Ùr-sgeul was an independent publisher of new Scottish Gaelic prose. The name Ùr-sgeul is a Gaelic word which translates variously as: a romance, a novel or a recent tale.[1] Professor Alan Riach, in Scottish Literature: An introduction, summarises the Ùr-Sgeul publishing initiative as "devoted to prose fiction and developing an increasingly impressive list of new titles: short stories and anthologies but mainly single-author novels."[2]
Ùr-sgeul was founded in 2003 as a project to promote new Gaelic fiction, and finished in 2013. The project, taken forward by CLÀR, was conceived under the auspices of the Gaelic Books Council and with a start-up grant of £50K from the Scottish Arts Council.[3] In its short history, Ùr-sgeul has been prolific, and has contributed significantly to the recent resurgence of the Gaelic novel. Ùr-sgeul is particularly notable for advancing modern genres and themes in Scottish Gaelic literature, and for the modern look and feel of the design of the novels.[4][5]
Ùr-sgeul's most critically successful title to date was the epic novel, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn, by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul. Heavily influenced in both structure and theme by the works of Leo Tolstoy, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn was short-listed for the Saltire Book of the Year Award in 2004.[6] Since then, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul has produced three further novels for Ùr-sgeul, and a novella for CLÀR.
In 2008, Ùr-sgeul was featured on the half-hour Gaelic arts program on BBC2, Ealtainn. In 2008, Ùr-sgeul also branched into avant-garde music publishing and released a CD mixing Gaelic prose and modern Gaelic music by the rock band, Na Gathan.[7] That same year, Ùr-sgeul approached Bòrd na Gàidhlig for support to expand its activities, including provision of a full-time editor. The approach was not supported.[8]
In 2009, Ùr-Sgeul published the first ever German-Gaelic fiction publication Der Schadel von Damien Hirst, edited by Michael Klevenhaus, launched at the FilmAlba festival in Bonn, Germany.
Finlay MacLeod was presented with the first ever annual Donald Meek Literary Award in 2010, at a ceremony at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for his Ùr-Sgeul title, Gormshuil an Righ, his first ever Gaelic novel for adults.
In 2011, the novella Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich by Alasdair Caimbeul was published. A Gaelic commentator provided a throw-away comment in The Scotsman newspaper: "Tha Alasdair a’ Bhocsair a’ creidsinn ann an daoine ’s ann an Leódhas ’s ann an Gàidhlig agus sin, a réir choltais, è.".[9] "Alasdair Caimbeul believes in people, in Lewis, and in Gaelic, and this, it seems, is it."
Saorsa, an example of the modern book-design of the Ùr-sgeul imprint.
Moral dilemmas, subversion and law breaking constituted the broad themes explored in the 2011 collection, Saorsa (Freedom). 13 new short stories from 13 writers were published, as follows:
The Ùr-Sgeul website www.ur-sgeul.com, the German-Gaelic collaboration www.ur-sgeul.de and the digital pages www.ur-sgeul.com/digital/ - featuring audio, video and written materials for learners and native speakers - were axed in July 2011 following a decision by the Gaelic Books Council.[10]
In 2014, The Irish Times explored the contribution of Ùr-Sgeul to the revitalization of Gaelic fiction.[11]
In 2020, editor and journalist Alasdair H. Campbell described the marketing methods employed by Ùr-sgeul as "innovative and creative, successfully raising the profile of Scottish Gaelic fiction amongst the wider Scottish population."[12]
Books
Saorsa short story collection edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey, 2011
Air a Thoir by Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2011
Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich by Alasdair Caimbeul (Alasdair a' Bhocsair), 2011
Suthainn Sìor by Norma NicLeòid, 2011
An Druim Bho Thuath by Tormod Caimbeul, 2011
Impireachd by Iain F. MacLeoid, 2010
Teas by Maoilios Caimbeul, 2010
Gormshuil an Rìgh by Fionnlagh MacLeòid, 2010
A' Ghlainne agus Sgeulachdan Eile by Mairi E. NicLeòid, 2010
All details of Ùr-Sgeul titles are shown in the print version of publication CLÀR - Na Leabhraichean Gàidhlig - 25 bliadhna - CLÀR: 25 years of Gaelic Publishing, ISBN 978-19161458-9-4.
Talking Books
Shrapnel by Tormod Caimbeul – 4 CD set, 2007
Gymnippers Diciadain by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – DVD, 2007
Na Klondykers by Iain F. MacLeòid – DVD, 2007
Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul – DVD, 2007
Am Miseanaraidh by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn – 2-CD set, 2005
Dacha Mo Ghaoil by Tormod MacGill-Eain – 3-CD set, 2005
Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa. – 3-CD set, 2005
Ath-Aithne by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – 6-CD set, 2004
↑ Wringe, Mark (2006) “Normalising the Gaelic Novel - an interim review of the success of the Ùr-Sgeul initiative” Forum for the Languages of Scotland and Ulster
↑ "An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn" The List (1/1/2005)
↑ Gaelic punk by way of Seattle; Skye band Na Gathan set for boundary-breaking gig. The Highland News (13-12-08)
↑ Storey, John (2009) "Ùr-Sgeul: ceistean agus cothrom ‘Chunnaic mi lainnir a’ bhùirn ud’ A Conference on Scottish Gaelic Literature in the Twentieth Century and Beyond, Celtic and Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh 25 April 2009
↑ Storey, John (2011) “Contemporary Gaelic fiction: development, challenge and opportunity” Lainnir a’ Bhùirn' - The Gleaming Water: Essays on Modern Gaelic Literature, edited by Emma Dymock & Wilson McLeod, Dunedin Academic Press
Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, legal name Alexander MacDonald, or, in Gaelic Alasdair MacDhòmhnaill, was a Scottish war poet, satirist, lexicographer, political writer and memoirist. The poet's Gaelic name means "Alasdair, son of the Reverend Alasdair". His father, also named Alasdair, was known as Maighstir Alasdair which was then the way of referring to a clergyman in Scottish Gaelic. In English, Maighstir Alasdair was known as the "Reverend Alexander MacDonald".
A formal Gaelic language name consists of a given name and a surname. First names are either native or nativized. Surnames are generally patronymic, i.e. they refer to a historical ancestor. The form of a surname varies according to whether its bearer is male or female though for some surnames the adjectival form of a name such as Dòmhnallach can be used for both men and women. However, when used in the female form the first letter is lenited.
Mill a h-Uile Rud is a Seattle-based band who sing in Scottish Gaelic.
Angus Peter Campbell is a Scottish award-winning poet, novelist, journalist, broadcaster and actor. Campbell's works, which are written mainly in Scottish Gaelic, draw heavily upon both Hebridean mythology and folklore and the magic realism of recent Latin American literature. In an interview prior to his death, Sorley MacLean, who is, alongside Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, considered to be among the two greatest writers in the history of Scottish Gaelic literature, called Campbell one of the best living Scottish poets in any language.
Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle is a 2007 Scottish Gaelic-language Scottish film by first-time director, Simon Miller from a story by Simon Miller and Joanne Cockwell. It stars Patrick Morrison/Pàdruig Moireasdan and the Gaelic writer and poet Angus Peter Campbell/Aonghas Pàdraig Chaimbeul. It is the first contemporary feature-length film in Scottish Gaelic and was based on a previous Gaelic short film, Foighidinn - The Crimson Snowdrop, also by Miller.
The Scottish Gaelic Renaissance is a continuing movement concerning the revival of the Scottish Gaelic language and its literature. Although the Scottish Gaelic language had been facing gradual decline in the number of speakers since the late 19th century, the number of young and fluent Gaelic speakers is quickly rising. A similar trend is also taking place in the language revival of Canadian Gaelic in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Sìleas na Ceapaich was a Scottish poet whose surviving verses remain an immortal contribution to Scottish Gaelic literature. She lived between c.1660 and 1729. Her given name Sìleas is Anglicised variously as Cicely or Julia.
Rapal is a BBC Alba music television programme and radio show on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal recorded at BBC Scotland's Pacific Quay HQ. Rapal broadcast its first programme on the radio on 28 May 2001, presented by Niall Iain McDonald. It expanded to TV in 2007, and added Anndra Robasdan and Michelle NicDhomhnaill to the presenting team. In 2007, Rapal launched a contest for the best new Gaelic song, and in 2008 the show was added to the roster of programmes to be broadcast on the new Gaelic Digital TV channel, BBC Alba.
Na Gathan is a Scottish Gaelic Indie rock band from the Isle of Skye.
Dalelia or Dalilea is hamlet on the north shore of Loch Shiel in Acharacle district of Argyll, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Kinlochmoidart is to the north. The alternate Gaelic name "Dàil an Leigh" has been suggested but this is believed to be a folk etymology for Dàil Eileadh.
Scottish Gaelic literature refers to literary works composed in the Scottish Gaelic language, which is, like Irish and Manx, a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Gaelic literature was also composed in Gàidhealtachd communities throughout the global Scottish diaspora where the language has been and is still spoken.
A' Cleachdadh na Gàidhlig: slatan-tomhais ann an dìon cànain sa choimhearsnachd is an anthology of essays edited by Richard A.V. Cox and Timothy Currie Armstrong addressing the current state of the Gaelic language and assessing efforts to effect language revitalization in Gaelic-speaking communities in Scotland. Published in 2011, the book was ground-breaking on several counts. It was the first book of its kind to address sociolinguistic and language planning issues surrounding the Gaelic-language revival predominantly written in the Gaelic language itself. It is also noteworthy and unusual for its breadth of analysis, drawing together academic research articles, articles by policy makers, and articles from activists and language development professionals reporting on specific Gaelic revitalization projects. Four of the articles address the Welsh language revival and make useful comparisons between initiatives in Wales and the revival in Scotland.
Saorsa is a collection of short stories in Scottish Gaelic edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey and published by Ùr-sgeul in 2011. While varied, the stories explore the shared themes of moral ambiguity, subversion and law breaking. Crime, drugs, plastic surgery, poverty, abuse, neoliberalism, tourism, cultural identity, migration, murder, love, betrayal, politics, social and economic history are some of the topics explored in the collection.
CLÀR is a Scottish Gaelic publisher. Established in 1996, the company is run on a voluntary, independent basis and based in Inverness, Scotland. It was the publisher for the Ùr-sgeul project, specialising in new Gaelic fiction.
Catrìona Lexy Chaimbeul, also known as Catriona Lexy Campbell, is a Scottish poet, novelist, dramatist, and actor, working mainly in Scottish Gaelic.
Iain Moireach (27 March 1938 – 17 November 2018) was a Scottish Gaelic writer from Barvas, Isle of Lewis. He wrote poetry, screenplays, and short stories.
Gath is the name of a Scottish Gaelic language magazine that was published by Gath Earranta. The first edition was published in August 2003, intending to replace the older Gairm magazine, which had closed. Gath aimed to reproduce the mainstream appeal of its predecessor, whilst attracting a younger audience with fresh topics, such as contemporary music and current events. Each issue contained a number of short stories, essays, and poems; over 500 short stories were published in the magazine. Bòrd na Gàidhlig provided a £5000 foundational grant and ongoing support, and Gath was published biannually from 2003 until at least 2008. The reception was generally positive. Writers who published in the magazine include some of the most respected Gaelic writers, such as Christopher Whyte, Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul, Maoilios Caimbeul, Meg Bateman, Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail, Iain Moireach, Alison Lang, Moray Watson, Rob Shirley, Fionnlagh MacLeoid, Gregor Addison and Eilidh Rosach. The editors were Dòmhnall E. Meek, Jo NicDhomhnaill, and Richard Cox.
Alasdair Caimbeul, also known as Alasdair a' Bhocsair or Alasdair Campbell, is a Scottish playwright, short story writer, and novelist from Ness on the Isle of Lewis.
Dòmhnall Iain MacLeòid is a writer, editor, and journalist in Scottish Gaelic. He was born in Ardhasaig in Harris. He obtained a PhD from the University of Glasgow in 1969; his thesis was entitled Twentieth Century Gaelic literature: a description, comprising critical study and a comprehensive bibliography. He was the co-editor of the quarterly Scottish Gaelic magazine Gairm with Ruaraidh MacThòmais. He was a lecturer in the Celtic Department, University of Glasgow.
Catriona NicGumaraid was a Scottish Gaelic-language poet.
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