Bliadhna Dhàna airson iris-d na Gàidhlig

Tha an iris-d Ghàidhlig, Dàna, a’ comharrachadh bliadhna on a chaidh a stèidheachadh sa Mhàrt an-uiridh.

Dh’èirich smuaintean airson Dàna an lorg naidheachd gum biodh an iris pàipeir Cothrom, le Clì, a’ dol à bith. Bhathar a’ smaoineachadh le buidheann de sgrìobhadairean gun robh beàrn ann airson iris ùr a chur air bhonn air-loidhne do choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhlig.

Chaidh làrach-lìn Dàna a chur air bhog air 7 Am Màrt 2014, le 6 artaigilean air cuspairean diofraichte, poileataigs, saidheans, spòrs agus film nam measg. Bho na tùsan sin, tha Dàna air 150 pìosan Gàidhlig ùra fhoillseachadh taobh a-staigh bliadhna, le corr ‘s deich ar fhichead tabhartaiche.

Thuirt Rhona NicDhùghaill, o sgioba Dhàna: “Bha sinn airson coltas ùr, snasail agus guth neo-fhoirmeil a bhith aig an iris, agus rudeigin a chruthachadh a bhiodhtarraingeach do dhaoine òga – agus daoine nach eil cho òg! – san latha an-diugh.

“Chaidh ar brosnachadh le bhith a’ coimhead air làrach-lìn an iris Gaeilge, NÓS. Bha coltas cho tarraingeach air, cho math ri rud sam bith a chitheadh thu ann am Beurla.”

Tha farsaingeachd artaigilean air a bhith a’ nochdadh ann an Dàna, bhon IndyRef gu iomain, o “Ghràin air a’ Ghàidhlig” gu càs nan Tùsanach Ameirigeanach, o bhàrdachd mu Grand Theft Auto gu sgeulachdan goirid coltach ri Lovecraft. O chionn ghoirid, dh’fhoillsich an iris artaigil leis an Dr. Aonghas MacLeòid a’ càineadh phoileasaidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar, a thàinig gu aire nam meadhanan nàiseanta.

‘S e iomairt shaor-thoileach a th’ ann an Dàna, le sgrìobhadh a’ tighinn à iomadh ceàrn agus sgioba bheag de cheathrar ga stiùireadh ‘s ga dheasachadh. Mar sin, tha iad gu mòr an eisimeil nan tagraichean a chuireas pìosan thuca.

Tha Dàna gu math pròiseil gu bheil iad neo-eisimeileach. Cha b’ e rathad rèidh a bha mu choinneimh irisean Gàidhlig sa bhliadhna a dh’fhalbh. Tha Cothrom, a dh’fhalbh ‘s a thill ann an riochd ùr, agus Nòs, iris-d ar co-Ghàidheil an Èireann, nan deagh eisimpleirean dhen chunnart an lùib a bhith an crochadh ri maoineachadh bhon sporan phoblach a-mhàin.

Thuirt Eòghan Stiùbhart on sgioba deasachaidh: “Tha sinn moiteil gu bheil sinn neo-eisimileach. Cha tèid sinn à bith fo rùn buidheann no cuideigin eile.”

Tha feallsanachd Dhàna ri shealltainn anns an ainm fhèin.

Mar a thuirt Liam Crouse o sgioba Dhàna: “Mura h-eil rudeigin a’ dol a thachairt air thàilleibh nach eil cuideigin eile a’ dol ga dhèanamh, dèanadh tu fhèin e! A bheil sinne, mar luchd-taice a’
chànain, a’ dèanamh ar leòir airson ’s gun nochd i fo bhlàth às ùr? An leig sinne leis a’ Ghàidhlig a dhol sìos bliadhna is bliadhna, air neo, a bheil sinn a’ dol a dhèanamh an oidhirp a tha a dhìth gus ar cànan a neartachadh. Tha corra càs nach eil nar làmhan, air nach eil sinn comasach atharrachadh. Ach tha tòrr a bharrachd a tha nar comas.”

San àm ri teachd, tha dùil aig Dàna cumail orra a’ cur ri beachdan an t-sluaigh agus sgaoileadh na h-irise.

Thuirt Steaphan MacRisnidh, fear eile bhon sgioba deasachaidh: “Bidh sinn ag amas air ruigheachd na h-irise a leudachadh – tro na meadhanan sòisealta, tro bhideo agus audio, agus cuideachd ann an clò. Tha sinn airson cluinntinn o sgrìobhadairean ùra, sgrìobhadairean eòlach, agus gu h-àraidh ar luchd-leughaidh. A bheil beachdan aca air dòighean as fheàrr air an iris a sgaoileadh?
An urrainn dhaibh ar cuideachadh? Mas urrainn, tha sinn gu mòr airson cluinntinn bhuapa.”
Gheibhear greim air Dàna air loidhne aig na seòlaidhean seo:
www.danamag.org
fios@danamag.org
Twitter – @dana_mag
Facebook – Dàna

 
Bliadhna Dhàna – A Bold Year for On-line Gaelic Magazine

The Gaelic on-line magazine, Dàna, marks a year this week since it was established last March.

Dàna arose in the aftermath of the closure of the last hard-copy Gaelic periodical, Cothrom, published by Clì. A group of enthusiastic writers felt it important to create a place where new articles and creative writing could be published and made available to the wider Gaelic communities.

Dàna’s online site was launched on the 7th of March, 2014, featuring 6 articles on various subjects, including politics, science, sport and film. Since then, they have published around 150 pieces of new Gaelic writing, by over 30 different contributors.

Rhona NicDhùghaill, from Dàna’s editorial team, said: “We wanted the magazine to have a fresh, cool look and a laid-back tone; we wanted to create something current that would appeal to young people – and not so young people! We were also inspired by the Irish language magazine, NÓS. It looked so attractive to readers, as good as anything you’d see in English.”

The articles published by Dàna cover a wide range of subject matter, from the politics of the IndyRef to shinty, from facing down anti-Gaelic hatred to the plight of Native Americans, from poetry about Grand Theft Auto to Lovecraftian short stories.

Recently, the magazine published an article by Dr Angus MacLeod which took aim at the Gaelic Policy of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, achieving national news coverage.

Dàna is a voluntary initiative, with a small steering and editorial group, so is therefore reliant on the efforts of its varied contributors. The team at Dàna are happy to be indepedent independent; having seen Cothrom, An Gàidheal Ùr and NÓS suffer cuts or closure, they are well aware of the dangers of being too reliant on funding.

Eòghan Stiùbhart, another editor and contributor, said, “We’re proud to be independent. We won’t go out of existence due to the decisions of other people.”

The philosophy behind Dàna is one which in keeping with the translation of its name in English, “Bold” or “Brave”.

As Liam Crouse from the Dàna team adds: “ It’s about not waiting for somebody to do something, but to do it yourself. Are we, as Gaelic speakers and supporters, doing enough to help revitalise Gaelic? Are we prepared to let the language decline year after year, or are we going to put in the effort that’s needed to strengthen our language? There are many things we can’t change, but
there are plenty of things we can take into our own hands and try and make a difference to Gaelic.”

As it enters its second year, the team at Dàna hope that it will continue to go from strength to strength.

Another editor and contributor, Steaphan MacRisnidh, said, “We hope to explore different avenues to ensure that the magazine can secure as wide a readership as possible – through social media, through video and audio, and indeed in print. We want to hear from everyone, new writers, experienced writers, our readers, and also people who haven’t read Dàna yet. Do they have suggestions
as to how we can reach a wider audience? If they’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from them.”

Dàna can be found on-line at the following places.
www.danamag.org
fios@danamag.org
Twitter – @dana_mag
Facebook – Dàna