Two superb collections of Gaelic Poetry

17 April 2008

BBC Gaelic Broadcasting and Stòrlann joined forces in Glasgow on 17 April to launch two new poetry resources for High Schools and other readers. The event took place at the new BBC Scotland headquarters and several well known poets attended.

‘Làrach nam Bàrd’ from BBC Alba provides a selection of poetry from eleven poets, Sorley MacLean, Derick Thomson, Anne Frater, Meg Bateman and Donald MacDonald (Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna) amongst them. The site was demonstrated in Glasgow by Una MacDonald who explained that a main aim of the site is that scholars gain access to the video library and audio files of BBC Alba. On the day, several poets were heard via the website with one, Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail, appearing in person.

Aonghas Dubh appears both on 'Larach nam Bard' and in 'Smeòrach Mi', a collection of poetry from Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig. Aonghas reminded the audience that only ‘Bàrdachd Ghàidhlig’ MhicBhàtair was available when he was in school and he welcomed the website and book, particularly the new young poets who appear in Smeòrach Mi, for example Iain S. MacPherson from Canada and Kevin MacNeil from Lewis. Raghnaid Sandilands, editor of ‘Smeòrach Mi’ explained that Stòrlann intended to expose young readers to a wealth of different styles and that she hoped that they would find the book pleasing; she told the audience that her pupils were heavily involved in providing ideas for her selection, although she did not go along with their recommendation for the title: 'Mo Chreach 's mo Bhàrdachd'!

Review by Ronald Black, The Scotsman (12/07/2008)