Ùr-sgeul was an independent publisher of new Scottish Gaelic prose. The name Ùr-sgeul is a Gaelic word which translates variously as: a romance, a novel or a recent tale.Dwelly, Edward (1994) The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary. Glasgow: Gairm. Professor Alan Riach, in Scottish Literature: An introduction, summarises the Ùr-Sgeul publishing initiative as "devoted to prose fiction and developing an increasingly impressive list of new titles: short stories and anthologies but mainly single-author novels."
History Ùr-sgeul was founded in 2003 as a project to promote new Gaelic fiction, and finished in 2013. The project, taken forward by CLÀR, was conceived under the auspices of the Gaelic Books Council and with a start-up grant of £50K from the Scottish Arts Council. In its short history, Ùr-sgeul has been prolific, and has contributed significantly to the recent resurgence of the Gaelic novel. Ùr-sgeul is particularly notable for advancing modern genres and themes in Scottish Gaelic literature, and for the modern look and feel of the design of the novels.Wringe, Mark (2006) “Normalising the Gaelic Novel - an interim review of the success of the Ùr-Sgeul initiative” Forum for the Languages of Scotland and Ulster
Ùr-sgeul's most critically successful title to date was the epic novel, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn, by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul. Heavily influenced in both structure and theme by the works of Leo Tolstoy, An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn was short-listed for the Saltire Book of the Year Award in 2004."An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn" The List (1/1/2005) Since then, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul has produced three further novels for Ùr-sgeul, and a novella for CLÀR.
In 2008, Ùr-sgeul was featured on the half-hour Gaelic arts program on BBC2, Ealtainn. In 2008, Ùr-sgeul also branched into avant-garde music publishing and released a CD mixing Gaelic prose and modern Gaelic music by the rock band, Na Gathan.Gaelic punk by way of Seattle; Skye band Na Gathan set for boundary-breaking gig. The Highland News (13-12-08) That same year, Ùr-sgeul approached Bòrd na Gàidhlig for support to expand its activities, including provision of a full-time editor. The approach was not supported.Storey, John (2009) "Ùr-Sgeul: ceistean agus cothrom ‘Chunnaic mi lainnir a’ bhùirn ud’ A Conference on Scottish Gaelic Literature in the Twentieth Century and Beyond, Celtic and Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh 25 April 2009
In 2009, Ùr-Sgeul published the first ever German-Gaelic fiction publication Der Schadel von Damien Hirst, edited by Michael Klevenhaus, launched at the FilmAlba festival in Bonn, Germany.
Finlay MacLeod was presented with the first ever annual Donald Meek Literary Award in 2010, at a ceremony at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for his Ùr-Sgeul title, Gormshuil an Righ, his first ever Gaelic novel for adults.
In 2011, the novella Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich by Alasdair Caimbeul was published. A Gaelic commentator provided a throw-away comment in The Scotsman newspaper: "Tha Alasdair a’ Bhocsair a’ creidsinn ann an daoine ’s ann an Leódhas ’s ann an Gàidhlig agus sin, a réir choltais, è.". "Alasdair Caimbeul believes in people, in Lewis, and in Gaelic, and this, it seems, is it."
Moral dilemmas, subversion and law breaking constituted the broad themes explored in the 2011 collection, Saorsa (Freedom). 13 new short stories from 13 writers were published, as follows:
Luathas-teichidh by Tim Armstrong Dh'fhalbh sin, 's thàinig seo by Maureen NicLeòid Dorsan by Annie NicLeòid Hill An Fhianais by Màiri Anna NicDhòmhnaill An Comann by Seonaidh Adams Saorsa gun chrìch by Mìcheal Klevenhaus An Drochaid by Mona Claudia Wagner Sandra agus Ceit by Seònaid NicDhòmhnaill Playa de la Suerte by Gillebrìde Mac 'IlleMhaoil Iain MacAonghais by Neil McRae Euceartas Ait by Cairistìona Stone An Dotair Eile by Pàdraig MacAoidh Chanadh gun do chuir i às dha by Meg Bateman
Aonghas MacNeacail wrote the introduction for Saorsa.
The Ùr-Sgeul website www.ur-sgeul.com, the German-Gaelic collaboration www.ur-sgeul.de and the digital pages www.ur-sgeul.com/digital/ - featuring audio, video and written materials for learners and native speakers - were axed in July 2011 following a decision by the Gaelic Books Council.Storey, John (2011) “Contemporary Gaelic fiction: development, challenge and opportunity” Lainnir a’ Bhùirn' - The Gleaming Water: Essays on Modern Gaelic Literature, edited by Emma Dymock & Wilson McLeod, Dunedin Academic Press
In 2014, The Irish Times explored the contribution of Ùr-Sgeul to the revitalization of Gaelic fiction.
In 2020, editor and journalist Alasdair H. Campbell described the marketing methods employed by Ùr-sgeul as "innovative and creative, successfully raising the profile of Scottish Gaelic fiction amongst the wider Scottish population."
Books Saorsa short story collection edited by Joan NicDhòmhnaill and John Storey, 2011 Air a Thoir by Martainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2011 Cuid a' Chorra-Ghrithich by Alasdair Caimbeul (Alasdair a' Bhocsair), 2011 Suthainn Sìor by Norma NicLeòid, 2011 An Druim Bho Thuath by Tormod Caimbeul, 2011 Impireachd by Iain F. MacLeoid, 2010 Teas by Maoilios Caimbeul, 2010 Gormshuil an Rìgh by Fionnlagh MacLeòid, 2010 A' Ghlainne agus Sgeulachdan Eile by Mairi E. NicLeòid, 2010 Der Schadel von Damien Hirst edited by Michael Klevenhaus and Joan NicDhòmhnaill, 2009 Cainnt na Caileige Caillte by Alison Lang, 2009 Tilleadh Dhachaigh by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2009 Samhraidhean Dìomhair by Catrìona Lexy Chaimbeul, 2009 An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 3 (paper) - Stories 15–21, 2008 An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 2 (paper) - Stories 8–14, 2008 An Claigeann aig Damien Hirst Vol 1 (paper) - Stories 1–7, 2008 Taingeil Toilichte by Norma NicLeòid, 2008 Am Bounty by Iain F. MacLeòid, 2008 An Latha as Fhaide by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2008 Dìomhanas by Fionnlagh MacLeòid, 2008 Cleas Sgathain by Mairi Anna NicDhomhnaill, 2008 Slaightearan by Tormod MacGill-Eain, 2008 An Taigh-Samhraidh by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2007 Malairt Sgeil by Donnchadh MacGillIosa agus Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2007 Shrapnel by Tormod Caimbeul – Tormod a’ Bhocsair, 2006 Ùpraid by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (translation from Irish), 2006 Dìleas Donn by Norma NicLeòid, 2006 Gymnippers Diciadain by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2005 Na Klondykers by Iain F. MacLeòid, 2005 Am Miseanaraidh by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, 2005 Dacha Mo Ghaoil by Tormod MacGill-Eain, 2005 Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2004 Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa, 2004 An Oidhche Mus Do Sheòl Sinn by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, 2003 Ath-Aithne by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, 2003
Talking Books Shrapnel by Tormod Caimbeul – 4 CD set, 2007 Gymnippers Diciadain by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – DVD, 2007 Na Klondykers by Iain F. MacLeòid – DVD, 2007 Là a’ Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là by Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul – DVD, 2007 Am Miseanaraidh by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn – 2-CD set, 2005 Dacha Mo Ghaoil by Tormod MacGill-Eain – 3-CD set, 2005 Tocasaid ‘Ain Tuirc by Donnchadh MacGIlliosa. – 3-CD set, 2005 Ath-Aithne by Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir – 6-CD set, 2004
Other publications Claigeann Damien Hirst by Na Gathan - CD, 2008 Ruigidh Sinn Mars by Na Gathan - CD, 2008
External links Ùr-sgeul Gaelic fiction series retrospective CLÀR - publishers of Ùr-Sgeul
Notes