Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Dorlach ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://dalriada.scot/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://dalriada.scot/en/blog) - [AM BUAL DUBH - July 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/july-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Due to the knock-on effect of the technology-related delay on our June blog, we are also slightly late with our July entry. Not to worry - time now to dive back into Victorian Edinburgh and the working life of Dàibhidh MacLeòid as he comes to the end of his span - [CEUM AIR CHEUM - June 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/june-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. We are a little late with June's blog due to issues with our website which are happily now resolved. It is with great pleasure then that we resume our look at the often intriguing, just as often mundane, existence of Dàibhidh MacLeòid as he nears completion of his first stint - [BEALLTUINN AS A' BHAIL - May 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/may-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. We are back in Victorian Edinburgh with young Dàibhidh MacLeòid as he extends his stay in the employ of the grocer, striking out on trips with friends and strolling the city streets in his time off. Beltane finds David receiving news of the death of his former employer. FULL TEXT - [FÀILT GHÀIDHEALACH - April 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/april-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. This month, David continues his young working life in Edinburgh, taking his usual long rambles on foot and visiting friends and relatives whenever he has time off. It is a life that appears at points rather dull and it is clear that David is attempting to fully assimilate himself to - [GÁILIG AN EILEIN BHÓDAICH: The Gaelic of Bute](https://dalriada.scot/en/the-gaelic-of-bute) - From my earliest days, I was probably more familiar with the sight of Bute than I was with that of Cowal, despite having grown up there. From the double dormer window of the house at Rubha Bàn, I sat in the wooden castle constructed by my father to fit into the left-hand side of the - [ROB RUADH 'S DAIL CHÉITH - March 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/march-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. It is March 1876 and David continues both his working and social lives in the centre of Victorian Edinburgh. Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone and General Crook burns a Cheyenne village in the continued colonial bloodshed of the post Civil War-era United States. Meanwhile Scotland defeat Wales in their - [AN DÀ MHOIREASTANACH: Durness Fieldwork Report](https://dalriada.scot/en/durness-fieldwork-report-an-da-mhoireastanach) - On 22nd June 2023 I travelled from my current home in Elphin, Assynt, to interview two Gaelic speakers I had identified in or from the Durness area. Johnny Morrison came to a talk I gave for the North West Highlands Geopark’s Pilgrim’s Trail project the previous month and I had arranged to go back up - [DAIR A BHITHEAS MI 'N ASAINT, IS LEÒDACH MI: A Tale of Two Iains PART 3](https://dalriada.scot/en/dair-a-bhitheas-mi-n-asaint-is-leodach-mi-a-tale-of-two-iains-part-3) - IAIN A DHÀ IAIN #2 Assynt is one of those areas which seems somehow to have escaped the academic eye. When it comes to the far north of Scotland, you can start in the south of Rosshire and work your way up, finding most dialects covered by a monograph or a dictionary or a collection - [DAIR A BHITHEAS MI 'N ASAINT, IS LEÒDACH MI: A Tale of Two Iains PART 2](https://dalriada.scot/en/dair-a-bhitheas-mi-n-asaint-is-leodach-mi-a-tale-of-two-iains-part-2) - IAIN A H-AON IAIN #1 Caisteal Àrd Bhric I came back to my car after my wander round the castle soaked through but feeling good. There’s nothing like a cold shower to get shot of the last throes of a hangover. I had a quick change of shirt before settling back into my seat for - [DAIR A BHITHEAS MI 'N ASAINT, IS LEÒDACH MI: A Tale of Two Iains PART 1](https://dalriada.scot/en/dair-a-bhitheas-mi-n-asaint-is-leodach-mi-a-tale-of-two-iains-part-1) - (The Gaelic Dialect of Assynt) SGEUL TALE I left Taobh Mhealnais (Melness) feeling decidedly better than when I arrived. If nothing else, I had been there, spent time with two wonderful people who spoke from out of the marrow of the place and even if heaven forbid a revival of the dialect never took place - [THE HIGHLANDS REVISITED: Chapter 1](https://dalriada.scot/en/the-highlands-revisited-chapter-1) - Lochaber No More In honour of Andrew Wiseman and his efforts to maintain the legacy of Calum. I MacLean agus do mhuinntir Alba Nuaidh a chumas beò cainnt Loch Abair fhathast. My sources of information were not to be guidebooks, travellers’ accounts or the prejudiced writings of formal historians. They had to be living - [A’ FEITHEAMH RIS AN AISEIG - Iomradh 01](https://dalriada.scot/en/a-feitheamh-ris-an-aiseag) - The following article first appeared in Dòrlach magazine Iomradh (Samhuinn 2019) Popular representations of the Highlands often revolve around mountains, hills and castles. Yet, any Gael knows that the Highlands are not the Highlands without the sea, without the lochs and without the river. Water is omnipresent throughout the land and there is no need - [THA MO CHÙRAM NAS FHEÒRR NA MO CHUIMHN: Life, Death and the Mighty MacKay PART 1](https://dalriada.scot/en/tha-mo-churam-nas-fheorr-na-mo-chuimhn-life-death-and-the-mighty-mackay-part-1) - (THE GAELIC DIALECT OF THE MACKAY COUNTRY) BÀS DEATH Steven headstone, Watten My connection to the north is a Gallaibh (Caithness) one. This comes from the fact that just about all my mother’s people hailed from the north-eastern tip of Scotland. They were Gàidheil (Gaels) and Goill (Lowlanders), some speaking Gàilig (Scottish Gaelic) and some - [A' CROMADH SÌOS AN RATHAD: The Last of the Gaelic in the Land of the Whisky](https://dalriada.scot/en/a-cromadh-sios-an-rathad-the-last-of-the-gaelic-in-the-land-of-the-whisky) - The Gaelic Dialect of Strathspey There's a gnawing at me most days. Nothing to do with hunger or thirst I'm in the very privileged position to say. It's not a drug or alcohol addiction either. I somehow managed through my early twenties in Glasgow without one of them, despite how crazy life had been at - [AIR CHUAIRT MU THUATH: a DÒRLACH Reccie in the Scottish North](https://dalriada.scot/en/air-chuairt-mu-thuath-a-dorlach-reccie-in-the-scottish-north) - Join us over the next week here at DÒRLACH as we revive our old blog and tell you all about our travels in the north of Scotland. I'll take you on a journey from Strathspey south of Inverness to the MacKay Country on the far north-west coast south to Loch Carron in Ross-shire where you'll - [A' BHONAID BHIORACH - February 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/february-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. In this month's blog covering the month of February 1876, life continues on for David in the big smoke as he endeavours to make a living in Victorian Edinburgh working at J.B. Low the grocer's shop. FULL TEXT WITH COMMENTARY (in brackets and italics) FEBRUARY 1st In the shop all - [O LATHARN GU DUAN ÉIDINN - January 1876](https://dalriada.scot/en/january-1876) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. A very good New Year to you all and thank you for reading thus far. It's now time to begin sharing the diary entries themselves, which range from the absolutely mundane to the completely fascinating. Reading the previous blog, you may have seen that there was some confusion over the - [EADAR SGOIL 'S OBAIR - David's Young Life](https://dalriada.scot/en/eadar-sgoil-s-obair-davids-young-life) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Our next blog features David's description of his early life and schooling, unfortunately focussing on the latter in a strictly documentarian fashion with nothing of a personal or cultural nature included. This in some ways sets the tone for the rest of the diaries which are more often than not - [DÀIBHIDH SÙRLAN - How David MacLeod was Named](https://dalriada.scot/en/daibhidh-surlan-how-david-macleod-was-named) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Time now to look at the short section of David MacLeod's diaries which deal with his namesake and uncle David Sutherland and also at how David himself came to be named after him. David is not an incredibly common name in the Scottish Highlands, but like Adam, seems to crop - [MUINNTIR DHÀIBHIDH - David's Immediate Family](https://dalriada.scot/en/muinntir-dhaibhidh-davids-immediate-family) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Time now to have a look at David MacLeod's own family; his parents and siblings. The family inhabited Bàrd an Tuath (perhaps meaning "enclosure of the farm" - Eng. Bardintua) croft before taking on the local shop at Latheron crossroads, the croft being just behind it. It is not currently - [SINNSEARAN MÀTHAIR DHÀIBHIDH - David's Maternal Line](https://dalriada.scot/en/sinnsearan-mathair-dhaibhidh-davids-maternal-line) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Before David’s first diary begins, we look again at the account he gives of his ancestry, this time at his mother's people. David's paternal line comes originally from mostly outside of Latheron Parish, either from Hacraig (Halkirk Parish), Cataibh (Sutherland proper, i.e. SE Sutherland) or from Dùthaich MhicAoidh (The MacKay - [SINNSEARAN ATHAIR DHÀIBHIDH - David's Paternal Line](https://dalriada.scot/en/sinnsearan-athair-dhaibhidh-davids-paternal-line) - Latha math dhuibh, a chàrdan. Before David's first diary begins, we look at the account he gives of his ancestry. Despite this being written in English, there is a regard for tradition evident in David's intentional listing of his forefathers. Although he doesn't go back the full seven, we can extrapolate from the following excerpt - [ÀDHAMH MACLEÒID - About the Blogger](https://dalriada.scot/en/about-the-author-adhamh-macleoid) - Thank you, in the first instance, for reading. I am writing what will be a very personal exposé on the nature of both what I received in the way of cultural inheritance and also what I didn’t, to illustrate before we go any further the circumstances from which this new blog shall take shape. It - [SGÌR LATHARN - A Forgotten Gaeldom](https://dalriada.scot/en/latheron-parish-a-forgotten-gaeldom) - Fàilte chridheil, chàirdeil oirbh. It is my intention in beginning this new blog to expand on the current understanding of the ancestral Gaelic culture of south-western Caithness, namely Latheron Parish, by sharing monthly excerpts of my great-grand-uncle David MacLeod’s diaries, which appear to have been composed during the years 1876-1892. The diaries contain a considerable - [LANGUAGE REVIVAL 101: A quick-start guide](https://dalriada.scot/en/language-revival-101-a-quick-start-guide) - Language / DialectRevival / Revitalisation 101 Àdhamh Ó Broin | GáiligDhail Riada (Dalriada Gaelic) | www.dorlach.scot 28 / 07 / 2018 This quick start guide begins as if the would-be revivalist / revitaliser knows absolutely nothing about the language / dialect the poor fortunes of which they are attempting to reverse, nor the processes through - [THA MO CHÙRAM NAS FHEÒRR NA MO CHUIMHN: Life, Death and the Mighty MacKay PART 2](https://dalriada.scot/en/tha-mo-churam-nas-fheorr-na-mo-chuimhn-life-death-and-the-mighty-mackay-part-2) - BEATHA LIFE Mrs Gallagher? Yes. An almost regal-looking lady, with a youthful complexion, white hair and a keen eye, regarding me with curiosity, but not suspicion. I’m sorry to bother you. I’m cutting about looking for people with the local Gaelic. A bheil Gàilig agaibh? (Is Gaelic at-you?) Tha. ([It] is). The MacKays returned triumphant! - [THA MO CHÙRAM NAS FHEÒRR NA MO CHUIMHN: Life, Death and the Mighty MacKay PART 3](https://dalriada.scot/en/tha-mo-churam-nas-fheorr-na-mo-chuimhn-life-death-and-the-mighty-mackay-part-3) - MIC THREUN' AOIDH THE MIGHTY MACKAY It was time to find out exactly what the state of the Gaelic language in the MacKay Country was. After all, that had been why I'd made the trip and not just gone back home to the bosom of my family to grieve there instead. There is nothing better ## Pages - [Home](https://dalriada.scot/en/) - Fàilte chridheil chàirdeil oirbh! Welcome to the Dòrlach website (dòrlach - noun masc. /t̪ɔːrˠl̪ˠəx/ handful, bundle, good deal, considerable quantity or number) Lean gu dlùth ri cliù do shinnsear! (Follow closely to the repute of your ancestors) Dòrlach is a Scottish micro-charity which seeks to encourage the building of intercultural solidarity across minoritised peoples worldwide - [Dialects](https://dalriada.scot/en/dialects) - Language / Dialect Revival / Revitalisation 101 By Àdhamh MacLeòid, July 2018 This quick start guide begins as if the would-be revivalist / revitaliser knows absolutely nothing about the language / dialect the poor fortunes of which they are attempting to reverse, nor the processes through which this can be achieved. It also assumes that - [Team](https://dalriada.scot/en/team) - For all general enquiries please email: gaelic@dorlach.scot Àdhamh MacLeòid Ó Broin | Convenor & fieldworker | adhamh@dorlach.scot Àdhamh is a Gael of mixed Highland Caithness and Irish descent who was brought up in Cowal, Argyll. He is the first person in 80 years to raise a family of fluent speakers of his local dialect, reviving - [Fundraising](https://dalriada.scot/en/fundraising) - MAC-UAIMHE A musical collaboration between Yt DiNGO and Àdhamh Ó Broin. The music video is out now and is available to buy. This new song is based on the life story of Yt DiNGO over the last few years and his return to Scotland to take the path of his ancestors. He has spent a good - [Thanks](https://dalriada.scot/en/thanks) - Many thanks for your donation! - [About](https://dalriada.scot/en/about) - Dòrlach is Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC050162 Operational Objectives To promote the cause of Scotland’s Gaelic dialects, especially those in a perilous condition in terms of paucity of speakership To give voice to the speakers of lesser-known and now lesser-used dialects in order that valuable perspectives and information are not lost and that due respect - [Contact](https://dalriada.scot/en/contact) - Feel free to get in touch with us however you prefer: Email us: gaelic@dorlach.scot or via Social Media @DorlachAlba - [Auctions](https://dalriada.scot/en/auctions) - [wdm_auction_listing] ## Categories - [Blog](https://dalriada.scot/en/category/blog) - [A Forgotten Gaeldom](https://dalriada.scot/en/category/a-forgotten-gaeldom) - A monthly blog sharing extracts from the diaries of Dàibhidh MacLeòid, great-grand-uncle of Dòrlach convenor Àdhamh MacLeòid Ó Broin, spanning the period 1874-1892 in the Parish of Latheron, Caithness. Beginning on the 148th anniversary of the writing of the diaries, the blog also contains supplementary information on genealogy, local history and the Gaelic dialect of Latheron Parish and surrounding area.