Tag Archives: Àdhamh Ó Broin

Outlander Episode 208 – The Fox’s Lair – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

Fàilte gu Alba a h-uile duine! (Welcome to Scotland everyone!) If there was anyone who was not sure of the main locale for the rest of the season, the change in the main title sequence should remove any doubts. Not just that, but the baroque arrangement of the Sky Boat Song has been altered in favor of a much more Celtic version complete with drums providing the illusion of cannon fire in the last verse and then melting into the very martial sound of snare drums as the episode proper opened.

And is it just me or did everyone breathe a little bit easier now that the show and our favorite couple are back in the familiar surrounds of Scotland? I’m expecting the Gaelic to be a bit more plentiful now and this episode sure didn’t disappoint. We had, in my opinion, the most beautiful Gaelic scene since episode 116. Thanks for everyone’s patience as I worked to make sure that I got the Gaelic translation correct for what actually made the episode’s final cut, and not just what was in the script.

Let’s get right to it.

4:16  Jamie to Ian after receiving the post

Taing dhut – Thank You

4:41 Jamie curses reading the letter from Paris

a mhealltair mhallaichte –  ‘Cursed deceiver’ (Hard to translate directly. This is my best attempt.)

12:38 Jamie to baby Catrìona

Na dìochuimhnich…. – never forget

Shin u…. a ghràidh…. Catrìona ….  – love… Catherine…

mo bhràthair Uilleam, mi fhéin, Sorcha. – my brother William, myself, Claire

Tha sinn san fhiodh, sa chloich…. – We’re in the wood, the stone…

agas ann an gach fuaim ‘s fàile an àite seo… – And in the sounds and smells of this place…

‘s e an obair sin, a chaileag, gum fàs u làidir agas sona…. – Your role, wee lass, is to grow strong and happy…

 

Outlander Episode 201 – Through a Glass, Darkly – The Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

It’s over! It’s finally OVER! Droughtlander has ended and it appears that everyone has survived. Not a lot of Gaelic in this episode, but not surprising considering we didn’t even get to 1745 until over half an hour in, but there were a few nice phrases. Translations below as always.

 

Le Havre

39:21   Murtagh muttering under his breath

‘s mairg leam seo air fad! – I consider this crappy! (colloquial)

 

40:21  Jamie as he lies on the bed

Gasta! A bed that doesna move. – Great! A bed that doesna move

 

44:43  Jamie curses under his breath about what to tell Murtagh

Mac na galla! – Son of a bitch!

 

48:46 Jamie as he hands his shirt to Claire

Seo – Two ways to interpret this. Could be ‘here’ as he hands Claire the shirt or ‘this’ speaking to Jared referencing his back.

Updated 6/6/2015 – Outlander Episode 116 – To Ransom a Man’s Soul – The Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

Great news! The Gaelic is back in a big way this episode. The bad news is that it was way more complicated than what I normally translate. I’m giving it my best shot though and will call in the big guns as needed.

After the rescue

8:22 Jamie to Claire

Leig leam falbh- Let me go die.

8:38 Jamie to Murtagh

Feumaidh tu stad a chur air mo chràdh! – You must put an end to my torment!

Murtagh to Jamie

Chan éist mi ri seo! – I won’t listen to this!

At the Abbey

27:02 Angus to Willie after the story about his uncle

Dùin do chraos! -shut your big mouth!

I know this is what everyone wants but I don’t have anywhere near all of this yet, just some pieces. I’m putting what I have here and if anyone else can pick out more words, please let me know.

UPDATED: Ok. I have this now. Thanks to those who submitted their possible translations (especially Laura and McInnis). I wanted to wait a bit and see if I could get confirmation, but here’s my best shot! Here is a back translation of perhaps one of the most moving passages of the entire show.

27:11 Jamie to Murtagh

 Ciamar as urrainn ​mo leigeil ris a’ chràdh seo​?​ – How ​can I be left to ​this pain?

Murtagh to Jamie

Nì sinn ar dìcheall do leigheas.​ – We shall do our utmost to heal you.

Jamie to Murtagh

Cha ghabh cuid de ​nithean​ leigheas – Some things ​don​’t ​take h​ealing​.

Mar as miann leam, cuir crìoch air seo a-nis. – As is my desire, put an end to this now.

Murtagh to Jamie

Chan ​fhu​ilinn mi ​’n c​òrr. – I’ll suffer no more of this.

Jamie to Murtagh

Chan fhaigh mi seachad air seo. – I won’t get ​past​ this.

An toir ​u orm aslachdainn? – Will you force me to beg?​

Murtagh to Jamie

Thug mi geall do d​’ mhàthair. – I gave a promise to your mother.

​Sìth air a h-anam​. –  Peace on her soul

Nach tig​eadh cron ort​. – That no harm would come to you.​

Jamie to Murtagh

Is anmoch an uair, a ghoistidh -late is the hour, oh godfather​.

Murtagh to Jamie

Agas Claire? – And Claire?

Am bitheadh i na banntrach, air a treigsinn? –  Would she just be a widow, forsaken?

Tha do cheann sa bhrochan. – Your head’s in the porridge (you’re not thinking straight).

Chan eil smaoin agad oirre ann. – You haven’t a single thought for her.

Jamie to Murtagh

Chan eil smaoin agam ann ach oirre-se. – I have​n’t a single​ thought ​of anything but her.

33:32 Willie to Jamie when he walks into Jamie’s room

A Fhrisealaich, bheil u dùisgte? – Fraser, are you awake?

On the beach

51:26  Angus to Murtagh

Air d’ ais, ana-chrìosdaidh -Be off with you, heathen!

On the Cristabel

55:43 Jamie to Claire when she tells him she’s pregnant

Gast’ air fad! – Absolutely brilliant.

With that we’ve reached the end of a marvelous season 1 for Outlander. I’m a bit sad to think that this is the end of the Gaelic episode recaps for the better part of a year. But, I think on #WorldOutlanderDay it is entirely appropriate to thank two people for the part they’ve played in making sure Gaelic language and culture were not given short shrift in the Outlander universe.

First, it was Diana Gabaldon’s brilliance and dedication to grounding her work in the real language and culture of the time period she chose that started a worldwide interest among people who had maybe not given it much thought before. The ultimate vision was hers and it is that vision given such great life in the TV series. However, in that Outlander TV world, it is Àdhamh Ó Broin who deserves our thanks and appreciation for working tirelessly to make sure that authenticity was brought to every scene where Gaelic was spoken.

It was his passion for his culture and history that led him to fight to get or keep every scrap of Gaelic dialogue he could and prevent anything from being a caricature . It was his care and dedication as a teacher that made sure that the actors he worked with were able to learn and perform their lines in such stupendous fashion and, I think in many cases, gain a real appreciation for language and culture they may not have had before. And lastly, it was his generosity as a person that led him to share his time and passion with the countless numbers of Outlander fans through social media. I know I would have probably given up in frustration at ever reaching any understanding of Gaelic without his tireless support and encouragement for a rank beginner. I hope no one will think I take too much on myself when I offer profound thanks on behalf of all of us Outlander fans. Congrats Àdhamh on a brilliant end of season 1 that fittingly includes perhaps the strongest Gaelic scene of the entire season. I know I can’t wait to see what season 2 has in store!

Slàn leat an-dràsta. (Goodbye for now)

P.S. I will keep updating this post as more translation for the scene between Jamie and Murtagh becomes available.

P.S.S. Full transcript now included!!

GreatScot! Travels, Tunes and Tales – 2nd Outlandish Adventure Day 9

ThTT

Well, hello again! You may have noticed but I took a day off. Kind of used Thursday as a bit of a rest day before gearing up for the last 10 days of the trip. I just drove up to Pitlochry for lunch with my friend Susan. She had just come off a long tour and was getting ready to head out again, but there was no way I was going to miss some time to chat and catch up, even if she is much in demand as a blue-badge tour guide for Eyes on Scotland and Outlander Tours!

After that, it was back to Glasgow for dinner with Maggie (and there might have been a glass or two of wine involved). Then it was just one more sleep until Ginger and Summer arrive and the mad rush of Outlander touring begins.

Friday morning, I packed up my stuff in preparation for our relocation north, and then it was FINALLY time to head to the airport. It was then that I discovered that a flight from Dublin is not considered an international flight. (I wonder how the Irish feel about that!) I quickly relocated from international arrivals to the Starbucks across from domestic arrivals. Seeing that no green tea was available, I bought some water and settled in to wait.

Remembering where I parked.
Waiting…waiting…waiting…

Once they arrived, we hopped in the car to head back into Glasgow for the night. However, it is bank holiday weekend in the UK and I have to say that the traffic on holiday weekend Friday in Glasgow has much in common with Atlanta. Eventually, thought, we passed the stalled car and things cleared up. At the hotel, the girls took a quick shower (OK. Summer insists hers was sexier than that, not that G and I were watching) and then it was time for dinner.

Based on my experience last time in Glasgow, I had booked us a table at Mother India in the West End. As last time, the food was fantastic. We started with vegetable pakora and then Ginger had a paneer dish, Summer had Chicken Tikka and I had lamb with leeks. (Yes, Mom. The lambs are still cute, but someone told me they are as large as their mothers by the time they are food.)

Ginger and I in the taxi
Lovely dinner companions
Vegetable parkora
Lamb with leeks

Dinner complete, we headed just down the street to our final event for the day. And when I say final, I mean I knew we would be there until tomorrow. An Gealbhan never ends early. As we approached the Argyll hotel, a familiar figure came into view. Many hugs and greetings with exchanged with Àdhamh Ó Broin, our host for the evening. He explained that things might be a bit more chaotic than usual as the Sutherlands Bar was without a bartender for the evening! Shock…horror….a Gaelic evening without whisky would be a tragedy. Luckily, Àdhamh is multi-talented and was able to man the bar until help arrived.

As a special treat, Àdhamh had arranged for a couple of special guests for the evening. So after kicking off with a song of his own, he introduced the lovely and talented Tara Rankin who favored us with some Gaelic songs a capella, as well as some Cape Breton tunes played on the piano. I’ve been friends with Tara (and the rest of her family) for many years and I took the opportunity to deliver a hug from her Mom as requested. Later in the evening, we were also treated to a talk on Scottish weaponry by a friend of Àdhamh’s, Allan Sutherland. I have some longer videos that I will edit and post when I get back home.

Tara Rankin and Àdhamh
Tara singing
I spy a Highlander among us!
Allan demonstrating weapons

We rounded out the night with some fabulous Gaelic stories. And no…I don’t think any of the Cape Breton ones had a happy ending. I think Tara was amused by how my face lit up every time I recognized a Gaelic word. It was twice as amusing to hear Tara and Àdhamh translate for each other. I’m pretty sure she picked up some new words.

Eventually though, it was time to call the night to an end. Our new friend Asifa gave us a lift back to the hotel so that we didn’t have to find a taxi in the West End after midnight and it was greatly appreciated. Back at the hotel, we all collapsed into bed to refresh ourselves for the next day’s adventure.

Slàn leat an-dràsta!

Outlander Episode 114 – The Search – The Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher…um NOT

Well, my friends. This post will be rather short and sweet as there was no Gaelic! I think Àdhamh himself puts it best:

 

 

As a treat though, I am including this wee video with Àdhamh teaching a bit of Gaelic for TV Guide. So let’s all practice our Gaelic and hope we can even hear more next week while we are cringing through Wentworth.

Slàn-leat an drasta!