O Doras gu Doras (2022)
As part of Creative Communities, Pollokshields Artist in Residence Martin O'Connor has created a Gaelic poetry trail throughout Pollokshields West, inspired by the house names in the area.
Below you will find a copy of each poem and the English translation.
1
Dungoyne
Ag ullachadh airson an turais
Bidh iad a’ cur nan seann itean
Tha iad a’ feitheamh
Air ùrachadh
Gus a bhith ri sgèith a-rithist
Preparing for the journey
They shed their old feathers
And they wait
For the new
To fly again
Dùn – fortress, heap
Goyne – goose (from gen of gèadh / gèoidh)
2
Strathcairn
Air a’ chàrn seo
Air a sgàineadh le claidheamh
Air am falach bhon rathad
On this cairn
Torn by a sword
Hidden from the road
Strath - Wide Valley, vale
Cairn/ càrn – heap of stones
3
Ardgarten
Nuair a shiubhail mi a’ mhòinteach
Nuair a shreap mi an rubha
Nuair a chuir mi cùl ris a’ bhaile
Nuair a ghabh mi an cothrom
Fàgail
Am faca mi am fiadh eadar na craobhan?
When I roamed the moorland
When I climbed the headland
When I turned my back on the town
When I took the chance
To leave
Did I see the deer between the trees?
Àrd – high, lofty, tall, great / headland
Gartan – tick / small field
4
Dunavon
a’ toirt nam chuimhne le
dealbhan
nach urrainn dhomh a chur
ann am faclan
a’ toirt nam chuimhne le
mòmaidean
de
nuair a bha mi òg
Chan eil mi mar a bha mi bhon dh’fhàg mi
Bringing to mind with
pictures
that I can’t put
into words
Bringing to mind with
moments
of
when I was young
I am not what I was since I left
5
Inverallan
Bidh beul na màthar gam ghairm air ais
Tha mi a’ cluinntinn a guth:
Beul a’ ghutha as bòidhche
A bha an-còmhnaidh ann.
Am beul a phòg.
Am beul a labhair m’ ainm an toiseach.
Ach is goirid an ùine a dh’èist mi ris.
The mouth of the mother calls me back
I hear her voice
The mouth of most beautiful voice
Always there
The mouth that kissed
The mouth that first spoke my name
But short was the time that I listened.
Inver / Inbhir – estuary or mouth
6
Dunreath
’S tu dubhar na creige
aig meadhan-latha,
fasgadh san doireann,
iùl a sheallas dhuinn
ar ceann-uidhe
You’re like the shade of a great rock
at midday
a shelter in the storm
a landmark to show
the way
Dùn – fortress, heap
7
Ardenvohr
Ceum a ghabhail a-mach
Agus mo lorgan-coise fhaicinn
Air an talamh seo
Romham
Nam fheitheamh
To step out
And see my footprints
On this ground
Before me
Waiting
Àrd – height
Vohr – from mòr / mhòr
8
Cairngillan
Bha thu ri mo thaobh
Bha thu gam chumail
Bha thu cunbhalach
Bha thu cruaidh
Bha thu air thoiseach air do linn fhèin
You were beside me
You kept me
You were constant
You were ruthless
You were ahead of your time
Cairn / càrn – heap of stones
Gillan / Gillean – pl of lad, servant
9
Morven
Dh’fhalbh am bàta
Bho aon taobh gu taobh eile
A’ dùnadh a’ bheàirn
Eadarainn
An t-astar
A’ giorrachadh
Tha an cuan farsaing
Agus an oidhche fiadhaich
The boat set off
From one side to another
Closing the gap
Between us
The distance
Shortening
Wide is the sea
And wild is the night
A’ Mhorbhairne (Argyll and Bute)
Possibly from muir – sea and beàrn - gap
10
Ochilton
loidhne-sgàinidh
iomair
gèinn
bealach
a fault
a ridge
a wedge
a gateway
Ochil (Perth and Kinross)
11
Kenmore
Bha uair ann nuair a bha mi òg
Agus bha mi dòchasach
An-diugh tha e mar aisling dhomh a ràdh
Chan eil dad den ùine sin air fhàgail
’S dòcha gu robh mi ceàrr
There was time when I was young
I was hopeful
Today its like a dream for me to say
Nothing from then remains
Maybe I was wrong
Ken / Ceann – head
More / Mòr - big
12
Dalcrag
Far a bheil sìth agus sàmhchar
Far a bheil àite ann airson smuaintean
Far a bheil deò
Where there is peace and quiet
Where there is room for thought
Where there is air
Dal / Dail – glen or valley
Crag / Creag – rock cliff, crag, precipice
13
Ness Glen
Is mòr a b’ fheàrr leam a bhith ann an Nìs
A’ ghaoth air m’ aodann
An t-àite as àirde
Nam thìr-sa
I’d far rather be at Ness
The wind on my face
The topmost place
My land
gleann – glen or valley
Ness – Nìs (Lewis)
14
Glenairlie
Rannsaich mi sa ghleann airson tàimh
Bha mi ag iarraidh fois
Bha mi ag iarraidh fois a lorg
Ach cha robh fois san t-saoghal
Mar sin chuir mi flùr
I searched the glen for repose
I wanted to rest
I wanted to find rest
But no peace was found in the world
So, I planted a flower
gleann – glen or valley
Airlie – parish in Angus
15
Ard Luing
Mar thonnan a’ bualadh air a’ chladach,
Borbhanach, aig bun nan creagan
Tha luasgan is caran mun cuairt an t-saoghail
Tha h-uile càil cho an-fhoiseil ris an fhairge
Like the waves of the swell that hit the shore
And murmur at the foot of the rocks
Is the tossing and turning all over the world
Everything is as restless as the surge
Perhaps from Luinne / lonn –swelling of the sea, strong, fierce.
O Doras gu Doras is a community project led by writer and theatre maker Martin O’Connor as part of Creative Communities.
www.martinoconnor.info
Creative Communities: Artists in Residence, funded by Glasgow City Council and delivered by Glasgow Life, is an ongoing Glasgow-wide initiative placing 23 artists and arts organisations into the 23 wards of Scotland's largest city.
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