The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

• Updated:
  Weekly
• Average duration:
  4 minutes

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Recent episodes (10)

• 30 Nov 09: An Litir Bheag 240

  Mon, 30 Nov 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  I was in Sutherland recently. I was in Bun Ilidh. That’s the Gaelic for Helmsdale. I heard about a tree in the area. The name it has, or had, is The Làmh Tree. You’ll know the Gaelic word làmh. The Làmh Tree – Craobh na Làimhe. It’s interesting that it’s The Làmh Tree that people say in English, rather than The Hand Tree. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 23 Nov 09: An Litir Bheag

  Mon, 23 Nov 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  On the Isle of Canna there is the Corra-dhùn. It is next to the shore. In English its name is Coroghon Castle. It’s a small stone building, at the top of a hill. According to oral tradition it was a prison. A clan chief of Clan-ranald kept his wife there. She was a prisoner. Learn more in this week’s podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 16 Nov 09: An Litir Bheag: 238

  Mon, 16 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  There is a place in Canna called Coroghon Castle. It’s not a normal castle. In Gaelic it’s called the Corra-dhùn. The steep fort or hill. Although it is not big, it is steep. The building is next to the shore. It is very old. It is in a poor condition. If somebody doesn’t do something soon, it won’t be there long. Find out more about Coroghon Castle in this week’s podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 09 Nov 09: An Litir Bheag 237

  Mon, 9 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  Why is Eigg’s nickname the Isle of the Big Women? Isle of the Big Women. According to oral trad-ition, it goes back to the Seventh Century. The island was still under the control of the Picts. Indeed, it was under the control of a Pictish queen. Find out more about Eìgg’s nickname and this Pictish queen in this week’s podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 02 Nov 09: An Litir Bheag 236

  Mon, 2 Nov 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  We have nicknames for the islands of Scotland. For example we call Skye Eilean a’ Cheò (Isle of the Mist). We call Lewis Eilean an Fhraoich (Isle of the Heather). And here now are the names of three more islands. Do you know them? Find out more in this week’s podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 26 Oct 09: An Litir Bheag 235

  Mon, 26 Oct 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  Ruairidh was telling you last week about goats. The old people were saying that goats killed and ate snakes. Well, Ruairidh is not so sure about that. Goats appear often in Gaelic proverbs. Here is one for you: With violets and goats’ milk anoint your face, and there is not a king’s son in the world will not be after you. Find out more in this week’s podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 19 Oct 09: An Litir Bheag 234

  Mon, 19 Oct 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  Ruairidh saw goats in the summer. He doesn’t mean a farmer’s goat. He means wild goats on the hills. He was walking in the deer forest of Letterewe. He was in Glen Bianasdail. Close by there was Meallan Ghobhar [little rounded hill of the goats]. He saw tracks in the heather. The ground was steep. It is goats that made the paths. find out more about the goats in this week's podcast. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 12 Oct 09: An Litir Bheag 233

  Mon, 12 Oct 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  We were taking a wee look at the poetry of Rob Donn last week. Rob was a Gaelic bard in the Mackay Country in the Eighteenth Century. He never spoke English. He wasn’t highly educated either. This week, Ruairidh is going to have a wee look at a poem he wrote. It’s about the environment – particularly in the Mackay Country. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 05 Oct 09: An Litir Bheag 232

  Mon, 5 Oct 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  Ruairidh starts by reciting the same refrain as last week. He was telling you about the famous poet from the Mackay Country – Rob Donn (“brown-haired Rob”). He was living for a time in Strath More, south of Loch Hope. He was alive in the Eighteenth Century. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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• 28 Sep 09: An Litir Bheag 231

  Mon, 28 Sep 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  Ruairidh begins with a refrain of a famous Gaelic poem/song. Glen Golly is in the Mackay Country. That’s in the north of the Highlands. And who is the poet? Well, none other than Rob Donn – a very famous poet. Accompanying text in both English and Gaelic can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/litirbheag.

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