Search records

Readings from the Bible and conversations in Manx Gaelic

Audio Player:

Date(s): 1947

Creator(s): Manx Society

Transcript: SA 0030
Mrs Lowey Ballakillowey, as v’eh litcheragh, faagail ooilley yn obbyr da’n ben echey as va un oie, cha row ny baatyn magh, as ren eh cheet thie ayns yn moghrey, as shen yn boayl va’n ben echey- uh ve ben feer smart as giree as (cha nel shen gaelck) as re ee gra well nee shin cur yn arroo stiagh jiu, as dooyrt eh mie dy liooar, as shen y boayl ren ad goll dy cur yn creeagh ayns corneil yn magher. As ren ad goll dy cur eh ayns yn creeagh, as v’ed cur yn bundeilyn my cheilley as veeish cur yn bundeilyn da, as shen yn boayl v’ad goll mygeayrt as goll mygeayrt, as cur ny bundeilyn seese, as cha row ad cur veg ayns y meanah, as fy jerrey ren eh geddyn soese er y creeagh, as shen y boayl ren eh goll ass shilley, cha row veg ren eh feddyn, as ren eh goll.

(a man at) Ballakillowey, and he was lazy , leaving all the work to the woman at him (wife) and there was one night, the boats were not out, and he did not come home in the morning, and that’s the place (way) the woman at him - oh she was a woman very “smart”* and rising and *(that is not Manx) and she did say, well we will put the corn in today, and he said good enough, and that’s the place (way) they did go to put the stack in a corner of the field. And they did go to put it in the stack, and he was putting the bundles together and she was putting the bundles to it, and that’s the place (way) they were going about and going about, and putting the bundles up, and they were not putting anything in the middle, and at last he did get up on the stack, and that’s the place (way) he did go out of sight, there was nothing he did find, and she did go.


Sheese, as ren ooilley yn arroo cheet stiagh harrish oc, as ren ish shassoo seose, as cha ee abyl fakin veg jeh, as en ee gra “Jean yn Chiarn Jeeagh orrym” cha nel dooinney aym dooyrt ee, keayn ny thalloo, as ren eh gra, ta kesh dy liooar ort er my hon myr te. I haven’t translated it all well at all.

up, and all the corn did come in on them (over them), and she did stand up, and she was not able to see anything of him, and she did say “May the Lord look on us” there is not a man at me she said, sea or land, and she did say, there is a sweat enough at him on me though. I haven’t translated it well at all.

N.Maddrell Row eh dooinney litcheragh?
Was he a lazy man?

Mrs Lowey Va, v’eh dooinney litcheragh dy liooar.
Was, he was lazy enough.

N.Madrell Cha row eh laccal jannoo, cha row eh laccal jannoo veg er y thalloo ny er y keayn.
he was not wanting to do, he was not wanting to do anything on the land or on the sea.

Mrs Lowey Cha row, V’eh lhie ayns yn purt er y baatey, as v’ish jannoo ooilley ee-hene ec y thie.
was not, he was lying in the harbour on the boat, and she was doing all herself at the house.

N.Madrell Faagail ooilley yn obbyr da’n ben echey.
leaving all the work to the woman at him (wife).

Mrs Lowey Va, eirinagh litcheragh dy liooar, cha ren eh jean yn cChree da, as shen yn boayl well v’ad jannoo yn thurran ooilley harrish reesht, as shen y boayl ren ad geddyn eh jeant.
(He) was, a farmer lazy enough, he did not make the heart of it (stack/core), and that’s the place (way) well they were making the stack all over again, and that’s the place (way) they did get it done.
Mrs Lowey uses the phrases “shen y boayl” “that’s the place” in the sense of “that’s the way”, the other speakers use the phrase “shen yn aght” “that’s the way or manner”. Ned Maddrell seems to accept this as the norm in conversation with her. It’s a great pity we don’t have other recordings of Mrs Lowey or people in that area to find out if this was generally the case.

N.Maddrell Nish Ben Ainshter Lowey, vel cooinaghtyn eu ayd er y laa va shin ec shirveish ec y keeill ayns y tourey?

now Mrs Lowey, is remembrance at you on the day we were at a church service in the summer? (Manx Service)

Mrs Lowey oh te.
oh there is.

N.Maddrell tra haink shin magh ass y keeill, briaght peccagh enagh, quoi ee-shen, quoi ee-shen? As dooyrt. fer elley, nagh vel fys eu quoi ee, “Ta shen mummig yn Gaelg”.
when we came out of the church, enquired some body, who is she (Mrs Lowey), who is herself? And said another person, do you not know who she is, “That is the
mother of Manx”.

Mrs Lowey shen mie, t’eh cred t’ou gra.
that’s good, it is what you say.

N. Maddrell lurg shen, ren shin geddyn er yn barroose, as geddyn – son vel laccal goll dys Dhoolish son dy cur shilley er Y daa vac er, as lurg shen, ren shin goll thie as ve Bunnys mun oie tra ren shin roshtyn.
after that, we did get on the bus, and get – for she was wanting to go to Douglas for to put a sight on the two sons at her, and after that, we did go home and it was almost midnight when we did reach it.

J.Gell Cred ren shiu cootney jeh’n shirveish ansherbee?
What did you think if that service anyway?

Mrs Lowey Aw, ren mish cootney mie jeh, va mee er n’goll, er yn raad Liayr shen reesht dy clashtyn eh, oh! Ren eh jannoo foays d’ou, ta enn ayn shickyr, oh va mee er n’goll as tra ren mee clashtyn mygeayrt y mysg, cha row red erbee jannoo, va mee laccal goll dy clashtyn eh.
Aw, I did think good of it, I would go, on that long road again to hear it, oh! it did great benefit (joy) to me, I know for sure, oh I would have gone and when I did hear about it, there was nothing at all doing, I was wanting to go to hear it.

N. Maddrell Aw ren eh loayrt mie yn traa shen (the Preacher).
Aw he did speak good that time.

Mrs Lowey Aw dy jarroo ren (eh), aw dy jarroo ren (eh) aw ren eh. Jannoo ……….
Aw indeed he did, aw indeed he did, aw he did. Do……………

J.Gell Ta mee sheiltyn cha nel oo clashtyn money gaelck er nonney ec yn shirveish.
I suppose you are not hearing much Manx except at the service.

Mrs Lowey aw cha nel, cha nel.
Aw am not, an not.

N.Madrell Shen yn boayl nish ta shin clashtyn eh, cha nel shiu clashtyn eh boayl erbee elley.
That’s the place now we are hearing it, you are not Heatring it any place (any other place).

Mrs Lowey Cha nel, cha nel, boayl erbee elley, cha nel.
Are not, are not, any other place, are not (no).

N.Maddrell T’eh bunnys ersooyl.
It is nearly away (gone)

Mrs Lowey T’eh bunnys ersooyl.
It is nearly away (gone).

N. Maddrell Well shegin dooin jannoo ny share son dy cummal eh bio son cha bee eh foddey nish derrey bee eh ersooyl.

Well we must do better for to keep it alive for it will not be long now until it will be away (gone).

Mrs Lowey Cha bee eh foddey, cha bee eh foddey.
It will not be long, it will not be long.

N.Maddrell Son mannagh jean shin jannoo red enagh, bee eh marroo.
For unless we do something or other, it will be dead.

Mrs Lowey Well quoi t’ayn dy goaill eh? (learn it)
Well who is in to take it? (learn it)

N.Maddrell Cha s’ayms cha s’ayms, cha nel yn chree oc. Dy goaill eh.
I don’t know I don’t know, there is not the heart at them To take it.

Mrs Lowey Cha nel, cha nel ad laccal eh.
Is not, they are not wanting it.

N.Maddrell Cha nel, baarle t’ad laccal, baarle t’ad Laccal, shen tae r ve currity as stroie eh.
Are not, English they are wanting, English they are Wanting, that will come and destroy it.

Mrs Lowey Aw shen eh gym ourys, cha nel ad laccal eh, Cha jean ad geastagh rooin.
Aw that’s it without a doubt, they are not wanting it, They will not listen to us

N. Maddrell Cha jean.
Will not.

J.Gell Ta feallagh ayn gynsaghey gailck, agh quoi, - - cha nel fer ynsee ayn.
There is people in learning Manx, but who, - - there is noteacher in.

Mrs Lowey Oh! cha nel – cha nel, oh cha nel – va mish Rieau booiseagh dy fakin ad my te, ga tra va mee Aeg as foast (fass).
Oh! is not – is not, oh is not (there is not) – I am always delighted to see them through, both when I was young and still (now).

N.Madrell Aw t’eh jannoo foays dy my chree clashtyn eh.
Aw it is doing benefit (joy) to my heart to hear it.

Mrs Lowey Ta dy clashtyn eh, aw ta, aw ta, y iow mish baase As e er my chengey.
It is to hear ir, aw it is, I will find death (will die) and it on my tongue. (I will die with it on my tongue).
This is without doubt one of the finest examples of spoken Manx recorded, in spite of the poor quality.

Scope & Content: William Radcliffe reads from the Bible in Manx, John, Ch.10 v.1-26. A man reads the story, in English, about Tom Shimmin (Tom the Dipper), he then, in Manx, asks Ned Maddrell and Mrs Lowey if they knew him. Ned Maddrell talks to to Doug Faragher about his life. Ned Maddrell reads from Goodwin's 'First Lessons in Manx'. Manx learners read prayers and from the Bible.

Administration / Biographical History: Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (Manx Society) Recordings. Unlike the other recordings in this series this recording is a copy made from an earlier wax cylinder recorded by a private individual, Mr Gelling of Liverpool in 1947.

(Information from Broderick, 'Language Death in the Isle of Man', 1999.)

Language: Manx Gaelic

Extent: 28 min. 0 sec.

Item name: magnetic recording tape

Collection: Sound Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: SA 0029-0030

Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.

Subject tags : #UOSH

Comments

Optional, not displayed

Manx National Heritage (MNH) will always put you in control of the information we send you. Read our privacy policy

Archive catalogue

Linked Records