Enough is as good as a feast

Tha gu leòr cho math ri cuirm

December 10, 2021

Hosts: The Gaelic Narrative Project Team

Guest: Hector MacNeil

Season two of Air Chéilidh kicked off with the team welcoming old and new visitors, and recapping some of the moments that had stayed with them from earlier visits last spring.

The team then introduced the theme for the season, which is simply gu leòr, which means both “enough” and “plenty.” Gaelic storyteller Hector MacNeil shared his thoughts on the meaning of the word and a few stories that illustrated the philosophy.

The team signed off with Gaelic wishes for the holiday season and announced they would be back on January 7 with author Anne Ryan, a special guest from Ireland.

What we heard

What stayed with us from last season

The team started us off, with Mike Kennedy saying that all the sessions had the quality of a good square dance—everyone is there for each other, and so the energy builds. The fiddler plays for the dancers and the dancers are there for the music and good company. No one person is putting on a show. “Everyone is lifting each other with whatever they have to bring to the moment. When I listened to all those sessions they had the same sensibility— a real joy of the culture itself.”

Others on the team gave examples of how the guest’s stories lifted them, from John Shaw’s description of a visit with the older Gaelic speakers, to Nona MacDonald-Dyke’s stories of kindness, to Mickey MacNeil’s Gaelic stories of mermaids and fairies, and Kenneth MacKenzie’s stories about raising Gaelic speakers. They were also inspired by stories about new Gaelic habitats, from the Gaelic school in Mabou to the football field and classes in meditation.

The floor was then opened to others who had visited last season.

Laureen Murphy talked about how she cancelled other Friday events to attend Air Chéilidh and has since gone on to learn Gaelic at St. Francis Xavier University and encourage her grandchildren’s connection with Gaelic. She spoke about a time when her granddaughter, who had attended a Gaelic summer camp, used the word “Gaels” to make a point when they were reading a book. She said, “I couldn’t believe it because I was an adult before I learned that term.”

Rob Pringle spoke (in Gaelic) about how important it is to have places to speak the language and thanked the team for creating a place for everyone to use Gaelic naturally.

Other voices (read all the comments here)

A great sense of community!
Seeing old and valued friends—all friends made because of Gaelic. ‘S ann a tha e math a bhith am measg charaidean!
Coimhearsnachd | Community
The warmth and joy from the hosts, the guests, and in the breakout rooms.
It was lovely to connect with familiar friends and also to meet some new folks.
I loved the mixed of new and old community memories. The stories were also inspiring and charming.
I enjoyed the session with the young men in Scotland who were using Gaelic in coaching football.
Chunnaic mi càiraidean nach fhaca mi o chionn mòran bliadhnaichean, agus nach fhaod mi faicinn anns na Stàitean | I saw friends that I haven’t seen for many years, and who I can’t see now in the States.
A sense of community, meeting others with Gaelic, new and old, a sense that you are grounded.

Responses to Hector MacNeil’s thoughts about gu leòr

The chat with Hector was a wonderful thing.
Love this place as it is a place for story.
Very much appreciated the interview with Hector. We each possess personal and very special connections to Gaelic language, culture and identity, and it is important to value each path.
Bha sin eireachdail| That was lovely
Thank you so much for those stories and translation!
Bha e cho math a bhith cuimneachadh agus a smaointinn agus Eachann a chluinntinn!| It was so nice to remember and think and hear Hector.

What we took away from the evening—surprises, themes, sparks

Loved the idea that “gu leòr” means both “enough” and “plenty.” Says a lot about how a language encapsulates a worldview.
Was so amazed to hear Hector say that 50 cod was enough and he didn't need to take more.
We have an innate sense of enough. It resonates with us.
I noticed how often the people mentioned people in their conversations.
I was very surprised that Mary in my chat received her PhD at Edinburgh just like Mike and myself!
Small baloney tastier vs large baloney/ small amount tastier than large quantity.
Led me to think: A ceilidh is plenty, what more do I need?
How clarity and sense of purpose and one's role in the clan / broader community can be informed by cultural tenets / concepts such as 'gu leòr'
Very interesting to come across information on various communities where Gaelic traditions are being preserved.
We may need to experience not having enough in order to fully appreciate enough.
The reminder of the density and importance of community and at the same time that there its gu leòr. It is of importance to the culture but also of critical importance to Canada as it faces its colonial past and climate crisis.
I think it is neat to think of how gu leòr was adopted by the English to mean something different again.
In an upcoming time of modern excessive commercialism, it is grounding to feel the profound sense of "plenty," gu leòr.
There is a difference between harvesting and depleting.
I loved the conversation about enough. Growing up in Cape Breton "enough" was the running theme. It took the edge of worry for my Mother in hard times. It generated in me a longing for enough. We need more discussion about having enough personally and in our communities.
I loved Hector’s stories! I’ll listen to them again!
This time of year, enough will never be enough for some.
I love the themes in the stories talking about people. When they pass on it keep them alive, somehow. A reminder of the importance of community and how connected we feel with this sharing no matter how far apart some of us are.
Being grateful and proud of my heritage. The generosity and friendliness, family and strangers alike. Personally I am so grateful that I'm learning the language and could actually understand some of what he said! Tha mi air bhioran! | I am on fire!
A sense of so much gratitude in Gu Leòr.
Enough might just be one of the most important things we could cultivate in a world that desperately needs to find its way to sustainability
My granny used to say, “I have a gracious plenty!”
I also use math gu leòr to mean good enough.
So grateful to be with all you tonight and to reflect on gu leòr. Tapadh leibh gu mòr! Thanks to you all
In Sgeul gu Latha, Joe Neil didn't talk much about himself. He said: Chaidh mi tron t-saoghal cumanta gu leór. His point was that his tradition was what was important, not his story. Can't remember the exact quote, but it was something like that.
Watch the recording