Letter To Gaelic Learners

This week Ruairidh talks of Creag nam Ban, which is near Balmoral, in Aberdeenshire. It's beside the River Dee. And it's above Abergeldie Castle. Creag nam Ban means “the rocky hill of the women”. People say that witches were burned to death there. People still remember the name of one of the witches – Kitty Rankine.

Last week Ruairidh was talking about John Fraser who was famous for categorising exotic plants. He was born in 1750. Four years later another Gael who was famous for the same reason was born. He was Archibald Menzies. The area was Aberfeldy in Perth. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh is certain that you have heard Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. She was in charge of Russia at the end of the 18th Century. She was powerful. It seems like she was quite fond of plants – find out more about Catherine the Great in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

There are a species of plant called Frasera – for example Frasera speciosa. They are named for a guy John Fraser. He was good at collecting plants. He was very famous. And he was a Gael. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh has a new word for you, Barbag, well, he expects it’s a new word for many of you. If you are wondering what it is, it is a type of plant. Ruairidh will tell you all about this plant and others that are not native to this country and ponders, how did they get here? Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

This week, Ruairidh finishes the story The Black Bodach of Morven. It's from Braemore in Caithness. The men were in pursuit of the Bodach.

Braemore is the town nearest the highest mountain in Caithness – Morven. It is 706 metres above sea leve, it is not that tall, but is a lovely sight. It’s a crofting settlement, but it used to have a much larger population, and people used to tell each other stoies, just as they did all over the Highlands. Here is a story from Braemore – The Black Bodach of Morven. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

There are two villages in Caithness called Ballachly – the township of the cemetery. There is a Ballachly near Dunbeath. It’s quite well known as archaeologists found interestesting ancient artefacts there. It’s from that wee settlement that the story comes this week. Here is the story – “The Witch of Ballachly”. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

We are still in Caithness looking at the area’s heritage through stories. A short tinme ago Ruairidh received some Caithnessian advice on the influence strong drink has on a person. The advice was what one glass hads on a person, two glasses and finally the effect three glasses has on a person. Ruairidh is talking about whisky here. Find out more in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh continues with his journey through Sutherland and Caithness, accompanied by stories from this area. He’s travelling over the border of Caithness – to the area of Dunbeath; an area renowned for its rich Gaelic storytelling history. He brings us the tale of the three knots. Both the number three and knots are significant in Gaelic heritage. Learn more in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh has a story from Cataibh today, it’s about a crofter from Sutherland. Most Crofters were diligent at cutting peats for the cold winter nights and building their stacks. Not all were like this, this particular crofter, he was a thief. Find out about his wily ways in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh has come across two trees that have Gaelic names, but no English names. He describes these in this week’s podcast. He also describes a tree called “The Làmh Tree”. Find out the origins of this name in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Another letter from Canna this week. Ruaraidh was telling us about Coroghan Castle where the wife of Black Donald of the Cuckoo was held captive. This week, Ruairidh tells us more about this character, a clan-chief who would lock up his wife. Find out more in the podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

Ruairidh leaves the Isle of Eigg this week, but he remains in the Small Isles as he heads off to the Isle of Canna. There is a place in Canna called Coroghon Castle. It’s not a normal castle. In Gaelic it’s called the Corra-dhùn. The steep fort or hill. Although it is not big, it is steep. The building is next to the shore. It is very old. It is in a poor condition. If somebody doesn’t do something soon, it won’t be there long. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.

The Isle of Eigg’s nickname is the Isle of the Big Women. According to oral tradition, it goes back to the Seventh Century. The island was still under the control of the Picts. Indeed, it was under the control of a Pictish queen. Find out more about Eìgg’s nickname and this Pictish queen in this week’s podcast. Accompanying Gaelic text, grammar points and vocabulary are all available at bbc.co.uk/litir.