National Library of Scotland to stage its first ever dual-language exhibition

A keen comparative mythologist, Campbell was inspired by other significant collections such as folktales written during the Islamic Golden Age (often referred to in the English-speaking world as ‘Arabian Nights’), as well as the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm in Germany. Convinced Scotland had as rich a resource of folktales owing to its Celtic and Nordic influences, he made it his life’s work to ensure Gaelic tales endured.

John Francis Campbell in Highland dress

Born into a wealthy family and educated at Eton and the University of Edinburgh, Campbell had the means – as well as the inclination – to take the time to engage with Scotland’s Highland communities and ensure local folktales were preserved.

Island life

Exhibition curator Dr Ulrike Hogg said: “Coming from an aristocratic background, Campbell was unusual in the sense that he spoke Gaelic, and was immersed in island life as a boy – his childhood was spent living in the care of the family piper in Islay. His fluency in the language, together with his deep familiarity with Gaelic culture, meant he was quick to gain the trust of people wherever he went. With the help of scribes proficient in written Gaelic, he recorded these tales all over the Highlands and islands. Many storytellers were happy for him to record and publish their stories – in Gaelic and English – for more people to enjoy.”

There are a few varieties of folktales in the Gaelic tradition. There are the hero sagas, similar to those which are told in Ireland involving Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) and other household names. However, it is the other kind – the more localised folktales involving giants, witches, and dark tales involving malevolent creatures – that Campbell was most concerned with saving. These existed solely in the oral tradition at a time that – for various reasons – the storytelling population was dwindling in parts of Scotland.

Global connections

Dr Hogg adds: “A number of the stories have close parallels in the story collections from other countries, such as ‘The Frog Prince’ or ‘The Town Musicians of Bremen’ in the Grimms’ tales. Campbell was really pleased to discover these stories and their connections to other parts of the world, so for him, these would have been among the most exciting ones.”

Campbell documented his travels by making many notebooks, but he was also a keen visual artist, and captured the essence of people, communities, sites and landscapes through sketches and paintings. The exhibition will highlight his own personal library (a collection held at the National Library) and the manuscripts and published works of his endeavours. Visitors will also experience Campbell’s work through a range of mixed media – his artworks as well as Gaelic folktales brought to life via new sound recordings specifically made for the exhibition.

Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “We are delighted to see this exhibition being available bilingually and celebrating the important work of John Francis Campbell. Gaelic history and culture enriches the lives of many and it is vitally important that these are represented in Gaelic itself whilst adding to the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan that Gaelic is used more often, by more people in a wider range of situations. We look forward to this being the first of many bilingual exhibitions.”

Exhibition details

The exhibition, Sgeul | Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands, will be complemented by a programme of events and learning activities, which will be announced later in the spring. It will open in June 2023 and will run until April 2024. Entry to the National Library’s exhibitions is free.

Sgeulachdan Gàidhlig a chaidh a shàbhaladh dhan an àm ri teachd nam fòcas do thaisbeanadh mòr

Bidh Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba a’ cumail a’ chiad taisbeanadh dà-chànanach aca a-riamh am-bliadhna mar chomharrachadh air obair Iain Frangan Caimbeul - Iain Òg Ìle – fear bhon 19mh linn a rinn a dhìcheall gus sgeulachdan Gàidhlig a bha ann an cunnart dol à bith a shàbhaladh.

Bha an Caimbeulach na fhaoin-sgeulaiche coimeasach dealasach, agus e air a bhrosnachadh le cruinneachaidhean cudromach eile leithid sgeulachdan a chaidh a sgrìobhadh aig an àm Òir Ioslamach (ris an can saoghal na Beurla na ‘h-Arabian Nights’), a bharrachd air na sgeulachdan sìthe a chruinnich na Bràithrean Grimm anns a’ Ghearmailt. A’ creidsinn gun robh stòras cho beairteach de bheul-aithris aig Alba ri linn na buaidh Ceiltich is Lochlannaich a bha oirre, dh’obraich e fad a bheatha gus dèanamh cinnteach gum maireadh sgeulachdan Gàidhlig.

Rugadh Caimbeul ann an teaghlach beairteach agus chaidh oideachadh ann an Eton agus Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, bha an t-airgead aig a’ Chaimbeulach – a bharrachd air an ùidh – gus ceangal a dhèanamh ri coimhearsnachdan dùthchail na h-Alba agus gus dèanamh cinnteach gun gabhadh sgeulachdan ionadail a ghleidheadh.

Thuirt neach-glèidhidh an taisbeanaidh, an Dr Ulrike Hogg:

“A’ tighinn bho theaghlach uaiseal, bha an Caimbeulach neo-àbhaisteach oir bha Gàidhlig aige, agus bha e air a bhogadh ann am beatha eileanach na bhalach – chaidh làithean a òige a chur seachad a’ fuireach fo chùram pìobaire an teaghlaich ann an Ìle. Bha a fhileantachd sa chànan, agus a eòlas domhainn air cultar na Gàidhlig, a’ fàgail nach tug e fada dha earbsa dhaoine fhaighinn ge b’ e càite an deach e. Le cuideachadh bho sgrìobhaichean a bha fileanta ann an Gàidhlig sgrìobhte, chlàraich e na sgeulachdan sin air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan eilean. Bha mòran toilichte gun clàraicheadh agus gum foillseachadh e na sgeulachdan aca – ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla – gus am faigheadh barrachd dhaoine tlachd asta.”

Tha grunn diofar sheòrsaichean sgeulachd ann an dualchas na Gàidhlig. Is iad seo mòr-sgeulan nan gaisgeach, coltach ris an fheadhainn ann an Èirinn anns a bheil Fionn Mac Cumhail agus curaidhean ainmeil eile. Ach, b’ e an seòrsa eile – na sgeulachdan nas ionadaile mu fhuamhairean, bana-bhuidsichean, agus sgeulachdan dorcha mu chreutairean mì-mhodhail – na sgeulachdan a bu mhotha a bha an Caimbeulach airson sàbhaladh. Bha iad sin anns a’ bheul-aithris a-mhàin aig àm – agus airson diofar adhbharan bha an àireamh de sheanchaidhean a’ crìonadh ann an cuid de sgìrean de dh’Alba.

Thuirt an Dr Hogg cuideachd:

“Tha grunn sgeulachdan anns na cruinneachaidhean sgeulachdan coltach ri sgeulachdan à dùthchannan eile, leithid ‘Am Prionnsa Losgann’ neo ‘Luchd-ciùil Baile Bhremen’ ann an sgeulachdan nam bràithrean Grimm. Bha an Caimbeulach fìor thoilichte na sgeulachdan sin agus na ceanglaichean aca ri ceàrnaidhean eile den t-saoghal a lorg, agus mar sin, bhiodh iad sin air a bhith am measg an fheadhainn as inntinniche dha.”

Rinn an Caimbeulach cunntas air na tursan aige le bhith a’ dèanamh mòran leabhraichean de nòtaichean, ach bha e cuideachd na neach-ealain lèirsinneach dealasach, agus ghlac e brìgh dhaoine, choimhearsnachdan, àiteachan agus cruthan-tìre tro sgeidsichean agus dealbhan. Bidh an taisbeanadh a’ coimhead gu sònraichte air an leabharlann phearsanta aige (cruinneachadh a tha air a chumail anns an Leabharlann Nàiseanta) agus air na làmh-sgrìobhainnean agus na h-obraichean foillsichte aige. Gheibh luchd-tadhail eòlas cuideachd air obair a’ Chaimbeulaich tro raon de mheadhanan measgaichte – na h-obraichean ealain aige agus sgeulachdan beul-aithris Gàidhlig air an toirt beò tro chlàraidhean fuaim ùra a rinneadh gu sònraichte airson an taisbeanaidh.

Thuirt Shona NicIllInnein, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha sinn air leth toilichte an taisbeanadh dà chànanach seo fhaicinn  a tha a’ comharrachadh obair chudromach Iain Òg Ìle. Tha eachdraidh agus cultar na Gàidhlig a’ cur ri beatha mòran dhaoine agus tha e air leth cudromach gum bi iad sin air an riochdachadh sa Ghàidhlig fhèin agus aig an aon àm a’ cur ri amasan Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig gum bi a’ Ghàidhlig air a cleachdadh nas trice, le barrachd dhaoine ann an raon nas fharsainge de shuidheachaidhean. Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ri barrachd thaisbeanaidhean dà-chànanach, a’ leantainn na ciad eisimpleir seo.

Còmhla ris an taisbeanadh Sgeul | Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands, bidh prògram de thachartasan agus ghnìomhan ionnsachaidh, a thèid ainmeachadh nas fhaide air adhart as t-earrach. Fosglaidh e san Ògmhios 2023 agus ruithidh e chun a’ Ghiblein 2024. Tha inntrigeadh do thaisbeanaidhean an Leabharlann Nàiseanta an-asgaidh.