Singing  in English, Scottish Gaelic and Irish, Lewis MacKinnon is reputed as a  wonderful baritone singer.  Now the singer has added “Poet” to his list of  accomplishments. His book “Famhair Agus Dàin Ghàidhlig Eile”, “Giant and other  Gaelic Poems” was released by Cape Breton University Press, Fall 2008.

This  book of 89 poems is considered to be the first complete volume of contemporary  Gaelic poetry published in Nova Scotia. The book is completely bilingual. In  particular, the English translation, which accompanies each poem on the  opposite page, will be of great interest to Gaelic learners and allow  non-Gaelic readers to also enjoy MacKinnon’s poetic insights.

Recordings of some of the poems are available on the Internet so you can listen to  how the poems sound in Gaelic. MacKinnon recorded several different Gaelic  speakers to give examples of a variety of Gaelic Nova Scotia voices and dialects. Go  to www.cbupress.ca/Famhair.

 

Book Cover Synopsis

 

Gaelic  can be viewed as a living language; it is not a relic of a romanticized  community of the past. Both living and deceased, Nova Scotia Gaelic poets have  added to the store of Gaelic literature in this province, and some of these  offer a contemporary perspective, but to date, no complete volume has been  created and provided to a wider public audience.

Thus, Famhair: a Nova Scotia Gaelic book of contemporary poetry spanning the  cultural landscapes of Gaelic Cape Breton, the eastern Nova Scotia mainland,  the Halifax Gaelic community and the broader collective consciousness of Nova  Scotians.

Lewis MacKinnon was born in Inverness, Cape Breton, to a Gaelic speaking father  and a French Acadian mother. He was raised on the Nova Scotia mainland in Antigonish  County. Educated in English, throughout his personal, academic and professional  activities, Lewis has maintained an interest in his Gaelic roots.

Gearr-Chunntas air Còmhdach A’ Leabhair

  Théid a’ Ghàidhlig ’fhaicinn mar chànain bheothail; chan e fuidheall  choimhearsnachd ’na romansachd a th’ innte. Chuir Bàird Ghàidhlig beò agus  marbh ri stòras de litreachas Gàidhlig ’sa’ roinn seo, agus tha feadhainn  dhiubh a’ tairgsinn sealladh co-aosda, ach gu ruige seo, cha deach leabhar gu  buil a dhèanadh agus a thoirt a-mach gu luchd-éisdeachd nas fharsuing.

Mar sin tha Famhair ’na leabhar Gàidhlig na h-Albann Nuaidh de bhàrdachd  cho-aosda a’ dèanadh drochaid a’ chruthtìre chultaraich dhen a’ Ghàidhlig ann  an Ceap Breatuinn, de thìrmhór na h-Albann Nuaidh taobh an Ear, de  choimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig ann a’ Halifacs, agus de chogais-trusaidh mhuinntir  na h-Albann Nuaidh.

Rugadh Lodaidh MacFhionghain ’san t-Sìthean, Ceap Breatuinn, do athair aig a  bheil a’ Ghàidhlig agus do mhàthair a tha ’na h-Acaidhtidheanachd is aig a  bheil a’ Fhraingis. Chaidh a thogail air tìr-mór na h-Albann Nuaidh ann a’  Siorramachd Antaiginis. Foghlumaichte ’sa’ Bheurla, ré nan gnìomhan pearsanta,  acadaimigeach agus dreuchdail aige, chùm Lodaidh sùim ’san t-sinnsearachd  Ghàidhealach aige.

 

About Lewis

Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, MacKinnon has performed as a singer in every  Atlantic Canadian Province, Ontario and in both Scotland and Ireland. In the  fall of 2007 he was a featured performer at the Féile Ámhranaíochta (The Irish  Song Festival in Belfast). He has also performed in the internationally  acclaimed 2007 & 2008 Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton Island, Nova  Scotia.

His all-Gaelic CD entitled A’ SEO  - HERE earned him an East Coast Music Award nomination and the song Ailein Duinn, a  traditional Gaelic song, was included in the Celtic Colours Festival’s 2007  compilation CD.

He just recently performed at the 2008 Blas Festival in Scotland.

Writing from a unique Gaelic Nova Scotia perspective, the album features the  original composition Alasdair MacColla Ùr and three additional verses added to  the Run Rig tune, An Toll Dubh. A pleasant blend of ballads and upbeat  modern interpretations of traditional songs, this album also creatively  sprinkles bits of Gaelic expressions and stories throughout,  (the  recorded voice of his late grand uncle who lived with his family and first  exposed him to the language).

MacKinnon’s ability to perform a broad spectrum including, traditional Irish  and Scottish ballads, Maritime compositions, soft rock, Spanish, Irish and  Scottish Gaelic allows him to quickly relate to his audience wherever he  performs.

In addition to his Gaelic music focus, MacKinnon is the CEO of the Office of  Gaelic Affairs for the province of Nova Scotia.

Also touring with the Nova Scotia based Celtic band, Jug In Hand, www.juginhand.com, MacKinnon shares  lead singing responsibilities with band partner, Brian England. Together they  have recorded three Jug In Hand CD projects.

Whether it be as a Gaelic soloist, a member of the band or as a poet  MacKinnon’s powerful messages make a lasting impression.

About the Cover

Cover  artwork by Christine Crawford, good friend, singer and artist. Visit her  website to find out more about this talented individual at: www.christine-crawford.com

Comments

Dear Lewis:

I just wanted to let you know how much I have thoroughly enjoyed the book. I love the variety of poems - some are short and pithy, some are longer and more imagery driven. Some make the ordinary extraordinary.

My favourite poems are:
Eternal Seasons
Giant
John Allan Cameron
You are the Tongue
Meal-an-naidheachd ort, my friend.

All the best,

Heather-Anne Gillis