Davy

This is a wee poem I wrote about what the word Seanair means to me. My wife and daughter speak Gaelic, and I’m a Gaelic learner, though I have Skye connections going back a few generations.

I realise I’ll never be a fluent Gaelic speaker however I’ve picked up many useful phrases over the years - such as talking about the weather, telling people where I live and ordering a large dram! Singing with Gaelic choirs over the years has been a great help with my pronunciation, even though I don’t always know the meaning of every word. I’ve no hang-ups about trying to speak Gaelic even though it might not be perfect. After all, how many of us speak perfect English?

 

Seanair

My grandkids call me Seanair, it’s a name I’m proud to use.

A Gaelic word by origin, a name I’ll never lose.

Other names like Grandpa and Papa are okay

But I prefer being Seanair; it’s an easy word to say.

I spoil my grandkids rotten with many kinds of treats.

They like to visit often since they know I’ll buy them sweets!

I chase them round the garden like an ageing hooligan.

They shout together, “Come on, Seanair! Catch us if you can!”

It’s great craic being a Seanair, though it sometimes makes me glad

When the wee ones are collected by their loving mums and dads.