Aignish (Capercaillie)

[jmacleodx1]

Not a glimpse of Aignish but lovely none the less

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

A very nice video with a beautiful landscape that, along with Karen's voice, gives peace of mind.

Grazie

[Kilchattan7]

hell, we found our soul again today

[Eadailteach]

"Se ar cànan steidh bunait, aitreabh agus clach -mhullaich gach ni  a bhuineas do ar dlighe agus dualachas,"

[Yaramar]

oh what a lovely voice... Kathen is like an angel...

[nacho1560]

I've lived in Scotland all my life and sometimes we take it for granted.

But nothings surer, we have the most beautiful land in the whole wide world.

[UISTMAN59]

Pictures, song and singer all brilliant. :-)

[andrewshere]

Interesting history noted below, but I'm sure the Scots don't feel like a tribe from Ireland these days. Not sure they need dividing right now, either. Well I really only wanted to say that this video scenery is breathtaking. It reminds me of school holidays as a kid. Thanks Marie.

[crisdean1]

seadh gu dearbha! This is a really sad song from Lewis. I had some friends fr=on Aginish in Lewis. When he died, they played this song at the funeral; as many Gaelic songs do, it is someone who is exilled to Canada etc, singing about their home and wanting to be there again.

[calligraphyartist]

Proud to be a Scot!

[skisgod]

Wonderful

[lorenarcp]

Imensamente bonito...

[osrik100]

extra no comment

[rmckim]

made all the more fantastic by the fact that i lived in aiginis for the first 18 years of my life

[cinemascotland]

Makes me proud to be a highlander. The old saying "this day and every day has gone against us" still rings true today. The best fighters in the army, the worst treated, the exiles and makers of the new world, and the most connected with the land. I am British by passport, Scottish by birth and a highlander by the grace of god.

[plasm2]

scottish by blood and free as the wind

[unclesing22]

Wow!! beautiful interpretation of yourself!

[liamcrouse]

agus càrson nach eil sibh ag ràdh sin 'sa Ghàidhlig!?

[cinemascotland]

It doesn't make any difference, apart from the fact that the Highland culture is the Gaelic culture and the Lowland culture are Scots, not Gaels. In the highlands we have our own culture and thats what I'm proud of. However, we should both be proud to be Scottish, which I am.

[eamonmmac]

@cinemascotland  The Scots are a tribe from Ireland. If Lowlanders claim to be Scots, then their ancestors are Gaels too, as are the Irish. If they are not Gael, they are not Scots. There is a difference though between Scots and Scottish.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Some of our ancestors are from Norway, especially those living in the Hebrides, particularly Lewis and Skye where the Macleods once held sway. Same applies to Orkney and Shetland where Norse settlement was even higher. That said, I agree with you, but just wanted to add an important fact! ;-)

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson  There are other influences for sure, and I am certainly not going to doubt the influence of Macleod on my area, especially

as I am one. But for too long we in Scotland have tried to deny our true

origins. We need to embrace our past, or we will lose who we are.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Absolutely, I'm also a MacLeod and although I was born in England and don't have the Gaelic, I lived at Uig, Lewis for many years where my grandfather was from. I've always been fascinated by the Celtic and Norse culture of Scotland, Ireland, and Norway, and view the past as crucial to our understanding of whom we are, and essential for our future as a nation.

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson I know lots of people from there, and from the west side in general. I am Skye myself, but with Harris roots. But I have to say the influence of Norse on gaelic was not only 1 way. There are lots of things in Norse culture that owe their origin to the gael. Even today, if you go there everybody is called Cameron or suchlike. We in Scotland have far closer links to Ireland and Norway than to Germanic England. Not that I am anti English, but we think differently.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac We do indeed think differently. My own personal experiences have confirmed this. I've had my DNA analysed by Oxford Ancestors, the result was that I'm of probable Norse Viking origin. The Lewis Chessmen were found at Uig bay. They're a fine example of Norse/Celtic art, showing how the two cultures came together. At the Viking Ship Hall in Oslo, amongst the items discovered in the Oseberg Ship there is a fine example of Celtic artwork known as the "Buddha bucket" from Ireland/Scotand!

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson I have spent a lot of time in both norway and Ireland.

In NW Ireland its basically the same as home. Better guinness though!

The people of the West are generally Gael as opposed to Norse DNA wise though. Some places in Argylle, West Ross and even Skye have purer Irish DNA than in Ireland! Shetland is more Norse though, although not exclusively by any means. The chessmen should be returned to Uig though, and a centre built. If people want to see them, visit them.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Again I'm in total agreement, I'm aware that my ancestry is only a small but significant part of the Hebridean population. The largest Norse grave site so far discovered is at Kneep, Uig. I'll be in Crowlista next week, and hope to visit the museum at Timsgarry, where some of the chessmen have been displayed on loan from the British Museum in the past. They should be kept there permanently. I'm sure the Norsemen married the Celtic women on Lewis, evidence from Iceland supports this.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Forgot to mention, the Guinness does indeed taste better in Ireland! ;-)

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson Fantastic place to spend some time. I love the sound of the Atlantic. As a child the sound of the sea was my favourite thing. I moved away and it took me years to get used to not hearing it. A lot of the burial sites are pre Gael and pre Norse. The original people were just as amazing as the ones who followed. I wonder how much DNA from them survives into the modern times. I wonder also how the new whisky there will taste.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Me too, circumstances took me away, and I've never settled properly since. I've two versions of 'An Ataireachd Ard' performed by Karen Matheson, and both of them can move me to tears, especially the fact that the poem/song is about Uig Bay.

I've been to the new 'Abhainn Dearg Distillery' and think it's excellent, especially when you consider it has not been in operation for long, a timely reminder as we approach the end of the year....when all is considered, we are a race apart !!!!

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson My favourite song. Performed by Karen is wondeful, but I prefer the version by Cathy Anne Macphee. Look forward to toasting the new year in with some. A friend of mine works there and has promised me some. Still waiting though.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac Thanks, I've just listened to it, coincidently after seeing the on the news, the funeral of 'Aid' worker Linda Norgrove at Ardroil cemetery, Uig.

Its a very natural and pleasant rendition which I'll place an order for shortly.

When I visited the distillery with two friends from Denmark last July, we were shown around by a beautiful young woman, and treated to a dram afterwards. We all bought a bottle, which was quickly consumed on our arrival back home. I'll mention it to Marco!!

[eamonmmac]

@Ljotulfson I watched it too. A sin alright. The thanks you get for helping some people I suppose. Better leaving them alone.

LOL its not him! He only does some odd work there, but does not lack interest in its produce.

[Ljotulfson]

@eamonmmac I thought you'd pick up on that one about Marco! ;-)

[casanova1444]

gLENCOE :) x

[CelticWarriorIsBack]

WOW !

[liamcrouse]

What an excellent song, Im trying to learn it as well. Its about an immigrant who, when they die, want to be buried among their ancestors in Lewis, at a famous graveyard called Aignis, which is near "The Point".

[Kubangpasu]

a meaningful song, thanks for the summary of the song, quite sad.

[offal12]

Utterly exquisite *

[rblack2566]

Thank you for sharing this song. I'm in America and have researched my family history back to Scotland and the Skye area. I'm thrilled to be able to see pictures of this special place, as I'm disabled and will probably never see it in person. I'm also trying to learn Gaelic. I've always been drawn to this area of the world and it's music even before I researched into my family background. It's definitely in the blood! Thanks again...

[wagyora]

@rblack2566 I sincerely hope that you can see it in person, inspite of being disabled. You must be proud of your origins.

[graham1281]

I've got one complaint, this song isn't long enough LOL  Fantastic voice

[MartinaBC1963]

What a beautiful voice and a great landscape..I wish I was back on Skye!!

[juliaceasarxxx]

She's got one of the sweetest voices I've ever heard.

[kujasbride230]

I must agree, her voice is absolutely angelic!

[duinnerfs]

Great song, definitely a great voice, great photos, too short, was expecting to hear more...

[Rob260765]

The blood is strong. I'm about two generations away from Scottish but love this music, there must be some kind of spiritual connection deep in my Psyche

[standubin]

Exceptional!

[tomtscotland]

Lovely song and video - thanks.

Skye is lovely - but you need good weather to see it properly.

That's the bridge at Sligachan - adjacent to the hotel of same name. Once a year there's a hill race - to top and back of Glamaig hill which is to the right - across the bridge.

[graham1281]

There's a lot of exceptional Gaelic singers worldwide, but Karen is special.

[andrewshere]

This was the first Capercaillie album I bought ("The Blood Is Strong").And this is one of the purest voices around...