Òran na Mara – Song of the Sea

What comes to your mind when you think of song of the sea? For some people it might be the noise, the tide, the storms of the calm lapping of the waves on to the beach. For other people it might be the mystical calling of the sea, how we can stand for hours on a nice day staring at it and listening.

Before the days of caring for the environment it was fairly common for children in rural area to write letters, put them in a bottle and throw the bottles into the sea, hoping somebody would see it and read it. There are stories of friendships and even marriages which started that way.

For me it reminds me of Catholic devotions to the Virgin Mary (Moire in Gaelic) like the Star of the Sea or the the Song of Bernadette, the Divine Female who brings peace to our unconcious, especially if we see the sea as giving birth to nature and feeding the planet.

A few questions:

What is your song?

How would you describe Òran na Mara – Song of the Sea? What does it mean to you? It is religious or something more mystical and unexplainable?

Try to find 10 Gaelic adjectives that might help define it.

Tighinn an latha (Dawn, Coming of the Day)

For Gaelic people, the beliefs of the “old people” sit amongst us, alongside Christianity. My Grandmother was very much at peace with her declaration that the Banshee ( Bean Sídhe, Fairy woman mourning in Irish and Scottish folklore) was outside the window in the darkened night, yet reaching for her Rosary at bedtime and at dawn and attending Mass every week. There was no separation or need to choose one belief over the other.

These days we are told that we need to choose – we are not comfortable with things just “being”. We live in a world of absolutes where “right” and “wrong” dominate us both politically and personally. The idea of Spirit being in control is negated – we are supposed to decide what is right, rather than watching a spiritual value evolve into existence.

Try to write or find ways in which your life is divided between two things, or two opposites, how much do you feel the weight of those ideas pulling you in different directions. How do you think you could bring them together.

  1. The Gaelic word for Unity is aonachd, what does the word unity mean to you?
  2. How do you just “be” in the middle of different ideas coming to you?
  3. Where do you get your news from – is it often conflicted?
  4. How can you stay principled and loving at the same time?
  5. Can you really say if something is good or bad? How does that equate to believing in some kind of Higher Power which might simply “be”.

Try to find what the words in Gaelic are for good and bad.

Cairdeas –Friendship

Some people think of Gaels as having a very close communal existence. From my experience that isn’t the case, in fact many people live in places where there aren’t many neighbours. Also in Scottish culture people can be very proud, they don’t like to admit that they might feel alone. Also, you might not know that more people live in the city of London than the entire population of Scotland.

What does friendship mean to you? What words in Gaelic describe how you feel today?

Try to make simply sentences with these words and do your own research to find more

toilichte – happy

aobhach – glad or joyful

an diugh – today

Tha mi: I am

Tha e: he is

Tha i: she is

I am like a Calm River / Tha mi Coltach ri…

How many words or short sentences can you make in Gaelic based on this sentence….

“Tha mi….” I am

“Coltach ri…” – like

Find a river close to you and then try to write down 10 adjectives to describe it. When you’re finished, try to find those words in Gaelic and see how many of them could apply to you.

I have written three examples below.

suaimhneach – peaceful

sruth an t-siubhail – a fast flowing stream

ath-thilgeadh solais – a reflection of light

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.“Sam is saying he’s happy today.”

(Pronunciation: ha Sam ag ra gu veil e sona an dew)

Some people say moods are “upon them” and others simply say “I am…. ” in Gaelic .

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.
“Sam is saying he’s happy today.”

Pronunciation: (ha Sam ag ra gu veil e sona an dew)

  • Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil aoibhneas air an-diugh. (Pronunciation:eye v ness)
    “Sam is saying that happiness is on him today.” (prepositional form)

They both convey the idea of being happy. It’s a matter of style and which pattern you prefer. In modern Gaelic, it’s completely natural to say “Tha mi sona,”

Tha mi sona an-diugh.
(I am happy today.)

Aig amannan, tha mi brònach. (P: Brawnawch)
(Sometimes (at times), I am sad.)

tha mi sgìth,
(I am tired) (P: Skee)

Tha mi feargach (P: Fi-er-agach)
(I am angry)

Tha mi dòchasach.(P: Docha sach)
(I am hopeful )

Tha mi nearbhach (P: Nervach)
(I am nervous.)

Tha mi draghail (P: Dragal)
(I am worried.)

Tha mi air bhioran (P: virrin)
(I am excited if there is good news.)

Tha mi iomagaineach (P:ima-kin-yuch)
(I am anxious about the future sometimes.)

Nuair a tha mi mì-chinnteach, bidh mi a’ bruidhinn ri caraid.
(When I am unsure, I talk to a friend.)

Tha bròn orm.
I have sorrow on me = I am sad.

Tha aoibhneas orm.
I have joy on me = I am joyful.

Tha eagal orm. (P: eckel)
I have fear on me = I am afraid.

Sàm anns a’ Bhùth

(Sam in the Shop)

Sàm: Halò! Tha mi ag iarraidh tombaca.
(Hello! I want tobacco.)

Sealbhadair: Chan urrainn dhomh tombaca a reic riut.
(I cannot sell you tobacco.) Chan e duine a th’ annadsa! You are not a human!

Sàm: Tha mi a’ fuireach an seo! Tha mi pòsta! Tha cead agam.
(I live here! I am married! I have permission)

Sealbhadair: ‘s mi nach creid thu…. Falbh!
(I don’t believe you. Go away!)

Sàm: Tha sin mì-chothromach! Bidh mi a’ bruidhinn ri mo neach-lagha!
(That is unfair! I will speak to my lawyer!)

(Sàm a’ falbh, feargach.)
(Sam leaves, angry.)