Mòran taing dha Pàislig agus dha gach neach a chuir fàilte cho blàth oirnn uile aig Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2023, gun teagamh rinn am baile agus Comhairle Roinn Friù deasachadh agus dìcheall airson cuirm air am bi deagh chuimhne! Ged a tha goireasan lìbhrigidh a’ Mhòid air leth cudromach a thaobh ìre na tlachd a tha luchd-tadhail agus farpaisich a’ faotainn às, aig deireadh cùise ’s e fèis chultarach Ghàidhlig a th’ ann agus tha a’ mheasadh as cudromaiche a’ buntainn ri ìre a’ chànain ’s a’ chiùil a bha nochdte feadh na fèise. B’ e beachd gach britheamh a chuala mise gun robh na h-ìrean sin anns an fharsaingeachd glè àrd agus misneachail, agus tha fhios gum bheil sin na adhbhar toileachais dhuinn uile mar Ghàidheil. Bidh an naidheachd cuideachd na mhisneachadh agus na thlachd dhan a liuthad buidheann, poblach is prìobhaideach, a tha a’ cur taic luachmhor ris a’ phrìomh fhèis Ghàidhlig seo.
Ach dhuinne a bh’ aig a’ Mhòd agus a’ gabhail tlachd à cuideachd a chèile is às na bha ri chluinntinn ’s ri fhaicinn, b’ e oillt uabhasach a bh’ ann sùil a thoirt air naidheachdan an t-saoghail agus a bhith a’ faicinn fulangas agus cruadal an Ear-Mheadhanaich agus na Ucràin. Bha cuid againn gu cinnteach a’ faireachadh tomhas de chiont is sinn a’ dèanamh subhachas is sinn sàbhailte ann am baile a’ Mhòid, fhad ’s a bha ceudan mhìltean dhaoine bochda eile an cunnart am beatha, gun dachaigh, biadh neo uisge, gun aodach ach na th’ air an druim. Mòran aca a’ caoidh buill teaghlaich a chaidh am murt le ceannaircich, neo am marbhadh le spreadhaidhean bhomaichean a tha gam frasadh orra bho na speuran! Feadhainn à Israeil a’ caoidh buill teaghlaich, a chaidh an gabhail am bruid le Hamas, ’s gun fhios am bheil iad beò neo marbh. Cha bheag an t-iongnadh màthair a bhith ag ràdh nach eil an còrr dheur air fhàgail na corp! Mar a bha mi ag ràdh sa cholbh seo air an t-seachdain seo chaidh tha suidheachadh aimhreiteach an t-saoghail a’ cur òrain mhuladach Ghàidhlig ann an co-theacs eadar-dhealaichte dhuinn aig àm a’ Mhòid seo, nuair a tha sìth na cruinne fo bhagairt a-rithist.
’S iomadh sgil a tha ga iarraidh air ceannardan poilitigeach an t-saoghail, ach ’s neònach gum bheil sàr ghliocas agus comas ann an stiùireadh cheannardan eile gu sìth idir air a mheas aig an ìre iomchaidh. Cò an dùthaich, neo na dùthchannan, air am bu chòir uallach a bhith airson sìth an t-saoghail? Ged a tha Na Dùthchannan Aonaichte a’ dèanamh dìcheall tha iad air leth-chois nuair a tha comas aig aon Bhall Comhairle air, an ìre mhath, stad a chur air gluasad sam bith. Tha seo a’ fàgail uallach air dùthchannan fa leth, neo an co-phàirt mar a tha a’ tachairt is mi a’ sgrìobhadh, feuchainn ri fois-fòirneart a rèiteachadh agus na tha am bruid a shaoradh. Bidh sinn beò an dòchas gum bheil an sgil barganachadh sìthe aig na ceannardan eadar-nàiseanta sin!
Thanks to Paisley and to all who made us so welcome at the 2023 Royal National Mòd, Renfrewshire Council certainly provided a memorable event!
While facilities are important the ultimate measure of this major Gaelic cultural festival has to be on the quality of the language and music it delivers. All the adjudications I heard commented favourably and optimistically on competition standards, a very encouraging message for us as Gaels and a positive message also for all sponsors of this important festival.
However, our safe cultural bubble at the Mòd was shattered by a glance at world news and to witness the suffering in the Ukraine and the Middle East. Some of us experienced a sense of guilt at our enjoyment of our culture while thousands of other lives were in mortal danger, homeless, without food or water, with only what clothing they wore. Many mourned relatives murdered by terrorists or killed by bombs rained from the skies. Israeli families tortured by thoughts of family members taken as hostages by Hamas. As I commented last week, some Gaelic songs had a particular resonance at this year’s Mòd, when world peace is again under threat.
Many varied skills are required of world political leaders, but there may be insufficient recognition of the vital importance of an ability to guide other leaders towards continuing peace. Although the UN does its best, it is hamstrung by a situation where one member can frustrate virtually any positive initiative. This leads to countries having to act alone, or in partnership as is happening as I write, to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages. We live in hope that these national leaders have the bargaining skills!