Category Archives: Gaelic Words

Great Scot! Music Monday – Fiona Mackenzie ‘Stories That Tie’/’Hallelujah’

This week’s music recommendation is courtesy of Fiona Mackenzie. You may remember that we were introduced to Fiona in a blog post a few weeks ago and that she has been helping to add to the Outlander Clan’s Gaelic expertise on Twitter as @gaelicsinger.

The song that is being featured today I feel is particularly relevant as it is about an American (Margaret Fay Shaw) who went to Scotland and ended up creating a very important collection of Gaelic folklore.

The song is hauntingly beautiful and has lyrics in both English and Gaelic. Some of the lines vividly recall for me my trip to Scotland:

Safe in shadows of peaks in the veil of dawn
Embraced in green blanket where bluebells abound

Bluebells in Perthshire

 

As you listen to ‘Stories That Tie’ here be sure to read the full lyrics as well. You can find much more about Fiona and her music on her website.

As a bonus, I also couldn’t resist including this version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah sung by Fiona in Gaelic. Enjoy!

New members of the #Outlander Clan

I just wanted to take a minute to introduce a couple of new Gàidhlig speaking members of the Outlander clan.

First, we have Katie MacKenzie. With a name like that, she should fit right in!

You can find Katie on Facebook and on Twitter (@katiemack39). You can also find her album on iTunes.

Next, we have Fiona MacKenzie. Fiona is helpfully providing Gàidhlig tidbits appropriate to Outlander fans on Twitter at Twitter handle @gaelicsinger. She also has a website with lots of cool information about herself and her music.

Here is just a sampling of some of the Gàidhlig tidbits she has shared over the last few days.

 

Great Scot! music for March 19, 2014 – Julie Fowlis -‘Wind and Rain’ / ‘Thig am Bàta’

I thought I would go with Julie Fowlis again this morning since I saw a tweet from Brian Ferguson that she would be at the Bannockburn Live festival at the end of June. I wish I could be there for that festival. Sounds like a number of fabulous musicians will be there.

Full details of #BannockburnLive festival unveiled, incJulie Fowlis, DougieMacLean, Roddy Hart & KarinePolwart: http://t.co/VtICQvn4cu

— Brian Ferguson (@brianjaffa) March 19, 2014

I especially like this song since it has the lyrics in both Gàidhlig and English. As much as I love all Gàidhlig songs, it’s nice to know sometimes what the song is saying.  Also, this particular video has great pictures from Doune Castle and makes a great Outlander tie-in.

Julie Fowlis – ‘Wind and Rain’ / ‘Thig am Bàta’

Time running out to listen to BBC Radio interviews about Outlander with Àdhamh and Sam

BBC Radio only allows listeners 7 days to listen to its archived radio programs, so we are down to the last day you can listen via the website.  Don’t miss out!

BBC Radio Scotland – Good Morning Scotland in English

There are a few nice comments from Sam and we can actually hear Àdhamh speak about the importance of the Gàidhlig in English as well!

Listen to the entire piece here. The Outlander piece begins at about 1:49 in.

BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal – Aithris Na Maidne

I listened to it online and amused myself by picking out Gàidhlig words I knew here and there.  I was very pleased that I mostly understood the weather forecast.  However, the real reward is that Sam is interviewed for a few minutes during the piece on Outlander and they switch to English after exchanging “Good afternoon”, “How are you”, and “very well” courtesies. Àdhamh has his bit of the interview as well, but unfortunately (for us that is) it is in Gàidhlig and I can’t understand it all.

You can listen to the show using this link. The Outlander piece starts approximately 23:48 into the broadcast.

Great Scot! music for March 17, 2014 – Maria McCool – Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it only fitting to feature an Irish Gaelic song today.  I find this piece of music to be almost as hauntingly beautiful as Ireland itself.  Ireland is one of the few places I’ve been that absolutely lived up to its billing in terms of both beauty of the landscape and the friendliness of its people.

I can’t resist also adding some of my photos from my trip to Ireland.

Maria McCool – Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí