomhair, no Cuirt-Pheanais nam Pàpanach (pp. 218-21). There are also a number of articles relating to language, such as Laithean na Seachduin (pp. 31-36), Mu Ainmeannan Mhiosan na Bliadhna (pp. 64-66), Mu Ainmeannan nan Airdean, Ear-Iar-Deas-Tuath (pp. 123-25), and an explanation of the spelling rule “Leathan Ri Leathan a’s Caol ri Caol.” (pp. 118-19), which introduces such terms as litrichean comh-fhoghair and litrichean foghair no gutha (p. 118). Duilleag nam Balachan (pp. 170-72) is full of information about numbers, and includes such novelties as ‘smss’, which a footnote tells us is short for ’s mar sin sios (p. 170) and neoni, no séro (p. 171). In the title of each issue, the months of the year are mostly named using ceud mhìos, dara mìos and treas mìos plus the name of the season. Of particular interest is the use of Mios na Ciùine for June (Àireamh VII). Most issues also contain short sections on markets, Margaidhnean (e.g. p. 47), and small news items, Naigheachdan (e.g. p. 47), and there are also a number of Rev. Dr. Norman MacLeod’s ‘conversations’, e.g. Còmhradh na h-Àtha (pp. 84-89) and Comhradh nan Cnoc (pp. 153-59). A number of the stories and articles appear in the form of a letter, for example Cliù agus Urram a’ Bhaird-Bhric, which begins ‘’Fhir mo Chridhe, Mur ’eil naigheachd agaibhse tha naigheachd agam féin, agus gheibh sibhs’ e;—oir is fîor an gnàth-fhocal tha ’g ràdh, “An làimh a bheir ’s ì ’gheibh.”’ (p. 89). This text also contains a number of religious poems, such as Dan (pp. 62-63) and Dan Spioradail (p. 138), and a number of love poems, such as Oran (pp. 38-29), Do M’ Leannan (pp. 83-84), and Morag a’ Mhaoir (pp. 90-91). Other poems include Cairdeas (p. 63) and Dan do Loch-Dubhaich (p. 139). |
| Orthography | The orthography provides a good specimen of the practices of the mid-nineteenth century. |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | MacDhùghaill, Eachann, ‘Lachlann nam Mogan’, An Gaidheal, 46 (1951), 31-34. MacLeod, Donald John, ‘Gaelic Prose’, TGSI, 49 (1974-76), 198-230. Thomson, Derick S., ed., The Companion to Gaelic Scotland (Glasgow, 1994: Gairm). Ewing, Rev. William, Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843-1900 (Edinburgh, 1914: [n. pub.]). |
| Credits | |
| Link Label | Digital version created by National Library of Scotland |
| Link | http://digital.nls.uk/rare-items-in-gaelic/pageturner.cfm?id=109857782 |
| Download File | 128.pdf |
| NumWords | 126762 |
