Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul
Angus Peter Campbell

Response to An Taigh-Samhraidh

Michael Newton, May 2007

Invisible Islands is the best example I’ve read to date of World Literature set in the Highlands; it amazed and delighted me. In that novella, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul makes the sacred profane and the profane sacred, mocking the overly pious while simultaneously mocking the mocker. Any reader can appreciate his playfulness of language and ideas, but only an insider can understand the deeper layers of cultural allusion and illusion embedded in the text.

Even more significant, I think, is Aonghas Pàdraig’s literary efforts in the Gaelic language. In his third major novel in Gaelic, An Taigh-Samhraidh, he explores some of the most weighty themes in Highland history, including dispossession, migration, injustice, language, and identity. While his work is firmly rooted in the specifics of the Highland experience, Caimbeul’s honesty and curiosity about the human condition prevents this from being a purely parochial exercise; to the contrary, his probing characters span numerous continents, ethnic traditions and languages. His characters are free to be themselves, Gaels and complex human beings, rather than being limited by typecast roles within the British Empire. It is his inclusiveness, particularly of literary allusions, explicit and implicit, that qualifies his work as World Literature.

The primary setting for the book, which grounds its central concerns and characters, is the house built by Seumas Dubh MacLachlainn and his wife Ciorstaidh Ruadh in Argyll. It can be little coincidence that they began the house in 1745 and finished it in April 1746, for the book’s characters frequently face unresolvable dilemmas and dislocation (such as those ushered in after the defeat of the last Jacobite Rising). True to life, the house remains in the family for several generations before finally ending up as a summer home (‘taigh-samhraidh’) purchased by holidaymakers in London. While this introduces an obvious source of conflict between native and incomer, the problematic nature of property and materialism in our emotional landscapes creates less predictable forms of tension between others in the tale as well.

Most of the narrative is in the voice of Ronnie Weaver (or ‘Raghnall Mac a’ Bhreabadair’ as he prefers to call himself). Ronnie spent many years in North America before returning to Scotland, and his exile piqued his interest in his ancestors and homeland almost to obsession. Ronnie’s life story, the story of the house, and the story of his family all intermingle and intertwine in characteristically Highland ways. Although Ronnie is exhilarated by his first contact with the home of his forebears, he is also overwhelmed by the complex feelings associated with such a tragic history:

‘I was feeling an odd mixture of shame, loathing, and anger. Shame — to put it in grand terms — for how the Highlanders lost everything in the end: their language (there’s not a living soul left on the isle of Seil who speaks Gaelic), their culture (well, what is left of it but “The Slate Islands Heritage Center” in Ellenabeich and Taigh an Triubhais?), and, when I saw the house of Seumas Dubh and Ciorstaidh Ruadh so cold and clinical in their hands, even their own homes.’ (page 139, my translation)

He is irked not just because the natives had been physically removed from the landscape, but because even the memory of their existence seems to have been cleared as effectively and inhumanely:

‘The histories and terrible events that they experienced ought not to be forgotten, as though they never happened, as though they came into this world like a gust of air, and then died, like a gust of air … I have the internet and Google, just like everyone else does, but for all the millions of facts it offers it hardly tells me anything when I enter that long era between 1747 and 1797.’ (pages 104, 118, my translation)

Ronnie reacts to this like any sane person might do in such unreasonable circumstances, though his attempts to assert himself, his perspective and his language have little effect against the weight of history and a system inherently biased against him.

Gaelic has been in crisis for several generations for reasons all too familiar to most of us, and many people are concerned that the latest wave of in-migration to the Highlands could be another nail in the language’s coffin. How can the Gaelic community, fragile and disheartened from centuries of disenfrachisement, make an appeal to incomers to assimilate into it when it can only offer limited benefits and advantages, few of them economic? Without giving too much away or sliding into the complexities of the issues involved, I enjoyed Aonghas Pàdraig’s suggestion that an incomer who is sensitive to the injustices in his own family background can respond sympathetically to the language and culture of the Highlands.

Aonghas Pàdraig is to be congratulated for addressing real-life issues head-on with creativity, courage and hope. It is particularly apt that his book appears during the ‘2007, Year of Highland Culture’ – a celebration, some feel, without sufficient grounding in Gaelic culture. The people and places of the Highlands, we are reminded in the novel, are just as worthy as those anywhere in the world. As the medium is also a message, Aonghas Pàdraig’s text asserts the value of Gaelic literature in creating community and as a worthy exercise in itself.

Aiste mu’n leabhar An Taigh-Samhraidh

Le Mìcheal Newton

Ar leam-sa gum bheil Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul aig tòiseach na feadhna a tha cruthachadh ‘litreachas-pròis a’ Chruinne-Chè’ tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Chan e a-mhàin gum bheil caractaran, àiteachan, agus cànainean cèin a’ nochdadh anns na leabhraichean a tha e a’ sgrìobhadh (a bharrachd air earrainn iomadh litreachais), tha e a’ suidheachadh nan Gàidheal (agus na Gàidhlig) a-measg threubhan eile, a’ dèanamh daoine an t-saoghail mhòir dhiubh, seach Breatannaich a-mhàin a tha (no bha) feumail do’n Ìmpireachd. Le bhith tarraing bho thobraichean fad is farsaing, tha e a’ togail guth ùr a tha geurchuiseach agus fìrinneach anns an latha anns am bheil sinn beò.

Tha iomadach snàth ’ga tharraing tro sgeulachd an leabhair seo a tha suathadh ri cùisean mòra ann an eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd: breug vs ionracas, saorsa vs tràilleachd, seasmhachd vs caochlaideachd. Tha an leabhar seo a’ toiseachadh mar gum biodh e ’na leabhar-eachdraidh, ach guth an ‘ùghdair’ follaiseach air fheadh. Agus is math leam gun d’rinn e mar sin e, oir feumaidh eachraidh a bhith sgrìobhte bho bhun-stèidh air choireigin; cha tèid a sgrìobhadh bho àite a tha gu tur ‘neo-eiseamalach’.

Chan urrainn domh ach snàth no dhà bho’n leabhar a leantainn an seo, rud a nì mi bho’n àite far am bheil mise ’nam sheasamh. Is dòcha leamsa nach eil dùthaich air thalamh a rinn geallaidhean agus meallaidhean cho mòr ris na Staitean Aonaichte, an dùthaich às am bheil mise. Gu ìre mhòr, gus am ficheadamh ceud, choisinn daoine Eòrpach ann an America Tuath an cuid saoibhreis le ana-ceartas: sgrios agus dì-shealbhachadh Tùsanaich America (‘na h-Innseanaich Ruadha’) agus tràilleachd nan Africanach. Bhon uair sin, tha an dà threubh seo a’ feuchainn ri feallsanachd saorsa agus gealltanas America a bhuileachadh orra fhèin, agus tha farpais mu seo fhathast beothail, mar as còir. Tha a’ chonnspaid seo a’ fàgail làrach air inntinn gach Americanaich a tha faighinn eadhan blasad de dh’fhoghlaim.

Ged nach ionnan eachdraidh nan Gàidheal agus eachdraidh nan Afro-Americanach, neo eachdraidh nan Gàidheal is eachdraidh nan Tùsanach, tha gu leòr de bhrùidealachd, dì-shealbhachadh agus eucoir de’n aon ghnè a dh’fhuiling iad uile air sgàth leudachadh Ìmpireachd. Tha eachdraidh nan trì treubh seo a’ sgaradh far an robh taghadh aig na Gàidheil (mar a bha aig luchd-imrich eile a bhuineadh dhan Roinn Eòrpa) a dhol ’nan daoine geala agus na sochairean a ghlèidheadh dhaibh fèin a bha aig na h-uachdrain a-mhàin roimhe. Ach cha robh an taghadh no an saorsa sin cho furasda ri glacadh ann an Albainn. Tha mi a’ beachdachadh air na gnothaichean seo as ùr, oir leugh mi An Taigh-Samhraidh aig an aon àm ’s a bha mi aig a’ cho-labhairt African-Americans in the Celtic Nations anns a’ Chuimrigh.

Mothaichidh duine anns a’ bhad air an tiotail gum bheil an leabhar seo a-mach air crìonadh tuath na Gàidhealtachd, an ‘Taigh-Samhraidh’ ’na shamhla air mar a tha daoine-fuadain beartach a’ gabhail nan taighean is nan oighreachdan os làimh a tha air a bhith an seilbh nan Gàidheal fad iomadh linn. Coltach ri suidheachadh Tùsanaich America, tha ana-cothrom agus ana-ceartas aig bun an atharrachaidh seo: nam biodh na h-aon chothroman aig mac a’ chroiteir ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is a tha air a bhith aig mac a’ bhancair ann an Lunnain (cothroman-cosnaidh gu h-àraid, ach cothroman riaghlaidh cuideachd), cha bhiodh a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’na fàsach agus sìol nan Gàidheal sgapte gu ceithir ranna ruadha an domhain. Chan eil dòigh nach eil daoine Gallta a’ tuigsinn (os n-ìosal, co-dhiubh) nach biodh an cuid Pàrrais cho soirbh ri ceannachd mur b’eadh: mar a sgrìobh Aonghas Pàdraig (t.d. 18): ‘Tha fhios gur e sin fhèin a bha a’ fàgail an àite seo, ’s an ama seo, cho cunnartach: a’ bhreug anns an robh iad beò.’

Chan iongnadh leam ged a chuir am prìomh-charactar (Raghnall Mac a’ Bheabadair) seachad bliadhnaichean ann an Canada: chuir sin ri a mhisneachd agus ri a spionnadh, agus ri ùidh ann an eachdraidh a theaghlaich. Tha chuid mhath de’n leabhar a’ toirt cunntas air a shinnsearachd agus air eachdraidh an taighe, agus an dà fhorfhais a’ dol an lùib a chèile. Tha fàsachadh na sgìre ag obair air Raghnall (t.d. 139):

[Bha mi a’ faireachdainn] measgachadh annasach de nàire ’s de ghràin ’s de dh’fheirg. Nàire – airson rud mòr a dhèanamh dheth – airson mar a chaill na Gàidheil a h-uile rud aig a’ cheann thall: an cànan (chan eil aon duine beò air fhàgail air Eilean Shaoil aig a bheil Gàidhlig), an dualchas (uill, dè a tha air fhàgail dheth shìos an seo ach ‘The Slate Islands Heritage Centre’ ann an Eilean a’ Bheithich agus Taigh an Triubhais?) agus, nuair a chunnaic mi taigh Sheumais Dhuibh is Ciorstaidh Ruaidh cho fuar clinical aca, fiù ’s an dachaighean fhèin.

Ged nach e claidheamh no losgadh thaighean a tha cur ruaig air muinntir na Gàidhealtachd a-nis, tha cumhachd a’ Chalpachais (a tha ag oibreachadh gu sàmhach neo-fhaicsinneach) a cheart cho marbhtach: ‘genocide by replacement’, mar a chanas cuid ris. Chan e a-mhàin gum bheil daoine a bhuineadh dha’n sgìre air am fuadach, ach fiù ’s a’ chuimhne gun robh iad agus an dìleab-san a-riamh ann (t.d. 104, 118):

[Cha] bu chòir dha na h-eachdraidhean is na h-uabhasan mòra a thachair dhaibh a dhol air dhìochuimhn’, mar nach do thachair iad riamh. Mar gun tàinig iad dhan t-saoghal mhòr seo mar oiteig gaoithe ’s gun do shiubhail iad, dìreach mar oiteig gaoithe. … Tha eadar-lìon agus Google agamsa mar a tha aig a h-uile duin’ eile, ach ’s gann a dh’innseas sin sìon dhomh (ged a dh’innseas e na milleanan de rudan) nuair a thaidhpeas mi a-steach na bliadhnaichean fada sin 1747-1797.

Tha Raghnall Mac a’ Bhreabadair an sgeòil, mar a tha Aonghas Pàdraig an t-ùghdair, an tòir air sgeul a shluaigh fhèin agus a’ cur deò as ùr ann gus a chumail beò is ciallmhor. Agus is ann mar sin a bha, is a tha, iomadh treubh a’ toirt ath-bheothachadh is piseach air an cor fhèin, mar cheud cheum air rathad fada. Mar as trice, tha mac-meanmna air thoiseach air gnìomhan.

Bha an Harlem Renaissance a’ toirt dòchas agus treòrachadh do Afro-Americanaich ginealach mus robh Martainn Lùtar King a’ dèanamh spàirn. Feumar tuigsinn cuideachd nach biodh briathran finealta gràdhach Mhàrtainn gu mòran feum gun bhriathran bagairteach sradagach Mhaol-Chaluim X a bhith air an cùlaibh. Cha robh muinntir gheal America deònach faothachadh a thoirt do chruaidh-chas nan Afro-Americanach ach às dèidh nàdar de ar-a-mach tachairt thall ’s a-bhos, losgadh agus creachadh ann am bailtean beaga agus mòra. Is ann an uair sin a dhearbh na bochd nach robh iad balbh is lag, agus a dh’aidich na beairteach nach robh iad bodhar is neochiontach.

Aig a’ cheann thall, ge-tà, chan ann le ‘còir a’ chlaidheimh’ a rèidichear na trioblaidean seo gu ceart maireannach ach le còraichean sìobhalta agus le còrdadh dhaoine. Is mar sin (gun cus a ràdh mu dheireadh an sgeòil) is toil leam mar a tha Gàidheal agus Gall a’ tighinn gu rèiteach anns an leabhar agus a’ faighinn dòigh air adhart a tha dìleas do dhùthchas nan Gàidheal, a dh’aindeoin ’s cho briste bristeach is a tha e. Gus sluagh na h-Alba (ge brith an dùthaich às am bheil iad bho thùs) a thàladh a-steach do adhbhar na Gàidhlig, feumaidh coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig a bhith fialaidh agus foghainteach, fàilteach agus freumhaichte.

Saoilidh mi gun d’rinn Aonghas Pàdraig saothair a tha fialaidh agus foghainteach, a bharrachd air smuaineachail agus domhainn. Tha samhlaidhean aosda na Gàidhlig a’ nochdadh anns an leabhar (leithid na Maighdinn-Mhara) ri taobh Freud agus Jung, agus Fuadach nan Gàidheal ri taobh uabhas Hitler. Mar as motha de dheasbad agus de mhosgladh a bhrosnaicheas seo, ar leam, sann as fhearr. Mar a tha caractar anns an leabhar fhèin ag ràdh, ‘Chan urrainn dhut a dubhadh às, ach faighinn thairis oirre.’

Leirmheas- An treas nobhail aig Aonghas Pàdraig - 's an té as fheàrr?

By Raghnall MacIlledhuibh. (Scotsman 09 June 2007)

Le An Taigh-Samhraidh (Clàr, £8.99), an treas nobhail Ghàidhlig aige do  dh'inbhich, saoilidh mi gun tàinig an sgrìobhadh aig Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul gu ìre; gu dearbh, neartan cumhachdach An Oidhche mus do Sheòl Sinn ann neo ás, cha chreid mi nach e An Taigh-Samhraidh an leabhar as fheàrr a sgrìobh e.Tha e a' tòiseachadh gu math 's a' crìochnachadh air leth math, agus chòrd e riumsa gu mór ged a chaill e a shlighe rud beag sa mheadhan 's a bha mealladh-dùil no dhà am measg nan iomadh car annasach a thug an sgeulachd.

Tha daonnan còrr agus aon shnàithle a' ruith tro sgrìobhadh Aonghais Phàdraig, ach saoilidh mi gu bheil fios agam dé thug air An Taigh-Samhraidh a sgrìobhadh. Chuir aon léirmheasair a corrag air laigse air leth san dara nobhail aige, Là a' Dèanamh Sgèil do Là: cha robh na boireannaich ann ach air son toileachas a thoirt do na fir. 

Anns an Taigh-Samhraidh tha Aonghas Pàdraig air sin a chur ceart. Nach e a thà. Tha trì prìomh charactaran fireann agus dà phrìomh charactar bhoireann san sgeulachd, agus tha an dithis bhoireannach seo le chéile nas fheàrr na na fir anns na dòighean a tha boireannaich dualtach a bhith nas fheàrr na na fir. Cha do dh'éirich a' cheist idir anns an Oidhche mus do Sheòl Sinn, dh'fhaoidte a chionns gun robh na boireannaich san eapaig sin cho làidir 's gun robh iad coltach ri fir.

Sin aon de na nithean a tha mi a' ciallachadh an uair a chanas mi gun tàinig sgrìobhadh Aonghais Phàdraig "gu ìre". An uair a tha guth an ùghdair cho uile-làthaireach 's cho trì-mheudach 's a tha guth an ùghdair seo, tha cunnart ann gum fàg e coltas dà-mheudach neo fiùs aon-mheudach air na caractaran aige. Tha Aonghas Pàdraig air a ghuth a chumail - tha e doirbh uairean a bhith cinnteach an e nobhail a tha sinn a' leughadh neo colbh pearsanta sa Phàipear Bheag, agus gu dearbh aig ìre ìseal leathach-shlighe tron leabhar, as déidh liosta de thachartasan eachdraidheil a thoirt seachad ann an clò Eadailteach ann an dà chànain, tha e ag ràdh "coltach ris an nobhail seo a tha mi a' sgrìobhadh" agus bha mi toilichte dearbhadh a bhith agam gur e siud a bh' ann.

A' phuing a tha mi a' dèanamh se gur e stoidhle Aonghais Phàdraig stoidhle Aonghais Phàdraig: seo an treas nobhail aige 's chan eil e dol ga h-atharrachadh. Bha e ceart cumail rithe, 's bha e ceart tuilleadh obrach a chur a-staigh air caractaran. Ann an nobhail le Aonghas Phàdraig, fa chomhair gach ceum beag air adhart a bheir an sgeulachd gheibh sinn an t-uabhas de smuain, de bhàrdachd 's de dh'fheallsanachd. An ath trup, saoil am feuch e ri sgeulachd nas mionaidiche innse, gun luasgain mhóra bho linn gu linn, bho àite gu àite, bho chànain gu cànain? 

Tha an sgeulachd air a seatadh ann an Eilean Saoil deas air an Òban. Se na prìomh charactaran Seumas Dubh MacLachlainn 's a bhean Ciorstaidh (a bha beò san 18mh linn), Tom Wilson agus a bhean Rebecca aig a bheil taigh-samhraidh ann an Saoil (an taigh a thog Seumas agus Ciorstaidh) agus Raghnall Weaver, a tha 'na cheangal eadar an dà chàraid, oir tha e á Canada agus buinidh e do shliochd Sheumais agus Ciorstaidh. Tha e mu cheist na holiday homes air Ghaidhealtachd, mun dàimh eadar fir agus boireannaich, mun t-srìth eadar dualchas agus calpachas. Tha an sgeulachd a' tighinn gu àirde ann an cuairteag Choire Bhreacain - seach sin chan abair mi tuilleadh, oir is cinnteach gun leugh sib' fhéin e.