MODERN DAY TECHNOLOGY BOWS TO ANCIENT LANGUAGE.
It
may seem strange that the Western Isles are the focus for so much of
Scotland's ancient history and here the Gaelic language is kept alive.
Over 1500 years ago Irish Gaels arrived in Kintyre and established
a kingdom called Dál Riata (Dalriada) and brought first
their language, then Christianity. The latter was attributed to Saint
Columba (Calum Cille) who landed in 563AD and founded a monastry
on Iona which to this day remains a holy island. Iona became
an important focal point and from this region the Gaels spread their
culture and influence to the rest of the country which at that time
was largely inhabited by Picts.
The Celts were a sophisticated community with emphasis on the spoken
word, so much so that Celtic history and education was passed on by
word of mouth. Despite the fact that the Gaelic civilisation of Highland
Scotland has left some historical manuscripts, both in Gaelic and Latin,
much of this oral and literary culture was lost during the persecutions
of the 1700's.
Rallying behind the Stewart (Stuart) cause the Gaelic clans, or 'Jacobites'
(based on Latin Jacobus, the Latin form of King James VII and
II) as they became known, suffered after their defeat at the Battle
of Culloden in 1746 after which much of the Gaelic way of life and
traditions were victim.
Later, the Clearances took their toll as thousands of Gaelic-speaking
highlanders were forced off the land and relocated in the industrial
lowlands or were forced to emigrate.
The Clearances dealt a severe blow to the Gaelic way of life in the
Highlands and the language was in danger of fading into oblivion, for
while there were Gaelic-speakers in each of the parishes north of the
Highland line at the start of the century, the language today is mainly
confined to the Hebrides and western mainland. Nevertheless, the last
twenty years has witnessed an upsurge in interest in Gaelic language,
history and tradition.
This past was part of an enormous Celtic spread of influence, which
at its zenith spread east as far as the Black Sea and as far south as
Spain. Today the only living branches of the Celtic languages are the
Gaelic branch, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic and Manx; and the Brittonic
branch; Welsh, Cornish and Breton — although Manx and Cornish are
now only spoken by revivalists.
There are many Celtic Heritage Centres in the Western Isles reviving
old traditions and encomprassing the arts, education and entertainment.
Details at the various Tourist Information Centres.
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