In Schottland wird heute ein Regionalparlament gewählt. Es scheint aber, als wäre es in erster Linie eine Abstimmung über ein erneutes Unabhängigkeitsreferendum. Die europafreundlichen Schotten wollen wieder zurück in die EU und die Europafahne weht weiterhin vor dem Parlament in Edinburg (gesendet am 6.5.2021).

Werden die Schotten mehrheitlich Parteien wählen, die die Unabhängigkeit anstreben? Wird es ein zweites Referendum geben? Wollen die Schotten immer noch zurück in die EU? Gesendet am 6.5.2021.

Cuimhneachain air amannan nas fheàrr: Soisgeul an Talla Usher an Dùn Èideann/ Memories of better times: Two year’s ago the only Gaelic Gospel choir performed in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. What a privilege to be a part of this amazing choir!

I first joined Soisgeul at a workshop with Gareth Fuller, an experienced Gospel choir director, on the holy island of Iona in 2017. Here is my report for An Là, the news on BBC ALBA.

The City of Berlin has recently introduced a rent cap after rents doubled over 10 years. But they are still very low compared to other European capitals. The federal government has challenged the law in the courts saying it is unconstitutional. The rent cap was introduced by “Die Linke”, successor of the communist party of East Germany. Three industry experts tell me of their fear it will gradually return the housing stock to the ruinous state of communist times as landlords stop investing. Now campaigners gather signatures for a referendum to expropriate big private and even social landlords.

My report for European current affairs programme, Eòrpa on BBC ALBA on 4/2/21:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000rzvp/eorpa-series-28-episode-8

If you live outside the UK please access my report on youtube:

In February 2020 I visited Moria, the notorious refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos. Some who worked there say the conditions were worse than in refugee camps in Africa. The camp has since burnt down in a fire set by the desperate refugees themselves.

“Η θάλασσα Δεν φράζεται” [I thálassa den frázetai]! Kostas Pinteris kept repeating the sentence over and over again. “The sea cannot be blocked”. He is a fisherman on the Greek island of Lesvos, on the edge of Europe. Turkey is within sight. In 2015 when the refugee crisis was at its height, he became a fisherman of men. He says he rescued thousands. Together with three others he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Now the Greek government are planning to install floating barriers between the island and Turkey to keep the refugees out. Kostas says this will impede fishing as well as shipping and will inevitably lead to disputes with the Turks.

Poseidon is known to be the Greek god of the sea. But Thalassa was a primeval spirit of the oceans. Her name is still in practical use today: I thálassa den frázetai! Together with her male counterpart, Pontus, she spawned the tribes of fish and the storm gods. Thalassa and Pontus were later replaced by Oceanus and Tethys, Poseidon and Amphitrite.

Continue reading “The Sea Cannot Be Blocked” →

Observations from a trip to the Balkans (in English below)

A’ coiseachd tro Zagreb, prìomh bhaile Chroatia bho chionn ghoirid ràinig mi Kamenita Vrata, An Geata Cloiche. Tha soidhne dà-chànanach os a chionn – ann an Chroatianais agus Gearmailtis. Bha an dùthaich uair fo smachd Ìmpireachd na h-Ostaire agus na h-Ungaire. Tha an ailtireachd da-rèir. ‘S e geata a-steach dhan t-seann bhaile a th’ ann. An rud a tha iongantach mu dhèidhinn ‘s e is gu bheil ìomhaigh de Mhuire Mhàthair na bhroinn agus beingidhean feadha gus ùrnaigh a dhèanadh. Ach chan e a-mhàin is gu bheil daoine ag ùrnaigh an sin, chìthear fiù ‘s oileanaich a’ ruigh tron gheata dha na clasaichean aca is iad a’ dèanadh soidhne na croise. Gun teagamh is e àite a th’ ann an Croatia far a bheil an creideamh Caitligeach gu mòr mar phàirt dhe beatha poblach na dùthcha.

Continue reading “Creideamh, Cànan agus Cogadh” →

(in English below)

Air Eilean Lesbos sa Ghrèig tha catacomban ann a chaidh a chladhach le muinntir an àite às dèidh do Mhàiri Mhagdalene nochdadh dhaibh. Air an eadar-lìon chan fhaighear mòran fiosrachaidh mun dèidhinn ann am Beurla. Dar a ràinig mi baile Skopelos cha robh aon soidhne ri fhaicinn. Dh’fhaighnich mi do ghrunnan dhaoine, ach cha robh iad ga mo thuigsinn. Mu dheireadh thall lorg mi eaglais agus chaidh mi a-steach ann. Bha an eaglais ortadocs sin làn stuthan cràbhaidh mar is dual dhaibh.

Bha cailleach ann an aodach dhubh na suidhe an sin agus dh’fhaighnich mi dhithse a-rithist: “Maria Magdalena?” Rinn i soidhne dhomh nach b’ e seo an eaglais cheart idir, ach gun robh agam ri falbh suas an rathad. Chan fhada mus an do ràinig mi eaglais eile, ach bha an geata timcheall oirre dùinte. Abair briseadh dùil. B’ e seo an aon chothrom a bha gu bhith agam gus tadhail oirre. Bha e 7.45 sa mhadainn ge-tà. Chaidh mi timcheall is thog mi dealbhan bhon taobh a-muigh. Dìreach mus robh mi am beachd falbh nochd cailleach eile ann an aodach dhubh le gàire air a h-aodann: “Kali mera!” – madainn mhath, ars mise. “Kali mera – katakombe?” dh’fhaighnich ise. Mu dheireadh thall bha fios aig cuideigin mu dhèidhinn Màiri Magdalene.

Le iuchar mhòr dh’fhosgail i an toiseach an geata agus an uair sin an eaglais. Sheall i dhomh an icon a tha an-diugh na sheasadh na broinn, ach a-rèir choltais lorgar e gu h-ìosal san talamh. B’ abhaist taighean-còmhnaidh a bhith air an làraich seo. Bha Anton agus Eilidh Tsantarlioti a’ fuireach an seo timcheall air a’ bhliadhna 1900. A-rèir aon làrach-lìn co-dhiù nochd Màiri Magdalene dha Eilidh is i ag ràdh rithe gun robh i a’ fuireach sa ghàradh aice agus gum miannaicheadh i gun losgar coinneal dhi fad na h-ùine. Rinn iad sin ri taobh a’ chruinn-ola. Continue reading “Catacomban Mhàiri Mhagdalene/ Catacombs of Mary Magdalene” →

My Granny’s Cheesecake on BBC ALBA (in Gaelic with English subtitles)

There is none like it! Here’s the recipe:

Omas Käsekuchen:

250 g Butter, 250 g Zucker und 8 Eigelbe verrühren, dann schaumig schlagen.

2kg Quark, eine Prise Salz, Vanillesoßenpulver, Vanillezucker, 2 Teelöffel Backpulver, Saft von 2 Zitronen, eine handvoll Rosinen, 160 g Grieß, 4 Esslöffel Rum, 8 geschlagene Eiweiß (steif) unterheben.

Die Masse auf eine große und eine kleine Form verteilen. Bei 190 Grad auf unterster Schiene backen bis der Kuchen goldgelb ist (ca. 30 Min). Guten Appetit!

Granny’s Cheesecake:

Stir 250g of butter, 250g of sugar and 8 yolks. Beat until foamy.

Add 2kg quark, a pinch of salt, custard powder, vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, juice of 2 lemons, a handful of raisins, 160g of semolina, 4 tablespoons of Rum, 8 beaten egg whites (stiff) and fold.

Fill the mass in a large and a small form. Bake at 190 degrees on the bottom rail until the cake is golden yellow (roughly 30 mins). Guten Appetit!

My homemade video preparing the cake (in English)

Continue reading “Omas Käsekuchen – Granny’s Cheescake” →

Meine Schlagzeilen aus einer Diskussionsrunde im Deutschlandfunk:

https://srv.deutschlandradio.de/dlf-audiothek-audio-teilen.3265.de.html?mdm:audio_id=793602

Brexit

Eine Minderheit von 43,6% hat in der britischen Unterhauswahl, dank des Mehrheitswahlrechts, den harten Brexit der Regierung Boris Johnson ermöglicht. Der Rechtspopulist Johnson und der linksextreme Gegenkandidat der Labourpartei, Jeremy Corbyn, habe die britische politische Landschaft dabei weiter polarisiert.

Schottische Unabhängigkeit

Die SNP sagt, das Wahlergebnis zeige, daß das Vereinigte Königreich zerbrochen sei. Obgleich sie sich Schottische Nationalpartei nennt, verstehen sie sich als Internationalisten und Europäer [mit sozialdemokratischer Gesinnung].

Die SNP hat aber auch nur 45% der schottischen Stimmen auf sich vereinigt. Eine Mehrheit hat also gegen Unabhängigkeit gestimmt. Continue reading “Nach der “Brexitwahl:” Stehen schottische Unabhängigkeit und irische Wiedervereinigung vor der Tür?” →

An absolutely unique performance giving you goosebumps. What a privilege to be a part of this choir. Follow the link below.

www.facebook.com/ModGhlaschu2019/videos/556577788410901

A talk I gave for the Scottish Catholic Cultural Symposium at Pluscarden Abbey on 3/5/19, entitled: Faith in the North – Reviving Cultures: Healing the divide between the Catholic Faith and traditional Scottish culture  

Current Issues in the Gaelic Revival and the Place of the Catholic Church

1) Eòlas Pearsanta/ Personal experience

Bu mhath leam tòiseachadh le beagan dhen eòlas pearsanta agam fhìn. An-dràsta is a-rithist thathar ag ràdhn gur i a’ Ghàidhlig, cànan gàrradh Eden. Tha sin a’ faireachdain ceart, ach saoil, carson?

Gaelic has often been described as the language of the Garden of Eden. And the funny thing is it attracts lunatics like myself from around the world who come and learn it. But why?

There are many obvious ways to put it: The people are friendly, the landscape is beautiful, the lovely weather…

 

Dhomhsa tha a’ Ghaidhealtachd a’ faireachdain gu sònraichte beannaichte. Agus tha mi dhen bheachd gu bheil sin air sgàth irisleachd nan daoine.

The closest I have come to explaining the attraction of Scottish Gaelic to myself is that Gaeldom must be especially blessed. In Scotland in general, but in particular in the Gaidhealtachd – as Gaeldom is known in Gaelic – people seem to look out for each other, the arrogance and elbow society of much of the Western world hasn’t reached here, yet.  Continue reading “Comann Gàidhlig na h-Eaglaise Caitligich/ A Gaelic Society of the Catholic Church” →