Letter To Gaelic Learners

Roddy was telling you about the brisgean, or silverweed. It can be found in sandy areas. There is lots on the island machairs. Roddy tried the silverweed once, he didn’t think much of it. The old Gaels ate it when food was scarce. Did they eat it at other times? Find out more in this week's letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Spring – the season of hunger. Well, traditionally, at least. Food was scarce in Spring. What did people eat? Well, a proverb tells us. In Spring, when the sheep is thin, the shellfish are fat. Find out more in this week's letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

In 1768, Dugald Buchanan received some tragic news. Although, he was still in Edinburgh, his family was still in in Kinloch Rannoch and were suffering from fever. He decided the besting to do was go home. However, he contracted the fever himself. He died. He was just 52 years old. Find out how the community commemorated Buchanan's life in this week's letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Religion caused Dugald Buchanan distress. The Jacobite rebellion didn’t help him. Dugald was against the Prince’s cause. But he was angry about the way in which Highland soldiers were put to death in Carlisle. He wanted revenge. But he was also wanting to grant the murderers forgiveness.

Roddy continues with his tales of Dugald Buchanan, whose faith was not strong as a teenager. Roddy recounts a tale where Dugald’s life appears to have been saved by divine intervention. Find out more in this week’s letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy is reading from In the autorbiography of The Life and conversion of Dugald Buchanan a famous Gaelic spiritual poet. Dugald had crises of faith when he was young. He had been brought up in a very pious household. He was sent away to work when he was twelve. A significant incident happened whilst he was there.

Roddy takes inspiration for this week’s letter from a Gaelic autobiography. The author and subject is Dugald Buchanan, who was famous as a spiritual poet and helped translate the New Testament into Gaelic. Roddy investigates some of the spiritual things that Dugald saw. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

This week Roddy brings you a story from a book that was published last year. He read it online. He is enjoying the book very much and ends with a puzzle. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

This week, Roddy has a different story from last week, but with the same name, Luran. This story is from Barra, and the Luran at the centre of the story is a crofter. The choice of breakfast also becomes pertinent. Luran notices a cow or steer goes missing every Halowe’en! How can he stop this from happening and who is taking them? Find out in this week’s letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy has a story from Barra and a different story from South Uist. They have one thing in common– the same title - Luran. This week Roddy begins the story based in North Uist. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy reads another important part of the Declaration of Arbroath. It leads him to wonder what is the significance to Scotland of the Declaration and the importance to Gaels. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy looks back into history for this week's letter. He looks into the history of the The Declaration of Arbroath. Roddy reads one of the most famous passages in Gaelic. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy was in Wales recently. He noticed that the area was beautiful and that the language was strong. There is lots of language in that area that is easy for a Gael to understand. Snowdonia is the highest mountain, or Yr Wyddfa, in Welsh. It has a very unexpected meaning. Find out what that meaning is and the amazing story behind it, in this week’s letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Caithness was a miserable place under Campbell’s Earldom. Rent was unpaid, the Earl’s buildings were destroyed and his livestock was stolen. Campbell retaliated by sending military force. The Sinclairs of Caithness and the Campbells began a fierce battle. Who were successful and how did they celebrate their victory? Unlock the secret of the name of the place in this week’s letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir

Roddy has been on a walk in Caithness on a famous site. The name is in Gaelic and commemorates an event in 1680. The name is Altimarlach or Allt nam Mèirleach and translates as The Burn of the Robbers. There is a memorial stone there commemorating a battle that took place there. Who were the robbers and why is the battle being commemorated? Roddy sets the scene for the battle that took place there, the Battle of Altimarlach. Duelling lairds and a disputed title; 19th Century politics and intrigue, join Roddy and learn more with this week’s letter. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir