Eachdraidh
History
Stèidhich trichead oileanaich Ghàidhealach an Comunn Oiseanach ann an 1831 le brosnachadh bho an t-Urramach Tormod Mac Leòid, Caraid nan Gaidheal. Bhon àm sin tha sinn air a bhith a' strì airson a' Ghàidhlig; a' cuir air cèilidhean is oidhcheanan a-mach agus a' cuir failte air oileanaich sam bith le ùidh anns a' Ghàidhlig.
An-tòiseach bha an Comunn a' cuir air dhòigh deasbadan anns a' Ghàidhlig agus a' cruthachadh cothroman a' chànan a chleachdadh. Bha a' chiad dinnear bliadhnail aca ann an 1833 far an robh Caraid nan Gaidheal os cionn cùisean, le taic bho Mac Nèil Bharraigh agus Mac Gill-Eain Loch Buidhe. Aig àm a' ghort mhòr air a' Ghàidhealtachd tionail an Comunn airgead gus a' bhith cuideachadh na tuathanaich a bha faisg air a' bhàs air feadh taobh an Iar-Thuath na Gàidhealtachd.
Nuair a' ghluais an Oilthigh air falbh bho an Sràid Àird dhan thogallach a th' againn an-diugh ann an Gilmorehill chleachd an Comunn an cothrom seo gus a' bhith ag iarraidh Cathair Cheilteach san Oilthigh, cha d' fhuair iad sinn aig an àm sin ge ta. Aig deireadh an 19mh bha iad cuideachd ag argamaid airson Gàidhlig sna sgoiltean agus ann an 1889 thug iad air leabhar-lann an Oilthigh a bhith faighinn leabhraichean Ghàidhlig airson a' chiad ùr.
Mar sheann Chomunn deasbad bith cuid de na bheachdan aca a' cuir iongnadh air oileanaich an latha an-diugh. Bha iad an-aghaidh: teoraicean Darwin; còirichean-taghadh do bhoireanaich; fèin-riaghaladh do dh'Alba agus orgainean sna h-Eaglaisean. ‘S docha nach biodh Comunn an latha an-diugh as àicheadh an seasamh a thuig iad an-aghaidh toirmeasg-na-dibhe ge tà.
Chuir iad cèilidh mhòr air dhoigh airson a' chiadamh co-latha bhreith aig an Comunn ann an 1931. Bha an rector Compton Mac Coinnich an-sin agus thug e dhan Chomunn aon de na pìoban tobac aig an t-Ollamh Mac Iain, a chaidh air turas ainmeal dhan Ghàidhealtachd san 18mh lìnn.
Anns na 80an chaidh cuid de bhallrachd a' Chomunn sios a Lunainn gus a' bhith faighinn barrachd teilibhisean sa Ghàidhlig- strì a tha fhathast a' dol an-diugh le buill a' chomunn a' cuir na h-ainmean aca ri ath-chuinge a tha ron Pharlamaid Albannach gus BBC Alba a' bhith air Freeview. Ged tha an uabhas de dh' atharraichean air tachairt bhon chaidh an Comunn a' stèidheachadh tha sinn fhathast a' strì airson a' Ghaidhlig agus a' cruthachadh cothroman an cànan a chleachdadh.
The Ossianic Society was founded in 1831, making it the second-oldest society at Glasgow University. The Gaelic scholar and activist Rev. Norman "Friend of the Gaels" MacLeod, was instrumental in the foundation of the society.
At first the society organised Gaelic debates and created opportunities for the members to use their Gaelic. They held their first Annual Dinner in 1833 with the Rev. Norman MacLeod overseeing proceedings alongside MacNeil of Barra and MacLean of Lochbuie. At the time of the Great Highland Famine in the late 1840's the society contributed money to the relief funds to help those who were in danger of death in the North-West Highlands.
When the University moved to its current site in Gilmorehill the Society took the opportunity to press for Chair of Celtic. At the end of the Nineteenth Century they also campaigned for Gaelic provision in schools and managed to get the University library to stock Gaelic books for the first time.
As an old debating society some of its older debating decisions might strike present members as odd. The society opposed: Darwin's evolutionary theories; suffrage for women; Scottish Home Rule and organs in churches. Maybe present-day members will be inclined to disagree with the stance the society took against prohibitionist policies!
The society celebrated their centenary with a large celebration attended by the rector, Compton MacKenzie of Whisky Galore fame. He presented the society a pipe which had belonged to Samuel Johnson, a famous scholar who toured the Highlands and Islands in the 18th Century, and which was was placed in the Hunterian Museum.
In the eighties the society travelled to Westminster to petition the government for more Gaelic television. This struggle continues today with members supporting the petition for Gaelic television to be provided on Freeview. Despite the massive changes that have effected the Gaels since 1831 the Comunn continues to campaign for rights for Gaelic-speakers and creates opportunities for people to use the language.