The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

Here’s another story from Shawbost in the west of Lewis. It’s called ‘Hugh/Ewan of the Sea’. Hugh lived near the shore. One day, he went to the bottom of a geo (an inlet with steep sides). He saw a woman. Her back was to him. She had long hair. By her side, on the top of a stone, there was sort of clothing. The clothing had a fish tail and fish fins. Hugh understood that this was a mermaid. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

We’re on the west side of the Isle of Lewis this week. On the moor south of Bragar, there is a loch called ‘the loch of the shieling of the one night’. How did the shieling get a name like that? Well, according to oral tradition, here’s how it happened...

John Gunn was a robber. He was alive in the 18th Century. He operated on travellers on the road between Inverness and Badenoch. He lived somewhere near the Cairngorms. Although he was a robber, John had a reputation as an honourable man. Find out more in this week's letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh continues about the Englishman, Sir Richard Bingham. He was Queen Elizabeth of England’s governor in Connaught, in the west of Ireland. He was in charge of a force in Ireland when a Scottish army was destroyed. The destruction took place in County Mayo in the year 1586. Find out the consequences of this action in this week's letter.

Who was Richard Bingham? Why did the Scottish Gaels hate him? He was born in 1528. He was an Englishman. He was involved in the subjugation of Ireland. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh has the the final chapter of the Stromeferry Riot in 1883 in this letter. There were a hundred and fifty police officers waiting for the protesters on the Strome pier. It was Saturday night. There was a large number of people at the Station Hotel, watching them. Find out the final outcome of the Stromeferry Riot in this letter.Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh continues with his tales of The Stromeferry Riot in 1883. The authorities were inclined to let the matter subside naturally. Was this a sensible plan? Find out in this week's letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

There was an event at Stromeferry in 1883. It was in the news throughout Britain. We call it ‘The Stromeferry Riot’. Fish were being landed at Strome and then going to market on the railway. This happened every day of the week, including the Sabbath. The people of the Free Church in the area were not pleased about this at all. Ruairidh has the story in this week’s letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

In April 1881, Constable James Davidson was working in the port of Melbourne in Australia. He saw the vessel India entering the harbour. Find out if the India was all that she seemed and the connection with Constable James Davidson in this week's letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh continues with his tale of the SS Ferret. Three fraudsters, under the leadership of James Henderson, had chartered it. They were on a cruise, if they could be believed, to the Mediterranean. But they were involved in theft. Find out more about this theft in this week’s letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh has a treat for us this week. He has a story about a Scottish ship at the end of the nineteenth century. She dis-appeared and reappeared in Australia. It’s an amazing story and you can listen to it in this week's letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh continues his story about a priest from Pabay who met a group of fairies in a forest in Skye. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh was telling us last week about a trip he took to the old village of Leitir Fura on the Isle of Skye. Leitir means ‘a slope’ which is often above water. But what does Fura mean. Find out in this week’s letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag

Ruairidh was recently on the Isle of Skye. He went for a walk in Sleat. That’s in the south of the island. He walked the route to the old settlement of Leitir Fura. There is beautiful woodland there.

Last week, Ruairidh was telling you about the channel that his son swam between Flodigarry and Eilean Flodigarry. It was difficult enough in daylight. But how would it be at night? He tells of a man who swam the channel at night. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag