Bibliography of the non-traditional creative Gaelic prose of Skye: N

Gaelic Literature of the Isle of Skye: an annotated bibliography

Non-traditional creative prose: N - Z

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NICOLSON, Angus. See: MACNEACAIL, Aonghas

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ROBERTSON, Angus (1871-1948)

Angus Robertson was born in Skye and came to Glasgow as a young man, later going live in London from 1927-1945. By 1907 he had founded the weekly illustrated paper St. Mungo in which a story, ‘Black Alpin’, later to be developed as the Gaelic novel An t-Ogha Mór, first appeared. He served for a time as

president of An Comunn Gàidhealach. When in London he published Children of the Foreworld (1933), a book of essays on well-known Gaels. This was followed by Orain na Céilidh and Cnoc an Fhradhairc (1940).

(Information from The Companion to Gaelic Scotland (Thomson 1983: 250). See also entry for Angus Robertson in the section for poetry and song of known authorship.)

(1) Sanas bho Thìr-nan-Og

i Aonghas Mac Dhonnachaidh. ‘Sanas bho Thìr-nan-Og’. Guth na Bliadhna, 8 (1911), 266-277.

ii Aonghas Mac Dhonnchaidh. ‘Sanas bho Thìr-nan-Og : Dealbh-bheachd air Maise, Ailleachd agus Gluasad bho Thùs gu Eis’. Gairm, 57 (An Geamhradh 1966), 45-49.

There are several textual variations between these two versions, the second of which was sent to Gairm by the writer’s son.

(2) An t-Ogha Mór

i Aonghas Mac Dhonnachaidh. An t-Ogha Mór : No, Am Fear-Sgeòil air Uilinn. Glascho: MacDhonnachaidh, Ueir & Co., [1913]. [8], 226d: dealbhan.

ii Aonghas Mac Dhonnachaidh. An t-Ogha Mór : No, Am Fear-Sgeòil air Uilinn. 2nd ed. Glascho: Alasdair Mac Labhruinn ‘s a Mhic, 1919. [8], 226d: dealbhan.

An t-Ogha Mór is a historical novel, located in Skye and London in the period between the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Risings. Being only the second Gaelic novel, it occupies a significant place in the history of modern Gaelic prose. It was not universally well received upon its publication and today most readers would probably find its style and plot overworked and hard to follow. For critical notes, see Derick Thomson (Thomson 1983: 218) and Donald John MacLeod (MacLeod 1976:213).

Three chapters of An t-Ogha Mór were originally published in An Sgeulaiche (I: 1-9, 103-113, 375-385). An English-language version was published in Glasgow in 1924 by Gowans and Gray under the title The Ogha Mor.

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ROS, Coinneach (1914-1990)

A native of Glendale in Skye, after service in the Royal Air Force he attended Edinburgh University and then trained as a teacher. In 1957 he was ordained as a minister of the Church of Scotland and served in a number of parishes. He was a noted essayist, see entry for his Aitealan Dlù is Cian in the section for

journalism and miscellaneous prose. He also composed poetry of considerable merit: see his entry in the section for poetry and song of known authorship. Aitealan Dlù is Cian includes an essay on the poetry of Ruairidh MacThómais and Domhnall MacAmhlaigh.

(Biographical information from Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticane, Vol. 10 (MacDonald 1981: 363).)

i Coinneach Ros. ‘Clann Suainn’. Gairm, 56 (Am Foghar 1966), 357-360.

A parable of the tensions between the old and the new literature in Gaelic, with two brothers representing two extreme, opposing views and their father representing a more moderate view.

ii Coinneach Ros. ‘Maighstir Iain’. Gairm, 64 (Am Foghar 1968), 305-308.

An intriguing tale of an old minister so wrapped up in his gardening and his books that his ministerial duties but rarely impinge upon his private world.

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ROS, Niall (1873-1943)

A native of Glendale, Skye, Niall Ros was ordained a minister of the Church of Scotland in 1907 and served in a number of parishes.

A prominent member of An Comunn Gaidhealach, he edited that body’s periodical An Gaidheal from 1923 until 1936. For the SGTS he edited Heroic Poetry from the Book of the Dean of Lismore (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1939).

Upon the occasion of his death in 1943 several tributes to Niall Ros in both English and Gaelic were published in An Gaidheal (39:49-52). His nephew, Coinneach Ros, gives a penetrating analysis of his personality in Aitealan Dlù is Cian (Ros 1972: 21-22).

See also the entries for Niall Ros in the sections for: poetry and song of known authorship and journalism and miscellaneous prose.

i Cuchuilliunn [Niall Ros]. ‘Dùghall Cuagach agus an t-Apa’. Celtic Monthly, 1 (1892-1893), 102-103.

A prizewinning reading, using both narrative and dialogue forms.

ii Niall Ros. ‘Conaltradh Freagarrach do ‘n Am’. Guth na Bliadhna, 12 (1915), 299-309.

An eloquent apologia for the work of An Comunn Gaidhealach, in the tradition of the Rev. Norman MacLeod’s dialogues in An Teachdaire Gaelach.

iii Beinn an Fhraoich [Niall Ros]. ‘Siùnnsar-Sìthe Mhic-Crimein’. An Deò-Gréine, 12 (1916-1917), 181-182.

Here the author takes elements of a number of traditional tales relating to the MacCrimmons and reworks them into a modern literary form. It is illustrated liberally with verse, some of it, I suspect, of his own composition.

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ROSS, Kenneth. See: ROS, Coinneach.

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ROSS, Neil. See: ROS, Niall

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WATSON, Angus. See: MAC BHATAIR, Aonghas

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