Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis

The past year has been another busy and successful year for the Society. Once again we were fortunate to have had a variety of high quality papers presented at our meetings and we wish to record our sincere thanks to our speakers and also to the members who attended these meetings. The meeting room was frequently filled to capacity, which is encouraging for both the speakers and the Society.

Our sincere thanks also to Professor Boyd Robertson, for his support and contribution to the Society during his year as the Society Chief.

Ceannard 2012–13 / Chief of the Society 2012–13

The Co-Chomhairle is pleased to announce that Professor Donald MacLeod M.A D.D. has agreed to serve as Society Chief for the year 2012–13. Donald Macleod retired as principal of the Free Church of Scotland College in Edinburgh in March 2011, but he is still professor of systematic theology.

Donald began his ministry in Kilmallie Free Church where he served from 1964–1970. The next stage of his ministry was urban, in Partick Highland Free Church in Glasgow from 1970–1978. Ever good with words, he edited the Monthly Record from 1977–1990. He has been a Visiting Professor in Glasgow University since 1999. In 2007, he was honoured with a D.D. by Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

Prior to coming to the Free Church College in 1978, Donald was already highly regarded for his incisive theological mind. During the last 30 years, he has moulded the minds of many students, and published numerous books and articles. Donald Macleod is well known as a previous editor of the Monthly Record of the Free Church and as a columnist in the West Highland Free Press and the Observer newspaper.

Donald and his wife Mary are both from Lewis, and have three sons.

Clàr 2012-13/ Syllabus 2012-13

The Syllabus Sub-committee will shortly be selecting papers for the September 2012–April 2013 meetings and would welcome any suitably prepared papers for selection either this year or next year.

Coinneamh Bhliadhnail 2012 / Annual Business Meeting 2012.

The Annual Business Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 13th April in the Netley Centre, Bishop’s Road. All members and friends are welcome to attend. This will be followed by a talk by Society Chief, Professor Boyd Robertson, on “Beairteas Cainnt” (“Language Wealth”).

Seirbhis-chuimneachaidh / Culloden Anniversary 2012

The Anniversary Service will be held at the Cairn on Saturday 14th April. This will follow the usual pattern with the Society Chief giving his Address followed by prayers and a blessing by members of The Clergy. A lament will be played by one of the Society Honorary Pipers after which a wreath will be laid on behalf of the Society.

Cuirm Chiuil 2012 / Annual Event 2012

This year the Annual Gaelic Showcase will be on Friday 4th May at 7.30pm at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. The theme of the evening will be “Fàilt’ air an dùthaich” / “Homeland Salute”. The solo singers this year are: Margaret Stewart, Norman MacArthur, Jenna Cumming, James Graham, Kathleen MacInnes and Paul MacCallum. The ceilidh band this year will be the Robert Nairn Ceilidh Band. Piper this year is Dr. Angus MacDonald, Society piper, and the chairman for the evening will be Allan Campbell.

Tickets are £12 / £10 and available from Eden Court on 01463 234234 or via the Eden Court website.

We anticipate an exceptional evening of entertainment this year and would urge you to book tickets soon to avoid disappointment!

Cille Choirill Memorial Plaque and summer excursion

Last year the Society commissioned a memorial plaque for Cille Choiril Chapel, to mark the interment there of the Keppoch Bard Donald Finlay MacKillop, and to record the visit to Roybridge in 1873 of Mary Mackillop who was canonised in Rome in 2010 as St Mary of the cross MacKillop.

The plaque is to be formally unveiled at a ceremony at Cille Choirill on Saturday 19th May, and the GSI 2012 Summer Outing from Inverness will take place on 19th May to coincide with the ceremony. If you would like to attend the Outing to Lochaber and the ceremony at Cille Choirill, please contact the Secretary.

Leabharlann / The Society Library

We are grateful for the donations of books, records, etc. received in the past months. All members are reminded that they are free to make use of the Library (within the Public Library) at Farraline Park, Inverness.

Indices to volumes I to LXIV of the Transactions are available and can be accessed on the Gaelic Society’s website in the following formats: sorted by subject or sorted alphabetically by title.

Transactions Volume LXV

Some of you would have noticed that a page of Professor William Gillies’ paper on “The Gaelic of Niall MacMhuirich” appeared twice resulting in one page of the text being missing in the volume. We have apologised to Professor Gillies for this most unfortunate technical error and have issued by post the corrected page 70 to all members.

Northern Scotland

Launched in 1972 by the Centre for Scottish Studies in the University of Aberdeen, Northern Scotland has been published by Aberdeen University ever since. Ownership of the title has now been transferred to a company limited by guarantee, Northern Scotland Journal Limited, trading as Northern Scotland, and from now on the periodical will be published annually by Edinburgh University Press. Northern Scotland Journal Limited is a joint venture by the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen and the UHI Centre for History. An order form for the publication Northern Scotland is enclosed should anyone be interested in subscribing.

Ballrachd / Membership

We have welcomed a number of new members since the beginning of the session and it is most encouraging to do this on a regular basis. Our Treasurer, Alec Graham, is grateful to all of you who complied with our request to pay your subscription by Standing Order. Those of you who have not yet taken advantage of this facility are reminded that this can be done by contacting the Treasurer at any time.

Membership remains at £15 per annum and is due for renewal on 1st July each year. Sending reminders to such a large membership is quite costly, so please put this date in your diary to avoid any lapse of your membership. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Treasurer or the Secretary.

Caoidh / Obituaries

Sadly, we have noted the loss of some of our members in the past few months. We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to those members who are mourning the loss of family and friends at this time. We would ask that you keep us informed of the passing of any of our members in order that a formal tribute may be paid to them at our members’ meetings and subsequently recorded in the Society Transactions.