Donna
Don't panic! English follows the Gaelic!
Halò.
'S e Donna an t-ainm a th' orm agus tha mi a' fuireach air Eilean Vancouver ann an British Columbia, Canada. Tha mi air a bhith a' rannsachadh eachdraidh mo theaghlaich, gu h-àraidh mo shinnsirean Albannach. B' e NicCoinnich a bha nam mhàthair, agus chaidh mo thogail gus a bhith pròiseil às mo dhualchas Albannach. Thàinig trì meuran de theaghlach mo mhàthar à Eilean Bhòid, Eilean Leòdhais agus Pàislig. Bha Gàidhlig aig mo shin-seanmhair, ach gu mì-fhortanach bhàsaich ise nuair a bha mo mhàthair fhathast glè òg, 's cha d' fhuair i cothrom air an cànan a thogail.
Bidh mi a' teagaisg dannsa Gàidhealach, agus mar sin tha mi gu math eòlach air a' phìob-chiùil. Airson a' chiad uair, tha mi a' dol a thadhail air Alba còmhla ri cuid de mo chlas-dannsa agus an teaghlaichean ann an 2012. Tha ùidh air a bhith agam ann an cànanan o riamh, agus dè an cànan a b' fheàrr ionnsachadh na a' Ghàidhlig? Tha mi an dòchas beagan ionnsachadh agus tha mi airson mo dhannsairean agus mo chlann fhèin a bhrosnachadh gus an dearbh rud fheuchainn.
Tha fadachd orm tadhal air Alba agus na h-àiteachan às an tàinig mo shinnsirean fhaicinn – tha mi an dòchas gur e a' chiad turas à iomadach turas a bhios ann!
Hello.
My name is Donna and I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I have been researching my family history, especially the Scottish ancestry. My mother was born a McKenzie, and I was raised to be proud of my Scottish heritage. Three branches of my family on my mother's side came from the Isle of Bute, the Isle of Lewis and Paisley. My great-grandmother spoke Gaelic, but unfortunately she died when my mother was very young, so it was never passed down.
I teach Highland dance, so have been around bagpipes all my life. For the first time, I will be visiting Scotland with some of my dancers and their families in 2012. I have always been fascinated by language, so what better language to learn than Gaelic! I hope to learn a bit and will encourage my dancers and my own children to give it a try.
I can't wait to visit Scotland to see some of the places of my ancestors – I hope it will be the first visit of many!
