Review of Coille an Fhasaich in The Scotsman
by RAGHNALL MacilleDHUIBH (Ronald Black)
13th December 2008
"In our Christmas books feature we recommend, among much else, a beautiful illustrated bilingual book about the island of Berneray in the Sound of Harris. Edited by the singer Anne Lorne Gillies, it has the Gaelic poetry of Donald MacKillop at its core...
Translation
One fine book that appeared in good time for the Christmas stocking is Coille an Fhàsaich: the Gaelic songs and poems of Donald MacKillop (Brìgh, 33 Stewarton Road, Dunlop, Ayrshire KA3 4DQ, £12.99). It’s so good that I wouldn’t dare set it up as an example, lest anyone else who happens to be sitting on a collection of good Gaelic poetry might feel they too would need to provide fine camera-work, colour printing, shiny paper, tape-recorded memories of the poet, an array of historical pictures, insightful notes, skilful introductions, creative design and musical transcriptions. If there had been only two of three of these things it would still have been a good book!
As regards the poetry itself, there is every kind here, from skilful introductions, creative design and musical transcriptions. MacKillop offers us both reflection and diversion. The Grammarian will appeal to the learner: “I went to the doctor / with a subjunctive mood in my head, / and he said to me, accusative, / ‘It’s your own fault…’”
There are beautiful big books about islands, and little books of poetry. In Coille an Fhàsaich the publishers have put both these things together, with the result that MacKillop’s poetry is now at the heart of a book about the island of his birth and upbringing, Berneray Harris. The book is also enriched by tha fact that it represent the skills of three individuals: the poet himself, born in 1926; Anne Lorne Gillies, who is a singer and Gaelic scholar; and Kevin Bree, her husband, who took some of the photographs and designed the book.
RAGNALL MacilleDHUIB
Ronald Black