Seumas Mhigi Shandraidh 'ic Dhòmhnaill
Benacadie Pond, Cape Breton County
walking to church; walking to Sydney
A’coiseach gu h-eaglais, ‘s gu Sudnaidh:
GD: Am biodh a h-uile duine a’ falbh dhan aifreann a h-uile Di-Dòmhnaich?
SMN: (agrees)
GD: Dè an t-astar a ....... thall aig Eilean Na Nollaig.
SMN: Eilean Na Nollaig. A’ coiseachd – poile dhiubh a’ coiseachd.
GD: Dè an t-astar a th’ann?
SMN: Còig mile.
GD: Dè cho fad ‘s a ghabhadh sin? Nuair a bhiodh sibh a’ coiseachd ann, dè cho fada ..... Dè an uine a ghabhadh sin?
SMN: Dh’fheumadh sinn fàgail uair air thoiseach air an aifreann.
GD: Cha robh siud dona. Roinn do choiseachd, ach rinn sibh math air an astar sin ann an uair.
SMN: Uell, choisich mi a Shudnaidh.
GD: Choisich? Dè cho fad ‘s a ghabh sin?
SMN: Mu .... còig uairean.
GD: Sheadh, sheadh, sheadh. Turas fada gu leòr.
Walking to the church and Sydney:
GD: Would everyone be going to mass every Sunday?
SMN: (agrees)
GD: What's the distance ....... over at Christmas Island.
SMN: Christmas Island. Walking – many of them walking.
GD: What distance is it?
SMN: Five miles. GD: How long would that take? When you would be walking there, how long ........ How much time would that take?
SMN: We'd have to leave an hour before the mass. GD: That wasn't bad. A fair amount of walking, but you did well to walk that distance in an hour.
SMN: Well, I walked to Sydney.
GD: Yes? How long did that take?
SMN: About .... five hours.
GD: Yes, yes, yes. A long enough trip.
Transcribed and translated by Hector MacNeil.