"The Gaelic of Galloway and the South of Scotland" Part 2

A digitised version of the original hand drawn by Gaelic map of Galloway, Carrick & Cumbria by Girvan MacKay.

The following article is a translation of the original Gaelic article written by Girvan MacKay which appeared in the magazine Gairm.

MacAoidh, G. (1977-8). Gàidhlig Ghallghallaibh agus Alba-a-Deas. Gairm. 101, 83-89.

Continued from Part 1


Theses elements can be found in many place-names in the Lowlands: Bail' an Tràigh (Ballantrae), Machair na Sgitheig (The name for Cairnryan prior to the 18th century when the Post Office changed it), Loch Ruighinn (Loch Ryan), Na Roinnean (The Rhinns), Sròn Reamhair (Stranraer), Port Phàdraig (Port Patrick), Gleann Luis (Glenluce), Bàigh Luis (Luce Bay), Port Lagain ( Port Logan), Maol nan Gall (Mull of Galloway), Na Machraichean (The Machars), Gleann an t-Sruthail (Glentrool), Gleann Càin (Glenkens), Fleòd (Fleet), Taigh Mhàrtainn (The old name for Whithorn according to D.D.C. Pouchin Mould: Scotland of the Saints), Càrn Eideird (Cairn Edward), Loch Dùin (Loch Doon), Dail Meallain (Dalmellington), Dùn Phrìs (Dumfries; Although apparently this name is incorrect; Drumfries can be seen in older records - Druim Phrìs) Dornag (Dornock).

It's surprising that this last place, Dornag (Dornock) is so close to the border, and even on the other side in England we can see a Gaelic name or two: Cardurnock (Cathair Dornaig - City of the First Sized Stone), Glassan (Glasan - Green Place), Drumburg (Druim Burgh - Burgh of the Ridge), Eden (Aodann - Face), Glendhu (Gleann Dubh - Black Valley).

Back over on this side again, there are plenty of names that are very Gaelic, even close to Ayr (Inbhir Àir) to the North and Ananndale (Srath Anainn) and Nithsdale (Srath Nuadh) to the East: Magh Baoghaill (Maybole), Eaglais Fiachain (Ecclefechan), Eunach (Enoch), Bàrr Daingneach (Bardennoch), Druim Lannraig (Drumlanrig), Druim Sionnach ( Drumshinnoch), Meurach (Merrock), Loch Móna (Loch Moan), Crìoch or Crìche (Cree), Loch an t-Suidhe (Loch Suie), Lothair (Lowther), Lag Uaine (Lagwine), Poll Madaidh (Polmaddie), Cnoc Greighe (Knock Grey), Cnoc nam Ban (Knockban), Uileanna/Uilne (Willianna), Dail Cheathairn ( Dalquhern), Am Bogha (The Bow), Am Meall (The Meaul), A' Chreig (The Craig), Càrn 'n Abhaill (Carnavel), Creag nan Gillean (Craigengillan), Fhionnghlas (Finlas), Beinn Bhreac (Benbrack), Achadh nam Breac (Auchenbrack), Achadh na Boinne (Achenbainzie), Dail Uaine (Dalwine), Loch nam Muc (Loch Muck), Srath Aibhne (Strathaven), Dail Seangain (Dalshangan), Druim Buidhe (Drambuie), Sròn (Stroan), Gleann an Ceàrd (Glencaird), Baoghan (Buchan), Bàrr Grianain (Bargrennann), Meall Eighe (Milyea), Baile MhicIlleFhinnein (Balmaclellan, founded in 1466 AD), Gleann Lighe (Glenlee), Ceann Mór (Kenmure).

2) Gaelic Words in Local Speech

Here are some of the words that are, or at least were, common in the speech of the local populace: Bealltainn (May Day), crùisgean (oil lamp), ciste (chest, possibly via Scots), ceir (tail), dreug (mare), mart (cow), àird (point of the compass), bean-sìthe (banshee), gobhlachan (earwig; lit. little forked object), Lùnastal (Lammas Day/August), lochan (small loch), féileadh beag (kilt), seun (magic/charm), taom (splash), brat (carpet/mat), céis (farrow sow), claist (listen), clamhsa (close e.g. of a tennament, via Scots), cog (drinking vessel), creag (rock or cliff), cròn (swarthy), dinn (cram), diamharan (hermit), fàl (scythe), gad (withe), cubhag (cuckoo), griosach (something roasted), càl (cabbage), cnapag (shinty ball), cnoc (hill), lod (small pool), làr (floor), linn (deep pool), lùb (bend or curve), làmh (hand), mol (praise), pàirc (field), prìne (pin) preas (bush), stùr (stoor); the last four examples likely coming from Gaelic via English or from Scots.

Ceann mu Dheas (Southend): Where possibly the closest recorded dialect to Lowland Gaelic was spoken.

3) Gaelic of Southend, Kintyre

Examples of this dialect can be found in pages 106-116 of the book The Gaelic of Kintyre by Nils Holmer (Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, 1962). Holmer wrote the following about this dialect: "The Gaelic was always said to be more 'Irish' than in any other part of Kintyre... The thing which first strikes the observer... is the retention of the voiced g, b, d, in all positions, e.g. drochaid (DrOXidzh), bodach (boDaX), maide briste (mèdhze brisht'e: 'fire-tongs'), rodagach (rodeagaX) 'bog myrtle', deich mionaidean (dzheç minedzhen)... The original voiced sounds were always distinct from the corresponding voiceless sounds (c, p, t)... Aon (e : n), 'one' is still heard from Southend speakers as an indefinite pronoun... naoi(dh) Ne: 'nine'... Bainne (ben'e) and maide (medzhe)... also represent the modern pronunciation, but teine  (tshin'e)... if correct, is Irish... further the use of e, i for ö in the words oidhche (i : çe), coilleach (kel'aX), maol (me : l)*... Some words are not used by other speakers today, as: maide briste... which is common in the Glens of Antrim, deich mionaidean a dh'easbhaidh do (ten minutes [wanting] to), tarraing an fhraoich 'heath rush', ainmidh 'horse'... eclipsis in Eilean nan Caorach (ilen (n)e gE : reX)


In the examples of conversation we have in this book, we can see how alike this Southern dialect of Scottish Gaelic and the Irish of Ulster and of Rathlin Island were. Occasionally there is a Manx accent on a word or two, e.g. d instead of g in the word tig (tid): Xa dshid for "cha tig" (Cf. Manx Gaelic eeast for iasg i.e. "fish"). As in the Lowlands, o was used instead of a e.g. smolan (smalan). On page 116 we read The Lord's Prayer in the Gaelic of Southend, Kintyre and the phonetic sound is surprisingly like that of Irish. (It is clear that the Gaelic of the Lowlands was very Irish also e.g. "brack" for "breac" in place-names.) We find plenty of Irish words in the Southern dialect, e.g. fiafraich (feòraich)  from Southend, Kintyre; cos (cas; foot), capull (each; horse), madadh (cù; dog) among others from Galloway. 

If we put these clues altogether, we'll have a good picture of the Gaelic spoken in Galloway and the South right down to the Scottish Borders and even over the other side. The English veneer is very thin in this quarter, and it's clear there's no other language in this country of ours that's as "national" as Gaelic. 

*C.f. Rathlin

Bibliography for Further Research 

A Forgotten Heritage, Hannah Aitken, Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh, 1973.

Remains of Galloway and Nithsdale Song, R.H. Cromek, London, 1810.

Dumfries and Galloway Naturalist and Antiquarian Society Transactions, The Gallovidian Encylopedia, John MacTaggart, London, 1824.

Aids to the Pronunciation of Irish, Christian Brothers, M.H. Gill & Son Ltd., Dublin, 1922.

Foclóir Béarla agus Gaedhilge, L. McCionnaith, Oifig Dhíolta Foillseacháin Rialtais, Dublin, 1935. 

The Gaelic of Kintyre, Nils Holmer, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, 1962.

Scotland of the Saints, James B. Johnston, John Murray, London, 1934.

Witchcraft in South-West Scotland, T. Maxwell-Wood, J. Maxwell & Son, Dumfries, 1911.