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Thàinig mi tarsainn air làrach-lìn inntinneach o chionn ghoirid. ʼS e an t-ainm a th’ oirre ‘Sgeul na Gàidhlig aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu’. Tha i dà-chànanach. Gheibhear i aig sgeulnagaidhlig.ac.uk.

Chaidh an t-oilthigh a chur air chois ann an ceithir cheud deug, caogad ʼs a h-aon (1451). Aig an àm sin, bha Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn ann an sgìrean dùthchail faisg air Glaschu. A bharrachd air sin, bha ceangal oifigeil ann eadar an t-oilthigh agus eaglaisean paraiste far an robh an cànan ga bruidhinn. Bha iad sin ann an Comhghall, Bòd is Ìle. Bhiodh ceudan bhliadhnaichean ann mus biodh a’ Ghàidhlig air a teagasg anns an oilthigh. Ach bha Gàidheil nan oileanaich ann bho chionn fhada.

Nuair a chaidh Oilthigh Ghlaschu a stèidheachadh, thòisich daoine ann an Earra-Ghàidheal, a bha ag amas air a bhith nam pearsaichean eaglais, a dhol ann. Roimhe sin, fhuair iad an cuid foghlaim ann an Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn.

Tha ainm cliùiteach a’ nochdadh ann an co-cheangal ri Oilthigh Ghlaschu anns an t-siathamh linn deug. B’ e sin Iain Major. Sgrìobh e anns an leabhar aige mu eachdraidh Bhreatainn gun robh Gàidhlig aig cha mhòr an dàrna cuid de mhuinntir na h-Alba aig an àm sin. Bha Iain na Phrionnsabal san oilthigh airson còig bliadhna.

Bha Ualtar MacUalraig, am bàrd, ceangailte ris an oilthigh. ʼS ann à Carraig ann an Siorrachd Àir a bha Ualtar, agus bha e na Ghàidheal. Bha e fhèin is Uilleam Dunbar, bàrd Gallta, a’ magadh air a chèile ann an aoir. Bha Dunbar a’ cur sìos air MacUalraig airson a bhith dìleas don Ghàidhlig. Bha MacUalraig a’ cur sìos air Dunbar a chionn ʼs nach robh Gàidhlig aige! Cheumnaich MacUalraig o Oilthigh Ghlaschu le MA ann an ceithir cheud deug, seachdad ʼs a h-ochd (1478).

Aig deireadh an t-siathamh linn deug agus anns a’ chiad leth dhen t-seachdamh linn deug, bha gu leòr de Ghàidheil mar oileanaich aig an oilthigh. Bha a’ chuid a bu mhotha aca à Earra-Ghàidheal. Am measg nan ainmean Gàidhealach a chì sinn, tha Caimbeul, MacLachlainn, Darach, Camshron, Bochanan, Mac a’ Bhreatannaich agus MacGuaire. Chun na h-ath-sheachdain, beannachd leibh.

I came across an interesting website recently. Its name is ‘The Gaelic Story at the University of Glasgow’. It is bilingual. It is obtained [reached] at sgeulnagaidhlig.ac.uk.

The university was established in 1451. At that time, Gaelic was spoken in country areas close to Glasgow. In addition to that, there was an official link between the university and parish churches where the language was spoken. They were in Cowal, Bute and Islay. Hundreds of years would elapse before Gaelic would be taught at the university. But Gaels were students there a long time ago.

When the University of Glasgow was established, people in Argyll, who were aiming to be clergymen, started to go there. Before that, they obtained their education at the University of St Andrews.

A renowned name appears in connection with the University of Glasgow in the 16th century. That was John Major. He wrote in his book about the history of Britain that Gaelic was spoken by almost half of the population of Scotland at that time. John was Principal of the university for five years.

Walter Kennedy, the poet, was connected to the university. Walter was from Carrick in Ayrshire, and he was a Gael. He and William Dunbar, a Lowland poet, were mocking each other in satire. Dunbar was criticising Kennedy for being loyal to Gaelic. Kennedy was criticising Dunbar because he didn’t speak Gaelic! Kennedy graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA in 1478.

At the end of the 16th century and in the first half of the 17th century, many Gaels were students at the university. Most of them were from Argyll. Among the Gaelic names we see are Campbell, MacLachlan, Darroch, Cameron, Buchanan, Galbraith and MacQuarrie. Till next week, cheerio.