Ùr-sgeul
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|
| Type | General partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Books, Publishing |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Books, CDs |
Ùr-sgeul is an independent publisher of new Scottish Gaelic prose. The name Ùr-sgeul is a Gaelic word which translates variously as: a romance, a novel or a recent tale.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Ùr-sgeul was founded in 2003 as a project to promote new Gaelic fiction. The project was conceived under the auspices of the Gaelic Books Council and with a start-up grant of £50K from the Scottish Arts Council.[2] In its short history, Ùr-sgeul has been prolific, and has contributed significantly to the recent resurgence of the Gaelic novel. Ùr-sgeul is particularly notable for advancing modern genres and themes in Scottish Gaelic literature, and for the modern look and feel of the design of the novels.[3][4]
Ùr-sgeul's most critically successful title to date was the epic novel, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn, by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul. Heavily influenced in both structure and theme by the works of Leo Tolstoy, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn was short-listed for the Saltire Book of the Year Award in 2004.[5]
In 2008, Ùr-sgeul was featured on the half-hour Gaelic arts program on BBC2, Ealtainn. In 2008, Ùr-sgeul also branched into avant-garde music publishing and released a CD mixing Gaelic prose and modern Gaelic music by the rock band, Na Gathan.[6] That same year, Ùr-sgeul approached Bòrd na Gàidhlig for support to expand its activities, including provision of a full-time editor. The approach was not supported.[7]
In 2009, Ùr-Sgeul published the first ever German-Gaelic fiction publication Der Schadel von Damien Hirst, launched at the FilmAlba festival in Bonn, Germany.
In 2010, Finlay MacLeod was presented with the first ever annual Donald Meek Literary Award, at a ceremony at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for his Ùr-Sgeul title, Gormshuil an Righ, his first ever Gaelic novel for adults.
Moral dilemmas, subversion and law breaking constituted the broad themes explored in the 2011 collection, SAORSA (Freedom). 13 new short stories from 13 writers were published, as follows:
- Luathas-teichidh by Tim Armstrong
- Dh'fhalbh sin, 's thàinig seo by Maureen NicLeòid
- Dorsan by Annie NicLeòid Hill
- An Fhianais by Màiri Anna NicDhòmhnaill
- An Comann by Seonaidh Adams
- Saorsa gun chrìch by Mìcheal Klevenhaus
- An Drochaid by Mona Claudia Wagner
- Sandra agus Ceit by Seònaid NicDhòmhnaill
- Playa de la Suerte by Gillebrìde Mac 'IlleMhaoil
- Iain MacAonghais by Neil McRae
- Euceartas Ait by Cairistìona Stone
- An Dotair Eile by Pàdraig MacAoidh
- Chanadh gun do chuir i às dha by Meg Bateman
Aonghas MacNeacail wrote the introduction for SAORSA.
The Ùr-Sgeul website www.ur-sgeul.com, the German-Gaelic collaboration www.ur-sgeul.de and the digital pages www.ur-sgeul.com/digital/ - featuring audio, video and written materials for learners and native speakers - were axed in July 2011 following a decision by the Gaelic Books Council.[8]
[edit] Books
- Saorsa short story collection edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey, 2011
- Air a Thoir by Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2011
- Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich by Alasdair Caimbeul (Alasdair a' Bhocsair), 2011
- Suthainn Sior by Norma NicLeoid, 2011
- An Druim Bho Thuath by Tormod Caimbeul, 2011
- Impireachd by Iain F. MacLeoid, 2010
- Teas by Maoilios Caimbeul, 2010
- Gormshuil an Righ by Fionnlagh MacLeoid, 2010
- A' Ghlainne agus Sgeulachdan Eile by Mairi E. NicLeoid, 2010
- Der Schadel von Damien Hirst edited by Michael Klevenhaus and Joan NicDhomhnaill, 2009
- Cainnt na Caileige Caillte by Alison Lang, 2009
- Tilleadh Dhachaigh by Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul, 2009
- Samhraidhean Diomhair by Catriona Lexy Chaimbeul, 2009
- An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 3 (paper) - Stories 15-21, 2008
- An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 2 (paper) - Stories 8-14, 2008
- An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 1 (paper) - Stories 1-7, 2008
- Taingeil Toilichte by Norma NicLeòid, 2008
- Am Bounty by Iain F. MacLeoid, 2008
- An Latha as Fhaide by Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2008
- Diomhanas by Fionnlagh MacLeoid, 2008
- Cleas Sgathain by Mairi Anna NicDhomhnaill, 2008
- Slaightearan by Tormod MacGill-Eain, 2008
- An Taigh-Samhraidh by Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul, 2007
- Malairt Sgeil by Donnchadh MacGillIosa agus Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2007
- Shrapnel by Tormod Caimbeul – Tormod a’ Bhocsair, 2006
- Ùpraid by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (translation from Irish), 2006
- Dìleas Donn by Norma NicLeòid, 2006
- Gymnippers Diciadain by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2005
- Na Klondykers by Iain F. MacLeòid, 2005
- Am Miseanaraidh by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, 2005
- Dacha Mo Ghaoil by Tormod MacGill-Eain, 2005
- Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2004
- Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa, 2004
- An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2003
- Ath-Aithne by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2003
[edit] Talking Books
- Shrapnel by Tormod Caimbeul – 4 CD set, 2007
- Gymnippers Diciadain by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – DVD, 2007
- Na Klondykers by Iain F. MacLeòid – DVD, 2007
- Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul – DVD, 2007
- Am Miseanaraidh by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn – 2 CD set, 2005
- Dacha Mo Ghaoil by Tormod MacGill-Eain – 3 CD set, 2005
- Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa. – 3 CD set, 2005
- Ath-Aithne by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – 6 CD set, 2004
[edit] Other publications
- Claigeann Damien Hirst by Na Gathan - CD, 2008
- Ruigidh Sinn Mars by Na Gathan - CD, 2008
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ Dwelly, Edward (1994)[1901] The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary. Glasgow: Gairm.
- ^ Storey, John (2007) "Ùr-Sgeul: Ag Ùrachadh Litreachas is Cultar na Gàidhlig . . . Dè an Ath Cheum?" Edinburgh University Seminars on Research on Language Policy and Language Planning.
- ^ Wringe, Mark (2006) “Normalising the Gaelic Novel - an interim review of the success of the Ùr-Sgeul initiative” Forum for the Languages of Scotland and Ulster
- ^ MacNeil, Kevin (November 2011). "Review: An Introduction to Gaelic Fiction". The Bottle Imp (10). http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLS/SWE/TBI/TBIIssue10/MacNeil.pdf. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn" The List (1/1/2005)
- ^ Gaelic punk by way of Seattle; Skye band Na Gathan set for boundary-breaking gig. The Highland News (13-12-08)
- ^ Storey, John (2009) "Ùr-Sgeul: ceistean agus cothrom ‘Chunnaic mi lainnir a’ bhùirn ud’ A Conference on Scottish Gaelic Literature in the Twentieth Century and Beyond, Celtic and Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh 25 April 2009 - http://www.ur-sgeul.com/rosg-2009.pdf
- ^ Storey, John (2011) “Contemporary Gaelic fiction: development, challenge and opportunity” Lainnir a’ Bhùirn' - The Gleaming Water: Essays on Modern Gaelic Literature, edited by Emma Dymock & Wilson McLeod, Dunedin Academic Press
