Gaelcast: Podcasts Go Gaelic!, (The Scotsman 9/18/05)

[stoirmeil]

Here is the latest rant from Murdo MacLeod, the gaidhlig editorial writer of The Scotsman. I'll put the english first and the gaidhlig after, in case anybody wants it (it's fun to track the translation against the gaelic). Notice the somewhat utilitarian view old Murdo has of us Americans who like traditional celtic music and how it might profit them to take notice.

Gaelcast: The world of podcasts goes Gaelic

Finally, Gaelic radio programme can be put on the iPod. Gaelic podcasts have begun from the United States of America, and they are available regardless of where one lives, as long as they have a connection to the internet.

A small team from the US, Liam Ó Caiside, Michael MacKay, and Edward Bradshaw have begun producing the programmes of about 40 minutes in length. The programmes are mainly in Gaelic with a couple of small inserts in English for where they conducted interviews with people who did not speak much of the language but who were involved in work connected with Gaelic on the other side of the ocean.

Among the gems which were in the first programme, was a report from Great Lakes Mod, and a conversation with one of the giants of Gaelic broadcasting on this side of the Atlantic, "Big" Kenny MacIver.

What I most enjoyed from the programmes where the strange but true tales from the United States. In contrast to the main Mod which takes place here in Scotland, piping and singing takes place simultaneously. That means that pipers and singers compete for areas in which to rehearse and perform.

Whenever there is a competition between the pipes and the human voice, the pipes will always win. That meant that singers had to go to great lengths to find places where they could practice their art in peace. Once they had found their place of sanctuary, they posted guards outside who would watch out for pipers lest they disturb the singers. These protectors of Gaelic song were called the "piper snipers" who would rush to intercept pipers who were just about to blow in order to stop them and ask them - politely - to go somewhere else.

What we find hard to grasp on this side of the ocean, are the sheer distances between many of the places mentioned in the American programme. Some of once used to think that it was a huge distance between the district of Ness in Lewis and Stornoway. On the American programme one hears about people going from California to mods in Ohio. There are also the discussions on the programme about how easy it is to stage mods in the United States. There are enough complaints over here about how easy it is to get to some of the Highlands and Islands. Something else which should give us cause for thought, the American radio team speak very good Gaelic.

The Stateside Gaelic broadcasters deserve to be congratulated for how they have decided on their own initiative to produce these programmes despite the difficulties and sheer labour which they involve. There is a common complaint that we as Gaels are just too willing to wait for the state and that we are poor at doing things for ourselves. There is only one magazine which is published in the language which receives no subsidy and that is the satirical Cosmo-not. It is different, new and funny. But it should scare us that there is not more of this kind of material.

At a time when it is anything but fashionable to praise the United States, we should recall that Gaelic is benefiting because of George W Bush's country. In addition to Gaelcast, we have the American Gaelic punk band Mill a h-Uile Rud (Destroy Everything) who hail from Seattle. What is depressing is that we as Gaels are not making the maximum benefit from those from the Forests of the West [poetic term for North America] who have such an interest in things Gaelic and Highland. There are those who want to learn the language and who want to feel that they are connecting with an ancient European culture. Some of them have plenty of money. And it would do the cause of the language a lot of good among younger Gaels to know that there is a world out there which has an interest in their language.

Another thing. After this we long for when all Radio nan Gaidheal's programmes will be available for download on podcast to be listened to anywhere.


Article in Gaidhlig:

Gaelcast: Saoghal nam Podcast a' dol Gàidhlig

MURDO MACLEOD

MU dheireadh thall gabhaidh prògraman radio Gàidhlig a chuir air air an iPod. Tha podcasts Gàidhlig air tòiseachadh anns na Stàitean Aonaichte agus tha iad rim faighinn as bith càite a bheil daoine a' fuireach, fhad 's a tha ceangal aca ris an eadar-lìon.

Tha sgioba anns na Stàitean, Liam Ó Caiside, Micheal Mac Aoidh, agus Eideart Bradshaw air tòiseachadh air na prògraman de mu 40 mionaid a chuir ri chèile, a' mhòr-chuid dhiubh ann an Gàidhlig le criomagan ann am Beurla nuair a bhathas a' deanamh agallamhan le daoine aig nach robh mòran Gàidhlig ach a bha fhathast an sàs ann an obair na cànan air an taobh thall den Chuain.


Am measg nan neamhnaidean a bh'anns a' chiad phrògram, bha aithris à Mòd nan Lochan Mòra agus còmhradh ri fear de ghaisgich craobh-sgaoilidh na Gàidhlig air an taobh den Chuain a Siar, Coinneach "Mòr" MacIomhair.

'Siad na h-annasan às na Stàitean a b'fheàrr a chòrd rium a-mach às na prògraman aca. Eadar-dhealaichte bhon Mhòd a bhos an seo ann an Alba, tha pìobaireachd is seinn òrain a' dol air adhart aig an aon àm. Tha sin a' ciallachadh gu bheil an dà chuid luchd-seinn nan dàn is luchd-seinn nam pìob a' strì son sìth fhaighinn gus deanamh deiseil. Ann am farpais sam bith eadar guth agus pìob, tha a' phìob-mhòr gu bhi a' buanachadh. Bha sin a' ciallachadh gun fheumadh na seinneadaran oidhirp mhòr a dheanamh gus àite fhaighinn far am biodh sàmhchair aca. Agus aon uair is gun robh sin aca gun fheumadh iad luchd-fàire a chuir mun cuairt gus a bhi cinnteach nach tigeadh pìobairean cho faisg is gun cuireadh iad dragh air an luchd-seinn. 'Se a bh'aca air na daoine treuna sin, na 'piper snipers' a dheidheadh gu pìobairean a bha an impis sèideadh gus stad a chuir orra agus iarraidh orra - gu modhail - a dhol gu àite eile.

'Se an rud a tha duilich dhuinne a thuigsinn air an taobh seo den Chuain, an astar eadar cuid de na h-àitichean air a bheil iad a-mach air a' phrògram Aimearaganach. B'àbhaist dha feadhainn againn a bhi a' smaoineachadh gur e astar mhòr a bh'ann eadar Nis ann an Leòdhas is Steòrnabhagh. Cluinnidh tu air a' phrògram aca mu dheidhinn daoine a' tighinn à California gu mòdan ann an Ohio. Tha cuideachd an deasbad mu dheidhinn cho furasda is a tha e mòdan a stèidheachadh anns na Stàitean Aonaichte. Tha gearannan gu leòr a' dol mu dheidhinn na tha de dh'astar aig daoine ri shiubhal gus eileanan is Gaidhealtachd na h-Alba a ruighinn gun luath air a' chòrr. Rud eile a bu chòir a bhi a' toirt oirnn a bhi a' smaoineachadh, fìor dheadh Ghàidhlig aig an sgioba Stateside cuideachd.

Bu chòir meall a naidheachd a chuir air muinntir nan Stàitean air son gu bheil iad air a dhol a-mach air an cinn fhèin is prògram mar seo a chuir ri chèile a dh'aindeoin nan trioblaidean is saothair a tha na chois. Tha an gearan ann gu bheil sinne mar Ghaidheil ro dhualtach a bhi a' feitheamh air cabhair a thighinn bhon stàit is nach eil sinn math gu leòr air rudan a dheanamh dhuinn fhìn. Chan eil ach aon iris ga fhoillseachadh gu lèir ann an Gàidhlig nach eil a' faighinn taic bho airgead poblach is 'se sin an iris aoireil Cosmo-not. Rud a tha gu math èibhinn, ùr, eadar-dhealaichte. Agus 'se a bu chòir a bhi na uallach dhuinn carson nach eil barrachd den leithid ann.

Ann an là nuair nach eil e fasanta a bhi a' moladh nan Stàitean Aonaichte, feumaidh sinn a bhi mothachail gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig a' buanachadh air sgàth dùthcha Seòras W Bush. A bharrachd air Gaelcast, 'sann às na Stàitean a tha an còmhlan punc ùr Mill a h-Uile Rud, a bhuineas do Seattle. 'Se as duilghe dhuinn nach eil sinne mar Ghaidheil Albannach a' deanamh buannachd gu leòr a mach às an ùidh a th'aig gu leòr anns na Coilltean a Siar a thaobh gnothaichean Gàidhlig is Gaidhealach. Tha iad ann a tha ag iarraidh Gàidhlig a dh'ionnsachadh agus a tha ag iarraidh a bhi a' faireachdainn gu bheil iad gan ceangal fhèin ri seann-chultar Eòrpach. Abair gu bheil an t-airgead aig gu leòr dhiubh son a thighinn a seo. Agus bheireadh e spionnadh dha adhbhair na cànan an seo am measg daoine òga a bhi a' faicinn gu bheil ùidh mhòr aig daoine air feadh an t-saoghail anns a' Ghàidhlig.

Rud eile. Bidh fadachd oirnn a nis gus am bidh prògraman Radio nan Gaidheal gu lèir ri fhaotainn air podcast son èisdeachd riu aig àm sam bith ann an àite sam bith.

[WizardofOwls]

Wow, that's so cool! Makes me wish I had an iPod! Wonder what website its found at?

[stoirmeil]

Here it is:

Gaelcast: Podcasting from America in Scottish Gaelic - 06/09/05

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? A new talk show broadcast using the latest twist on Internet technology ? podcasting ? is coming out of the United States. Unlike thousands of other podcasts, however, this one features a unique angle ? it's in Scottish Gaelic.

Gaelcast (www.gaelcast.com) presents a 30- to 40-minute program every other week featuring interviews, commentary, and music. The programs are meant to be enjoyed by Scottish Gaelic speakers and learners alike, wherever the Internet may find them.

Gaelcast is the creation of three people who have been involved in journalism, technology and Gaelic-language activities in the United States for many years: Co-Anchors Mike MacKay and William (Liam) Cassidy and Producer Ed Bradshaw.

Mackay and Cassidy, who have learned Gaelic, often serve as foreign commentators for BBC Radio nan Gaidheal in Scotland. On Gaelcast, they will cover events in the United States and Canada and interview people throughout the Scottish Gaelic world.

As Mackay explains, "The organizations in the states that promote Scottish Gaelic present events and festivals throughout the year, and we'll be there to cover them. We interview the people who attend, as well as the guests that are there at the festivals from Scotland and Canada. Since not everyone at the events is not fluent in Gaelic, our programs will have a mix of Gaelic and English in the content."

The first program, released on the Gaelcast Web site Sept. 5, includes a report from the Great Lakes Mòd in Ohio featuring famed Gaelic singer Flora MacNeill of Barra and an interview with well-known Scottish Gaelic broadcaster Coinneach MacIomhair.

"Our aim is to produce audio programs that will be interest Gaelic speakers ? learners and native speakers ? wherever they may be in the wide world," said Cassidy.

The Gaelcast Web site features a blog where visitors may leave comments or discuss programs and topics. It also provides information about current, archived and upcoming podcasts. Eventually, listeners will be able to retrieve podcasts as mp3 files automatically. Currently, mp3 files may be downloaded from the site's "podcast" page.

For more information, contact Liam Cassidy at [email protected] or Mike Mackay at [email protected]. Visit www.gaelcast.com.

I found this announcement on a gaidhlig forum based in Inverness:
http://www.inbhirnis.org/naid/
Also a neat site.