It is a very great pleasure to introduce this booklet, which contains the text of this year’s stimulating Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture, given by Professor Boyd Robertson, Principal of Sabhal Mor Ostaig Gaelic College, University of the Highlands and Islands.

It is the 8th in the series of lectures to honour the life and legacy of the late Angus ‘Ease’ Macleod MBE of Calbost, South Lochs; and we have no doubt that it fully maintains the very high standard set by previous speakers, and will promote discussion and debate throughout the Gaidhealtachd and indeed more widely on an important and very topical subject which was close to Angus Macleod’s heart.

The lecture, entitled ‘Canan, Cultar, agus Coimhearsnachd’ (‘Language, Culture, and Community’), was delivered on Monday 17th October 2011 in Gaelic, with simultaneous translation into English. We are pleased to publish both the Gaelic and English versions in this well illustrated booklet.

For the first time, the event took place in Stornoway to coincide with the Royal National Mod. We believe this was appropriate, given the subject matter. It also introduced the Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture to a wider audience, and emphasised its prestigious status.

 
Cànan, Cultar agus Coimhearsnachd
Tha e na thoileachas mòr dhuinn a bhith a’ toirt am follais an leabhrain seo anns a bheil briathran Òraid Cuimhneachaidh Aonghais Mhicleòid, a chaidh a toirt seachad am-bliadhna leis an Ollamh Boyd Robasdan, Ceannard Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean.

’S i seo an ochdamh òraid anns an t-sreath a tha a’ cur urram air beatha agus dìleab Aonghais Mhicleòid MBE, nach maireann, a bhuineadh do Chalbost ann an ceann a deas sgìre nan Loch; agus tha sinn cinnteach gu bheil  i a’ ruighinn na h-aon ìre àrd a ràinig na h-òraidichean a bh’ againn bho thùs, agus gun adhbharaich i còmhradh agus deasbad air feadh na Gàidhealtachd air cuspair cudromach a tha daonnan sna naidheachdan, agus anns an robh mòran ùidh aig Aonghas.

Chaidh an òraid, a bh’ air a’ chuspair, ‘Cànan, Cultar agus Coimhearsnachd’, a lìbhrigeadh air Diluain 17 an Dàmhair 2011 anns a’ Ghàidhlig, le eadar-theangachadh aig an aon àm chun na Beurla. Tha sinn toilichte a bhith ga foillseachadh anns an dà chànain anns an leabhran snog seo a th’ air a sgeadachadh le iomadh dealbh.

Airson a’ chiad uair, b’ ann ann an Steòrnabhagh a chaidh an òraid a thoirt seachad air sgàth ’s  gun robh am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ gabhail àite sa bhaile aig an àm. Tha sinn den bheachd gun robh seo freagarrach bho shealladh cuspair na h-òraid. Thug e cothrom do bharrachd sluaigh eòlas a chur air Òraid Cuimhneachaidh Aonghais Mhicleòid agus chaidh cliù agus inbhe na h-òraid a dhaingneachadh.