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View Full Version : An Naomh Odhran/St. Oran ...and Columba



Faol-chù
January 4th, 2007, 07:47 AM
Bho Sgeulachdan a Tiriodh le Fiona E. Mackinnnon

(From Tiree Tales by Fiona E. Mackinnon)



Anns a' Ghaidhlig

'S e fear de luchd-leanmhainn Chaluim Chille a bh' ann an Odhran. Thainig e a chraobh-sgaoileadh an t-Soisgeil ann an Tiriodh, agus a reir beaul-aithris, ged nach eil cinnt air, that e air a thiodhlaiceadh anns an t-seann cladh mhor ann an Circeabol. Gus an la an-diugh 's e Cladh Odhrain a theirear ris a' chladh seo le luchd na Gaidhlig san eilean.

As deigh bas an fhir-leanmhainn aige, bha bruadar neonach aig Calum Cille, tri oidhcheannan as deidh a cheile, anns am fac' e gu robh Odhran fhathast beo agus a' feuchainn ri bruidhinn ris. Mar thoradh air a' bhruadar bheothail seo, chuir Calum Cille agus a luchd-leanmhainn romhpa tadhal ann an Circeabol agus uaigh an Naoimh Odhran fhosgladh. Nuair a rinn iad seo, nach ann a dh'eirich Odhran na shuidhe agus thuirt e, "Chan eil am Bas na annas, neo Ifrinn mar a theirear ris!"

Chuir an comhradh neonach so iongantas mor air Calum Cille coir, agus dh'iarr e air na fir a chomhdach a-rithist. "Tuilleadh uir air Odhran!" ars esan.

Fada as deidh sin, bha na facail seo gan cleachdadh an seo ann an Tiriodh mu neach sam bith aig an robh tuilleadh 's a choir ri radh air a shon fhein, coltach ris and Naomh Odhran!



Translation (Mine!)

Oran was one of the followers of St. Columba. He came to Tiree to spread the Gospel, and, according to tradition, though not for sure, he is buried in the big old cemetery in Kirkapol. Even today, this cemetery is called "Cladh Odhrain" (Oran's cemetery) by the Gaelic-speaking people of the island.

After the death of his his follower, Columba had a strange dream, three nights in succession, and he saw Oran still alive and trying to speak with him. As instructed by this strange dream, Columba and his followers put a visit on Kirkapol, and opened St. Oran's grave. When they did that, what did they see but Odhran sitting upo and saying "Death is not as strange, nor Hell as bad as they say!"

This strange statement put great wonder on Columba, and he told his men to cover Oran back up again. "Tuilleadh uir air Odhran!" ("More dirt on Oran!") he said.

Long after that, this saying was customarily used in Tiree when anybody had too much to say for himself, just like St. Oran!

Brightshores
January 4th, 2007, 08:18 AM
Beautiful story.. I've always been very interested in St Columba (did a master's dissertation on Christianity in the Western Isles 600-800..)

I really have to learn Gaelic.

skilly-nilly
January 4th, 2007, 09:22 AM
What a great story!

Is the implication that St Columba was worried that Death and Hell not being as bad as preached would lessen the fear factor, do you think?

Faol-chù
January 4th, 2007, 10:09 AM
What a great story!

Is the implication that St Columba was worried that Death and Hell not being as bad as preached would lessen the fear factor, do you think?

That's my take...:)

However, it seems obvious to me that the people were onto him...even as beloved as a character as St. Columba was/is...They apparently knew 'dogma' when they saw it..:)

Faol-chù
January 4th, 2007, 01:11 PM
I actually thought I put this in the 'folklore' section...:)

_Banbha_
January 4th, 2007, 02:45 PM
I love that story! And :fpraise: for the translation! It trumps what Columba was preaching and in the most clever and hilarious ways. At least that was always my take... :lol:

From what you read about the stories and lore of early Christianity in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in particuliar is the of distinct culture it refected. The protection of distance from the heart (and of never being 'of') the Roman Empire too is part to it's preservation and distinctiveness too. :)

Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill
January 24th, 2007, 06:08 PM
I can't believe I missed this!

What a beautiful translation Faol-chù. And I appreciate that you posted it in the Gaelic as well. St. Columba has always fascinated me, so it's very neat to find a story about him here.