Eilidh

Gaelic

Chaidh an dàn seo a thaghadh airson nan Dàn Albannach as Fheàrr 2022. ‘S e foillseachadh air loidhne a th’ ann an Dàin Albannach as Fheàrr, a’ toirt a-steach 5 dhàn air an taghadh le neach-deasachaidh fa leth gach bliadhna, le aithris aig an neach-deasachaidh is na bàird. Bheir e foir-shealladh pearsanta air bliadhna bàrdachd na h-Alba. Ann an 2022 b’ e Peigi MacVicar neach-deasachaidh na Gàidhlig.

Earrann an Neach-deasachaidh:
Tha leabhar ùr Lisa NicDhòmhnaill ag aithneachadh seallaidhean ‘Mnathan na Coigich’ tro na linntean bhon cuid trioblaidean eachdraidheil chun an latha an-diugh fhèin, a toirt beatha ùr do eòlas pearsanta na sgìre agus cuimhneachadh cosanta. Rè na dàin uile chithear ceanglaichean làidir ris an tìr a mhaireas ginealaich tro sheallaidhean eadar-dhealaichte bho gach tè a bha “air an cruthachadh le sùil air eachdraidh na sgìre, ach [le] fìrinn domhainn.” Thagh mi ‘Eilidh’, sealladh nighean a tha sia bliadhn’ deug agus beò ann an 1996, gu sònraichte leis gu bheil a suidheachadh fhathast iomchaidh, gu mì-fhortanach. Tha an dàn a sealltainn iomsgaradh eadar beatha Eilidh agus a màthair ann an Coigeach. A màthair le fios gum biodh aice ri falbh ach Eilidh i fhèin “làn dòchais” gun tog i a cuid chloinne agus comas fuireach aca. Tha a guth bho na naochadan a’ gairm airson fuireach “Ma lorgas mi taigh agus obair” – chan ann oirnn a thàinig an dà latha fhathast le sin air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.

Earrann an Ùghdair:
’S ann às a’ chruinneachadh Mnathan na Còigich a tha am pìos bàrdachd seo. Nuair a bha mi a’ rannsachadh an àite a bh’ aig na mnathan ann an strì an fhearainn, thug mi an aire air na sgeulachdan aca air an innse nan guthan fhèin. Fhad ’s a bha mi a’ sgrìobhadh, dh’aithnich mi guthan nam mnathan mun cuairt orm, agus lean mi an fhìrinn a nochd asta tro linn na gorta, tro na fuadaichean gu cion taigheadais, crìonadh sgìrean dùthchail agus fuadaichean eaconomach an latha an-diugh. Tha gach pìos bàrdachd san leabhar seo coltach ri dealbh à beatha làitheil tè dhe na mnathan, agus tha a h-ainm, a h-aois agus ceann-latha an deilbh ann mar thiotal. Tha iad uile cho fìor ’s a ghabhas, ged a chruthaich mi-fhìn iad.

Tha Eilidh mar phàirt den chiad ghinealach a chaidh a-riamh gu Àrd-sgoil Ulapuil nuair a chaidh a stèidheachadh an toiseach. Tha i a’ meòrachadh air mar a bha aig a màthair ri bhith a’ siubhal astar mòr gu sgoil agus gu ostail fada bhon dachaigh aice. Thèid suidheachadh na coimhearsnachd a sgrùdadh tro bhith a’ toirt an aire do ghaol agus do bhuinteanas.

Editor’s note:
Lisa MacDonald’s new book recognises the perspectives of ‘The Women of Coigach’ throughout generations, spanning historical troubles and present-day issues – creating a concrete memory of the lived experiences of the area. Throughout the poems we see a strong connection to the land that endures the centuries through each woman’s perspective. Lisa MacDonald herself says that each woman is “created with a look to the history of the area but each has a deep truth to them.” I chose ‘Eilidh’, the perspective of a 16-year-old girl in 1996 because the themes shown are still so fitting, unfortunately. The poem shows the contrasting experiences of Coigach between Eilidh and her mother. Her mother grew up knowing she would have to leave, but Eilidh is certain she will raise her children knowing they can stay. Her 90s voice calls for the ability to stay in her home area, “If I’m lucky, I’ll come back / Will find housing and work” – unfortunately these are the same calls we are hearing in the 2020s.

Author’s note:
This poem is taken from Mnathan na Còigich | The Women of Coigach. Whilst researching the role of the women in the land struggles of the 1800s, I became fascinated by their voices. As I began to write, I recognised a thread running through the voices of the women all around me, and I followed their truth from the famine years, through the Clearances and to today’s issues of depopulation, economic clearance and rural homelessness. Each poem in the book is like a moment in the life of a woman with a name, an age and the date the snapshot was taken. These are entirely fictional, yet utterly real.

Eilidh is the first generation to attend the new High School in Ullapool, and she thinks of her mum, whose generation had to board far from home. The wide lens of community infrastructure is focused through love and belonging.