Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, an co-bhuinn ris na roinnean Ceilteach eile ann an oilthighean na h-Alba, Dùn Èideann, Glaschu, agus Obar Dheathain, a’ cumail co-labhairt mhòr eadar-nàiseanta coisrigte dha na h-òrain, na sgeulachdan, agus an dualchas mu bhlàir agus mu euchdan nan seann ghaisgeach Gàidhlig Cù Chulainn agus Fionn mac Cumhail, an caraidean, an càirdean, an cèilean-pòsta, an leannain, agus an nàimhdean. 

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The Ulidia Finn conference, from the 13 to 17 June 2018, was held for the first time in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands, in cooperation with the university Celtic departments of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The University of Glasgow's Celtic & Gaelic studies is based in the College of Arts' School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan.

Some 70 delegates from 12 different countries came together to discuss heroic tales and verses that have been at the centre of the Gaelic cultures of Scotland and Ireland for well over a thousand years, stories that, through the controversial Ossianic epics of James Macpherson, helped to spark the Romantic movement across Europe and have had an incalculable influence on world literature up to the present day.

As well as investigating manuscripts and oral recordings of the songs and tales, and the lives of those who collected them, conference papers dealt with diverse topics such as drinking-feasts, otherworld women, love triangles, Scottish-Irish mercenaries, and the many different places named after the heroes across Ireland and Scotland. Subjects range in time from pre-Christian Irish mythology, through the heyday of the tales in the Middle Ages, to cartoon animations of our own day. Of particular interest to islanders will be research investigating the legendary warrior queen Scàthach said to have trained Cù Chulainn at her castle in Sleat.

The conference also played host to the launch by Professor Donald Meek of a new website that will for the first time put online for the general public one of the most iconic collections of heroic verse in Gaelic literature, the sixteenth-century Book of the Dean of Lismore. Another highlight was a presentation of one of the greatest ballads in the tradition, Bàs Chonnlaoich, the Death of Connlaoch, by two of Gaeldom’s biggest stars, singer Margaret Stewart and storyteller Pàdruig Morrison, at Sabhal Mòr on Thursday.

Sabhal Mòr Principal Boyd Robertson said: "We are delighted to play host to Ulidia Finn this week. Such scholarly conferences make a huge contribution to the college’s research environment, encouraging us to look again at important parts of our culture, and making results of academic research available to the wider public."

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Seachdain nan Gaisgeach ann an Slèite

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a’ cur fàilte air Ulidia Finn 2018

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, an co-bhuinn ris na roinnean Ceilteach eile ann an oilthighean na h-Alba, Dùn Èideann, Glaschu, agus Obar Dheathain, a’ cumail co-labhairt mhòr eadar-nàiseanta coisrigte dha na h-òrain, na sgeulachdan, agus an dualchas mu bhlàir agus mu euchdan nan seann ghaisgeach Gàidhlig Cù Chulainn agus Fionn mac Cumhail, an caraidean, an càirdean, an cèilean-pòsta, an leannain, agus an nàimhdean.

Bidh mu 70 luchd-frithealaidh bho dhusan dùthchannan eadar-dhealaichte a’ tighinn còmhla gus beachdachadh air na sgeulachdan agus na dàintean gaisgeil a bh’ aig teis-meadhan dualchas Gàidheil na h-Alba agus na h-Èireann airson còrr agus mìle bliadhna. Tro na mòr-dhàintean connspaideach Oiseanach a sgrìobh Seumas MacMhuirich no James Macpherson, bhrosnaich na sgeulachdan ud an gluasad Romansach air feadh na Roinn-Eòrpa, agus tha buaidh iongantach air a bhith aca air litreachas an t-saoghail suas chun an latha an-diugh.

Anns na pàipearan aca, bheir na sgoilearan sùil air làmh-sgrìobhainnean agus air clàraidhean beul-aithris de na sgeulachdan ’s na h-òrain, cho math ri eachdraidhean-beatha an luchd-cruinneachaidh, agus sreath de chuspairean diofraichte eadar fhèilltean-dibhe, bhoireannaich os-nàdarra, thòimhseachain-gaoil, na gall-òglaich Ghàidhealach, agus an iomadach àite a chaidh ainmeachadh air na gaisgich air feadh saoghal nan Gàidheal. A-thaobh tìm, bidh cuspairean sgaoilte eadar miotasan ro-Chrìosdaidh nan Èireannach, tro na Meadhan Aoisean nuair a bha na sgeulachdan aig an làn àirde, suas gu ruige na dealbhan beò nar linn fhìn. Bidh ùidh shònraichte aig eileanaich anns an rannsachadh mun bhànrighinn ghaisgeil anns na sgeulachdan d’am b’ ainm Sgàthach, an tè ma b’ fhìor bhon d’fhuair Cù Chulainn a thrèanadh anns a’ chaisteal aice ann an Slèite.

Cuideachd aig a’ cho-labhairt cuirear fàilte air làraich-lìn ùir leis an Oll. Domhnall Meek far am faigh am mòr-shluagh air a’ chiad uair cothrom sùil mhionaideach a thoirt air fear de na cruinneachaidhean as iongantaiche de dhàintean gaisgeil ann an litreachas nan Gàidheal, Leabhar Dheadhain Lios Mòr bhon t-siathamh linn deug. Air feasgar Dhiardaoin aig 8f bidh cothrom sònraichte ann a dhol a dh’èisteachd ri fear de na laoidhean as cudromaiche san dualchas, Bàs Chonnlaoich, air a thaisbaneadh air an àrd-ùrlar le dithis de na rionnagan as àirde cliù air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, an seinneadair Maighread Stiùbhart, agus an sgeulaiche Pàdruig Moireasdan.

Thuirt Prionnsabal an t-Sabhail Mhòir, Boyd Robasdan, ‘Tha sinn uabhasach toilichte gu bheil co-labhairtean sgoilearach leithid Ulidia Finn a’ tachairt anns a’ cholaiste. Tha iad a’ cur gu mòr ri àrainneachd rannsachaidh an t-Sabhail agus tha iad a’ brosnachadh barrachd cnuasachd air eileamaidean cho prìseil de ar dualchas. Agus tha iad feumail cuideachd mar mheadhan air eòlas luchd-rannsachaidh a thaisbeanadh dha muinntir na Gàidhealtachd.’

For those wishing to attend the conference, there is a community day rate of £25 (£20 students/unwaged), while tickets for Bàs Chonnlaoich will be available on the door (£5, young people free). Further information on www.ulidiafinn2018.scot

Ma tha sibh airson a dhol ann, cosgaidh tiogaidean-latha dhan choimearsnachd £25 (£20 oileanaich/gun tuarasdal). Bidh tiogaidean airson Bhàs Chonnlaoich rim faighinn aig an doras air an oidhche (£5, daoine òga an asgaidh). Barrachd fiosrachaidh air www.ulidiafinn2018.scot.

First published: 13 June 2018