Gaelic and the Fellowship: past and present

English

The RSE has been reflecting on its relationship to Gaelic for World Gaelic Week 2023.

Across our long history as Scotland’s national academy, Gaelic-speaking Fellows and Gaelic scholars have made considerable contributions to the RSE’s mission, ‘knowledge made useful,’ exemplifying Scotland as a hub of academic excellence.

In celebration, we’re profiling five significant Fellows who represent the range of disciplines in the RSE’s Fellowship, from science and technology to the arts, medicine, and the social sciences.

Adam Fergusson’s name appears listed on the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783 [Archive reference: ACC10000/1]

Adam Ferguson

Adam Ferguson was a philosopher and historian during the Scottish Enlightenment. Born in 1723 in Perthshire, Adam attended the University of St Andrews, going on to study divinity at the University of Edinburgh. However, his studies were cut short in 1745 when he was appointed deputy chaplain to Scotland’s Black Watch owing to his knowledge of Gaelic.

Ferguson left the clergy to succeed David Hume as keeper of the Advocates’ Library in 1757, which then served as Scotland’s national deposit. In 1759, Ferguson began his career as a professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. During that time, he published works including his Essay on the History of Civil Society, for which he is best remembered.

In 1783 Ferguson became an original Fellow of the RSE as one of the 179 founding members.

Maclean’s name appears on RSE council minutes from 24 February 1888, stating that ‘the following candidates for Fellowship passed the council.’ [Archive reference: ACC10000/23]

Magnus Maclean

Magnus Maclean was born on the Island of Skye in 1857. He was educated at The University of Glasgow and in 1884 was selected by mathematician and physicist William Thompson (Lord Kelvin), a former President of the RSE, to be his chief assistant. Maclean contributed to his electrical experiments, highly skilled in using Kelvin’s electrical measuring instruments.

Maclean was an active member of Comunn Gàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic Society). He became the first Celtic lecturer at the University of Glasgow, encouraging the University to firmly establish the place of Celtic Studies in its curriculum. Now, the Magnus Maclean Memorial Prize is awarded annually to the most distinguished student in the Ordinary class of Celtic at Glasgow University.

In 1888 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his works in electrical engineering.

Watson’s name appears on the RSE’s Fellow’s roll book on 24 January 1910.

William J. Watson

William J. Watson was born in 1865 to a Gaelic-speaking family in Milntown of New in Easter Ross. Watson was educated by his uncle, excelling in classical and Gaelic studies before going to the University of Aberdeen and University of Oxford. Upon returning to Scotland. He became a schoolteacher and then Rector of the Royal High School, Edinburgh, in 1909.

During this time, Watson contributed to the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness and the Celtic Review. He was elected as a Fellow of the RSE in 1910 before taking the chair of Celtic at the University of Edinburgh. Watson’s work surrounded the study of Gaelic topography, his most important works being The Place-names of Ross and Cromarty 1904 and The Celtic Place-names of Scotland 1928.

Sorley MacLean

Sorley MacLean was born in 1911 in Osgaig on Raasay, off the east coast of Skye. Throughout his childhood, he was emersed in Gaelic artistic traditions and as a student at the University of Edinburgh, began writing Gaelic poetry, in 1931 writing ‘A’ Chorra-Gridheach.’

MacLean returned to Skye in 1934 to teach. During this decade he navigated events like the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and the spread of fascism. In this period, he wrote most of the iconic poetry that would become Dàin do Eimhir (Poems for Eimhir), a sequence of 60 love poems, including the unfinished An Cuilthionn (The Cuillins), and Hallaig, which lamented the Highland Clearances of the 1850s.

In 1939 he moved back to Edinburgh and befriended leading Scottish Renaissance poets, including Scots poet Hugh MacDiarmid. It was not until the 1970s and 80s that Maclean’s poetry was translated into English, leading to international demand for him to perform. He became an RSE Honorary Fellow in 1991, with many letters sent to the society supporting his appointment.

Julie Fowlis

Julie Fowlis, born in 1979, grew up in North Uist, the Outer Hebrides. Fowlis earned her BA in Applied Music from the University of Strathclyde in 2000 and attended the Gaelic-language college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to study traditional music.

Her career began being a part of the all-woman sextet, Dòchas, who won Best Up and Coming Band at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2003. In 2005 she released her first solo album Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is), receiving international acclaim, and has subsequently released five more solo albums. Now based in the Highlands, she is known for her work in broadcasting, international touring and collaborating, becoming an RSE Fellow in 2021.

Read more about Fowlis in ReSourcE magazine, Summer 2022 edition.

GHÀIDHLIG

A’ Ghàidhlig agus an Caidreachas: an-diugh is an-dè

Tha an RSE air a bhith a’ meòrachadh air an dàimh a th’ aige ris a’ Ghàidhlig airson Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2023 .

Thar ar n-eachdraidh fhada mar acadamaidh nàiseanta na h-Alba, tha Companaich le Gàidhlig agus sgoilearan Gàidhlig air cur gu mòr ri amas an RSE, ‘Eòlas air a dhèanamh feumail’, is iad nan deagh eisimpleirean de dh’Alba mar mheadhan air sàr-mhathas acadaimigeach.

Gus sin a chomharrachadh, tha sinn a’ toirt seachad cunntas air còignear Chompanach cudromach a tha a’ riochdachadh na farsaingeachd de chuspairean ann an Caidreabh an RSE, bho shaidheans agus teicneòlas gu na h-ealainean, leigheas, agus na saidheansan sòisealta.

Tha ainm Àdhamh MhicFhearghais ri fhaicinn ann an Geàrr-chunntas Gnìomhan Comann Rìoghail Dhùn Èideann, 1783 [Còd-aithneachaidh tasglainn ACC10000/1]

Àdhamh MacFhearghais

Bha Àdhamh MacFhearghais na fheallsanaiche agus na neach-eachdraidh aig àm an t-Soillseachaidh Albannaich. Rugadh Àdhamh ann an Siorrachd Pheairt ann an 1723 , agus chaidh e gu Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn, mus deach e gu Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann gus diadhachd a dhèanamh. Ach, chaidh crìoch a chur air a chuid ionnsachaidh ann an 1745 nuair a chaidh a chur an dreuchd mar Iar-sheaplain aig an Fhreiceadan Dubh air sgàth ’s gun robh Gàidhlig aige.

Dh’fhàg MacFhearghais a’ chlèir agus lean e Dàibhidh Hume mar neach-glèidhidh Leabharlann an Luchd-tagraidh ann an 1757, a bha mar leabharlann tasgadh nàiseanta na h-Alba aig an àm sin. Ann an 1759, thòisich MacFhearghais ann an dreuchd beatha mar àrd-ollamh feallsanachd ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, agus aig an àm sin, dh’fhoillsich e obair sgrìobhte a’ gabhail a-steach Aiste air Eachdraidh a’ Chomainn Chatharra, an obair as cliùitiche aige.

Ann an 1783 fhuair MacFhearghais inbhe mar Chompanach tùsail den RSE mar aon de na 179 buill stèidheachaidh.

Tha ainm MhicIlleathain a’ nochdadh ann an geàrr-chunntasan comhairle an RSE bho 24 Gearran 1888, ag ràdh gun deach ‘na tagraichean a leanas airson Caidreachas aontachadh leis a’ chomhairle.’ [Còd-aithneachaidh tasglainn ACC10000/23]

Mànus MacIlleathain

Rugadh Mànus MacIlleathain san Eilean Sgitheanach ann an 1857. Fhuair e a chuid foghlaim ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus ann an 1884 chaidh a thaghadh leis an neach-matamataig agus fiosaig Uilleam MacThòmais (Am Morair Cheilbhinn), a bha na Cheann-suidhe air an RSE, gus a bhith na phrìomh neach-cuideachaidh dha. Chuir MacIlleathain ris na deuchainnean dealain aige agus e air leth sgileil ann a bhith a’ cleachdadh nan ionnstramaidean tomhais dealain aig Kelvin.

Bha MacIlleathain na bhall gnìomhach de Chomunn Gàidhlig Ghlaschu. B’ esan cuideachd a’ chiad òraidiche Ceiltis ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu, agus bhrosnaich e an t-Oilthigh gus Ceiltis a stèidheachadh gu daingeann sa chlàr-oideachaidh. A-nis, thèid Duais Cuimhneachaidh Mhànuis MhicIlleathain a thoirt seachad gach bliadhna dhan oileanach as fheàrr ann an clas Àbhaisteach na Ceiltis ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

Chaidh a thaghadh ann an 1888 mar Chompanach aig Comann Rìoghail Dhùn Èideann airson a chuid obrach ann an innleadaireachd dealain.

Tha ainm MhicBhathair a’ nochdadh air leabhar-rolla Companaich an RSE air 24 Faoilleach 1910.

Uilleam MacBhatair

Rugadh Uilleam MacBhatair ann an 1865 ann an teaghlach le Gàidhlig ann am Baile Mhuilinn Anndra ann an Taobh Sear Rois. Fhuair MacBhatair foghlam bho a uncail, agus bha e air leth math air clasaigs agus Gàidhlig mus deach e gu Oilthigh Obar Dheathain agus Oilthigh Oxford. Chaidh e na thidsear-sgoile nuair a thill e a dh’Alba agus an uair sin bha e na Cheannard air an Àrd-sgoil Rìoghail, Dùn Èideann, ann an 1909.

Aig an àm seo, chuir MacBhatair ri Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness agus ris an Celtic Review . Chaidh a thaghadh mar Chompanach den RSE ann an 1910 mus dh’fhuair e cathair na Ceiltis ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Bha obair MhicBhatair co-cheangailte gu sònraichte ri cumadh-tìre sa Ghàidhlig, agus b’ iad na leabhraichean a bu chudromaiche aige The Place-names of Ross and Cromarty 1904 agus The Celtic Place-names of Scotland 1928.

Somhairle MacGill-Eain

Rugadh Somhairle MacGill-Eain ann an 1911 ann an Òsgaig ann an Ratharsair, far costa an ear an Eilein Sgitheanaich. Fad a òige, bha e air a bhogadh ann an dualchas na Gàidhlig agus mar oileanach ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann thòisich e air bàrdachd Ghàidhlig a sgrìobhadh. Ann an 1931 sgrìobh e ‘A’ Chorra-Grìdheach.’

Thill MacGill-Eain dhan Eilean Sgitheanach ann an 1934 gus teagasg. Anns an deichead seo dhèilig e ri cuspairean leithid toiseach Cogadh Catharra na Spàinne agus sgaoileadh faisisteachd. ’S ann aig an àm seo a sgrìobh e a’ mhòr-chuid den bhàrdachd shuaicheanta aige a rachadh dhan leabhar aige Dàin do Eimhir, sreath de 60 dàn gaoil, nam measg An Cuilthionn, nach deach a chrìochnachadh, agus Hallaig a bha a’ caoidh Fuadaichean nan Gàidheal sna 1850an.

Ann an 1939 ghluais e air ais a Dhùn Èideann agus thog e càirdeas le prìomh bhàird Albannach an Ath-bheothachaidh, nam measg am bàrd Scots Hugh MacDiarmid. Cha b’ ann gu na 1970an agus 1980an a chaidh bàrdachd MhicGill-Eain eadar-theangachadh dhan Bheurla, agus an uair sin, bha iarrtas eadar-nàiseanta ann gun leughadh e a chuid bàrdachd gu poblach.. Fhuair e inbhe mar Chompanach Urramach an RSE ann an 1991, agus chaidh mòran litrichean a chur chun a’ chomainn a’ toirt taic ri bhith ga dhèanamh na chompanach.

Julie Fowlis

Rugadh Julie Fowlis ann an 1979, agus thogadh i ann an Uibhist a Tuath sna h-Eileanan an Iar. Fhuair Fowlis BA ann an Ceòl Gnìomhach bho Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh ann an 2000 agus chaidh i dhan cholaiste Ghàidhlig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig gus cùrsa ceòl traidiseanta a dhèanamh.

Thòisich a cùrsa-obrach mar phàirt den chòmhlan de shianar bhoireannach, Dòchas, a choisinn duais Còmhlan Ùr as Fheàrr aig Duaisean Ceòl Traidiseanta na h-Alba ann an 2003. Ann an 2005 chuir i a-mach a’ chiad chlàr leatha fhèin a-mach Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe, a choisinn cliù eadar-nàiseanta, agus às dèidh sin tha i air còig clàran eile fhoillseachadh. Tha i a-nis stèidhichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, agus tha i ainmeil airson a cuid obrach ann an craoladh agus airson cuairtean is co-obrachadh eadar-nàiseanta, agus fhuair i inbhe mar Chompanach RSE ann an 2021.

Leugh barrachd mu Fowlis ann an Iris ReSourcE, Samhradh 2022.