Na Coimhearsnaigh (teanga) ba dheise do Reachlainn

Is le fada a bhí gaol Ghaeilg Reachlann le canúintí Ghaeilge eile ina ábhar díospóireachta, cuid mhaith den díospóireacht chéanna, ní raibh mórán de bhunús eolais léi.

Is é an rud atá á phlé anseo agam ná cúrsaí tuisceana, gan aird a thabhairt ar lipéid ar nós ‘Éireannach’ nó ‘Albanach’, lipéid nach bhfuil aon chiall leo agus an t-ábhar teangeolaíochta seo á phlé dar liomsa[i].

Ach cheana, is é lom na fírinne ná nach bhfuil mórán amhras ann faoin ábhar seo. Is é an chanúint Ghaeilge a ba chosúla le G. Reachlann ná G. na nGlinntí Aontroma, “practically the same language” a bhí ann. 

(Bhí, ar ndóigh, cuid difríochtaí suntasacha ann agus pléifidh mé iad siúd amach anseo).

Seo tuiscint Nils Holmer (an saineolaí a ba mhó ar G. Reachlann agus ar G. na nGlinntí agus G. Earra-Ghàidheal chomh maith) ar an ábhar :

“According to Prof 0’Rahilly {Irish Dialects, p. 191), the dialect is essentially a Scottish dialect ... If it be admitted that this is a characteristic specimen of Gaelic of the Scottish type, it must not, however, be thought that the difference between the Rathlin dialect and, for instance, that of Kintyre or Arran is approximately the same as between the latter and that of Islay or Skye. Though the distance between Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre is only about one tenth of the distance between the latter and Skye, the differences are far greater.”

“And, though historically the Rathlin dialect shows closer affinities with Scottish than with Irish Gaelic, the external similarities with the neighbouring Irish dialects are more prominent. This means that a person from Tirconnel would not have very great difficulty in understanding a Rathlin man, while a native speaker from the opposite part of Antrim speaks practically the same language.”

“The morphological similarities between Rathlin and southern Scotland are altogether remarkable. This fact, like so many others, is accounted for in part by Irishisms in southern Scottish Gaelic, in part by the strong Scottish influence on northern Irish.”

Is féidir le duine éisteacht le G. Reachrann anseo.

I dtaca leis an Alban de, glactar leis go coitianta go bhfuil G. Cheann Tíre níos cosúla le G. Reachlann mar tá sé níos deise do Reachlainn go fisiciúil agus / nó glactar go bhfuil G. Íle is cosúla le G. Reachlann mar gheall ar an ‘Éireannachas’ atá ar fáil ann.

Ní fíor é sin áfach. Is é an chanúint Albanach is cosúla le Reachlainn ná G. Árann. Lena chois sin, ba chosúla G. Cheann Tíre le G. Reachlainn ná G. Íle.

Is féidir liom féin a dhearbhú go bhfuil cosúlacht ar leith idir G. Reachlann agus G. Árann. Is féidir éisteacht le G. Árann ar shuíomh Thobar an Dualchais anseo.

(Go rabh míle maith agat Crìostòir-Pòl de Piondargás as a sin a rá liom!)

Is léir mar sin, nach ceist chomharsanacht thíreolaíochta amháin é seo ach go mbaineann sé chomh maith le himtharraingt chanúnach. Mar gheall ar sin, caithfear measúnú go raibh G. Gall-Ghaidhealaibh agus G. Inbhir-Àir an-‘Éireannach’ ar fad.

Is féidir éisteacht le G. Cheann Tíre anseo. Agus le G. Íle anseo.

An mbíodh G. Reachlann níos cosúla le G. Árann ná G. Dhoire mar shampla (is féidir éisteacht le G. Dhoire anseo)?.

Déarfainn go mbíodh cumarsáid le cainteoir Dhoire rud beag níos éasca ná le cainteoir Árann ach nach mbeadh mórán d’fhadhb ann le ceachtar acu do chainteoir Reachlann.

Is dóigh liom fosta, go mbeadh G. Reachlann chomh cosúil céanna le G. Thoraigh i dTír Chonaill agus a bheadh sí le G. Íle.

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[i] [Féach, Ó Baoill (Colm): The Gaelic continuum. In Éigse 32 (2000), pp. 121–134. ad B. Ó Cuív 1951, Irish dialects and Irish-speaking districts (BILL III: 1240). Reexamines the grammatical features that traditionally have justified the linguistic divide between Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is argued that the differences between the transitional dialects of NE Ireland and SW Scotland never prevented mutual intellegibility.]

Rathlin’s nearest (linguistic) neighbours

The relationship of Rathlin Irish to other Gaelic dialects has long been a subject of debate, much of which in a knowledge vacuum.

I discuss here matters of intelligibility without regards to the labels ‘Irish’ or ‘Scottish’ which I contend to be senseless when discussing this linguistic matter[i].

However, in reality, there is no doubt about it, that the most similar Gaelic dialect to Rathlin was Gaelic of the Antrim Glens, which was “practically the same language” (There were of course some important distinctions which I will return to at a later date).

This is the assessment of Nils Holmer, the leading expert on not only Rathlin Irish but also on the Gaelic of Argyll and the Glens of Antrim.

“According to Prof 0’Rahilly {Irish Dialects, p. 191), the dialect is essentially a Scottish dialect ... If it be admitted that this is a characteristic specimen of Gaelic of the Scottish type, it must not, however, be thought that the difference between the Rathlin dialect and, for instance, that of Kintyre or Arran is approximately the same as between the latter and that of Islay or Skye. Though the distance between Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre is only about one tenth of the distance between the latter and Skye, the differences are far greater.”

“And, though historically the Rathlin dialect shows closer affinities with Scottish than with Irish Gaelic, the external similarities with the neighbouring Irish dialects are more prominent. This means that a person from Tirconnel would not have very great difficulty in understanding a Rathlin man, while a native speaker from the opposite part of Antrim speaks practically the same language.”

“The morphological similarities between Rathlin and southern Scotland are altogether remarkable. This fact, like so many others, is accounted for in part by Irishisms in southern Scottish Gaelic, in part by the strong Scottish influence on northern Irish.”

One can listen to Rathlin Irish HERE and to Glen’s Irish HERE.

With regards to Scotland, it is assumed, as Kintyre is closer, and that Islay has many ‘Irish’ traits that their Gaelic dialects are the most similar Scottish dialects to Rathlin.

However, the Scottish Dialect most similar to Rathlin was the Gaelic of Arran and Kintyre Gaelic was more similar to Rathlin Irish than the Gaelic of Islay.

I can personally testify to a striking similarity between Rathlin Irish and Arran Gaelic, which can be listened to on the Tobar an Dualchais site HERE. (Go rabh míle maith agat Crìostòir-Pòl de Piondargás as a sin a rá liom!)

Clearly, it is not simply a matter of geographical proximity but one of dialectical gravity, which leads one to suspect that the Gaelic of Galloway (and Ayrshire?) must have been quite ‘Irish’ indeed.

We can listen to samples of Kintyre Gaelic HERE, and Islay Gaelic HERE.

Would Rathlin Irish have been more similar to Arran that say the Irish of Co. Derry (which we can listen to HERE)?

I would say that I would think that for a Rathlin person, communication with a speaker of Derry Irish may have been a little easier than with an Arran speaker but neither should have posed much of a problem.

I would also say that I would perceive Rathlin Irish to be equally similar / distinct to the Irish of Tory and the Gaelic of Islay.

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[i] [Those concerned with this subject may I direct you to this reference, Ó Baoill (Colm): The Gaelic continuum. In Éigse 32 (2000), pp. 121–134. ad B. Ó Cuív 1951, Irish dialects and Irish-speaking districts (BILL III: 1240). Reexamines the grammatical features that traditionally have justified the linguistic divide between Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is argued that the differences between the transitional dialects of NE Ireland and SW Scotland never prevented mutual intellegibility.]

The Irish Language in Rathlin Island

Nils Holmer's 'The Irish Language in Rathlin Island' is available in full HERE.

This is the most authoritative and complete account of the language in Rathlin.

The title, declaring the Gaelic of Rathlin to be Irish is a statement in itself.

Holmer identified Rathlin Gaelic with mainland Irish dialects more than the closest Scottish ones but the title is most likely to be influenced by the fact as he states that the people of Rathlin considered themselves nothing but Irish, save from the realization that they were always in a close relationship with Scotland, and indeed, that many of the Island people are of Scottish descent.

It is a great pity that this book is not in print, perhaps if the publishers received an email or two this could be rectified?

[Holmer (Nils M.): The Irish language in Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim.

Dublin: R.I.A., 1942. vi + 247 pp. (= Todd lecture series, vol. 18)

Phonology, accidence and texts; glossary.]

An Old Rathlin custom on New Years Eve

There was an old New Years Eve custom which survived in Rathlin until the 1950s, the ‘Cóllainn’.

Here is a description by the Reverend Coslett Ó Cuinn (my transation):

“Cóllainn [Hogmany], or little Christmas, crowd of people used to go around with a bag, collecting for old women, lone widows and the poor people. One of the people would have a sheep skin, and they would cut a piece to give it as a ‘receipt’ for whatever they would get. The people of the house would put away that peice, as they hoped it would bring them luck.”

On entering the house, they would preceed to recite verse in Irish - "Cóllainn, Cóllainn ...."

We are lucky that a number of recordings of the 'Cóllainn' survive.

This one was given by Bob Mac Cormaick of the ‘Lower End’.

Ó Cuinn (Cosslett): Iarsmaí ó oileán Reachrann.

In Éigse 6, 1948/52, (pt. 3, 1951), pp. 248–56.

Stories and verse, and words and phrases from Rathlin Island (Co. Antrim).

Sean-nós Reachrann ar Oíche na Seanbliana

Go dtí na caogaidí, bhí sé de nós ag muintir Reachrann dul thart ar na tithe ar fad san oileán ag bailiú plúr agus rudaí eile ó gach duine – agus é bailithe acu, thabharfadh siad ansin é do na daoine bochta san oileán.

Agus iad ag dul thart, bhíodh fear amháin acu gléasta i gcraiceann caorach agus bheadh sé ag dul don amhrán seo i nGaeilge.

Tá an t-ádh orainn go bhfuil neart taifeadáin ar fáil den “Cóllainn”.

Seo anois é Bob Mac Cormaic as ‘An Ceann a’ Tíos’ ag dul don ‘Chóllainn’.

[Is féidir léamh faoina rudaí eile a dúirt sé anseo]

Seo an leagan scríofa ar bhailigh An tUrramach Cosslett Ó Cuinn i Reachraidh siar i 1932 agus i 1940. Ní ionann é agus an leagan thuas ar chór ar bith.

Cóllainn, Cóllainn, faoi na bhóitean, buail an croiceann.

Éirigh suas, a bhean an taighe : tabhair damhsa bannach giomach guamach,

Lorg [sléacht] an ím’ ar an mhás.

Mionan éirigh thú is sin a thabhairt damhsa,

Thig an fheannag liath as chúl Chroc Léithid is scríobhaidh thar an taigh thú.

Go beannaigh Dia an taigh atá ’nn idir chual chloch is ceann,

Iomad bídh is bratag éadaigh, sláinte dhaeine go rabh ann,

Bior nan gaile, cailleach sa chúl, cailleach eile thuas nan teine,

Bean an taighe a’ dol ar mire,

Is fear an taighe ga bualag le slatag.

Seo mar a rinne An tUrramach Ó Cuinn cur síos ar an nós seo ...

“Cóllainn, nó oíche Nodlag beag, ba ghnáthach le scaifte de na daoine dul thart le mála, ag cruinniú le haghaidh na gcailleach, na mbaintreabhach aonraic, agus na ndaoine bochta. Bheadh croiceann caorach ar dhuine amháin acu, agus ghearraidís giota de’n chroiceann le na thabhairt mar “receipt” ar cibé rud a gheibhidís. Chuirfeadh muintear an toigh an giota seo i dtaisce, mar ndúil ’s go gcuirfeadh sé an t-ádh orthu. Seo mar innis Annie Black fá dtaobh de, in a focla féin :

Thilg iad iad aibhleog [e:lvag] amach ar an urlár agus raith iad timpeall thart ar an aibhleog, agus dubhairt iad : “Éirigh suas bean an taighe, 7rl.” Ghearr iad píosa den chraiceann agus chuir iad é sa chrógan (‘crock’). Dubhairt iad go béadh sin agus gus an aithbhlianan. Béadh iad a’ cruinneachadh, timcheall nan dtaighdeann, mín no airgead na rud a’ rí a gheobhadh iad.”

Ref :

Ó Cuinn (Cosslett): Iarsmaí ó oileán Reachrann.

In Éigse 6, 1948/52, (pt. 3, 1951), pp. 248–56.

Stories and verse, and words and phrases from Rathlin Island (Co. Antrim).

'The Rathlin Catechism'

Just a reminder that the 'The Church Catechism in Irish' [more commonly known as 'The Rathlin Catechism'] (Belfast: Printed by James Blow, 1722) is available to read online from the Linen Hall library in Belfast.

As the book itself explains it is ...

"The Church Catechism in Irish, with the English placed over against it in the same Karakter"

Here is the description given by the Linen Hall library ...

"The Church Catechism was commissioned by the Bishop of Down and Connor, Francis Hutchinson, in an attempt to convert the Irish-speaking catholic population of Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, to Protestantism. Written phonetically, the Catechism is a valuable record of spoken Ulster Irish in the early part of the eighteenth century."

It is inaccurate to state that the Catechism is written 'phonetically'. It is in fact written in Roman type in a spelling system based to a large extent on English rather than traditional Gaelic spelling, the effect is strikingly similar to Manx.

The book is of great religous, historical and linguistic significance not only for Rathlin but for all of Ulster.

This is the academic reference.

Ó Dochartaigh (Cathair): The Rathlin Catechism.

In ZCP 35 (1976), pp. 175–233.

Ed. of Irish sections of The Church Catechism in Irish, printed in belfast by James Blow in 1722: includes Catechism, Tegasg Kreesdee; prayers for the sick, Oornai ar son Yhaoniv Tynn; dialogues, Kolavara; and vocabulary. Orthography based on literary Irish with considerable modifications in direction of English. Published as tool for teaching Rathlin parishioners the English language. Detailed linguistic, including dialect, analysis.