New Writer 2019: Liam Alastair Crouse

Tha Liam Alastair Crouse a’ fuireach ann an Uibhist a Deas, far a bheil e ag obair na oifigear conaltraidh Gàidhlig aig Ceòlas Uibhist. Thòisich e a’ sgrìobhadh bàrdachd nuair a bha e na oileanach a’ dèanamh ceum ann an Ceiltis aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann.

Tha grunn phìosan bàrdachd le Liam air nochdadh ann an irisean, leithid Cabhsair, Dàna, Northwords Now agus Poblachd nam Bàrd. Bidh e a’ sgrìobhadh colbh airson STEALL agus a’ co-dheasachadh na h‑iris Ghàidhlig an cois Life and Work agus Danamag.org.

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Liam Alastair Crouse lives in South Uist, where he works as a Gaelic communications officer for Ceòlas Uibhist. He was a Celtic Studies student at the University of Edinburgh when he first began writing poetry.

Liam’s poems have been published in various magazines, including Causeway/Cabhsair, Dàna, Northwords Now and The Poets’ Republic. He writes a regular column for STEALL and co-edits the Gaelic supplement of Life and Work, as well as Danamag.org.

Writing sample

An Suit le Liam Alastair Crouse

[‘An Suit’ (The Suit) by Liam Alastair Crouse]

An Suit

Air fonn: Am Bodach-ròcais

An latha ud

thàinig an suit dhan eilean:

fear pluiceach frogail

is aodach charcoal air.

Ghairm e coinneamh

mu leasachadh agus ro-innleachd.

Bha fear an siud

a’ cuideachadh athair aig a’ mhòine,

a dh’fhalbhadh dhan phrìomh-oifis sa bhaile mhòr.

Bha a mhàthair ag èisteachd ris air a’ wireless,

‘A Leabhra’, ’s thug e ’n toradh às a cainnt.

Ach cha do dh’fhàg e falamh sinn:

thug e cainnt ùr dhuinn,

spèis cho-ionann is sreath phrògraman tbh,

is taigh-sgoile Gàidhlig dar cuid chloinne,

is sguab e chainnt à meadhan an taighe

’s chuir e chànan uallach dhan Phàrlamaid.

Liam says:

Tha Liam air a dhòigh an duais seo fhaighinn airson cothrom leantail ann an ceumannan chàich a fhuair i thar nam bliadhnaichean.

He is thrilled to receive this award and to follow in the footsteps of its previous recipients who have already made valuable contributions to Gaelic literature.