Sly Cooking
Ever needed a word for the little bits of dust you see in a ray of sunlight? For squeezing a big thing into a small hole? For the noise made by women when they get together? This book revives 42 weird and wonderful Gaelic words collected by 19th century priest, poet and folklorist, Fr Allan, in South Uist and Eriskay.
Artist Catrìona NicilleDhuibh breathes new life into this quirky selection with a vivid, hand-printed linocut illustration for every word. Whether you’re a fluent Gaelic speaker, a learner or just a curious visitor, Sly Cooking is guaranteed to expand your horizons with irresistible words you never knew you needed until now.
Eadar Dà Shaoghal
Based on the successful radio series ‘Between Two Worlds’, Donald MacLeod’s stories vividly portray the sights and sounds of his boyhood in Bernera, Lewis. Whether in the wonder of Christmas, the bustle of the fank or the novelty of his first day of school, this writer brings the warmth, humour and sorrow of the community which had such an influence of him to life again.
Bàrdachd Uilleam Iain Caimbeul
“This is not just a book for the people of Point, it is one that will inspire all of us who feel a stronge sense of loyalty to our language, our culture and our roots.” states Matthew Maciver in his introduction to this charming book. The book has poems and songs that reflect the poet’s own life and by turn the life of the wider part of his close knit island community. Love songs, songs that praise his island home, songs of longing and songs that will make you laugh out loud – they are all here, written in Willie John’s very personal style and this book now shares them with a new generation.
Chì Mi
“Once we made songs to be sung; now we write poems to be read.”
Donald John MacDonald emerged from a family steeped in the oral culture of the Gael with complete mastery of centuries-old classical metres. His importance in the Gaelic canon rests on his evolution into a modern literary poet-philosopher. His work deals with universal issues of love, religion, nationalism, war and death – but still resounds with the vocal melody and concrete imagery of the traditional bard. This new edition of his poems has given the opportunity to refresh translations which can only attempt to reflect the rich lyricism of the originals – which give pleasure to the ear as well as to the mind.
Air Mo Chuairt
Ealasaid Chaimbeul (Elizabeth Campbell) was born in Barra in 1913 and completed her autobiography shortly before her death in 1981. In describing her own childhood in Barra after WW1 and her long teaching career in Barra and Vatersay, she also gives us a detailed insight into life in these islands through periods of great change but during which a vibrant cultural heritage remained at the heart of the community.
First published by Acair in Gaelic in 1982, it has now been republished in the original Gaelic and with a supporting English version by Mary Flora Galbraith.
Fo Sgàil A' Swastika
There have been countless books about the war but relatively few by private soldiers- far less one who could take a poet’s perspective on the experience. Donald John MacDonald (1919-1986) is now recognised as Gaeldom’s most important bards. His vivid account of the grim privation of the prisoner of war camps resounds with the spirit, humour and sense of comradeship of men who refused to be cowed by their captors. It is told with the verve and immediacy of a natural raconteur- but then MacDonald was descended from a line of traditional bards and storytellers. This includes two CDs of the late author reading the entire text in vivid South Uist Gaelic.
Gaelic is Fun!
The perfect little book for an eager learner! Have fun learning Gaelic using this popular book!
Beum-Sgèithe
This is the first collection of poetry from Eoghan Stewart who has attracted attention and accolades for a number of years including the inaugural MacDonald of Sleat prize in 2015 and the prestigious Wigtown prize in 2021. His poetry at once traditional and modern combines images of the natural world with subjects such as politics, culture, love and death. A powerful, beautiful body of work which lasts long in memory, Beum-Sgèithe was runner up for the Donald Meek prize in 2017.
Eachdraidh le Càirdeas is Cridhe
Shortlisted for the History Award at Scotland’s National Book Awards 2021
Ness Historical Society has created a rich archive of place-names, the information having been provided by over fifty contributors between 1966 and 2018, and this book is the result. The book is separated into all the villages in Ness in order to highlight the cultural and historical importance of place-names and is a record of the names as the people of the area say and spell them. The photographs of contributors inside display the vitality of sharing and culminating knowledge about place-names from Ness to Ballantrushal, in the northwest of the Isle of Lewis.
