THA filmichean ùra le MGAlba, a tha rim faicinn às dèidh làimhe air iPlayer, ag innse dhuinn gur ann an fad seachdain a-mhàin ann an 1923, a dh’fhalbh sia ceud eileanach an taighean ann an Innse Gall, ann an dà shoitheach: Am Marloch is Am Metagama.
Tha sùil air an t-saoghal ùr – agus beatha ùr ann am Bronsuic Nuadh, Canada is Eabhraig Nuadh – tha an cuid sgeulachdan air an toirt beò, le coileanaidhean aona-ghuthach aig cleasaichean a tha a’ briseadh às, a’ toirt a-steach nighean a’ bhuill-phàrlamaid Bharraich, Aonghas Brianan MacNìll, Claire Frances, agus neach-craolaidh Coinneach Mac a’ Ghobhainn à Nis.
’S as cumhachdaiche an coileanadh aig Eilidh Linc à Leòdhas, a tha a-nis a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu.
Anns an fhilm ghoirid aice, tha a caractar, Dolina, a’ bruidhinn air a fiughair a thig an cois teaghlach a thoirt thar an Taibh – ach tha briseadh dùil a’ feitheamh roimpe, aig a’ chidhe.
Bidh luchd-amharc Gàidhealach eòlach air Iain Beggs, air sgàth a chuid obrach ann an taighean-cluiche.
A’ riochdachadh nan eileanan mu dheas gu brìoghmhor, tha sgeulachd Iain Eòsa à Barraigh, agus a bhean iomagaineach ron na tha an dàn dhuibh, aig ceann na h-eilthireachd ann an dùthaich chèin.
Gan dèanamh ullamh ealamh ron chuairt, air a’ chroit, tha an sgeulachd aige làn faireachdainn is cianalais, fhad ’s a tha earraidhean an taighe air an reic, gus ionmhas a chumail ris a’ bheatha ùr a tha gu bhith aca, thall thairis.
Do dh’òigridh-sgoile Innse Gall, thig na sgeulachdan beò, a gheibhear ann an leabhraichean eachdraidh, no tro sgeulachdan air an innse eadar ginealaich, tro bheul-aithris.
Dhaibhsan air Tìr-Mòr, cuiridh an iomairt seo an cuimhne gun robh eachdraidh ri dèanamh anns na h-eileanan an iar, cuideachd, agus a bharrachd air na bailtean mòra.
English translation
The Marloch and The Metagama – Short Films Available on iPlayer
New films created by MGAlba, and available on catch-up, tell us that in one week in 1923, over six- hundred islanders left their Hebridean homes on two boats: The Marloch and the Metagama.
Bound for the new world – and new lives in New Brunswick, Canada and New York, USA – their stories have been brought to life, with monologue performances by emergent Gaelic actors, including the daughter of Barra-born MP Angus Brendan MacNeill, Claire Frances, and broadcaster Coinneach Smith, from Ness.
The most powerful of the performances is from Eilidh Laing, originally from Lewis and now living in Glasgow.
In her short film, her character, Dolina, speaks of the excitement of bringing her young family on the trans-atlantic voyage – but heartbreak awaits her at the quay.
Iain Beggs, known to Gaelic audiences for his work in theatre, represents the Southern Isles well, with the tale of Iain Eòsa, from Barra, whose wife is less certain of the new prospects that await them in a foreign land.
Preparing for the journey on the croft, his story is one of pathos and nostalgia as the chattels of home are sold off, to finance the life he hopes to rebuild, overseas.
For schoolchildren in the Hebrides, the shorts will surely bring to life stories previously found in the history books, or passed on inter-generationally, through the oral tradition.
For those on the mainland, they do good work demonstrating that Scotland’s history was made in the Outer Isles, too, as well as in the big cities of the Central Belt.
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