Dùthchas na Mara Dúchas na Mara Belonging to the Sea Barraigh Barra

Árainn MhÓr Arranmore Buidheachas

Air fhoillseachadh an 2012

ISBN 978-0-9529089-8-2

Air a rannsachadh is air a sgrìobhadh le Iain MacFhionghain is Ruth Ní Bhraonáin Dealbhan, bhideo is saothair-ealain a’ chòmhdaich le Steafan Hurrel Air a dhealbhadh le Bakkal Dùthchas na mara Air a chur gu Gàidhlig le Rody Gorman A’ sgrùdadh nam freumhan cultarail ri strì-mara ann Air a chur an clò le Buidheann-clò MhicThòmais an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhealach ann an Alba ‘s ann an Èirinn Buíochas Iain MacKinnon Dáta foilsithe 2012 (Scottish Crofting Federation) ISBN 978-0-9529089-8-2 and Taighde is scríobh ag Iain MacFhionghain is Ruth Ní Bhraonáin Grianghraif, físeán is saothar ealaíne an chlúdaigh ag Stiofán Hurrel Dúchas na mara Ruth Brennan Dearadh ag Bakkal Ag iniúchadh na bhfréamhacha cultúrtha le coimhlint (Scottish Association for Marine Science) Aistrithe go Gaeilge ag Rody Gorman Curtha i cló ag Clódóirí Mhic Thomáis mhuirí i bpobail Ghaelacha in Éirinn is in Albain

Credits

Published in 2012 Stephen Hurrel © the authors (text) and photographer (photos) Dealbhan / Grianghraif / Photography

ISBN 978-0-9529089-8-2

Researched and written by Iain MacKinnon and Ruth Brennan Belonging to the sea Photographs, video and cover artwork by Stephen Hurrel Exploring the cultural roots of maritime conflict on Gaelic Designed by Bakkal Translated by Rody Gorman speaking islands in Scotland and Ireland Printed by J. Thomson Colour Printers

Cùl-fraoin nor is it to argue for or against the way in which they are responding to Tha an obair-sgrùdaidh seo a’ togail Cúlra ina bhfuil siad ag freagairt ar an bhagar a the threat they are feeling. Instead, cheistean mu ghnè bhunaiteach na strì sa mhothaíonn siad. Ina áit sin, amharcann an this account looks behind the political bheil dà choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig ann Cuireann an saothar taiscéalaíoch Background faireachdainn a th’ ann. An àite sin, tha cuntas taobh thiar den naimhdeas pholaitiúil antagonism to explore shared maritime an eileanan — an dara tè ann an Alba is an seo ceisteanna fá ghné níos doimhne an tuairisgeul seo a’ sealltainn air cùlaibh le cleachtaí comónta muirí agus prionsabail traditions and principles of belief and an nàimhdeis phoilitigich gus dualchas tè eile ann an Èirinn — air a bhith an sàs o den choimhlint a deachaigh dhá This exploratory work asks questions fá chreidiúint is iompar sa dá phobal conduct in these two Gaelic speaking is beachdan a bhuineas ris a’ mhuir san chionn beagan bhliadhnaichean a-nis. Ann chomharsanacht Ghaelacha - cionn in about the deeper nature of conflict Ghaelacha seo a chíoradh — deighilte communities — divided by state dà choimhearsnachd Ghàidhealach seo a an 2012, tha an dà choimhearsnachd seo a’ Éirinn agus cionn in Albain - i ngleic that two separate Gaelic-speaking le teorainneacha stáit ach aontaithe i boundaries but united in aspects of cur gu dubh an aghaidh mhodhan a thaobh sgrùdadh — is iad air an dealachadh le léi le blianta beaga anuas. In 2012, island communities — one in Ireland ngnéithe de theanga is de chultúr — a language and culture — that may be co-dhùnaidh aig buidhnean-riaghaltais aig a crìochan-stàite ach air an toirt còmhla tá an dá chomharsanacht seo ag cur and one in Scotland — have become d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag spreagadh na motivating the resistance manifest on bheil mar raon-ùghdarrais nithean ceangailte a thaobh nithean ceangailte ri cànan is go gníomhach in éadan phróiseas embroiled in during recent years. In frithbheartaíochta isan dá oileán in éadan both islands to the legislation of the ris an àrainneachd nàdarra sa bheil na cultar - a dh’fhaodas brosnachadh mar a 2012, both these communities find h-eileanaich a’ fuireach a dhìon. cinnteoireachta comhlachtaí rialtais a tha an dà eilean gu follaiseach a’ cur an reachtaíocht na stát a rialíonn iad. Pléann states that rule them. It also examines bhfuil de shainchúram orthu gnéithe den themselves actively opposing decision- aghaidh reachdas nan stàitean a tha gan sé ionstraimí idirnáisiúnta beartais fosta international policy instruments that are San dà eilean, tha iasgairean den bheachd timpeallacht nádúrtha a bhfuil cónaí ar na making processes of government bodies riaghladh. Tha i cuideachd na sgrùdadh air a bhaineann le fios traidisiúnta agus le relevant to traditional knowledge and gu bheil an teachd-an-tìr is an dògh-beatha hoileánaigh a chosaint. whose remit is to protect aspects of reachdas eadar-nàiseanta mu phoileasaidh hoidhríocht chultúrtha. cultural heritage. aca fo bhagairt aig buidhnean cumhachdach the natural environment in which the a tha ceangailte ri eòlas dùthchasach agus nach eil a’ toirt cluas-ri-claisneachd Isan dá oileán, creideann na hiascairí island people live. dualchas cultarail. Cuireann an taighde s’againn i gcéill Our research suggests that at the dhaibh. Ann am Barraigh, buinidh an strì ri go bhfuil a ngléas beatha is a slí go bhfuil ag croí na dtuairimí is an heart of these beliefs and conduct molaidhean le buidheann gleidheadh-nàdair mhaireachtála fá bhagar ag institiúidí On both islands the fishermen believe Tha an rannsachadh againn a’ cur an cèill gu iompair seo modh labhartha Gaelach le is a particular Gaelic expression of a Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Dualchas Nàdair cumhachtacha nach mbíonn ag éisteacht that their livelihood and way of living bheil aig cridhe nam beachdan is a’ ghiùlain mothúchán uilíoch daonna a chur in iúl: an feeling that is universally potential in na h-Alba, dà àrainn gleidheadh-mara leofa. In Oileán Bharra, baineann an is being threatened by powerful seo dòigh-labhairt a tha gu sònraichte mothúchán go mbaineann tú le háit, agus human beings: the sense of belonging ainmeachadh ann an uisgeachan far an t-aighneas le moltaí de chuid comhlachta institutions who are not listening to Gàidhealach mu fhaireachdainn a tha an do fhreagracht as an áit sin. Ó thaobh na to a home place, and of responsibility eilein (a chaidh aonan dhiubh a cheadachadh caomhnaithe dúlra Rialtas na hAlbana, them. On Barra the dispute centres comas mhic-an-duine air feadh na cruinne- Gàidhlige de, glactar an mothúchán seo — for that place. In the Gaelic context, anns an Ògmhios 2012 gus a bhith air Oidhríocht Dúlra na hAlbana, dhá limistéar around proposals by the Scottish cè: an fhaireachdainn a thaobh a bhith a’ a chuir an fear léinn Gàidhlige cliúiteach this feeling — described by the great ainmeachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus caomhnaithe mara a ainmniú in uiscí Government’s nature conservation buntainn ri àite, agus an t-uallach a th’ ort Iain Mac Aonghuis in iúl mar ’fuinneamh Scottish Gaelic scholar John MacInnes thathar a’ feitheamh air co-dhùnadh mun amach ón oileán (a bhfuil cionn amháin acu body, Scottish Natural Heritage, airson an àite sin. A thaobh na Gàidhlig mothúcháin’ — leis an fhocal nach dtig a as a form of ‘emotional energy’ — tè eile). Aig an aon àm sna h-eileanan ann i Meitheamh 2012 ceadaithe fá choinne to designate two European marine dheth, tha an fhaireachdainn seo - air an aistriú go furast ‘dúchas’ (sa Ghaeilic) nó is encapsulated by the not easily an Tìr Chonaill — Arainn Mhòr nam measg ainmniúcháin le Rialtas na hAlbana cheana conservation areas in waters off the do ghabh an sgoilear mòr Gàidhlig Iain ‘dùthchas’ (sa Ghàidhlig). translateable word ‘dúchas’ (in Irish) or — buinidh an deasbad ris an dàil a chuir féin agus an cionn eile ag feitheamh ar island (one of which, at the time of Mac Aonghuis seòrsa de ‘lùth-mothachaidh’ ‘dùthchas’ (in Scottish Gaelic). Riaghaltas na h-Èireann air iasgaach-nan chinneadh). San am chéanna ar oileáin writing in June 2012, has already been — air a glacadh leis an fhacal nach gabh Gidh go mbaineann an focal ‘dúchas/ tionndadh gu furasta, ‘dùthchas’ (ann an lìon-siabaidh agus na bacaidhean mòra a Thír Chonaill — Árainn Mhór san áireamh approved for designation by the Scottish dùthchas’ leis an talamh - thig sé ón fhocal While ‘dúchas/dùthchas’ is a word of Gàidhlig) no ‘dúchas’ (ann an Gaeilge). rèir nan eileanach a chaidh a chur air a’ — baineann an t-aighneas le moratorium Government while the other awaits a Gaeilice ‘dú/dùth’ a chiallaíonn ‘talamh’ nó the land — it is derived from the Gaelic chomas a th’ aca iasgach le lìn nan cuid Rialtas na hÉireann ar iascach an bhradáin decision). Meanwhile on the Donegal ‘tír’ - cuireann an taighde s’againn i gcéill go word ‘dú / dùth’ which can mean ‘earth’ uisgeachan fhèin. Ged a tha ‘dùthchas / dúchas’ ceangailte ris le sruthlíonta agus na srianta millteanacha islands — including Arranmore — the an fhearann — tha e a’ tighinn bhon fhacal síneann an fuinneamh mothúcháin fá bhaint or ‘land’ — our research suggests that de réir na n-oileánach a cuireadh ar a dispute is about the Irish Government’s is fá fhreagracht a chuireann an focal in iúl the emotional energy of belonging and Chan e adhbhar na h-obrach seo beachdan Ghàidhlig ‘dùth/dú’ aig a bheil a’ bhrìgh gcumas iascach le heangacha ina gcuid moratorium on drift-net fishing for go dtí na huiscí thart fán dúchas. responsibility the word conveys extends nan eileanach fhìreanachadh seach brìgh ‘talamh’ no ‘fearann’ - tha an rannsachadh salmon and on what the islanders feel a thoirt air falbh bhuapa gu bheil iad fo uiscí féin. againn a’ cur an cèill gum buin an lùth- to the waters around the homeland. bhagairt; cha mhotha chan e argamaid are crippling restrictions that have been mothachaidh is an t-uallach an lùib an Ar an ábhar sin, is é an rud atá fáidear taobh seach taobh mun dòigh sa bheil iad Chan é feidhm na hoibre seo mothúcháin placed on their ability to fish with nets fhacail ris na h-uisgeachan timcheall air an dúinn cuntas a thabhairt ar sa tuarascáil Therefore, what we are seeking to a’ freagairt air a’ bhagairt a bhios iad a’ na n-oileánach go bhfuiltear ag bagar in their local waters. dùthchas. seo ‘dúchas/dùthchas na mara’ — an mothú describe in this report is ‘dúchas / orthu a fhírinniú ná a neamhbhailiú, ná go mbaineann tú leis an fharraige — agus argáil ar son ná in éadan an bhealaigh It is not the purpose of this work to Mar sin dheth, ‘s e na tha sinn a’ feuchainn an ról a imríonn an mothú seo le saol either justify or invalidate the island ri cur ann am briathran san aithisg 8 people’s feelings of being under threat; seo ‘dùthchas/dúchas na mara’ — an 9 fhaireachdainn gum buin thu ris a’ mhuir — agus an t-àite a tha an fhaireachdainn seo mu bhuntainn ann an saoghal nan eilean is na bpobal oileánda seo. De réir is mar nan eileanach seo. Mar a tha Mac Aonghuis a mhíníonn Mac Aonghuis é, do mheon ga mhìneachadh, do dh’inntinn a’ Ghàidheil, na nGael, is é an rud is dúchas/dùthchas dùthchas na mara’ — the sense of ‘s e na th’ ann an dùthchas/dúchas raon- ann réimse iomlán tuisceana, a thugann belonging to the sea — and the role tuigse làn anns a bheil “barrachd na uachdar le chéile “cha tírdhreach, cha mothú fá this sense of belonging plays in the na dùthcha no cruinn-eòlas leotha fhèin, na thíreolas amháin, ná stair amháin, ach faireachdainn dìreach mun eachdraidh, ach life of these island communities. As rian-fiosrachaidh foirmeil san tig iad seo ord foirmiúil d’eispéireas ina dtig siad MacInnes explains it, to the Gaelic uile còmhla”. seo le chéile”. mind, dúchas/dùthchas is a total field of understanding, encompassing “not Faodaidh an rud air a bheil an coltas Thig leis an rud atá don strainséir so much a landscape, not a sense of ann an sùilean a’ choigrich a bhith ina réimse fholamh tire — maorga geography alone, nor of history alone, na fhàsach falamh — eireachdail no nó marbhánta ag brath ar na but a formal order of experience in gun bhrìgh a rèir nam beachdan a tha tuairimí atá i réim - a bheith don which all these are merged”. an uachdar — a bhith na fhearann lucht dúchais ina réimse bhagánta, beothail, ‘s dòcha fiù ‘s gaisgeil ghaisciúil féin, líonta lán le pearsanna What is to a stranger an is a’ cur thairis le pearsaichean ón stair ís ón fhinnscéalaíocht expanse of empty countryside — eachdraidheil - don luchd-dhùthchais (Mac Aonghuis 2006: 29). magnificent or drab according (Mac Aonghuis 2006: 29). to prevailing notions — to the D’eascair an cuntas seo a leanas as native sensibility can be dynamic, Dh’èirich an t-iomradh a leanas às a bhith éisteacht le hoileánaigh Ghaelacha agus perhaps even heroic, territory ag èisteachd ri eileanaich Ghàidhlig agus ag cluinstin uathu beagán fán eolas bheo peopled with figures from history a bhith a’ cluinntinn bhuaibh beagan mun atá acu ar an fharraige: fán áit atá aice and legend (MacInnes 2006: 29). eòlas bheò a th’ aca air a’ mhuir: mun àite a ina gcuid scéaltaí, eachtraí is finnscéaltaí; th’ aice nan cuid sgeulachdan, sheanchasan fá dtaobh de goidé mar atá maireachtáil The narrative that follows has emerged is eachdraidhean; a thaobh mar a thug iad bainte amach ón fharraige acu; goidé mar from listening to Gaelic-speaking island teachd-an-tìr bhon mhuir; mar a dh’ainmich a d’ainmnigh is a d’athainmnigh siad í le people and hearing from them a little iad i a rèir nam feumalachdan a th’ aca fóirstean dá gcuid riachtanas ar agus as of their living knowledge of the sea: of air is às a’ mhuir; a thaobh mar a chuidich an fharraige; mar a chuidigh sé lena gcuid its place in their stories, histories and i gus cruth a chur air an cuid giùlain is iompair is tuairimí a mhúnlú; fán athrach legends; of how they have made a living bheachdan; mun atharrachadh a thug atá tugtha ag teicneolaíocht ar an ghaol from the sea; of how they have named teicneòlas air a’ chàirdeas a th’ aca rithe. atá acu léi. and renamed it to suit their needs on Tro chòmhraidhean agus tron ùine a and from the sea; of how it has helped chaidh a chur seachad le iasgairean Fríd chomhráite agus am a caitheadh le to shape their conduct and beliefs; of ann am Barraigh ‘s ann an Arainn Mhòr, hiascairí ar Oileán Bharra is Árainn Mhór, the change that technologies have tha an rannsachadh seo a’ feuchain ri féachann an taighde seo le dóigh níos brought to their relationships with it. dòigh àrsaidh a tha air leth bho, ach a ársa is níos doimhne le eolas a chur ar an dh’fhaodadh seasamh còmhla ris, an dòigh- fharraige a léiriú do dhaoine ar an taobh Through conversations and time spent eòlais a tha air a cruthachadh air a’ chuid amuigh, atá ar leith ó, ach a d’fhéadfadh with fishermen on the islands of Barra as motha le foghlam nan leabhraichean a chur in éineacht le, dóigh feasa a and Arranmore, this research seeks mhúnlaítear den chuid is mó de le léann na to make visible to outsiders an older leabhar agus modhanna foirmiúla oiliúna and deeper way of knowing the sea which is distinct from, but potentially 10 complementary to, a way of knowing which is mainly informed by book learning and formal education processes agus a bhfuil lucht beartais is reachtaíochta and is more familiar to the world of níos eolaí air. policy-making and legislation. is oideachadh foirmeil air am bi luchd- poileasaidh is luchd-reachdais eòlach a Chun ár gcuid taighde a dhéanamh, labhair To carry out our research we nochdadh ri feadhainn air an taobh a-muigh. muid le hiascairí níos sine, agus daoine approached older fishermen, and others eile a chothaíonn an cultúr traidisiúnta who are maintaining the traditional Gus an rannsachadh againn a tharraing a-mach, chuir sinn fios air iasgairean isan dá oileán, agus d’iarr muid orthu culture in both the island communities, nas sine is air feadhainn eile a bhios logainmneacha a bhfuil eolas orthu acu, and asked them for place-names which a’ gleidheadh an dualchais aca san dà nó a mbaineann siad feidhm astu, i dtaca they know of, or make use of, in relation eilean, agus dh’iarr sinn orra ainmean-àite leis an fharraige. Bhain muid feidhm as to the sea. We used maps and admiralty air a bheil iad eòlach, no a bhios iad a’ léarscáileanna agus cairteanna cabhlaigh charts — which the fishermen are cleachdadh, ceangailte ris a’ mhuir. Chuir — a bhfuil na hiascairí eolach orthu cheana already familiar and comfortable with sinn feum air clàran-dùthcha is air cairtean- féin agus sócúlach leofa (in amannaí (on occasions they also correct them) cabhlaich — air am bi na h-iasgairean ceartaíonn siad iad comh maith) — le fiafraí — to ask about these place-names. eòlach is leis am bi iad cofhurtail (aig díobh fá dtaobh de na logainmneacha Through this process we have been able amannan bidh iad gan ceartachadh) — gus seo. Le linn an phróisis seo, d’éirigh linn to gather a little of the information an ceasnachadh mu na h-ainmean-àite seo. beagan den eolas fá ná háiteanna seo a about these places that helps to express Ri linn na h-obrach seo, chaidh a chur air chruinniú, rud a chuidíonn chun ‘dóigh feasa’ and transmit a unique ‘way of knowing’ chomas dhuinn beagan den eòlas mu na shonraíoch fá thimpeallacht na mara a the marine environment that belongs to h-àiteachan seo a thional, a chuidicheas gus bhaineann leis na hoileánaigh a chur in iúl the island people. ‘dòigh-eòlais’ air leth air àrainneachd na is a scaipeadh. mara a bhuineas ris na h-eileanaich seo a chur an cèill is a sgaoileadh. Elements of a deeper way Gnéithe de dhóigh feasa of knowing níos doimhne Eileamaidean de dhòigh-eòlais While the fishermen’s knowledge of nas doimhne Gidh go mb’fhéidir nach mbeidh an the seas may not have the perceived cruinneas oibiachtúil mar a shíltear ag an objective precision that is characteristic Ged as dòcha nach bi an cruinneas mas fhios atá ag na hiascairí ar an fharraige of natural science’s understanding of fhìor an lùib na tuigse a th’ aig saidheans atá mar chomhartha sóirt den tuiscint ag the marine environment, the fishermen’s nàdarra air saoghal na mara an lùib an eolaíocht nádúrtha ar thimpeallacht na knowledge is, arguably, more complete eòlais a th’ aig na h-iasgairean air a’ mara, d’fhéadfá argáil go bhfuil fios na mhuir, dh’fhaodte agairt gu bheil eòlas nan in that it is closer to a total field of iasgairean nas coileanta seach gu bheil n-iascairí níos iomláine cionn is go bhfuil understanding, having both practical and e nas fhaisge air raon-tuigse làn, leis an sé níos deise do réimse iomlán tuisceana emotional power. For many hundreds of dà chuid cumhachd phractaigeach agus a le cumhacht phraiticiúil is mhothúchánach years this knowledge has played a key thaobh mothachaidh. Fad nan ceudan de beirt aige. Ar feadh na gcéadta bliain tá ról role in supporting the island people’s bhliadhnaichean, tha àite bunaiteach air a bunúsach imeartha ag an fhios seo le tacú subsistence and distinct identity. bhith aig an eòlas seo mar thaic ri cosnadh le cothú is sainaitheantas na n-oileánach.. is ìomhaigh shònraichte nan eileanach. As an example of this, a gifted and Mar shampla, mhínigh iascaire féithiúil a Mar eisimpleir de seo, mhìnich iasgairean bhfuil an-mheas air de theaghlach cáiliúil ealanta air a bheilear gu math measail à sliochd cliùiteach Barrach, Dòmhnall 13 much respected fisherman from a famous Barra fishing lineage, iascairí as Oileán Bharra, Dòmhnall Uilleam Domhnall Uilleam MacLeod (known as MacLeòid (a ngairtear de ‘Coppertop’), ‘Coppertop’), explained to us how the Uilleam MacLeòid (air a bheilear a’ gabhail dúinn mar a thig leis na hainmneacha a names fishermen have given to areas ‘Coppertop’) dhuinn mar a chuidicheas na thug na hiascairí ar réimsí farraige timpeall of the seas around them can help them h-ainmean a thug iasgairean air àiteachan orthu chun nádúr na n-áiteanna, agus na to understand the nature, and the aig muir gus gnè nan àiteachan, agus na guaiseanna ag siúl leofa, a mbíonn siad ag potential dangers, of the places they cunnartan a dh’fhaodas èirigh, sam bi iad ag obair a thuigsinn. obair a thuigbheáil. are working in.

Dh’innis e dhuinn mu sgrìob-uisge air a D’inis sé dúinn fá dtaobh de réimse uisce He told us about a stretch of water bheil ’Caolas boga’ mara’ [Caolas bogadh na a dtugtar ‘Caolas boga’ mara’ [Caolas called ‘Caolas boga’ mara’ [Caolas mara] eadar Fuidheigh is Flodaigh far taobh bogadh na mara} air eadar oileán Fuidheigh bogadh na mara — the dipping narrows an ear Bharraigh. Rachadh an caolas seo is Flodaigh amach ó chósta thoir Oileán of the sea] which lies between the a chleachdadh le iasgairean à Bruairnis no Bharra. Bhaineadh na hiascairí as Bruairnis islands of Fuidheigh and Flodaigh off Àird Mhidhinis a’ dol gu Caolas Bharraigh nó Àird Mhidhinis feidhm as an chaolas seo the east coast of Barra. This narrows sa cheann a tuath no a’ tilleadh às, do nach ag gabháil go dtí nó ag pilleadh as Bealach would be used by fishermen from b’ urrainn, ri linn staid na mara no ìre an Bharra ó thuaidh nach raibh, de thairbhe Bruernish or Àird Mhithnis going to or làin an uair sin, feum a chur air fasgadh staid na farraige nó na taoille ag an am, i returning from the Sound of Barra in the nan caol nas fhaisge air Barraigh. Seach sin ndán feidhm a bhaint as an chaolas níos north, who, because of sea conditions rachadh iad na b’ fhaide sear, tro Chaolas foscúla níos deise do thír mór Oileán Bharra. or the state of the tide at that time, boga’ mara agus a-steach ann an àite far Ina ionad sin, ghabhadh iad ní b’fhaide were not able to use the more sheltered am biodh iad, mar a thigeadh iad na b’ soir, fríd Chaolas boga’ mara agus isteach narrows closer to the mainland of Barra. fhaisge air taobh a deas a’ chaolais, agus i réimse a mbíodh siad, mar a bhainfeadh Instead they would journey further east, aghaidh aca ri fairge a’ Chuain Sgìth. Mar a siad an taobh ó dheas den chaolas amach, through Caolas boga’ mara and into an mhìnich Coppertop: lena n-aghaidh le haibhléis mhór Chuan area where, as they reached the south Scíth. Mar a mhínigh Coppertop: side of the caolas [narrows], they would Air taobh a tuath a’ chaolais, tha i be facing the open waters of the Minch. daonnan ciùin, ach ma bhios gaoth Ar an taobh ó thuaidh den chaolas, As Coppertop explained: sam bith bhon cheann a deas no bhon bíonn sé ciúin i dtólamh, ach le gaoth cheann an ear-dheas, bidh e gu math ar bith aneas nó aniar aneas, beidh On the north side of the caolas, it diofraichte air an taobh eile. Tha an sé duifriúil go maith ar an taobh eile.. is always calm, but with any south t-ainm na thuairisgeul, oir faodaidh Is cur síos é an t-ainm, cionn is go or south-east wind, it will be very tu smaoineachadh gu bheil thu a’ bogadh ann an sròn na fairge. San dtig leat samhlú a bheith ag tumadh different on the other side. The t-suidheachadh seo, bho a bhith ciùin isteach i bhfarraige i d’éadan. Sa chás name is descriptive, as you can gu gun a bhith cho ciùin air an taobh seo, óna bheith ciúin go gan a bheith imagine dipping into a head sea. a deas, chan eil ann ach faid beagan comh ciúin sin ar an taobh ó dheas, In this case, from calm to not so eathraichean. Cha rachadh caolas chan fhuil ann ach faid traidhfil bád. calm on the south side, being a sam bith ann an uisgeachan far a Ní thabharfá ainm dá leithéid sin ar few boat lengths. No channel in bheil fasgadh ainmeachadh mar sin. bhealach ar bith in uiscí le foscadh. sheltered waters would be named (Ní Bhraonáin 2011a) (Ní Bhraonáin 2011a) as such. (Brennan 2011a)

Ann an car an aon dòigh, thuirt cuideigin Ar an dóigh chéanna, mhínigh duine de à fear de na teaghlaichean-iasgaich stèidhichte ann an Arainn Mhòr, Gearóid Ó 15 hIarlatha, gum bi fios aige bho ìre an làin a chì e bhon taigh aige air taobh an ear Arainn Mhòr am bi e comasach dha iasgach theaghlaigh iascaireachta mór le rá as an latha sin san taobh an iar, grunnan Árainn Mhór, Gearóid Ó hIarla, goidé mar mhìltean air falbh agus a-mach à sealladh a thig leis tabhairt fáidear ó staid an uisce In a similar fashion, a member of one bhon dachaigh aige. atá le feiceáilt óna theach ar an taobh thoir of the experienced Arranmore fishing d’Árainn Mhór an mbeidh sé ábalta iascach families, Jerry Early, explained how he Chan eilear ris an aon ìre den iasgach air an lá sin san iarthar, cuid mhaith de mhílte taobh siar Arainn Mhòr mar as trice seach, is able to tell by the state of the water mar a thuirt Gearóid, “gu bheil barrachd ar shiúl agus as amharc óna theach. visible from the kitchen window of his cunnairt ann gun tèid rudan a chall”. Tha e house on the east side of Arranmore, agus aghaidh aige ris a’ Chuan Siar agus Ní dhéantar go hiondúil oiread whether he will be able to fish that day ris na gaoitean buadhach. Fhad ‘s a sheall iascaireachta ar oirthear Árainn Mhór de to the west, several miles away and out e dhuinn feadhainn de na creagan air taobh thairbhe, mar a dúirt Gearóid, “go bhfuil of sight from his home. siar an eilein, thuirt fear à teaghlach- baol níos mó ann go gcaillfear rudaí”. Tá iasgaich ainmeil eile ann an Arainn Mhòr, aghaidh leis an Atlantach aige agus leis The west side of Arranmore is generally Niallaí Caomhánach, àite far an deach na gaotha bunáiteacha. Le linn dó cuid de less fished because, as Jerry said, “the clèibh is ròpaichean a sgapadh gu h-àrd ann na haillte ar an taobh thiar den oileán a chances of loss are greater”. It faces the an aodann na creige an dèidh do ghailleann thaispeáint dúinn, shín duine de theaghlach Atlantic Ocean and the prevailing winds. mòr a bhith ann. cáiliúil iascaicgh eile as Árainn Mhór, While showing us some of the cliffs on Niallaí Caomhánach, méir ionsar réimse a the west side of the island, a member Mas e, bhon taigh aige air taobh fasgail an raibh potaí is rópaí scuabtha suas go hard of another renowned Arranmore fishing ear an eilein, gum faic Gearóid Ó hIarlatha ar aghaidh na haille i ndéidh garbhadais ar family, Neily Kavanagh, pointed to an gu bheil an t-uisge a’ briseadh gu geal air na mallaibh. area where pots and ropes had been Carraigeacha na mBallach, mar a tha aig strewn high up on the rock face after a muinntir an àite orra, bidh fios aige an Más rud é, óna theach ar an taobh recent storm. uair sin gum bi aige ri iasgach an latha sin is foscúla ar oirthear an oileáin, go air taobh an ear an eilein, ach mura bi na bhfeiceann Gearóid Ó hIarlatha an t-uisce If, from his house on the more sheltered sumainnean a’ briseadh air na creagan, ag briseadh go geal ar Charraigeacha east side of the island, Jerry Early sees faodaidh e iasgach nas fhaide siar an uair na mBallach mar a thugann muintir na the water is breaking white on what are sin. Tha na chitheadh neach-tadhail mar háite orthu, beidh fios aige ansin go locally called the Mallagh Rocks, then ‘s dòcha ataireachd nan tonn a’ bualadh mbeidh feidhm air iascach an lá sin he knows he will need to fish that day an aghaidh nan creag mar chomharradh ar an taobh thoir den oileán ach mura to the east side of the island, but if the deatamach don iasgair mar obair an latha. mbíonn an mórtas farraige ag briseadh swell is not breaking on the rocks then Is e an t-ainm a th’ air cairtean a’ ar na carraigeacha thig leis iascach níos he can fish further to the west. What chabhlaich air na creagan seo ‘Ballagh’. faide thiar. Is é atá sa rud a d’fhéadfadh to a visitor might be perceived as the Faodaidh gu bheil seo mar riochd Beurla cuairteoir meas mar mhaorgacht na dtonn grandeur of waves crashing against den fhacal Ghaeilge ‘bealach’ a’ ciallachadh ag tuairteáil in éadan na gcarraigeacha, rocks is, for the fisherman, a vital sign ‘caolas’ no ‘slighe’ agus is cinnteach gu comhartha ríthábhachtach fá choinne for the day’s activity. bheilear a’ cur feum air na creagan seo — imeachtaí an lae don iascaire. a tha solas beag air aonan dhiubh a-nis The name that the admiralty charts — mar chomharradh-stiùiridh gus slighe Is é an t-ainm a thugann cairteanna gives to these rocks is ‘Ballagh’. This thèarainte a ghabhail tro na h-uisgeachan an chabhlaigh ar na carraigeacha seo may be an anglicised version of the ‘Ballagh’. Thiocfadh dó seo a bheith ina Irish word ‘bealach’ meaning ‘channel’ or ‘pass’, and certainly the rocks — 16 which now have a small light on one of cunnartach eadar an t-eilean agus tìr-mòr. — which is to the south.

leagan Béarlaithe den fhocal Gaeilice iomrá a dhéanamh in Árainn Mhór inar It may be that describing direction in ‘Sìos gu tuath’ agus ‘suas gu ‘bealach’ agus leoga baintear feidhm as dhúirt duine de na hiascairí is sine nuair this way is natural in a culture in which deas’ — dòigh-eòlais air a cur an na carraigeacha - a bhfuil solas beag air them — are used as a marker for safe Faodaidh e bhith gu bheil an tuairisgeul a bhí sé ina stócach óg gur ghnách leis maps (where north is ‘up’ and south is cèill anns a’ chànan chionn amháin acu anois - mar chomhartha passage through the dangerous waters seo air àird nàdarra ann an suidheachadh iascach “síos go Málainn” — atá thuaidh ar ‘down’) were not the primary source of far nach robh na clàran-dùtcha (far a fá choinne bealaigh shábháilte fríd na between the island and the mainland. Árainn Mhór - agus “thuas chomh fada le travel information. Instead — as the Chan e iongnadh a th’ ann ged a bheil tuath ‘shuas’ agus deas ‘shìos’) mar huiscí contúirteacha eadar an t-oileán is Maigh Eo” - atá ó dheas. wealth of information carried by the ghleidheadh na h-ainmean-àite Gàidhlig seo an goireas as bunaitiche gus fiosrachadh tír mór. older fishermen testifies to — much of fiosrachadh le brìgh mun mhuir timcheall fhaighinn mu shiubhal. Seach seo — mar a orra; brìgh a tha am falach air an neach a ‘Down north’ and ‘up south’ — leigeas an saidhbreas de dh’fhiosrachadh Thiocfadh dó a bheith go bhfuil cuntas the knowledge needed to ensure safe tha gun Ghàidhlig. Ach a thaobh a’ chàirdeis a way of knowing expressed a th’ aig na h-iasgairean as sine am ar aird ar an dóigh seo nádúrtha i gcultúr passage at sea was held in the head a th’ aca ris a’ mhuir, tha dualchas- ‘Thìos ó thuaidh’ agus ‘thuas ó in the language follais - bha mòran den eòlas a bha dhìth nach raibh fáil ar éarscáileanna (a mbíonn and gathered from careful observation cànain coitcheann an dà eilein a’ dol nas dheas’ — dòigh feasa á cur in iúl gus siubhal gu tèarainte aig muir air a thuaidh ‘thuas’ agus theas ‘thíos’ orthu) of the natural world. It may be that doimhne na ainmean-àite. Tha dòighean- sa teanga It is not surprising that these Gaelic ghleidheadh anns a’ chlaigeann agus air a mar an phríomhfhoinse fá choinne eolais ar the direction of the prevailing winds labhairt sònraichte na lùib cuideachd a place-names contain meaningful thogail bho amharc geur air an t-saoghal chúrsaí taistil. Ina áit sin — mar a thugann (from the south-west) influenced their chuidicheas gus dòighean-smaoineachaidh Ní nach ionadh é, tá faisnéis bhríomhar sna information about the seas around nàdarra. Faodaidh e bhith gun tug àird an saibhreas faisnéise atá ag na hiascairí thinking. Or perhaps the sun, as a point a chruthachadh agus a dh’fhaodas rud logainmneacha Gaelacha seo fá dtaobh de them; meanings which are hidden to nan gaoitean buadhach (bhon cheann an is sine le fios — coinníodh a lán den eolas of reference, was looked ‘up’ to — and beag den t-sinnsearachd àrsaidh na farraigí thart orthu; brí atá folaithe ar the non-Gaelic speaker. However, in iar-dheas) buaidh air na beachdan aca. No a bhí de dhíobháil le bealach sábháilte for the Gael, when it appears in the sky choitcheann a nochdadh. an té atá gan Ghaeilic. Mar sin féin, maidir terms of their relationship to the sea, ‘s dòcha gum bite a’ sealltainn ‘suas’ air a a chinntiú ar fharraige sa chloigeann at all, the sun is generally in the south. lena ngaol leis an fharraige, gabhann the shared linguistic heritage of the two ghrèin mar chomharra — agus airson a’ agus cruinníodh é ó ghéaramharc ar Mar eisimpleir, ann an cuid a dh’àiteachan oidhríocht choiteann teanga an dá oileáin islands goes deeper than place-names. Ghàidheil, nuair a nochdas i sna speuran an tsaol nádúrtha. Thiocfadh dó a Traditionally, the sun has been anns na h-Eileanan Siar, cluinnear níos doimhne ná logainmneacha. Tá cur It contains distinctive grammatical idir, mar as trice ‘s ann sa cheann a deas a bheith go deachaigh aird na ngaotha venerated in Gaelic culture and a host eileanaich a-mach air a bhith a’ dol `sìos’ in iúl sonraíoch ó thaobh gramadaí aice a expressions that help to shape patterns bhios a’ ghrian. bunáiteacha (aniar aneas) i gcion ar a gcuid of practices made in relation to it, gu tuath agus ‘suas’ gu deas - thug am chuidíos le dóigheanna smaointeoireachta of thought and may reveal something of smaointeoireachta. Nó b’fhéidir go mbíodh among them a custom of only turning pìobaire cliùiteach à Uibhist a Deas, Fred a mhúnlú agus a d’fhéadfadh rud inteacht their shared cultural ancestry. Bho shean, thug na Gàidheil adhradh don siad ag amharc ‘suas’ ar an ghréin mar boats ‘sunwise’ (i.e. following the course Moireasdan, an t-ainm ‘Suas gu Deas’ air den tsinsearacht choiteann teanga a ghrèin agus tha iomadh cleachdadh na chomhartha tagartha — agus don Ghael, of the sun). The hope is that working port fiù. Nuair a bha sinn a’ bruidhinn ri fear thabhairt le fios. For instance, in some parts of the lùib, nam measg gun a bhith a’ tionndadh nuair a nochtann sí sa spéir ar chor ar bith, ‘sunwise’ at the outset will help to de na h-iasgairean as sine ann am Barraigh, Western Isles of Scotland, it is not eathraichean ach ‘deiseil’ (‘s e sin a rèir is gnách leis an ghréin a bheith sa deisceart. ensure the well-being and success of thug e dealbh air turas a ghabh e bho Mar shampla, in áiteanna áithrid in uncommon to hear islanders talking rian na grèine). ‘S e an dòchas a th’ ann a venture. The 19th century folklorist Cheann Ghrinn sa cheann a tuath gu Bàgh Oileáin Thiar na hAlbana, chan annamh a about going ‘down’ to the north and ‘up’ gun cuidich a bhith ag obair ‘deiseil’ bho Rinneadh an ghrian a adhradh riamh i John Gregorson Campbell described a’ Chaisteil sa cheann a deas. ‘S e na ghabh chluintear oileánaigh ag caint ar ag gabháil to the south — the renowned South thùs gus fallaine a dhèanamh cinnteach gcultúr na nGael agus tá neart cleachtaí it as “the most important of all the e air seo a’ dol “suas” an t-eilean. agus gun soirbhich le iomairt. Ghabh ‘síos’ go dtí an tuaisceart agus ‘suas’ go Uist piper Fred Morrison even named a gaolta léi, ina measc gnáth gan a bheith observances” (Black ed. 2008: 125). In an sgoilear Iain MacGriogair Caimbeul dtí an deisceart — thug píobaire cáiliúil tune ‘Up South’. When we were speaking ag tiontó bád ‘deiseal’ (is é sin, ag leanstan many of the old prayers, charms and Thathar a’ cur feum air an dòigh seo san 19mh linn “am fear as cudromaiche Uibhist Theas, Feardorcha Ó Muireasáin gus àird a chur an cèill an an Arainn to one of the older Barra fishermen, de na cleachdaidhean air fad” air (Mac rian na gréine). Is é an rud atáthar ag súil incantations the instruction is made to Mhòr cuideachd far an tuirt fear de na an t-ainm ‘Thuas ó Dheas’ ar phort, fiú. he described a journey he took from IlleDhuibh deas. 2008: 125). Ann am mòran go gcuideoidh a bheith ag obair ‘deiseal’ i go ‘deiseil’ — ‘sunwise’ — as part of the h-iasgairean as sine nuair a bha e na Nuair a bhí muid ag labhairt le duine de na Greian Head in the north of the island de na seann ùrnaighean, orthachan is dtoiseach báire le folláine is bail fiontair a preparation for action: hunting; fishing; dhiùnlach òg gun rachadh e a dh’iasgach hiascairí is sine in Oileán Bharra, thug sé to Castlebay in the south. He called this eòlasan, tha a’ chomhairle ann dol ‘deiseil’ chinntiú. Thug an béaloideasóir sa 19ú céad sowing the seed etc.. In Scottish Gaelic “sìos a Mhàlainn” - a tha tuath air Arainn iomrá ar thuras a rinne sé ó Cheann Ghrinn going “up” the island. nuair a thathar ag ullachadh gu gnìomh: Iain MacGriogair Caimbeul iomrá air mar the importance of this observance is Mhòr - agus “suas gu ruige Maigh Eo” a tha i dtuaisceart an oileáin go dtí Báighe an sealgaireachd, iasgaireachd, curachd is “an cionn is tábhachtaí de na gnáthanna such that, even today, when a person sa cheann a deas. Chaistil ó dheas. Thug sé air seo ag gabháil This same way of describing direction an leithid. Ann an Gàidhlig na h-Alba, tha uilig” (MacIlleDhuibh eag. 2008: 125). Ina says that they are prepared to start “suas” an t-oileán. is also used on Arranmore where one uimhir a chuideam aig a’ chleachdadh lán de na paidreacha, orthaí is briochtaí something, they say: “tha mi deiseil” of the older fishermen said that, as seo, fiù san latha a th’ ann an-diugh, nuair fadó, déantar an treoir gabháil ‘deiseal’ Baintear feidhm as an dóigh chéanna le a young man he used to fish “down a chanas duine gu bheil iad ullamh gus mar chuid den ullmhúchán go gníomh: to Malin” — which is to the north of rudeigin a thòiseachadh: “Tha mi deiseil”. 18 Arranmore — and “up as far as Mayo” Bidh feadhainn de na h-iasgairean as sine a’ 19 [I am ready]. Some of the old fishermen still make sure they go sunwise when sealgaireacht, iascaireacht, cur an tsíl is they are turning the boat. mar sin ar aghaidh. I nGaeilic na hAlbana, dèanamh cinnteach gum bi iad a’ dol deiseil tá oiread tábhachta ag baint leis an ghnáth nuair a bhios eathar ga tionndadh aca. seo is go mbíonn duine ag rá, fiú sa lá atá Continuing the tradition of inniu ann go bhfuil siad réidh le chun tús a naming A’ cur ris an ainmeachadh chur ar rud inteacht: “Tha mi deiseil” [Tá mé San dà chuid ann an Arainn Mhòr agus ullamh]. Féachann cuid de na seaniascairí In both Arranmore and Barra the ann am Barraigh, thathar fhathast a’ cur chuige fós go ngabhann siad deiseal nuair a tradition of naming areas of the sea ri ainmeachadh àiteachan anns a’ mhuir, bhíonn an bád á tiontú acu. and features in it continues today, ged a tha na h-ainmean ùra seo buailteach although these newer names tend to be a bhith car falbhanach, air nach eil ach Ag leanstan ar aghaidh leis transient in nature, known to a select taghadh beag de dhaoine eòlach le càil- an ainmniú group of people and with a strong sense àbhachdais làidir nan lùib - a’ toirt tarraing of humour underlying their creation aig amannan air clibist a dh’èirich do In Árainn Mhór is Oileán Bharra beirt, — sometimes referring to a particular neach sònraichte. Rud eile a tha cumanta leantar den nós a bheith ag ainmniú réimsí character’s misadventures. Also common san dà eilean, ‘s e an claonadh a th’ ann is comharthaí ar farraige inniu, cé gur to both islands is the tendency to regard gun a bhith a’ meas nan ainmean seo mar béas leis na hainmneacha úra seo a bheith these names as not ‘real’ names. There ainmean ‘ceart’. Thathar a’ gabhail ris a sealadach, gan a bheith ar eolas ach ag seems to be an assumption that the rèir choltais nach seas na h-ainmean ùra scaifte roghnaithe daoine agus le féith recent names are transient in nature. seo fada. Tha seo a’ leigeil fhaicinn mar a an ghrinn go láidir mar fhoinse leofa - in This reveals a real respect for the older tha spèis do na h-ainmean as sine ach tha amannaí ag tagairt do bhamba a déirigh names but also begs the question as to e cuideachd a’ togail na ceiste an deach do dhuine inteacht.. Rud eile atá comónta whether some of the older, established feadhainn de na seann ainmean stèidhichte sa dá oileán an nós gan na hainmneacha names were formed with a similar a chruthachadh leis an aon fhaireachdainn seo a mheas mar ainmneacha ‘cearta’. De assumption of transience. de dh’fhalbhanachd. réir chosúlachta, déantar talamh slán de nach bhfuil na hainmneacha is úire ach On Arranmore one name was described Ann an Arainn Mhòr, chaidh a ràdh mu sealadach. Nochtann sé seo an-mheas as “not true” because it commemorates aon ainm “nach robh e fìor” seach gu bheil ar na seanainmneacha ach cuireann sé an incident where a boat ran aground e mar chuimhneachan air nuair a chaidh an cheist fosta ar múnlaíodh cuid de na on the rocks there, and is only used by a eathar air na creagan, agus chan eil ach seanainmneacha bunaithe leis an talamh small group of people who are ‘in’ on the buidheann bheag dhaoine aig a bheil fios slán céanna fá dtaobh de shealadacht.. joke. This name was described as being air an t-seanchas ga chleachdadh. Chaidh a ràdh mun ainm seo gu bheil e “mar fhar- “like a nickname, once it’s given….” ainm, aon uair ‘s gu bheilear air a thoirt In Árainn Mhór, cuireadh síos ar ainm seachad….” amháin “gan a bheith fíor” ós rud é go On Barra we were told by one of the bhfuil sé mar chuimhneachán ar eachtra fishermen that there is a reef which Ann am Barraigh, chaidh innse dhuinn le nuair a chuaigh bád ar na clocha ann, agus has two names. He said there was a fear de na h-iasgairean gu bheil sgeir- ní bhaintear feidhm as ach le díorma beag “proper name” for it, which refers to one bhàthte air a bheil dà ainm. Thuirt e gun daoine a bhfuil fios an scéil acu. Cuireadh of the geographical landmarks that has robh “ainm ceart” air, a tha a’ toirt tarraing síos ar an ainm seo a bheith “mar leasainm, traditionally been used to locate it, and air fear de na comharraidhean-stiùiridh a chomh luath is a thugtar é….” thathar air a bhith a’ cleachdadh bho shean gus a shuidheachadh, agus cuideachd ainm a bhios buidheann bheag de dh’iasgairean a’ 21 gabhail oirre an dèidh eathar a chaill a cuid lìon oirre ‘s iad làn leis an sgadan aon mhadainn. In Oileán Bharra, hinsíodh dúinn le duine de na hiascairí go bhfuil sceir ann ar a bhfuil dhá ainm. Dúirt sé go raibh “ainm ceart” also a name given by a smaller number Ainmean mar fhianais air uirthi, a dhéanann tagairt do chionn de na of fishermen because a boat had lost its atharrachadh sòisealta? comharthaí tíreolais ar baineadh taca as nets full of herring on it one morning. ariamh chun í a aimsiú, agus ainm fosta Tha ainm ùr eile sa Bheurla air raon- iasgaich ann am Barraigh a’ toirt tarraing a thug líon beag iascairí di ar siocair gur air sgìre nan siùrsaichean ann an chaill bád a cuid líonta lán leis an scadán Names as evidence of social Amsterdam. ‘S e an Dam (Amsterdam) an uirthi aon mhaidin amháin. change? t-ainm air àite-giomadaireachd beag mu chairteal mìle ceàrnach. Chaidh seo a thoirt Another recent English name for air nuair a dh’aontaich na h-iasgairean sna Ainmneacha mar fhianaise ar a fishing area at Barra refers to trì eathraichean a bha ris na giomaich anns athrú sóisialta? Amsterdam’s notorious red light district. an raon seo eag-V a chur air giomaich sam The Dam (after Amsterdam) is the name bith le uighean a ghlac iad agus an tilgeil Níonn ainm úr Béarla eile air limistéar given to a small creeling area about a air ais. Seach nach eil fèill air giomaich iascaigh tagairt do cheantar stríopachais quarter of a mile square. It was called eagaichte, bidh an eag-V (ann an earball a’ Amsterdam. Is é an Dam (i ndéidh this when the fishermen in the three ghiomaich) a’ dìon na tè bho bhith ga cur air Amsterdam) an t-ainm a thugtar ar boats creeling this area agreed between tìr gus an nochd na h-uighean aice, nuair a limistéar beag gliomadóireachta thart fá them to V-notch and return any berried bhios an eag air a spìonadh. ‘S e am beachd cheathrú míle cearnach. Tugadh seo air lobsters (females carrying eggs) they a bh’ aig na h-iasgairean “ma bhios na nuair a d’aontaigh na hiascairí ag obair caught. As notched lobsters are not boireannaich ann, coisichidh na fireannaich” sna trí báid sa réimse seo iog V a chur ar marketable, the V-notch (a ‘V’ cut into (‘s e sin, gun dèanadh na giomaich fhireann ghliomaigh ar bith le huibheanna a ghlac the lobster’s tail) protects the female imrich dhan àite san robh na boireannaich siad agus iad a chaitheamh ar ais. Ós rud from being landed until her eggs have cruinn còmhla). A rèir duine den fheadhainn é nach féidir gliomaigh le hiog a dhíol, hatched, by which time the notch has a bha an sàs anns an oidhirp, shoirbhich cosnaíonn an iog V (i ruball an ghliomaigh) grown out. The fishermen’s theory was leatha. A’ bhliadhna an dèidh dhaibh an ghirseach ó bheith á cur i dtír go dtí that “if the women are there, the boys tòiseachadh air seo “dh’fhaodadh tu go mbeidh a cuid uibheanna ligthe amach will walk” (i.e. the male lobsters would dol a-mach le lìon-cinn is ghlacadh tu aice, fán am a mbeidh an iog caite. Is é an migrate towards a concentration of dusan ghiomach”. Chan eil an Dam ann tuairim a bhí ag na hiascairí “má bhíonn females). According to one of those tuilleadh, ge-tà. Nuair a thòisich fear de na na girseachaí ann, siúlóidh na gasraí” (is é involved in the experiment, it worked. h-iasgairean a’ gleidheadh nan giomach le uighean, thuig na h-iasgairean eile sin, go mbogfadh na gliomaigh fhireanna The year after they started doing this nach dèanadh e feum a bhith gan eagadh ionsar mar a raibh plód gliomach baininn). “you could go out with a hairnet and bho nach robh an obair gu feum dhaibh De réir duine amháin a raibh baint aige catch a dozen lobsters”. However, tuilleadh, le nas lugha de bhoireannaich leis an turgnamh, d’éirigh leis. An bhliain i the Dam no longer exists. When one gan eagadh is gan tilgeil air ais. A rèir ndéidh díofa toiseacht ar seo a dhéanamh of the fishermen started keeping the aonan de dh’iasgairean an ‘Dam’, thuit an “thiocfadh leat gabháil amach le heangach unnotched berried lobsters, the other rian am broinn a chèile “mar thoradh air an gruaige agus ghlacfá neart gliomach”. Ní fishermen decided there was no point t-sannt a bh’ air aon iasgair.... Chan eil e fiù hann don Dam tuilleadh, áfach. Nuair a in continuing with the notching as the thoisigh duine de na hiascairí ag coinneáil effectiveness of the whole scheme had na ngliomach a raibh uibheanna acu, thug decreased for all of them, with fewer berried females being notched and 22 returned overall. According to one of the ‘s a’ smaoineachadh air a mhac fhèin gun extent that they may be thought of as tighinn air clann-daoine eile no na glùintean elders in their community. gun tighinn seach gu bheil e ga ghlacadh na hiascairí eile fáidear nach raibh maith Guthannna ó ghlúin níos sine uile dha fhèin an-dràsta. Chan eil ann ach b ar bith ann a bheith ag leanstan ar aghaidh For one of these older fishermen, sannt diabhalta” (Ní Bhraonáin 2011 ). leis na hiogaí óir bhí an scéim imithe ó ‘Dam’ fishermen, the system fell apart thug e tarraing air an atharrachadh Cuireadh mothúchán fá dtaobh de the sense of change was prefaced with Ainm ùr eile a th’ ann, ‘s e ‘The Supermarket’ rath díofa uilig, agus iogaí á gcur ar níos “because of one fisherman’s greed…. mar seo: dhearcadh ag athrú i gcéill leis an iascaire the remark: air àite-giomadaireachd dìreach air lú de ghiomaigh is a bheith á gcaitheamh He’s not even thinking of his own son let is sine lenar labhair muid ar achan oileán — cùlaibh Suidheachan (an taigh a thug an Bha an saoghal cruaidh an uair sin ar ais. De réir duine d’iascairí an ‘Dam’, thit alone other people’s children or future lán na beirte acu sna hochtóidí agus meas Life then, it was hard but it was t-ùghdar Compton MacCoinnich) air taobh ach bha fealla-dhà ann seach gun a tuath an eilein. Thathar a’ gabhail The an córas as a chéile “de thairbhe sainte generations as he’s taking it all now for robh a h-uile duine san aon eathar. as miosúr orthu i bpobal a chéile sa mhéid fun because everyone was in the le hiascaire amháin.... Chan fhuil sé fiú ag himself. It’s just pure greed” gur féidir iad a mheas mar sheanóirí ina same boat. Nowadays everyone Supermarket air seach, mar a thuirt fear b San latha a th’ ann an-diugh, tha a de na h-iasgairean, “gum faodadh tu dol smaointiú ar a mhac féin chan é amháin ar (Brennan 2011 ). h-uile duine na eathar fhèin agus sin bpobail féin. is in their own boat, and that’s ann Diluain agus cha bhiodh càil ann agus daoine eile ná na glúnta romhainn cionn is agad far a bheil an t-atharrachadh. the difference. Dimàirt bhiodh e a’ cur thairis”. Rinn an go bhfuil sé á ghlacadh uilig dó féin. Another more recent name is ‘The Dúirt duine de na seaniascairí seo agus é ag t-iasgair a chruthaich an t-ainm a leithid Níl ann ach saint amach is amach” Supermarket’, which describes a creeling Airson an fhir seo, a chaidh a chuimhne caint ar athrach: For this man, whose memory extended seach gun canadh e “tha e nas miosa na (Ní Bhraonáin 2011b). area just behind Suidheachan (the house air ais do na làithean nuair a dhèante to the time when fishing was done Co-op na croiche ann am Bàgh a’ Chaisteil!” that the author Compton MacKenzie an t-iasgach le seòl is ràmh, thàinig An saol an tráth sin, bhí sé cruaidh by sail and oar, a change came with ‘S e an duilgheadas a th’ ann nach bi càil a Ainm úr eile ‘The Supermarket’, atá mar built) on the north of the island. It is atharrachadh le dòighean-iasgaich ach bhí greann ann cionn is go raibh industrial fishing techniques when the dh’fhios agad cuine a bhios ‘latha-lìbhrigidh’ chuntas ar an limistéar ghliomadóireachta called The Supermarket because, said tionnsgalach nuair a chaidh cumhachd nan achan duine sa bhád chéanna. Sa lá power of the boats increased so that san Supermarket ann (Ní Bhraonáin 2011b). díreach taobh thiar do Shuidheachan one of the fishermen, “you could go eathraichean am meud gus am faodadh atá inniu ann bíonn achan duine ina they could tow “nets the size of football (an teach a thóg an t-údar Compton in there on a Monday and there’d be iad “lìn cho mòr ri raointean ball-coise” a bhád féin agus sin é an duifear. pitches”. He believed this, combined with Faodaidh gun nochd feadhainn de MacCoinnigh) i dtuaisceart an oileáin. nothing there and on Tuesday it would shlaodadh. Bha e den bheachd gum b’ e seo, “the greed of man”, was responsible for na h-ainmean as ùire beachdan ag Tugtar The Supermarket air cionn is, dúirt be teeming”. The fisherman who coined le “sannt mhic an duine” a bu choireach ri Don fhear seo, a chuaigh a chuimhne siar the loss of stocks. atharrachadh mun iasgaireachd mar duine de na hiascairí, “go bhféadfá dul ann the name did so because he used to call an stuic. don am a dhéantaí an iascaireacht le dhreuchd. Ann am Barraigh, buinidh mòran maidin Dé Luain agus cha bheadh a dhath say “it’s worse than the bloody Co- seol is rámhaí, tháing athrach le teicnící The other older fisherman similarly felt de na h-ainmean as ùire, leithid ‘Smash and ann agus Dé Máirt bheadh sé ag cur thar op in Castlebay!” The problem is you Shaoil na seann iasgairean eile cuideachd tionsclaíocha iascaigh nuair a chuaigh that it was the marriage of technology Grab’ ri slighean-sgrìobaidh agus tha iad maoil”. Rinne an t-iascaire a thug an t-ainm never knew when ‘delivery day’ in The gum b’ e am pòsadh eadar teicneòlas cumhacht na mbád i méid ionas go and a human propensity for greed that sa Bheurla — air an cruthachadh gu tric le air amhlaidh ós rud é gur ghnách leis a rá Supermarket was (Brennan 2011b). agus claonadh mhic-an-duine gu sannt a mbeadh siad in inmhe “líonta comh mór le had contributed to the demise of the iasgairean bhon taobh an ear. “tá sé níos measa na Co-op na mallacht dh’adhbharaich crìonadh iasgach an sgadain páirceanna peile” a tharraingt. Shíl sé gurbh herring and salmon fisheries around i mBáighe an Chaistil!” Is é an fhadhb Some of these newer names may is a’ bhradain mun eilean aige. Bha iasgach é seo, agus “saint an duine” ba shiocair le his island. The herring fishery around atá ann nach mbeadh a dhath de bharúil indicate changing attitudes towards an sgadain mu Arainn Mhòr, thuirt e, ga cailliúint líon an éisc. Arranmore, he argued, was being mhilleadh le nochdadh nan sgrìobadairean Guthan bho ghlùin nas sine agat cá huair a mbeadh ‘lá seachadta’ sa fishing as an activity. On Barra many of destroyed by the incursion of large mòra ag obair a-mach às na Ceallan Beaga Supermarket ann (Ní Bhraonáin 2011b). the newer names, such as ‘Smash and Shíl seaniascaire eile ar an dóigh chéanna trawlers operating out of Killybegs in Chaidh faireachdainn mu bheachdan ag ann an ceann a deas Thìr Chonaill. Grab’, are for tows (trawling routes) and gurbh é an pósadh eadar teicneolaíocht south Donegal. atharrachadh a chur an cèill leis an iasgair agus claonadh an duine le saint a tharraing a bu shine ris an do bhruidhinn sinn anns Thiocfadh go nochtfadh cuid de na are in English — often coined by east Ma chì iad iasg sam bith a-muigh an gach eilean — an dithis aca sna ceithir- hinmneacha is úire dearcadh ag athrú ar coast fishermen. sin, ‘s e an ath rud a nì iad na lìn aca meath iascach an scadáin is an bhradáin If they see any fish out here, the ficheadan agus spèis mhòr dhaibh anns na iascaireacht mar cheird. In Oileán Bharra, a chur is glacaidh iad a h-uile mac thart fá oileán a dhúchais. Bhí iascach an next thing they’ll do is shoot their coimhearsnachdan aca fhèin chun na h-ìre baineann a lán de na hainmneacha is màthar aca. Mar sin tha iad dol a chur scadáin thart fá Árainn Mhór, dúirt sé, á nets and they’ll swipe every one ‘s gum faodar am meas mar fhoirfich sna úire, ar nós ‘Smash and Grab’ le bealaigh Voices from an older air tìr sna Ceallan Beaga is chan e scrios le teacht isteach na dtrálaer móra of them. So they’re going to land coimhearsnachdan sa bheil iad. trálaerachta agus is sa Bhéarla atá siad - generation sia croinn [tomhas de dh’iasg mu 28 ag iascach amach as na Cealla Beaga i in Killybegs and they’re not going cumtha go minic le hiascairí ón oirthear. clachan de sgadan (FAO 2012)] a bhios nDeisceart Thír Chonaill. to have ten cran [a measure of Do dh’fhear de na seann iasgairean seo, A sense of changing attitudes was aca idir, bidh sia ciad tunna no mìle fish approximately equivalent to 28 expressed by the oldest fishermen that tunna air gach eathar aca. Mar sin, Más rud é go bhfeiceann siad iasc we spoke to on each island — each of ma tha ceithir no còig de na bàtaichean ar bith amach anseo, is é an chéad them in their 80s and greatly respected mòra ud ag obair fad seachdain no dhà, 24 in their respective communities to the is a’ cur air tìr sna Ceallan Beaga le 25 stone of herring (FAO 2012)] at all, they are going to have six hundred rud eile a ní said, a gcuid líonta a tonne or a thousand tonne on each chaitheamh agus glacfaidh siad achan boat. So, you take…four or five mìle tunna am bàta — no sia ceud chionn acu. Mar sin tá siad ag dul a of them big boats working there tunna am bàta — fad seachdain no chur i dtír sna Cealla Beaga agus ní for a week or two, and landing in dhà, agus tha fios agad dè na tha deich gcrann [tomhas éisc thart fá 28 Killybegs with a thousand tonne iad dol a dhèanamh. Tha iad dol a clocha de scadán (FAO 2012)} a bheas a boat — or six hundred tonne a sgapadh an èisg is aon uair ‘s gu bheil acu ar chor ar bith, beidh sé chéad boat — for a week or two, and an t-iasg air a sgapadh, aon uair ‘s gu tonna nó míle tonna acu ar achan bheil an t-iasg air a bhriseadh suas you know what they are going bidh ‘n t-iasg a’ sgapadh air feadh bhád. Mar sin …. tá ceithre no cúig to do. They are going to scatter an àite is chan eil tomad sam bith cinn de na bádaí móra seo ag obair up the fish and once the fish is de dh’iasg a’ tighinn a-steach an ansin ar feadh seachtaine nó dhó, scattered, once the fish is broke seo a thuilleadh. agus ag cur i dtír sna Cealla Beaga le up the fish scatters all over and míle tonna an bád - nó sé chéad tonna there is no bulk of fish coming in Ged nach do bhuin na sgrìobadairean an bád — ar feadh seachtaine nó dhó, here anymore. mòra do na h-eileanan, ann am beachd an agus tá a fhios agat goidé atá siad t-seann iasgair, bha an t-aon atharrachadh ag dul a dhéanamh. Tá siad ag dul a Although these big trawlers were ann am beachdan air buaidh a thoirt air scaipeadh an éisc agus comh luath not local island boats, in the older eileanaich cuideachd: na linn, ‘s e na chiad agus a bheas an t-iasc scaipthe, comh fisherman’s opinion, islanders had also bhàtaichean ùra a nochd anns an eilean luath is a bheas an t-iasc briste suas, been affected by the same change in na ‘half-deckers’ “agus an uair sin cha scaipeann an t-iasc ar fud na háite attitudes: in his time the first new boats robh na half-deckers mòr gu leòr dhaibh. agus chan fhuil méid mhór éisc ag that arrived on the island were the Fhuair iad sgrìobadairean”. Thug seo air teacht isteach anseo tuilleadh. half-deckers “and then the half-deckers na h-eileanaich iasgach na b’ fhaide ‘s na wasn’t big enough for them. They got b’ fhaide air falbh bhon eilean, cho fad’ air Gidh nár bhádaí de chuid an oileáin iad na trawlers”. This led to the islanders falbh ri cladach na h-Alba. bádaí móra seo, i mbarúil an tseaniascaire, fishing further and further away himríodh tionchar ar na hoileánaigh fosta from the island, as far away as the Thug an t-atharrachadh seo buaidh air lìn- leis an athrach chéanna ar dhearcadh: lena coast of Scotland. siabaidh a’ bhradain cuideachd: linn b’ iad na chéad bháid úra a tháinig chun an oileáin na “half-deckers” agus The salmon drift-netters were also Bha iad a’ glanadh suas a’ bhradain gu ansin cha raibh na half-deckers mór a sáith affected by this change: lèir. Bha math dh’fhaodte dà fhichead díofa. Fuair siad trálaeir”. Thug sé seo ar na no leth-cheud a dh’eathraichean ris hoileánaigh iascach níos faide is níos faide They were cleaning up all the an dol-a-amach seo a bha a’ tighinn ar shiúl ón oileán, a fhad ar shiúl le cladaigh salmon. There was maybe forty a-steach. Cha b’ ann le ceud bradan na hAlbana. a bha iad a’ tighinn a-steach idir, bha or fifty boats at this carry-on iad a’ tighinn a-steach le mìle bradan. that were coming in. They weren’t Chuaigh an t-athrach seo i gcion ar iascairí coming in with a hundred salmon Nuair a chaidh a’ cheist a chur air an robh bradáin na sruthlíonta fosta: at all, they were coming in with a sannt mhic-an-duine an sàs, thuirt an thousand salmon. seann iasgair: Bhí siad ag glanadh suas an bhradáin go léir. Bhí b’fhéidir dhá scór nó An sannt. Abair thusa. Shin agad e a-nis. ‘S e ‘n fhìrinn a thuirt thu. An sannt. 27 On being asked whether human greed played a part, the older leithchéad bád i mbun na hoibre seo a fisherman continued: bhí ag teacht isteach. Chan é le céad Thuirt e cuideachd, ge-tà, gun deach “an bradán a bhí siad ag teacht isteach ar The greed. Now you are talking. sannt” na b’ fhaide na iasgairean nan lìon- chor ar bith, bhí siad ag teacht isteach Now you have it. You hit it right siabaidh, don fheadhainn a bha ‘g iasgach le míle bradán. there. The greed. a’ bhradain air aibhnichean na h-Èireann, agus cuideachd do thuathanaich a chuireadh stuth ceimigeach air na raointean Nuair a cuireadh an cheist air an raibh saint However, he added tellingly that “the aca gun smaoineachadh air a’ bhuaidh an duine i gceist, dúirt an seaniascaire: greed” extended far beyond the drift a bheireadh e. net fishermen, to those who were An tsaint. Dúirt tú é. Sin é anois. An fishing for salmon on Irish rivers, and Bidh am bradan…a’ dol a-steach rud ceannann céanna. An tsaint. also to farmers putting chemicals on sna h-aibhnichean, a-steach ann an their fields without taking into account abhainn a tha salach is grod is air a Dúirt sé fosta ina dhéidh sin go deachaigh the consequences. truailleadh, le tuathanaich a’ tilgeil an tsaint ní b’fhaide ná iascairí na an stuth air an fhearann agus thig sruthlíonta, don dream a bhí ag iascach an The salmon…go into the rivers, an t-uisge ‘s thèid a h-uile càil a bhradáin ar aibhneacha na hÉireann agus into a dirty, rotten polluted river, sguabadh a-steach dhan abhainn. fosta d’fheirmeoirí ag cur ceimicíochta ar with farmers throwing out stuff Tha am bradan an dèidh tighinn às a gcuid páirceanna gan an rian a chur on the land and all the rain comes a’ mhuir is bidh e a’ fuireach anns san áireamh. and all that is washed into the an t-suidheachadh seo, agus bidh e river. The salmon is after coming ‘g òl sin. ‘S e an ath rud a bhios an, Théid an bradán isteach sna in from sea and he is living in this seallaidh iad dealbh le ‘s dòcha dà haibhneacha, isteach in abhainn atmosphere, and he is drinking fhichead no leth-cheud bradan marbh shalach, lofa, thruaillithe, le feirmeoirí that. The next thing they’ll turn ann an linne. Am bradan a bu chòir ag caitheamh ceimicíochta ar an on a picture and they’ll show you a bhith a’ sìolachadh. Shin agad na talamh agus thig an bháisteach maybe forty or fifty salmon h-aibhnichean againn. uilig agus glantar é sin uilig isteach dead in a pool. That’s salmon san abhainn. Tá an bradán i ndéidh that should be spawning. Teachdaireachd chudromach ann am fianais teacht isteach ón fharraige agus tá That’s our rivers. an t-seann iasgair, ‘s e cho domhainn agus sé ag maireachtáil sa chompal seo, a tha iasg is iasgach fuaighte ri saoghal agus ólann sé é sin. Is é an chéad An important message in the old an eilein. rud eile a ní siad pioctúr a nochtadh fisherman’s testimony is how deeply A-nis bha sinn a’ tighinn beò air an agus b’fhéidir dhá scór nó leithchéad woven fish and fishing are in the fabric eilean seo. Chaidh an t-eilean seo an bradán marbh i linn a thaispeáint duit. of island culture: seo a bhreith ‘s a thogail air iasg…. Sin bradán ar cheart díofa a bheith Mhair sinn air iasg. Bha iasg againn ag sceitheadh. Sin na haibhneacha Now we lived off this island. This seachd latha san t-seachdain. s’againne duit. island here was born and raised on fish…. We lived off fish. We had Tha eagal dha-rìribh air eileanaich ma Teachtaireacht thábhachtach i gcuntas an fish seven days a week. thèid an cothrom gus iasgach a dhèanamh tseaniascaire comh fite fuaite agus atá éisc a thoirt air falbh, gun tèid an t-adhbhar a is iascaireacht le saol an oileáin: th’ aig an eilean a bhith mar àite-fuirich do chlann-daoine mu sgaoil. 29 Chaidh cho bunaiteach is a tha an t-iasgach do dh’ìomhaigh an eilein a chur an cèill cuideachd leis a’ Chanon Aonghas Anois thug muid ár mbeo ón oileán MacCuithein a th’ air a bhith a’ fuireach seo. An t-oileán seo anseo, rugadh is ag obair ann am Barraigh fad mu leth- is tógadh ar an iasc é .... Mhair muid There is a real fear among island people cheud bliadhna. Chuimhnich e air a bhith a’ ar iasc. Bhí iasc againn seacht lá in that if the ability to fish is removed, the siubhal le iasgairean eile gu àite air a bheil aghaidh na seachtaine. island’s very reason for being a place of an Tabh gus “na h-èisg-mhòra” — an langa is an trosg — a ghlacadh nuair a bha e na human habitation begins to unravel. shagart ann an Eireisgeigh an dèidh an dara Tá eagla i ndáiríribh ar mhuintir an chogaidh mhòir. Gus na h-èisg-mhòra a oileáin más rud é go ndéantar an cumas The centrality of fishing for island ghlacadh dh’fheumadh tu dà thuras air leth iascaireacht a dhéanamh a bhaint de, go identity was also expressed by Canon a dhèanamh: an toiseach, dh’fheumadh tu dtosóidh bunrúta an oileáin a bheith mar Angus MacQueen who has lived and am maghar — leathagan — a ghlacadh ann chónaí do dhaoine ag titim as a chéile. worked in Barra for around half a an Caol Bharraigh; an uair sin “bhiodh tu century. He recalled making journeys air falbh chun an Taibh” air druim a’ Chuain Cuireadh a lárnaí agus atá an iascaireacht with older fishermen to a place he Mhòir siar air Barraigh. d’aitheantas oileáin i gcéill leis an called ‘the Haaf’ in order to catch the Chanónach Aonghas MacCuithein fosta, a ‘big fish’ — ling and cod — when he …. Chleachdadh iad an seòl gus a bhfuil thart fá chaoga bliain tugtha aige was parish priest in Eriskay after the dhol a-mach cho fada ri sin…. ‘S ann ina chónaí agus ag obair in Oileán Bharra. second world war. Catching the big fish dìreach nuair a bhios tu ‘g èirigh suas, Chuimhnigh sé siar ar turais a dhéanamh entailed two separate journeys: first the an sianar agaibh ag iomramh, nuair le seaniascairí go háit ar thug sé ‘an Tabh’ bait — various kinds of flatfish — had a ruigeas tu bàrr nan sumainnean, uirthi leis na héisc mhóra - langa is trosc to be caught in the Sound of Barra; then bidh thu coimhead is chì thu dìreach - a ghlacadh nuair a bhí sé ina shagart “you’d be en route to the Haaf” in the mullach nan cnoc ann am Barraigh - paróiste in Eirisgeigh i ndéidh an Dara open Atlantic to the west of Barra. agus tha fios aig Dia gu bheil iomadh Chogaidh Domhanda. Leis na héisc mhóra a cnoc ann am Barraigh! - shin agad ghlacadh, bhí feidhm ar dhá thuras ar leith: i …. They would use the sail to get an Tabh. A-nis, b’ e sin saoghal nan dtoiseach báire, bhí ort an baíte — leathóga out that far…. It’s only when you iasgairean…. ‘S e uisge gu math de chineálacha éagsúla — a ghlacadh i rise up, the six of you rowing, to domhainn a bh’ ann is nuair a ràinig mBealach Bharra; ina dhéidh sin “bheifeá ar set the nets, when you get up to tu e, leigeadh tu an seòl a-nuas agus an bhealach go dtí an Tabh” amuigh ar an the top of the swell, you look and dh’fheuchadh tu ri thomhas airson aibhléis mhór thiar ar Oileán Bharra. you just see the very top of the tràghadh no lìonadh an làin, oir hills of Barra –and God knows cuidichidh neart an làin thu gus na lìn-mhòra a chur. ‘S ann ac’ a bha …. Bhainfeadh siad feidhm as an there are plenty hills in Barra! — fios ciamar a chuireadh tu iad…. Agus seol chun a ghabháil amach a fhad that’s the Haaf. Now that was the chuireamaid na lìn seo is rachamaid leis sin…. Is díreach nuair a bhíonn world of the fishermen…. That was an uair sin a laighe sìos air do tú ag éirí, an tseisear agaibh ag really deep water and when you dhruim-dìreach ann am Miùghalaigh iomramh, leis na líonta a chur, nuair got there you let down the sail and no ann an Sanndraigh no gin de na a bhaineas tú barr na roisteacha you’d try and gauge it for the ebb h-eileanan fad 3 uairean a thìde gus amach, amharcann tú agus tchífidh tú or the flow of the tide because an tilleadh an làn…. An dèidh thrì no díreach barr na gnoc in Oileán Bharra the tide, the strength of the tide cheithir uairean a thìde thòisicheadh — agus tá a fhios ag Dia go bhfuil is going to help you to set the moll cnoc in Oileán Bharra! - sin é an longlines. They knew how to set Tabh. Anois b’é sin saol na n-iascairí…. them…. And we would set these nets and then go and lie down on 30 your back on Mingulay or Sandray tu a’ cur nan lìon-mòra a-steach, an together [Canon MacQueen made trosg, an langa is an leithid, sin a bha a mime of drawing on a rope]…This dhìth ort agus sin a rachadh a reic Uisce iontach domhain a bhí i gceist agus má éiríonn eadraibh beidh was part of their way of being…. is a reisgeadh is a chleachdadh. B’ e agus nuair a shroich tú é ligfeá an oraibh caint fá dtaobh de. Is é an an Tabh buillsgean saoghal an èisg. seol anuas agus d’fhéachfá len é a or any of the islands there for 3 A’ treòrachadh nan glùintean chaint is an cur le chéile a thugann Sin far an do thòisich e gu lèir… Shin thomhas ó thaobh líonadh is tráigh hours until the tide turned again…. aig muir duit an neart a bheith le chéile is Guiding generations at sea agad mar a bha an t-iasg ma-thà, bha na taoille ós rud é go gcuideoidh After 3 or 4 hours of that you réiteach lena chéile. Ní dhéanann gaol agad air an iasg, gaol mòr, b’ e Tha e ri thuigsinn às na thuirt an Canon an taoille, neart na taoille tú leis started putting in the long lines, creideamh Críostaí duifear ar bith Implicit in Canon MacQueen’s statement an t-iasg am balach… Na h-Uibhistich MacCuithein gu bheil feum air càirdeas na líonta móra a chur. Is iad a bhí is eileanaich eile, cuid anns an Eilean the cod, the ling and that, that’s làidir am measg iasgairean. Tha an t-iasgair anseo....gabhann dlúithe inntinne is is the need for strong social relations Sgitheanach, bhiodh tu ceangailte ris in inmhe a gcur…. Agus chuirfeadh what you went for and that’s what à Arainn Mhòr, Niallaí Caomhánach, air chorpartha le chéile, mar shampla, among fishermen. Arranmore fisherman an fhearann, dìreach sin is ‘s e obair muid na líonta seo agus ghabhfadh was sold and dried and used. The eisimpleir practaigeach de mar a bhios dhá lámh ar rópa le chéile [ligeann an Neily Kavanagh gave a practical chruaidh a th’ ann, chan eil togail- muid a luí síos ar shlat do dhroma i Haaf was the centre of the world càirdeas math ga chumail nuair a tha e Canónach macCuithein air go bhfuil example of how good relations are inntin sam bith na lùib.’ Miùghalaigh nó Sanndraigh ar feadh of fish. That’s where it all began…. a-mach air na ‘maidean dan’ — cuilcean- sá ag tarraingt ar rópa]...Bhí seo mar maintained when describing the ‘dan trí uaire an chloig go dtí gur chas an So that was fish, you worshipped bamboo a chleachdas na h-iasgairean chuid dá slí bheatha... sticks’ — specially weighted bamboo Nuair a mhìnich an seann iasgair gum b’ taoille aríst…. I ndéidh trí nó ceithre fish, you just adored fish, fish was ann an Arainn Mhòr gus a shealltainn far rods that the Arranmore fishermen use e saoghal an iasgaich bho latha gu latha uaire an chloig, thoisigh tú ag cur of the essence…. The Uist people a bheil na clèibh aca nan laighe. Cuiridh to show where their fleets of creels obair a bha fuar, cruaidh ‘s cunnartach, na líonta móra isteach, an trosc, an and other islands like Uist, parts a h-uile h-iasgair dath sònraichte air na Ag treorú na nglúnta ar farraige are lying. Each fisherman will paint the chuir an Canon MacCuithein cuideam gun langa agus eile, sin a bhí de dhíth ort of Skye, you’d be tied to the soil, cuilcean a leigeil fhaicinn gur h-ann leis a bamboo rods with a certain colour to sgur air cho làidir is a bha an càirdeas is a’ agus sin a díoladh is a tiormaíodh just that which is hard slog, no tha na clèibh. Bidh seo a’ cuideachadh nan Tá sé le tuiscint ó ráiteas an Chanónaigh indicate that the fleet is theirs. This choimhearsnachd a bhios cosnadh mar sin is a úsáideadh. B’e an Tabh ceartlár excitement in it.’ iasgairean gus na clèibh aca fhaighinn nuair MacCuithein go bhfuil feidhm ar chaidreamh helps the fishermen to retrieve their a’ cruthachadh: ged a tha e fuar, cruaidh shaol an éisc. Sin mar a thoisigh a bhios gailleannan gam fàgail an aimhreit láidir i measc iascairí. Thug iascaire creels on occasions when storms leave ‘s cunnartach, tha e cuideachd coitcheann, sé uilig… Sin é mar a bhí an t-iasc While the older fishermen emphasised air a’ chladach. Árainn Mhór, Niallaí Caomhánach, sampla them entangled on the shoreline. dlùth is ceangaltach. mar sin, thug tú grá don iasc, grá that the physical reality of fishing praiticiúil de goidé mar a chothaítear Furthermore, each fisherman will mark mór, b’é an t-iasc an buachaill… Na day after day was, and is, cold, hard, Cuideachd, cuiridh a h-uile h-iasgair caidreamh maith nuair a thug sé iomrá ar the dan stick at the west-lying end Gus a bhith ag obair còmhla, daoine in Uibhist agus oileáin eile dangerous work, Canon MacQueen comharradh air a’ mhaide aig ceann siar a’ na ‘maidí dan’ — slata bamboo tomhaiste of their fleet with a rag of one colour feumaidh sibh a bhith air an ar nós Uibhist, áiteanna san Oileán repeatedly raised the strength of chabhlaich aige le luid le aon dath agus am go speisialta as a mbaineann iascairí Árainn and the east-lying dan stick with a rag aon ràmh mar bhuidheann, mar Sciathánach, bheifeá ceangailte leis relationship and community that such maide sa cheann an ear le luid air a bheil Mhór leas le teaispeáint cá bhfuil a gcuid of another colour. The rags act as a theaghlach, agus seo nuair a bhios an talamh, is is cruaidh an obair í, níl work generates: though it is cold, dath eile. Bidh na luidean nan stiùireadh do cliabh curtha. Cuireann achan iascaire dath guide for other fishermen who know tu air eathar gu math beag, dlùth tógáil chroí ar bith ag baint léi.’ hard and dangerous, it is also shared, dh’iasgairean eile a tha eòlach air an rian, a’ áithrid ar na slata le tabhairt le fios gur leis the system, reducing the risk of one air a càch-a-chèile, agus ma tha strì intimate and binding. lùghdachadh a’ chunnairt gun ruith iasgair féin na cléibh. Cuidíonn sé seo na hiascairí fisherman running his fleet of creels eadaraibh feumaidh sibh bruidhinn Gidh gur chuir na seaniascairí béim gurbh é na clèibh aige thairis air na clèibh aig lena gcuid chliabh a thabhairt ar ais nuair over the creels of another, “and so”, mu dheidhinn. ‘S a bhith a’ bruidhinn iasgair eile, “agus mar sin” thuirt Niallaí san saol na hiascaireachta lá i ndéidh lae obair To work together you actually a fhágann stoirmeacha in aimhréití ar an concluded Neily, “we won’t get fouled ‘s ag obair còmhla mar sin a bheir dealachadh, “cha tèid sinn an aimhreit agus fhuar, chruaidh is chontúirteach, luaigh an have to gel together as a group, chladach iad. up and we’ll all be good neighbours dhut an neart an lùib a bhith còmhla bidh sinn nar deagh nàbaidhean fad Canónach MacCuithein neart an ghaoil is ‘s tarraing air an aon ràmh. Chan eil like members of a family, as this an fheasgair”. for the evening”. creideamh Crìosdail gu dad an seo… na comharsanachta a chothaíos a leithéid is where you are on a very small Fosta, cuirfidh achan iascaire marc ar bidh neart ann an colainn ‘s inntinn d’obair go mion minic: gidh gur obair fhuar, boat — close to each other, Aonan de na nithean as cudromaiche an mhaide ag cionn thiar an chabhlaigh One of the most functionally important a’ dol còmhla, mar eisimpleir dà chruaidh is chontúirteach í, is rud coiteann, and if you have differences you ceangailte ris an eòlas bho shean a th’ le bratóg le dath amháin agus an maide aspects of fishermen’s traditional làimh air ròp còmhla [leig an Canon dlúth is ceangaltach í fosta.. have to talk about it. It is that aig iagairean, ‘s e na “comharraidhean” thoir le bratóg a bhfuil dath eile uirthi. knowledge is what are called MacCuithein air gun robh e a’ tarraing talking and acting together that mar a th’ aca orra ann am Barraigh agus Feidhmíonn an bhratóg mar threoir ‘comharran’ on Barra and ‘marcanna na air ròp] ... bha seo mar chuid den Le bheith ag obair le chéile, caithfidh gives you the absolute strength “marcanna an talaimh” ann an Arainn Mhòr. d’iascairí eile a bhfuil an córas ar eolas acu, talamh’ on Arranmore. These are also bheatha aca.... sibh réiteach lena chéile, mar of being together and gelling. Tha iad seo nan stiùireadh cuideachd — ag laghdú na contúirte go rithfidh iascaire guides — landmarks that are used by, theaghlach, óir tá sibh ar bhád thar Christian religions make no comharraidhean-stiùiridh air an cleachdadh amháin a chabhlach cliabh thar chléibh a bheith beag, i ndeas dá chéile, difference here…Mental and le, mar eisimpleir, iasgairean-giomaich gus iascaire eile, “agus mar sin”, dúirt Niallaí, “ní physical closeness go together, an treòrachadh dhan ghrinneal chruaidh a 32 for instance two hands on a rope chleachdas iad mar iolladh a’ ghiomaich. 33 for example, lobster fishermen while at sea to guide them to the hard ground ghabhfaidh muid in aimhréidh agus beidh that they use as lobster fishing grounds. muid mar scoith na gcomharsan an Some of the marks used to navigate to Bidh feadhainn de na comharraidhean oíche go léir”. one particular fishing reef will be the a thathar a’ cleachdadh gus aon sgeir- same ones for different fishermen, but iasgaich shònraichte a sheòladh mar an Cionn de na gnéithe is tábhachtaí ó in some cases each fisherman will have ceudna airson caochladh iasgairean, ach thaobh oibriúcháin a bhaineas le fios his own set of marks. ann an cuid de shuidheachaidhean bidh a chuid chomharraidhean fhèin aig feasa na n-iascairí na rudaí ar a dtugtar gach iasgair. ‘marcanna an talaimh’ in Árainn Mhór One of the Barra fishermen, Calum is ‘comharraidhean’ in Oileán Bharra. Is MacNeil (known as ‘Calum a’ Chal’), Thug fear de dh’iasgairean Bharraigh, treoracha iad seo fosta — comharthaí spent many years in the merchant navy, Calum MacNèill (air a bheil ‘Calum a’ Chal), tire as a mbaintear taca le, mar shampla, but after leaving he became a full-time iomadh bliadhna seachad sa chabhlach- gliomadóirí ar farraige lena dtreorú don lobster fisherman. Although he now has mharsantachd, ach an dèidh dha fàgail talamh chruaidh a mbaineann siad feidhm a sounder which allows him to chart chaidh e ris na giomaich mar chosnadh. as mar bhráití gliomadóireachta. Beidh cuid depths electronically, he still uses the Ged a tha tomhas-doimhneachd aige de na comharthaí as a mbaintear feidhm marks regularly. He says that in some a-nis a leigeas leis dealbh dealanach chun seoladh go sceir áithrid iascaigh mar cases the marks are actually better than a dhèanamh den doimhneachd, bidh e an gcéanna d’iascairí éagsúla, ach i gcuid the technology, and that after getting a’ cleachdadh nan comharraidhean gu de chásanna beidh a fhoireann féin de the sounder he had to cut the number cunbhalach fhathast. Tha e ag ràdh ann chomharthaí ag achan iascaire. of pots in his lobster fleets in one area an cuid de shuidheachaidhean gu bheil na from 25 to 20. comharraidhean nas fheàrr na an teicneòlas, Chaith duine d’iascairí Oileán Bharra, agus an dèidh dha an tomhas-doimhneachd Calum MacNèill (ar a dtugtar ‘Calum a’ Well I used to be able to get 25 fhaighinn gun tàinig air ìre nan cliabh- Chal’) neart blianta sa chabhlach trádála creels by using the landmarks onto giomaich aige a ghearradh ann an aon ach i ndéidh é fágáil chuaigh sé i mbun the ground because I would start àrainn bho 25 gu 20. na ngliomach mar shlí mhaireachtála. shooting as soon as I reached a Gidh go bhfuil fuaimnitheoir aige anois a certain landmark. I would be at the B’ àbhaist dhomh 25 clèibh chuireas ar chumas dó an doimhneacht a edge of the weed and I knew if I fhaighinn le bhith a’ cleachdadh nan tharraingt go leictreonach, baineann sé could work the zigzag I would put comharraidhean air a’ ghrinneal seach feidhm as na marcanna go rialta go fóill. the 25 creels before I got out of gun tòisichinn a’ cur cho luath ‘s a Deir sé i gcásanna áithrid go mbíonn na the mark…With the sounder, you bha mi air comharradh sònraichte marcanna níos fearr ná an teicneolaíocht are waiting for it to come up with a ruigsinn. Bhithinn air an iomall agus bha fios agam nam b’ urrainn agus i ndéidh é an fuaimnitheoir a fháil nár the sounder. By the time you come dhomh an lùb obrachadh gun cuirinn mhór dó líon na bpotaí ina chuid cabhlach up with the sounder and go out to na 25 clèibh mus fhaighinn a-mach gliomadóireachta i réimse amháin a shoot the creels you have already às a’ chomharradh…leis an tomhas- ghearradh ar ais ó 25 go 20. lost part of it. You’ve already dhoimhneachd, tha thu a’ feitheamh missed part of it. That is how gus an tig e suas leis an tomhas. Mun Ba ghnách liom a bheith i ndán 25 critical it gets. àm a thig thu suas leis an tomhas is de chléibh a fháil ag baint feidhme a thèid thu a-mach a chur nan cliabh, as na marcanna ar an talamh siocair tha thu air cuid dheth a chall cheana. go dtosóinn ag caitheamh comh Tha thu air cuid dheth a chall cheana. luath agus a bhí comhartha áithrid Shin agad cho cugallach is a bhios e a’ fàs. 35 In common with other older island fishermen, Calum a’ Chal learned the tíre bainte amach agam. Bheinn marks from an old fisherman who had ar an imeall agus bheadh fhios fished without the aid of technology. Coltach ri seann iasgairean eile sna agam dá mbeinn i ndán an fiarlán a Later a friend made a chart of depths h-eileanan, dh’ionnsaich Calum a’ Chal oibriú go gcuirfinn na 25 cléibh sula in the area using electronic equipment. na comharraidhean bho sheann iasgair a bhfuair mé amach as an mharc... On the chart, every one of the old bhiodh ag iasgach gun teicneòlas idir. Rinn Leis an fhuaimnitheoir, bíonn tú ag fisherman’s marks showed hard ground. caraid cairt an dèidh sin den doimhneachd anns an raon a’ cur feum air uidheam feitheamh air teacht aníos leis an According to Calum a’ Chal: dealanach. Air a’ chairt, sheall a h-uile fear fhuaimnitheoir. Fán am a thig tú suas de chomharraidhean an t-seann iasgair leis an fhuaimnitheoir agus a ghabhas They knew exactly where the hard grinneal cruaidh. Thuirt Calum a’ Chal: tú amach leis na cléibh a chur tá cuid ground lay and yet they never saw de caillte cheana féin agat. Tá cuid the seabed. They would have seen Bha fios aca dìreach far an robh an de caillte cheana féin agat. Sin comh the seabed in shallower water. But grinneal cruaidh ach fhathast chan contúirteach agus a éiríonn sé. they knew. They had every bit of fhaca iad grunnd na mara riamh. Bha hard ground that I got. iad air grunnd na mara fhaicinn anns Dálta seaniascairí eile sna hoileáin, an tanalach. Ach bha for aca. Bha a d’fhoghlaim Calum a’ Chal na marcanna ó Learned for the most part from his h-uile mìr den ghrinneal chruaidh a sheaniascaire a rinne a chuid iascaireachta own elders and augmented by his fhuair mi fhìn aca. gan tacaíocht teicneolaíochta. Rinne cara own research, Calum a’ Chal has an cairt ina dhéidh sin den doimhneacht encyclopaedic knowledge of the island’s Agus e air a thogail air a’ chuid as motha sa limistéar ag baint taca as trealamh dùthchas na mara. In one three hour dheth bho na sinnsearan aige is air a leictreonach. Ar an chairt, thaispeáin achan interview, which we brought to an end, neartachadh le chuid rannsachaidh fhèin, chionn de mharcanna an tseaniascaire feeling we could not process any more tha eòlas gun chrìochan aig Calum a’ Chal talamh chruaidh. Deir Calum a’ Chal: information, he gave us more than a air dùthchas-mara an eilein. Ann an aon dozen marks, interspersed through an agallamh fad trì uairean an uaireadair, a Bhí fhios acu go díreach cá háit a account of Barra’s history, genealogy, in thug sinn gu crìch a’ faireachdainn nach raibh an talamh cruaidh ach ina and out migration, song traditions and fhaodamaid fiosrachadh sam bith eile a dhéidh sin chan fhaca siad grinneall archaeology, as well as dozens of other làimhseachadh, thug e dhuinn còrr is dusan na mara ariamh. D’fheiceadh siad an names of places at sea which are part a chomharraidhean, fuaighte ri eachdraidh, grinneall in uisce ní ba thana. Ach bha of the traditional ecological knowledge sloinntearachd, imrich, òrain is àrsaidheachd fhios acu. Bhí achan mhír den talamh of the fishermen. Much of this is bound Bharraigh, cho math ris na ficheadan de chruaidh a fuair mé féin acu. up in his own life story and wider dh’ainmean eile air àiteachan aig muir a tha mar chuid den eòlas dhùthchasach a th’ aig cultural experiences. He is now na h-iasgairean air àrainneachd na mara. Agus é tugtha den chuid is mó óna passing this knowledge on to his seven Tha mòran de seo fighte ri eachdraidh a shinsear féin agus curtha leis fríd a chuid year old grandson. bheatha fhèin ris an eòlas chultarail a th’ taighde féin, tá eolas as cuimse ag Calum aige san fharsaingeachd. Tha e a-nis a’ toirt a’ Chal ar dhúchas mara a oileáin féin. When giving us one of his marks for a an eòlais seo do mhac a mhic a tha seachd In agallamh amháin a mhair trí uaire an reef called Fiaclan a Mhìn he said: bliadhna dh’aois. chloig, a thug muid chun críche, ag mothú nach mbeadh muid i ndán tuilleadh eolas Nuair a thug e dhuinn comharraidhean a láimhseáil, thug sé corradh le duisín de airson tè de na sgeirean air a bheil Fiaclan a’ Mhìn, thuirt e: 37 That is the one I taught the grandson, when I took him out two mharcanna dúinn, fite le hiomrá ar stair, year ago. And he knows it ghinealeolaíocht, an imirce isteach is off by heart now at seven…. Sin am fear a dh’ionnsaich mi do amach, amhráin is seandálaíocht Oileán He’s got them and by God he mhac mo mhic, nuair a thug mi Bharra, diomaite de neart ainmneacha knows the marks. a-mach o chionn dà bhliadhn’ air ais eile ar áiteanna ar farraige atá mar e. Agus tha e aige air a theanga a-nis chuid d’eolas éiceolaíoch traidisiúnta na aig aois seachd bliadhna…. Tha iad aige agus a Dhia tha e eòlach air n-iascairí.. Tá a lán de seo ceangailte The changing shape of the na comharraidhean. lena scéal féin agus lena chuid eispéireas policy environment cultúrtha go ginearálta.. Tá sé anois ag tabhairt an eolais seo dá gharmhac a bhfuil In the first half of the 20th century An cruth air an àrainneachd mu seacht mbliain slánaithe aige. Barra was the centre of a protest by phoileasaidh ag atharrachadh fishermen in the Western Isles against Agus é ag tabhairt dúinn cionn dá chuid the incursions of trawlermen from Sa chiad leth den fhicheadamh lin, chaidh marcanna fá choinne sceire ar a dtugtar outside the islands who were destroying gearan a thogail ann am Barraigh le Fiaclan a’ Mhìn [?], dúirt sé:: their fishing grounds. The Sea League iasgairean às na h-Eileanan Siar an aghaidh was set up by the writer Compton briseadh-a-steach le iasgairean à taobh Sin an cionn a d’fhoghlaim mé don MacKenzie and the scholar John Lorne a-muigh nan eilean a bha a’ milleadh nan gharmhac nuair a thug mé amach Campbell and received strong support iollaidhean aca. Chaidh Dionnasg na Mara a dhá bhliain ó shin é. Agus tá sé aige from the fishermen themselves. Their chur air bhonn leis an sgrìobhadair Compton ar a thoil anois in aois seacht mbliain aims were to ensure that the island MacKenzie agus an sgoilear Fear Chanaigh dó…. Tá siad aige agus a Dhia tá na fisherman controlled the rights to island agus fhuair e taic làidir bho na h-iasgairean marcanna ar eolas aige. waters and to keep the trawlermen out. iad fhèin. B’ iad na h-amasan a bh’ aca Today activism among fishermen on dèanamh cinnteach gum biodh smachd aig the Gaelic speaking islands is not being iasgairean nan eilean air na còraichean Cumadh timpeallachta beartais led by supportive incomers, such as air uisgeachan nan eilean agus iasgairean ag athrú Campbell and MacKenzie, but by island nan eathraichean-sgrìobaidh a chumail fishermen themselves. a-mach. An-diugh chan e feadhainn thaiceil Sa chéad leath den 20ú céad, rinneadh a thàinig a-steach, mar a thàinig Fear agóid in Oileán Bharra le hiascairí sna John Lorne Campbell believed that the Chanaigh is MacCoinnich, a tha an ceann hOileáin Thiar in aghaidh trálaer ag failure of the Sea League of the 1930s nan iomairtean am measg iasgairean sna briseadh isteach ón taobh amuigh a bhí ag to achieve its ambitions was because h-eileanan Gàidhealach, ach iasgairean nan eilean iad fhèin. milleadh a gcuid bráití. Cuireadh Conradh of hostile attitudes to the islands within na Mara ar bun leis an scríobhneoir the UK Government of the time. Today Bha Fear Chanaigh den bheachd gun do Compton MacCoinnich is an fhear léinn Fear the UK and Irish Governments have a dh’fhairtlich air Dionnasg na Mara sna Chanaigh agus fuair sé tacaíocht láidir ó na range of responsibilities and obligations 1930an a chuid amasan a thoirt gu buil hiascairí iad féin. B’ iad a gcuid sprioctha under international law. Some of seach gun robh beachd nàimhdeil mu na cinntiú go mbeadh smacht ag iascairí na these international policy instruments h-eileanan an taobh a-staigh Riaghaltas n-oileán ar na cearta ar uiscí na n-oileán expressly recognise and support the na Rìoghachd Aonaichte aig an àm. An- agus na trálaeir a choinneáil amach. Inniu, more complex ‘way of knowing’ the diugh tha caochladh uallachaidhean ní le dream tacúil a tháinig thar tír isteach is dhleastanasan air Riaghaltas na ar nós MhicCoinnich is Fear Coinnigh a Rìoghachd Aonaichte agus Riaghaltas na h-Eìreann fo lagh eadar-nàiseanta. Tha 39 cuid den reachdas eadar-nàiseanta seo ag signatory states to “respect, preserve aithneachadh gu follaiseach is a’ cur taice ri and maintain knowledge, innovations ‘dòigh-eòlais’ nas toinnte mun àrainneachd threoraítear an t-aighneas i measc iascairí Is straitéis é an cur chuige and practices of indigenous and local a chaidh a nochdadh gu soilleir leis na sna hOileáin Ghaelacha ach le haisacairí na éiceachórais mar mhaithe le bainistíú communities embodying traditional h-eileanaich ann an Arainn Mhòr is ann n-oileán iad féin. environment which has been richly beatha (COP 2000: 103-104). comhcheangailte ar thalamh, uisce is lifestyles relevant for the conservation am Barraigh. illustrated by the islanders of Arranmore acmhainní beo a chuireas caomhnú and sustainable use of biological Tha Alt 8(j) de CBD cuideachd ag iarraidh Bhí Fear Chanaigh den bharúil gur sháraigh and Barra. agus úsáid inbhuanaithe ar aghaidh ar diversity….” (CBD 1992: 6). Tha Treòrachadh Gnàthagan na h-Eòrpa air na stàitean a chuireas làmh ris “spèis a ar Chonradh na Mara sna 1930anna a dhóigh chothromasach.... Aithníonn cur (92/43 EEC), a dh’fheumas na Buill-stàite ghabhail do dh’eòlas, do thionnsgnaidhean chuid spriocanna a bhaint amach de barr The European Habitats Directive Since 2006, the kinds of living cur an gnìomh, mar chuid de fhreagairt an is do chleachdaidhean choimhearsnachdan chuige éiceachórais go bhfuil daoine, AE mu thoirt a-mach gheallaidhean mun an naimhdis fá dtaobh de na hoileáin a (92/43 EEC), which Member States are dùthchasach is ionadail sa bheil dòigh- lena gcuid éagsúlachta cultúrtha, ina traditional knowledge we have found àrainneachd a chaidh a dhèanamh aig nocht Rialtas na Ríochta Aonaichte san am. obliged to implement, is part of the EU’s beatha a bhuineas ri gleidheadh is gcuid riachtanach d’iomaí éiceachóras on Barra and Arranmore have been Co-labhairt nan Dùthchanan Aonaichte an Inniu tá réimse freagrachtaí is oibleagáid response to meeting environmental cleachdadh seasmhach eugsamhlachd a (COP 2000: 103-104). directly protected under international an 1992 air Àrainneachd is Leasachadh ar Rialtas na hÉireann is Rialtas na Ríochta commitments made at the 1992 United thaobh beatha, an caomhnadh is an cumail law. Prior to this, only tangible cultural (air a bheilear a’ gabhail mar as trice Aontaithe fá dhlí idirnáisiúnta. Aithníonn is Nations Conference on Environment suas….” (CBD 1992: 6). Iarrann Alt 8(j) den CBD ar státaí a shínithe heritage was protected — the World “Tional Cruinneadail” Rio). Aig an Tional tacaíonn cuid de na hionstraim idirnáisiúnta and Development (commonly known as fosta “eolas, nuálaíocht agus cleachtaí Heritage Convention was based on Chruinneadail, chaidh an Cùmhnant mu bheartais seo an dóigh níos duibheagánaí the Rio “Earth Summit”). At the Earth Bho 2006, tha an seòrsa de dh’eòlas pobal dúchasacha is áitiúla ina bhfuil the Western-rooted idea of cultural Bhith-Eugsamhlachd (CBD) a thionnsgain chun eolas a chur ar an timpeallacht go Summit, the UN-initiated Convention on dualchasach beò a fhuair sinn ann am slí bheatha thraidisiúnta a bhaineas le heritage being the material products na Dùthchannan Aonaichte, fhosgladh gus follasach, rud atá léirithe go flúirseach Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened Barraigh is ann an Arainn Mhòr air a bhith caomhnú is feidhm inbhuanaitheach as of art and architecture (Lenzerini 2011: ainmean a chur ris. leis na hoileánaigh in Árainn Mhór is in for signature. air a dhìon gu dìreach fo lagh eadar- éagsúlacht bhitheolaíoch a mheas, a 103). The UNESCO Convention on the Oileán Bharra. nàiseanta.Roimhe seo, cha robh ach chaomhnú agus a chothú….” (CBD 1992: 6). Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Ann an 2000, ghabh an Còigeamh In 2000, the Fifth Conference of the oighreachd chultarail ris an gabh beantainn Heritage 2003 (the ICH Convention) Co-labhairt aig Partaidhean CBD ri Tá an Treoir Eorpach um Ghnáthóga (92/43 Parties to the CBD endorsed the air a dìon — chaidh Còmhdhail Oighreachd Ó 2006 i leith, táthar i ndéidh an cineál provides international protection for the “Prionnsapalan Mhalawi” a tha a’ CE), a bhfuil d’oibleagáid ar Bhallstátaí a ‘Malawi Principles’ which interpret an t-Saoghail a stèidheachadh air beachd feasa a d’aimsigh muid in Árainn Mhór is intangible aspects of cultural diversity. mìneachadh CBD le tuigse gu bheil mac- fhorghníomhú, mar chuid de fhreagar an AE the CBD with an understanding that an t-Saoghail an Iar air oighreachd Oileán Bharra a chosaint go díreach fá dhlí The ICH Convention entered into force an-duine is an nàdar ann an rian-beatha ar choilíonadh na dtiomantas timpeallachta humans and nature in an ecosystem chultarail mar thoradh stuthail à ealain idirnáisiúnta. Roimhe seo, cha dearnadh on 20 April 2006 though it has not yet ceangailte ri chèile. Tha eisimpleir den a rinneadh ag Comhdháil na Náisiúnta ar are interconnected. An example of this is ailtireachd (Lenzerini 2011: 103). Tha ach oidhríocht intadhaill chultúrtha a been ratified by the UK or Ireland. tuigse seo mu na ceanglaichean follaiseach an Timpeallacht is Fhorbairt (a ngairtear understanding of interconnectedness is Còmhdhail UNESCO ann an 2003 mu chosaint — bhí an Coinbhinsiún Oidhríochta According to Article 2(1) of the ann an tuairisgeul na Co-labhairt air dòigh de go hiondúil “Cruinniú Mullaigh” Rio). evident in the Conference’s description Dhìon Oighreachd Chultarail ris nach Gabh Domhanda bunaithe ar dhearcadh an ICH Convention: rian-beatha mu rianachd, a tha a’ gabhail Ag an Chruinniú Mhullaigh fosclaíodh an of the ecosystem approach to Beantainn (Còmhdhail ICH) a’ toirt dìon Iarthair fá dtaobh d’oidhríocht chultúrtha a-steach gu follaisach a’ cheangail ri Coinbhinsiún ar Éagsúlacht Bhitheolaíoch management, which explicitly includes a eadar-nàiseanta do nithean ris nach gabh mar ábhar ealaíne is ailtireachta (Lenzerini The ‘intangible cultural eugsamhlachd chultarail. (CBD) ar chuir na NA tús leis, le ainmneacha link to cultural diversity: beantainn ceangailte ri eugsamhlachd 2011: 103). Tugann Coinbhinsiún UNESCO heritage’ means the practices, chultarail. Thàinig Còmhdhail ICH ann an a chur leis. ar Chosaint Oidhríochta Dholáimhsithe representations, expressions, Tha an dòigh mu rian-beatha na ro- gnìomh air 20 Giblean 2006 ged nach eil The ecosystem approach is Chultúrtha 2003 (Coinbhinsiún ICH) cosaint knowledge, skills — as well as the innleachd gus rianachd amalaichte i air a daingneachadh fhathast leis an In 2000, thacaigh an Cúigiú Comhdháil de a strategy for the integrated instruments, objects, artefacts a dhèanamh air fearann, uisge is Rìoghachd Aonaichte no le Èirinn. idirnáisiúnta fá choinne na ngnéithe goireasan beò a chuireas air adhart Pháirtithe an CBD ‘Prionsabail na Maláive’ a management of land, water and A rèir Alt 2(1) de Chòmhdhail ICH: doláimhsithe a bhaineann le héagsúlacht and cultural spaces associated gleidheadh is cleachdadh seasmhach léirmhíníonn an CBD le tuigbheáil go bhfuil living resources that promotes chultúrtha. Tháinig Coinbhisnsiún ICH i therewith — that communities, ann an dòigh a rèir Cothrom na daoine is dúlra in éiceachóras ceangailte conservation and sustainable ‘S e na tha ‘oighreachd chultarail ris bhfeidhm ar 20ú Aibreáin 2006 gidh nár groups and, in some cases, Fèinne.... Tha dòigh rian-beatha…ag le chéile. Tá sampla den tuigbheáil seo use in an equitable way…. An nach gabh beantainn’ a’ ciallachadh na daingníodh le hÉirinn ná leis an Ríocht individuals recognize as part aithneachadh gu bheil clann-daoine, fá cheangal le feiceáilt i gcuntas na ecosystem approach…recognizes cleachdaidhean, na riochdachaidhean, Aontaithe go fóill é. De réir Ailt 2(1) de of their cultural heritage. This len cuid eugsamhlachd chultarail, nan Comhdhála ar chur chuige an éiceachórais i that humans, with their cultural na dòighean-labhairt, an t-eòlas, Choinbhinsiún ICH: intangible cultural heritage, cuid bhuinaiteach de dh’iomadh rian- dtaca le bainistíocht, ina bhfuil nasc dearfa diversity, are an integral na sgilean — cho math ris na transmitted from generation to le héagsúlacht chultúrtha: component of many ecosystems h-innealan, na nithean, na buill- Is é an rud is ciall leis an “oidhríocht (COP 2000: 103-104). ealain is na h-àiteachan cultarail dholáimhsithe chultúrtha” na ceangailte rin leithid — a bhios 40 Article 8(j) of the CBD also requires its coimhearsnachdan, buidhnean agus, 41 ann an cuid de shuidheachaidhean, daoine air leth ag aithneachadh mar chuid den oighreachd chultarail aca. cleachtaí, na léiriúcháin, na Tha an oighreachd chultarail seo ris modhanna labhartha, an t-eolas, nach gabh beantainn, ga toirt bho na scileanna — diomaite de na generation, is constantly recreated ghlùin gu glùin, ga cruthachadh às hionstraim, na réada, na déantáin by communities and groups in ùr uair is uair le coimhearsnachdan agus na spásanna cultúrtha response to their environment, is buidhnean mar fhreagairt air an comhcheangailte leofa — a aithníonn àrainneachd aca, a’ cheangal a th’ aca their interaction with nature and ri nàdar is ris an eachdraidh aca, agus pobail, grúpaí agus, i gcásanna their history, and provides them tha e a’ toirt dhaibh faireachdainn áithrid, daoine aonair mar pháirt with a sense of identity and mu ìomhaigh is leanmhainneachd, dá gcuid oidhríochta cultúrtha. continuity, thus promoting rud a chuireas air adhart spèis do Déantar an oidhríocht dholáimhsithe respect for cultural diversity dh’eugsamhlachd chultarail is do chultúrtha seo, tugtha ó ghlúin go and human creativity chruthachalachd dhaonna glúin, a athmhúnlú aríst is aríst le (ICH Convention 2003: 11). (Còmhdhail ICH 2003: 11). pobail is grúpaí mar fhreagar ar a dtimpeallacht, ar a n-idirghníomhú Article 2(2) adds that intangible cultural Tha Alt 2(2) cuideachd ag ràdh gum le dúlra is lena gcuid staire, agus heritage can be found in a variety faighear oighreachd chultarail ris nach tugann sé dóibh mothú aitheantais of forms, such as oral traditions and gabh beantainn ann an caochladh riochdan, is leanúnachais, mar mheas dá expressions (including language), social leithid aithris-bheòil is dòighean-labhairt réir sin ar éagsúlacht chultúrtha practices and knowledge and practices (cànan nam measg), cleachdaidhean is ar chruthaitheacht dhaonna concerning nature and the universe sòisealta agus eòlais is cleachdaidhean mu (Coinbhinsiún ICH 2003: 11). (ICH Convention 2003: 11). nàdar is mun chruinne-chè (Còmhdhail ICH 2003: 11). Deir Alt 2(2) fosta gur féidir oidhríocht More recently, the CBD-related Strategic dholáimhsithe chultúrtha a fháil i Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 Nas giorra air ais, tha Plana Ro-innleachdail bhfoirmeacha éagsúla, ar nós béaloideasa “invites Parties to take note of the airson Bith-eugsamhlachd 2011 gu 2020 agus modhanna labhartha (teanga san United Nations 2008 Declaration on ceangailte ri CBD mar “chuireadh do áireamh), cleachtaí sóisialta agus eolas the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in the Phartaidhean toirt an aire do Dhearbhadh is cleachtaí fá dtaobh den dúlra is den implementation of the Strategic Plan for nan Dùthchannan Aonaichte ann an 2008 chruinne (Coinbhinsiún ICH 2003: 11). Biodiversity 2011-2020, as appropriate, air còraichean Dhaoine Dùthachasach, ann and in accordance with national an cur an gnìomh a’ Phlana Ro-innleachdail Ar na mallaibh, tugann an Plean legislation” (COP 2010). The Indigenous airson Bith-eugsamhlachd 2011 gu 2020, mar as iomchaidh, agus a rèir reachdais Straitéiseach coibhneasta leis an CBD Peoples Declaration marks a major point nàiseanta” (COP 2010). Tha an Dearbhadh fá choinne Éagsúlachta Bitheolaí 2011 of departure for international law. Up to mu Dhaoine Dùthchasach mar bhonn-stèidh go 2020 “cuireadh do Pháirtithe tabhair this point, international law had viewed ris an lagh eadar-nàiseanta. Gu ruige seo, fáidear do Dhearbhú na Náisiún Aontaithe rights solely as something capable sheall an lagh eadar-nàiseanta ri còraichean in 2008 ar Chearta Daoine Dúchasacha, of being exercised by an individual dìreach mar rudeigin a dh’fhodadh neach- ar chur i bhfeidhm an Phleana Straitéisigh in defence against the collective. In aonair cur an gnìomh mar dhìon an aghaidh fá choinne Éagsúlachta Bitheolaí 2011 contrast, the Declaration envisages a’ chumantais. An aghaidh seo, bidh an go 2020, de réir mar is cuí, agus ar aon rights as capable of being exercised Dearbhadh a’ faicinn chòraichean gan dul le reachtaíocht náisiúnta” (COP 2010). as part of a collective ‘whole’ Is mór an borradh fán dlí idirnáisiúnta (Lenzerini 2010). é an Dearbhú um Dhaoine Dúchasacha. This shift in international law is in 42 line with the spirit of the Indigenous cleachdadh mar chuid de ‘iomlan’ cumanta the international policy environment’s (Lenzerini 2010). interpretation of the Convention on Gostrásta, d’amharc an dlí idirnáisiúnta reatha is praiticiúil, le gnéithe de dhearcadh Biological Diversity which understands Tha àm mùthadh seo air an lagh eadar- ar chearta díreach mar rud inteacht a domhanda Ceilteach beo a chur in iúl i humans and nature as interconnected nàiseanta a rèir spiorad Cairt-talmhainn d’fhéadfadh duine aonair feidhmiú mar Peoples’ Earth Charter 1992 which talks eòlas-chinnidhean is aithris-bheòil gun bhfocail. De ghnáth, coinnítear taighde den within the same ecosystem. nan Daoine Dùthchasach ann an 1992 a chosaint in aghaidh na cochoitiantachta. about their rights as essential elements àite cudromach sam bith nuair a bhios chineál seo le heitneolaíocht is béaloideas tha a-mach air an cuid chòraichean mar luchd-riaghaltais is luchd-poileasaidh Ós a choinne seo, feiceann an Dearbhú of a unique entity that they describe as gan áit ar bith mór le rá i dtuairimí lucht The existence on these Gaelic-speaking eileamaidean deatamach de bhith air leth a’ beachdachadh. A’ sealltainn ris bhon cearta a bheith i ndán a bheith feidhmithe the circle of life, where a change to one rialtais ná lucht déanta beartas. Ag amharc islands of a strong body of traditional air a bheil iad a’ gabhail cearcall na beatha, taobh ùr seo, tha fianais nan iasgairean a’ far an toir atharrachadh air aonan de na mar chuid de ‘iomlán’ i gcoitinne (Lenzerini of its elements affects the whole. It also nochdadh tuigse air an t-saoghal nàdarra air ón dearcadh úr seo, nochtann a bhfuil knowledge that has emerged from h-eileamaidean aice buaidh air a’ chòrr. Tha 2010). echoes the comment of the older Barra a tha luath, feumail is seaghach - saoghal le rá ag na hiascairí tuigbheáil ar shaol the island people’s long and close e cuideachd mar sgal-creige de na thuirt na fisherman who contrasted a traditional nàdarra sa bheil na h-eileanaich nan cuid gu an dúlra atá ann ar an bhall, feidhmeach relationship with nature, alongside seann iasgairean Barrach a chuir saoghal Tá an bogadh seo sa dlí idirnáisiúnta ar society where everyone was in the same math feumail is deatamach. Tha an tuigse is praiticiúil - saol an dúlra a bhfuil na the existence in international law of dualchasach san robh a h-uile duine san aon aon dul le meanma Cairt Talún Daoine boat, with a modern society where seo an uair sin a’ nochdadh mìneachadh hoileánaigh ina gcuid riachtanach. Nochtann a framework which gives value to eathar an coimeas ri saoghal an latha an- Dúchasacha 1992 a ní trácht ar a gcuid everyone wanted their own boat, and a àrainneachd-poileasaidh na cruinne air an tuigbheáil seo í féin léirmhíniúchán lucht this knowledge, has the potential to diugh far an robh a h-uile duine ag iarraidh cearta mar ghnéithe riatanacha d’aonán younger Barra fisherman who described a’ Chòmhdhail mu Bhith-eugsamhlachd a beartas timpeallachta na cruinne ar an connect different ways of knowing the gum biodh eathar aige dha fhèin, agus sonraíoch ar a dtugann siad ciorcal na his understanding of the sea as follows: thuigeas gu bheil clann-daoine is nàdar Choinbhinsiún um Éagsúlacht Bhitheolaíoch marine environment. It is likely that iasgair òg à Barraigh a thug dealbh den beatha air, ina n-imríonn athrach ar chionn ceangailte ri chèile san aon rian-bheatha. a thuigeas go bhfuil an duine is an the current lack of connection between tuigse a bh’ aige air a mhuir mar a leanas: amháin dá gcuid gnéithe rian ar an iomlán. It’s all intertwined, you can’t dúlra ceangailte lena chéile san these different ways of understanding Tá sé mar gháir chreag den mhéid a dúirt separate it, and you can’t tamper Tha de chomas aig cruinneachadh làidir den éiceachóras chéanna. the world contributes fundamentally Tha a h-uile càil ceangailte ri chèile, an seaniascaire Barrach a chuir an saol with some of it without affecting eòlas dhùthchasach sna h-eileanan Gàidhlig to the ongoing conflicts on the islands. chan urrainn dhut an dealachadh, is fadó nuair a bhí achan duine sa bhád the rest of it…. (Brennan 2011a) seo a dh’èirich às a’ chàirdeas fhada ‘s Tá de chumas ag an chorp láidir seo isna We believe that finding a place for each chan urrainn dhut beantainn ri cuid céanna i bhfarradh is saol an lae inniu agus dhlùth aig na h-eileanaich ris an nàdar, cho hoileáin Ghaelacha seo d’eolas traidisiúnta of these ‘worlds’ within the other could dheth gun buaidh a thoirt air a’ chòrr achan duine ag iarraidh báid dó féin, agus math ri ullachadh san lagh eadar-nàiseanta a d’eascair as an ghaol dhlúth a bhí ag give rise to a richer way of knowing dheth…. (Ní Bhraonáin 2011a) iascaire níos óige as Oileán Bharra a thug Conclusion a bheir luach don eòlas seo, ceangal ri muintir na n-oileán leis an dúlra, diomaite and understanding the seas to which iomrá ar an tuigbheáil a bhí aige ar an caochladh dhòighean gus eòlas a chur air den chreat sa dlí idirnáisiúnta a bheireann we belong. fharraige mar seo a leanas: In our research we wanted to inquire àrainneachd na mara. ‘S coltach gu bheil luach don eolas seo, dóigheanna éagsúla Co-dhùnadh into whether there are deeper cultural an dìth ceangail a th’ ann an-dràsta eadar le eolas a chur ar thimpeallacht na mara a Tá achan rud ceangailte, cha tig leat roots to the current political conflicts na dòighean seo gus an saoghal a thuigsinn nasc. Is dóiche go gcuireann an díth naisc San rannsachadh againn, bha sinn iad a scaradh, agus cha tig leat baint taking place on the waters around Barra a’ cur gu bunaiteach ris an strì a tha a’ dol eadar na bealaí éagsúla tuigbheála i láthair ag iarraidh faighinn a-mach a bheil do chuid de gan dul i bhfeidhm ar an and Arranmore. We believe this research air adhart sna h-eileanan. Tha sinn den na huaire go bunúsach leis na coimhlintí freumhan cultarail nas doimhne ris an strì bheachd ma lorgar àite airson a h-uile gin chuid eile de…. (Ní Bhraonáin 2011a) suggests that there are such roots, and atá ar siúl go fóill isna hoileáin.. Creideann phoilitigeach a tha a’ tachairt an-dràsta de na ‘saoghail’ seo gum faodte dòigh nas helps to articulate, in a contemporary muid fríd áit a chur ar fáil d’achan chionn sna h-uisgeachan timcheall air Barraigh saidhbhre gus eòlas is tuigse fhaighinn air and practical context, aspects of a living do na ‘saoltaí’ seo sa chionn eile dóigh níos is Arainn Mhòr. Tha sinn den bheachd gu a’ mhuir dham buin sinn a chruthachadh. bheil an rannsachadh seo a’ cur an cèill Conclúid Celtic worldview. Studies of this kind of saibhre a chruthú le eolas is tuigbheáil a gu bheil an leithid a fhreumhan ann, agus knowledge are usually confined to the bheith againn ar na farraigí a mbaineann gu bheil e cuideachadh gus nithean de Inár gcuid taighde, theastaigh uainn fields of ethnology and folklore with no sinn leofa. shealladh-saoghail Ceilteach beò, ann an fiafraí an bhfuil fréamhacha cultúrtha níos significant place in the considerations suidheachadh practaigeach a bhuineas doimhne leis na coimhlintí polaitiúla atá ar of governments and policymakers. dhan latha an-diugh, a chur ann am siúl san am i láthair ar na huiscí thart fá Seen from this new perspective, the briathran. Bidh sgrùdaidhean mun t-seòrsa Oileán Bharra is Árainn Mhór. Creideann fishermen’s testimonies reveal an seo de dh’eòlas a’ cumail mar as trice ri muid go gcuireann ár gcuid taighde i appreciation of the natural world that gcéill go bhfuil a leithéidí de fhréamhacha is immediate, functional and practical ann, agus go gcuidíonn sé, i comhthéacs — a natural world in which the island people are an integral and necessary 44 part. This appreciation, in turn, reflects 45

Buidheachas Buíochas Acknowledgements: Thèid an obair seo a stiùireadh leis ways in which they might take this work ‘S e ùine is fialaidheachd nan daoine na h-eileanaich agus tha sinn an Is é an t-am is an tsoicheallacht a chaith le hoileánaigh agus tá súil againn go The existence of this document is due forward. ann am Barraigh is ann an Arainn Mhòr dòchas gun cuidich e gus an t-eòlas- na daoine in Árainn Mhór is Oileán gcuideoidh sé le seachadadh eadar na to the time and generosity of the people as coireach gu bheil an sgrìobainn seo sònrachaidh cudromach seo a chur bho Bharra is siocair leis an chaipéis seo. glúnta den fhaisnéis thábhachtach seo. of Arranmore and Barra. In particular We believe this helps to vindicate ann. Gu sònraichte, tha sinn fo chomain ghlùin gu glùin. Ann an Arainn Mhòr, tha Go háithrid, ba mhaith linn buíochas a Ar Árainn Mhór, tá oileánaigh fosta ag we would like to thank, on Arranmore, the faith shown in the project by its aig an fheadhainn a leanas, ann an na h-eileanaich cuideachd a’ sealltainn ghlacadh leis an dream seo a leanas: amharc ar dhóigheanna a bhféadadh Francie Bonner, Seamus Bonner, Andrew funder, Colmcille, whose remit includes Arainn Mhòr, Francie Mac Cnáimhsí, air dòighean sam faodadh iad an obair in Árainn Mhór, Francie Mac Cnáimhsí, siad an obair seo a thabhairt ar aghaidh. Early, Jerry Early, Neily Kavanagh, encouraging debate on common Séamus Mac Cnáimhsí, Aindriú Ó seo a thoirt air adhart. Séamus Mac Cnáimhsí, Aindriú Ó Seamus Kavanagh, John McCafferty and concerns in social, cultural and economic hIarlatha, Gearóid Ó hIarlatha, Niallaí hIarlatha, Gearóid Ó hIarlatha, Niallaí Tá muid ag déanamh go gcuidíonn seo all those who attended the meeting in issues in Irish and Scottish Gaelic Caomhánach, Séamus Caomhánach, Tha sinn den bheachd gun cuidich Caomhánach, Séamus Caomhánach, chun an tacaíocht a thug an maoineoir the Arranmore lifeboat station, while speaking communities with a view to Seán Mac Eachmharcaigh agus a h-uile seo gus an taic a chuir am maoiniche Seán Mac Eachmharcaigh agus achan Comcille don tionscadal a dhearbhú, a on Barra we would like to thank Lachie building self-confidence. We would like duine a bha an làthair aig a’ choinneimh Colmcille ris an tionnsgnadh a duine a bhí i láthair ag an chruinniú ag bhfuil de shainchúram acu díospóireacht Douglas, Mairi Ceit MacKinnon (Mairi to thank Colmcille for their support. We aig stèisean bàta-teasairginn Arainn dhaingneachadh, aig a bheil mar chuid stáisiún bhád tarrthála Árainn Mhór. a spreagadh air cheisteanna comónta Ceit Bell), Domhnall Uilleam MacLeod would also like to thank the Arranmore Mhòr. Agus ann am Barraigh, bu den raon-ùghdarrais aca a bhith a’ Agus ar Oileán Bharra, ba mhaith sóisialta, cultúrtha is eacnamaíochta i (Coppertop), Domhnall MacLeod Development and Employment mhath leinn taing a thoirt do Lachaidh brosnachadh deasbaireachd air ceistean linn buíochas a ghlacadh le Lachaidh pbobail Ghaelacha in Éirinn is Albain le (Domhnall Beag), Calum MacNeil (Calum Cooperative, Voluntary Action Barra Dùghlas, Màiri Ceit NicFhionghain coitcheann, sòisealta, cultarail is Dùghlas, Màiri Ceit NicFhionghain cur le muinín. Ba mhaith linn buíochas a’ Chal), Niall MacNeil (Niall Handie), and Vatersay, Siar Media, Barra (Màiri Ceit Bell), Dòmhnall Uilleam eaconomach ann an coimhearsnachdan (Màiri Ceit Bell), Dòmhnall Uilleam a ghlacadh le Colmcille as a gcuid Canon Angus MacQueen, Stephen Learning Centre, Barra Library, all at MacLeòid (Coppertop), Dòmhnall Gàidhealach ann an Eìrinn is Alba gus MacLeòid (Coppertop), Dòmhnall tacaíochta. Ba mhaith linn buíochas Manford, Roddy Nicholson (Roddy Choy) the Dualchas Heritage Centre on Barra, MacLeòid (Dòmhnall Beag), Calum fèin-mhisneachd a thogail. Bu mhath MacLeòid (Dòmhnall Beag), Calum a ghlacadh fosta le Comharchumann and Iain Sinclair (Iain Dubh). Liam Campbell, Prof. Laurence Mee, MacNèill (Calum a’ Chal), Niall MacNèill leinn taing a thoirt do Cholmcille airson MacNèill (Calum a’ Chal), Niall MacNèill Forbartha is Fostaíochta Árainn Mhór, Margaret Bennett, Hugh Cheape, Gerard (Niall Handie), an Canon Aonghas taic a chur rinn. Bu mhath leinn taing a (Niall Handie), an Canónach Aonghas Gnìomh Saor-thoileach Bharraigh, Siar The information contained in this report MacDonald, Neil Paul MacLean, Gavin MacCuithein, Steafan Manford, Rodaidh thoirt cuideachd do Chomharchumann MacCuithein, Steafan Manford, Rodaidh Media, Ionad-ionnsachaidh Bharraigh, represents only a small fraction of what Parsons, Susan Walker, Fergus Walker, MacNeacail (Roddy Choy) agus Iain Mac Forbartha is Fostaíochta Árainn Mhór, MacNeacail (Roddy Choy) agus Iain Mac Leabharlann Bharraigh, achan duine the fishermen imparted to us, and we and Christine Cain and Greg Thompson na Ceàrdaich (Iain Dubh). Gnìomh Saor-thoileach Bharraigh, Siar na Ceàrdaich (Iain Dubh). ag Ionad-dualchais Bharraigh, an t-Oll. recognise also that in our short time on at the library of Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Media, Ionad-ionnsachaidh Bharraigh, Liam Caimbeul, Laurence Mee, Mairead Arranmore and Barra we were only able the Isle of Skye. Chan eil san fhiosrachadh san aithisg Leabharlann Bharraigh, a h-uile duine Chan fhuil san fhaisnéis sa tuarascáil Bennett, Ùisdean Cheape, Gearóid Mac to scratch the surface of the traditional seo ach mìr beag de na thug na aig Ionad-dualchais Bharraigh, Liam seo ach rud beag den mhéid a thug na Dónaill, Niall Pól MacIlleathain, Gabhán knowledge the fishermen hold. h-iasgairean dhuinn, agus tha sinn Caimbeul, an t-Àrd-oll. Laurence hiascairí dúinn agus aithníonn sinn fosta Mac an Phearsúin, Susan Walker, mothachail cuideachd san ùine ghoirid Mee, Mairead Bennett, Ùisdean san am ghearr a chaith sinn ar Árainn Fearghas Walker, agus Christine Cain Because of this we are pleased that, a bh' againn ann an Arainn Mhòr is Cheape, Gerard Dòmhnallach, Niall Pòl Mhór is ar Oileán Bharra nár éirigh linn is Greg Mac Thomáis ag leabharlann partly as a result of our research, ann am Barraigh, nach b’ urrainn MacIlleathain, Gabhan Mac a’ Phearsain, ach teacht ar giota beag dá bhfuil ar Sabhal Mór Ostaig ar an Oileán islanders on Barra, along with Stephen dhuinn ach lìomhadh air uachdar eòlas Susan Walker, Fearghas Walker, agus eolas ag na hiascairí. Sciathánach. Hurrel who was involved in the research dhùthchasach nan iasgairean. Cairistìona Cain is Greg MacThòmais and design of this document, have san leabharlann aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig As siocair sin. tá áthas orainn, de decided to initiate a major project Ri linn seo, tha sinn toilichte, mar san Eilean Sgitheanach. bheagán de thairbhe ár gcuid taighde, which will digitally map aspects of the thoradh gu ìre air ar cuid rannsachaidh, go bhfuil beartaithe ag daoine ar Oileán traditional knowledge and lore of their gun do chuir Barraich romhpa, còmhla Bharra, maille le Stiofán Hurrell a raibh locality. This process will be led by the ri Steafan Hurrel a bha an sàs ann baint aige le taighde is dearadh na islanders, and we hope it will help with an rannsachadh is dealbhadh na caipéise seo, tús a chur le tionscadal intergenerational transmission of this sgrìobhainn seo, tionnsgnadh mòr mór a ní léarscáil dhigiteach de important identifying information. On a thòiseachadh a nì clàr digiteach ghnéithe d'eolas is de sheanchas na Arranmore, islanders are also looking at de dh'eòlas dualchasach an àite. háite. Déanfar an obair seo a stiúradh Bibliography Image list

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