Papers by Màrtainn Mac A Bhàillidh
Chan fheumar a dhol ro dhomhainn a-steach gu eachdraidh gus beachdan aineolach gràin-chinnidheach... more Chan fheumar a dhol ro dhomhainn a-steach gu eachdraidh gus beachdan aineolach gràin-chinnidheach a lorg an aghaidh nan Gàidheal. 'S e beachd ro chumanta a th' ann ann an Alba, agus san t-saoghal gu lèir, gur e sluagh barbarach neo-adhartach a bh' anns na Gàidheil. Chithear na beachdan seo gu diofar ìrean anns na Cunntasan Staitistigeach, Sean agus Ùr, agus nochd iad aig na h-ìrean as àirde san Riaghaltas aig àm nam Fuadaichean is na Gorta, ma dh'fhaoidte an fheadhainn as iomraitiche agus as nimheile aig an Ridire Teàrlach Eideard Trevelyan, neach a bha ag obair aig àrd ìre san t-Seirbhis Chatharra aig an àm agus a bha os chionn na h-oidhirpe mas fhìor gus fuasgladh a lorg don Ghoirt ann an Èirinn, agus cuideachd a thòisich an Highland and Island Emigration Society ann an 1852 gus taic agus brosnachadh a thoirt do mhuinntir na Gàidhealtachd gabhail ri sgeama a chuireadh a-null a dh' Astràilia iad. Mar a mhìnich Tom Devine, bha Trevelyan den bheachd gur robh '[a] national effort would now be necessary to rid the land of "the surviving Irish and Scotch Celts". The exodus would then allow for the settlement of a racially superior people of Teutonic stock.' 1 the prospect of flights of Germans settling here in increasing numbers-an orderly, moral, industrious and frugal people, less foreign to us that the Irish or Scotch Celt, a congenial element which will readily assimilate with our body politic. 2 Na bu thràithe, bha beachdan agus ro-bheachdan taobhach a' nochdadh gu ìre anns na Cunntasan Staitistigeach, mar a chithear, tha faireachdainn ga toirt seachad gu bheil claon-bhreith an aghaidh muinntir na Gàidhealtachd farsaing agus stèidhichte mar ro-bharail am measg cuid de na sgrìobhadairean aig an àm. Bha The Scotsman den bheachd seo san Iuchar 1851, 'Collective emigration is, therefore, the removal of a diseased and damaged part of our populations. It is a relief to the rest of the population to be rid of this part. 3 ' Beachd agus poileasaidh a tha Devine ag aideachadh a bhiodh ga fhaicinn mar 'chairteadh-cinnidh' nas fhaide air adhart san fhicheadamh linn. 4 Ach tha comhachadh cuideachd a' nochdadh tric anns na beachdan a leughar sna Cunntasan. Nuair a bhathar a' beachdachadh air leasachaidhean, amelioration, bhathar ag aithneachadh gun robh buaidh mhòr aig na siostaman agus cleachdaidhean seilbh is màil air mar a làimhsich na Gàidheil na dòighean àiteachaidh aca. Bhathar ag aithneachadh nach robh an sluagh fhèin as coireach airson an t-suidheachaidh aca agus nach robh cumhachd aca an suidheachadh atharrachadh. Bhathar ag aithneachadh cuideachd gun robh cion in-ionmhais na thrioblaid mhòr air a' Ghàidhealtachd leis a' chuid bu mhotha den phrothaid a bhathar a' faighinn ann ga toirt a-mach às a' Ghàidhealtachd leis na h-uachdaran. Gu tric is minic bhathar a' mìneachadh nach robh adhbhar neo brosnachadh aig na màladairean, neo h-iar-mhàladairean leithid choitearan, obair a dhèanamh neo airgead a chur a-steach gus piseach a thoirt air talamh air nach robh seilbh stèidhichte aca. Gidheadh, ro thric b' e fhathast eilthireachd am fuasgladh a mholadh seach ath-leasachadh laghan fearainn no còraichean stèidhichte a thoirt gu màladairean. San aiste seo bithear a' meòrachadh air a' bhuaidh a bha aig cleachdaidhean seilbh is màil air na dòighean a bha aig an t-sluagh tighinn beò ann. Bidh fòcas ga chur air an Eilean Sgitheanach mar àite eadar na h-Eileanan a-muigh agus a' Ghàidhealtachd air Tìr-Mòr, ach bheirear iomradh air na sgìrean sin gus co-theacsa a thoirt don fhiosrachadh mun Eilean Sgitheanach fhèin.
Traces, 2018
Wild land or our land: Can a landscape scattered with the remains of thousands of years of human ... more Wild land or our land: Can a landscape scattered with the remains of thousands of years of human habitation and cultivation be considered ‘wild’; and how might its successful resettlement be realised?
“The round-back cottages clung to the earth like long animals whose folded heads were always to the mountain. Lying thus to the slopes they were part of the rhythm of the land itself...There were little herds of these cottages at long intervals, and every now and then a cottage by itself like a wandered beast...”
Neil Gunn (Butcher’s Broom)
In Scotland, scatterings of small informally planned townships, perhaps best described by the Gaelic word ‘clachan’, once supported vibrant communities with a rich heritage and culture across much of the mountainous highlands. However this now sparsely populated landscape has become commonly regarded as a romanticised ‘wilderness’. By studying the clachan as a typology, might its characteristics be reinterpreted in order to inform and legitimise future resettlement?
baillie-baillie.co.uk
#landscaperesettlement
This document forms part of an investigation into the definition of public space in the contempor... more This document forms part of an investigation into the definition of public space in the contemporary city and the nature of its ownership and control. The research and conclusions developed in this text are explored in conjunction with a series of design exercises, considered in the context of the city of Perth.
The role of public space in the city is a topical issue in the wider climate of economic downturn and political protest, as well as in the site specific context of Perth’s recently reinstated city status, and related discussion over the demolition or reuse of a number of the city’s significant former public buildings. The legal disputes and discussion over the Occupy protests, viewed alongside the congruous debate over the demolition of Perth City Hall, creates an intriguing and fluid backdrop for this research.
Uploads
Papers by Màrtainn Mac A Bhàillidh
“The round-back cottages clung to the earth like long animals whose folded heads were always to the mountain. Lying thus to the slopes they were part of the rhythm of the land itself...There were little herds of these cottages at long intervals, and every now and then a cottage by itself like a wandered beast...”
Neil Gunn (Butcher’s Broom)
In Scotland, scatterings of small informally planned townships, perhaps best described by the Gaelic word ‘clachan’, once supported vibrant communities with a rich heritage and culture across much of the mountainous highlands. However this now sparsely populated landscape has become commonly regarded as a romanticised ‘wilderness’. By studying the clachan as a typology, might its characteristics be reinterpreted in order to inform and legitimise future resettlement?
baillie-baillie.co.uk
#landscaperesettlement
The role of public space in the city is a topical issue in the wider climate of economic downturn and political protest, as well as in the site specific context of Perth’s recently reinstated city status, and related discussion over the demolition or reuse of a number of the city’s significant former public buildings. The legal disputes and discussion over the Occupy protests, viewed alongside the congruous debate over the demolition of Perth City Hall, creates an intriguing and fluid backdrop for this research.
“The round-back cottages clung to the earth like long animals whose folded heads were always to the mountain. Lying thus to the slopes they were part of the rhythm of the land itself...There were little herds of these cottages at long intervals, and every now and then a cottage by itself like a wandered beast...”
Neil Gunn (Butcher’s Broom)
In Scotland, scatterings of small informally planned townships, perhaps best described by the Gaelic word ‘clachan’, once supported vibrant communities with a rich heritage and culture across much of the mountainous highlands. However this now sparsely populated landscape has become commonly regarded as a romanticised ‘wilderness’. By studying the clachan as a typology, might its characteristics be reinterpreted in order to inform and legitimise future resettlement?
baillie-baillie.co.uk
#landscaperesettlement
The role of public space in the city is a topical issue in the wider climate of economic downturn and political protest, as well as in the site specific context of Perth’s recently reinstated city status, and related discussion over the demolition or reuse of a number of the city’s significant former public buildings. The legal disputes and discussion over the Occupy protests, viewed alongside the congruous debate over the demolition of Perth City Hall, creates an intriguing and fluid backdrop for this research.