Dr Sheila Kidd
- Senior Lecturer (Celtic & Gaelic)
telephone: 01413305425
email: Sheila.Kidd@glasgow.ac.uk
Research interests
My research to date has dealt with Gaelic literature from the eighteenth to the twentieth century with a focus on Gaelic prose in periodicals and newspaper columns. I am particularly interested in the social and historical dimensions of these texts and of the publications themselves, including issues relating to orality and literacy. I have also worked on literature of the Highland diaspora within Scotland and abroad (Canada, Australia, the West Indies and the East Indies). More recently I have been working on language usage in the nineteenth century Highlands, considering the evidence relating to interactions between those estate and public officials who did not speak Gaelic, and monoglot Gaelic speakers. In studying this often contested ground of language of communication I aim to produce a nuanced picture of language contact and provide a deeper understanding of social relations and dynamics of power in the nineteenth-century Highlands.
Current research projects include:
- an edition of nineteenth-century còmhraidhean (prose dialogues) with introduction and detailed textual commentary due to be published by the Scottish Gaelic Texts Society in 2016
- language usage in the nineteenth-century Highlands
- the nineteenth and early twentieth-century Gaelic periodical press in Scotland, Canada and Australia
Selected recent conference papers and lectures:
- ‘From Glasgow to Hobart: Gaelic periodical publishing and the Highland diaspora’, Communities of Communication Conference, University of Edinburgh (September 2015).
- ‘‘‘You seem a very intelligent man, and can speak English. What is it you want to tell us?: Gaels and government inquiries in the nineteenth century’, Scottish Studies & Celtic Research Seminar, University of Glasgow (March 2015).
- ‘The language barrier and welfare provision in the nineteenth-century Highlands’, International Congress of Celtic Studies, University of Glasgow (July 2015).
- ‘’S fheàrr caraid sa chùirt na crùn san sporan: language domains and power relations in the 19th-century Highlands’, Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig, University of Edinburgh (June 2014).
- ‘Scottish Gaelic periodicals in Canada from the 19th to the 20th century’, Bho Chuan gu Cuan Conference, University of Ulster, Belfast (October 2013).
- ‘Glasgow and the nineteenth-century Gaelic periodical press’, Lecture series marking Centenary of Scottish History and Literature at the University of Glasgow (May 2013).
- ‘Sliochd An Teachdaire Gae’lach: Irisean Gàidhlig ann an dùthchannan cèine’, Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 7, Glasgow (August 2012).
- ‘Gaelic Periodicals in the Lowlands: Negotiating Change’, Crossing the Highland Line, Association for Scottish Literary Studies Conference, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye (June 2012).
- ‘Thoir n’fhairre air na ha mi dol a scriobh’: political machinations and code-switching in James Macpherson’s Gaelic letters.’, International Congress of Celtic Studies, Maynooth (July 2011).
- ‘“Fo ghrèin loisgich nan Innsean”: Gàidheil sna h-Innsean an Ear’ [Under the burning sun of the Indies: Gaels in the East Indies], Gaelic Society of Inverness (February 2011).
- ‘Orality and Literacy in Gaelic Culture: Negotiating the Transition’, University of Glasgow, Conference - Literacy in Oral Cultures: conflicts, compromises and complications (November 2011).
- ‘Early Gaelic periodicals: Knowledge transfer and impact’, Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 6, University of Aberdeen [Plenary speaker] (August 2010).
- ‘Tha mi ’n dràsd anns na h-Innsean’ [I am now in the West Indies]: Gaels in the Caribbean’, Caribbean and the Enlightenment Conference, University of Glasgow, (April 2010).
Grants
- Wellcome Trust, Humanities and Social Science Small Grant: The Gaelic language and medical provision in the 19th-century Scottish Highlands, 2016.
Supervision
Current postgraduate supervision
- Niall Bartlett, ‘The Isle of Lewis 1844-1924’ PhD (2013-), co-supervisor with Dr Martin MacGregor, History.
- Calum Cameron-Whyte, ‘John Murdoch’, PhD (2012-), co-supervisor with Dr Martin MacGregor, History.
- Shaun Kavanagh, ‘The Irish and Highland Migrants’ Experience in Nineteenth-Century Greenock’, PhD (2012-), co-supervisor with Dr Catriona Macdonald, History.
- Tòmas MacAilpein, ‘Islay: Culture, Religion & Community c. 1890-1960’, PhD (2011-), co-supervisor with Dr Martin MacGregor, History.
- Ruairidh MacIver, ‘The Gaelic Poet and the British Military Experience’, PhD (2012-), primary supervisor with Dr Michel Byrne, Celtic and Gaelic.
Completed
- Aonghas MacLeòid, ‘An dàn fada Gàidhealach – 1900-1950: sgrùdadh ioma-chuspaireil air corpas air dìochuimhne’ (2011-14), second supervisor with Dr Michel Byrne, Celtic and Gaelic.
- Coinneach MacLean, ‘The Tourist Gaze on Gaelic Scotland’ PhD (2010-14), second supervisor with Professor Alison Phipps, Education.
- Linda MacLeod, ‘Òrain agus dàin neo-fhoillsichte aig bàird agus bana-bhàird a’ Bhaile Shear thairis air an 19mh linn agus an 20mh linn, an dualchas a chaidh leotha agus an àite air an eilean.’ MPhil by Research (2010-11)
- Joina NicDhòmhnaill, ‘Niall Moireasdan agus Niall Macdhòmhnaill: beath-eachdraidh agus òrain’ MPhil by Research (1998-1999)
I would welcome enquiries from prospective students interested in Gaelic literature and culture from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries and in the social history of the Highlands or Gaelic communities in the Lowlands and abroad.
Teaching
My main teaching responsibilities include:
Undergraduate
- Gaelic 1B (ab initio course) – course convenor and main tutor.
- Gaelic 2A – course convenor and tutor for literature element of course
- An 19mh linn tro Shùilean nan Gàidheal – Honours course
- Fèin-Eachdraidh ann an Gàidhlig – Honours course
- An Leabhar Gàidhlig 1567–1914 – Honours course
Postgraduate
- Culture, Politics and Society in the Highland Clearances, co-taught with Dr Martin MacGregor, History
- Gàidhlig Adhartach, with colleagues in Celtic and Gaelic
Additional Information
- External examiner for the University of the Highlands and Islands Gaelic and Related Studies degree programmes.
- External examiner for postgraduate research theses (PhD and MLitt).
- Vice-President of the Scottish Gaelic Texts Society
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic at Glasgow University.
- Peer reviewer for international journals and publications.
- Organiser of Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 7, to be hosted by the University of Glasgow from 21-23 August 2012.
