Re Gaelic language in Census

Post by **joette** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:10 pm

Does anybody know how widespread the Gaelic was especially amongst the Lowlanders.
On looking at the 1901 Census I was not surprised to find that my Great-Grandfather spoke the Gaelic as his Father was born & brought in Tain but what surprised me was that my GGranny did too.Her Parents were Ayrshire & possibly Irish paternal Grandparents & I wondered if her Gaelic would be the Irish variety-would it be noted as such? Maybe the enumerator presumed that as the husband could speak it then so could the wife although I am less happy with that explanantion.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:54 pm

Up until 100/150 years ago the deep south west - Wigtonshire and Kircudbrightshire - had a significant Scottish Gaelic speaking population.

David

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:00 pm

Hi
Interesting you should pick out these two counties in particular David.
Was there a reason that these two spoke Gealic more than the other ones in the Lowlands and borders.
Just curious.
Awrabest
Davie

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:30 pm

Davie wrote:Hi
Interesting you should pick out these two counties in particular David.
Was there a reason that these two spoke Gealic more than the other ones in the Lowlands and borders.
Just curious.
Awrabest
Davie

They were originally just as remote form the central belt as Argyll and the Inner Hebrides, and closer in terms of easy travel by sea to Argyll and the Hebrides, never mind the closeness to Ulster and Dalriada.

Across in the eastern borders they were much closer to Edinburgh, and the main historical influences, including linguistic, were from the South and the North, rather than the West, South West.

David

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:10 pm

Hi David
Very guid point
Never thought of travelling by sea to the the border counties and I should have done.
I have records of the family sailing from Liverpool to Ardishaig.
Do you have any other info on this David.
Like the Family names, the ports they used, type of ship etc.
I will look into this.
Thanks once again
Davie