[Dòmhnall] Sydney, am baile as motha a th’ ann an Astràilia. Tha a chomharran-stiùiridh air feadhainn cho aithnichte ’s a tha air an t-saoghal. ’S e àite dathte, togarrach, misneachail a th’ ann dheth an-diugh, gu math eadar-dhealaichte bho mar a bha e bho thùs nuair a stèidhich Breatainn a’ chiad choimhearsnachd phrìosanach an seo ann an New South Wales.
[Dòmhnall] Mu dheireadh na h-ochdaimh linne deug bha riaghaltas Bhreatainn a’ tionndadh air na daoine a bu bhochda anns a’ choimhearsnachd, a bha a’ dèanamh am beòshlainte à mèirle ’s eucoir. Cha ghabhadh na prìosanan na bha na cùirtean a’ cur thuca. Bha seann shoithichean aca aig puirt làn phrìosanach a’ cur thairis ’s cha ghabhadh na h-eucoirich a-nis a chur a dh’Ameireaga mar a chleachd bho fhuair na Stàitean an saorsa. Bha fuasgladh a dhìth air a’ cheist. Cha b’ fhada gun robh peanas gu tur ùr aig na cùirtean.
[Dòmhnall] Ann am foghar seachd deug ceithir fichead ’s a seachd fhuair a’ chùirt ann an Inbhir Nis Mairead NicFhionghain à Slèite anns an Eilean Sgitheanach ciontach air casaid gun do chuir i teine ri sabhal. Dh’òrdaich a’ chùirt gun deigheadh gabhail dhi le cuip tro ròidean Inbhir Nis, ’s mur a biodh sin dona gu leòr dh’òrdaich Am Morair Henderland cuideachd gun deigheadh a cur thar a’ chuain a dh’Astràilia le rabhadh nan tilleadh i a-chaoidh a Bhreatainn gun deigheadh a cur gu bàs.
[Dòmhnall] Còig bliadhna an dèidh breith na cùirteach chaidh Mairead NicFhionghain a chur thar sàile gu New South Wales. Chan fhaca i eilean a h-araich no an duine a bha pòsta aice a-chaoidh tuilleadh. B’ann a dh’àite iargalta a chaidh afògradh . Bha fòirneart ’s droch-dhìol mar bu trice ann am measg uaisle ’s ìosal. Ach bha aon duine a thòisich a’ toirt chùisean am feabhas. Gàidheal d’ am b’ ainm Lachlan MacGuaire.
[Dòmhnall] ’S e am bàta beag à Muile an aon dòigh air faighinn a dh’Eilean Ulbha. Chan eil ach sia duine deug a’ fuireach ann an-diugh. Chaidh an sluagh fhuadachadh às o chionn còrr air ceud gu leth bliadhna a dhèanamh àite dha na caoraich mhòra.
[Dòmhnall] B’ ann air an eilean-sa ann an seachd deug trì fichead ’s a h-aon a rugadh Lachlan MacGuaire. Cha b’ ann do theaghlach beairteach a bha e idir. B’e saor a bha na athair ’s chaochail e òg, ach thàinig a mhàthair bho dhaoine na b’ uaisle. Bhuineadh ise do Chlann ’IllEathain à Loch Buidhe, fear de phrìomh theaghlaichean Mhuile. Gu dearbh bha a bràthair, Murchadh, na cheann-cinnidh mu dheireadh. ’S e an càirdeas ri na Leathanaich, ’s gach doras a dh’fhosgail e dha, a bu choireach gun deach cho math do Lachlan òg anns an t-saoghal.
[Dòmhnall] Chaidh MacGuaire do dh’Arm Bhreatainn nuair a bha e còig bliadhna deug. Bha e na oifigear ann an Ameireaga , anns an Èipheit agus anns na h-Innseachan ’s fhuair e àrdachadh beag air bheag. Nuair a bha riaghladair ùr a dhìth ann an New South Wales chuir e a-steach airson na h-obrach.
[Dòmhnall] Bha MacGuaire dà fhichead ’s a seachd nuair a ràinig e Syndey. Ghabh e an dreuchd gu h-oifigeil Latha na Bliadhn’ Ùire ochd deug ’s a deich, ach ’s iomadh dreuchd a b’ fheàrr na i. Bha New South Wales air àite cho bochd ’s cho gràineil ’s a bha anns an ìmpireachd. B’ ann a bha barrachd dhaoine ann am Muile fhèin na bha de dh’Eòrpaich ann an New South Wales, ach dhall MacGuaire air agath-nuadhachadh na coimhearsnachd.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Bha feallsanachd car eadar-dhealaichte aig MacGuaire an coimeas ri na riaghladairean a bh’ ann roimhe. Bha esan a’ smaoineachadh gur e dùthaich ùr a bh’innte a bha ga togail fhèin aig ceann thall an t-saoghail ’s gum b’ fheudar dha poileasaidhean a chur an sàs a dhèanadh cinnteach gun robh cothroman aig a h-uile duine, cothrom na Fèinne fiù ’s aig na prìosanaich. Bha mòran ann am Breatainn aig an àm den bheachd gur e a bh’ ann an Astràilia ach prìosan dhaibh. Bha iad airson Astràilia a chumail cho ainmichte, cho cruaidh ’s a ghabhadh. Bha iad airson cliù Astràilia a bhith a’ cur eagal air na h-eucoirich ann am Breatainn, gun a bhith a’ dèanamh càil ceàrr no gun deigheadh an cur a-null a dh’Astràilia. Bha esan den bheachd gum bu chòir dha coimhearsnachd ùr a thogail ’s gur e dùthaich ùr dha-rìribh a bhiodh ann.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Na h-Eilthirich, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 1999.
[Donald] Sydney, the largest city in Australia. Its landmarks are some of the most recognisable in the world. It is a colourful, inviting, confident place today, very different to how it was originally when Britain settled the first community of prisoners here in New South Wales.
[Donald] Around the end of the eighteen century the British government was turning on the poorest people in the community, who were making their living from theft and crime. The prisons could not accept those that the courts were sending them. They had old ships at ports overflowing with prisoners and the criminals could not now be sent to America as they used to be since the States gained its independence. A solution for the problem was needed. It was not long until the courts had a completely new punishment.
[Donald] In the autumn of 1787 the court in Inverness convicted Margaret MacKinnon from Sleat in the Isle of Skye of setting fire to a barn. The court ordered that she be lashed with a whip through the streets of Inverness, and if that was not bad enough Lord Henderland also ordered that she be sent across the ocean to Australia with a warning that if she ever returned to Britain that she would be executed.
[Donald] Five years after the court’s judgement Margaret MacKinnon was sent across the sea to New South Wales. She never saw the island of her birth or the man whom she married ever again. She was exiled to an inhospitable place. Violence and mistreatment were commonplace amongst rich and poor. But there was one man who began to improve matters. A Gael called Lachlan MacQuarie.
[Donald] The little boat from Mull is the only way to get to the Island of Ulva. Only 16 people live there today. The population was cleared from it more than a hundred and fifty years ago to make way for sheep.
[Donald] It is on this island in 1761 that Lachlan MacQuarie was born. He was not from a rich family at all. His father was a joiner and he died young, but his mother was from more noble folk. She was related to the MacLeans of Lochbuie, one of the main families of Mull. Indeed her brother, Murdo, was latterly a clan chief. The relation with the MacLeans, and as it opened every door to him, is why young Lachlan did so well in the world.
[Donald] MacQuarie joined the British Army when he was 15. He was an officer in America, in Egypt and in India and he received gradual promotion. When a new governor was needed in New South Wales he applied for the job.
[Donald] MacQuarie was 47 when he reached Sydney. He official took charge on New Year ’s Day 1810, but there were many better jobs than that. New South Wales was amongst the poorest and most hideous places in the empire. There were more people in Mull itself than they were Europeans in New South Wales, but MacQuarie ploughed on to transform the community.
[Roddy MacLean] MacQuarie’s philosophy was somewhat different to previous governors. He thought that it was a new country that was building itself at the other side of the world and that he ought to implement policies to ensure that everyone had opportunities, that even prisoners had a fair chance. Many in Britain at the time were of the opinion that Australia was a prison for them. They wanted to keep Australia as hard as possible. They wanted Australia’s reputation to frighten the criminals in Britain, not to do anything wrong or they would be sent over to Australia. He was of the opinion that he ought to build a new community and that this really would be a new country.
This programme, Na h-Eilthirich, was first broadcast in 1999.
[Dòmhnall] Sydney, am baile as motha a th’ ann an Astràilia. Tha a chomharran-stiùiridh air feadhainn cho aithnichte ’s a tha air an t-saoghal. ’S e àite dathte, togarrach, misneachail a th’ ann dheth an-diugh, gu math eadar-dhealaichte bho mar a bha e bho thùs nuair a stèidhich Breatainn a’ chiad choimhearsnachd phrìosanach an seo ann an New South Wales.
[Dòmhnall] Mu dheireadh na h-ochdaimh linne deug bha riaghaltas Bhreatainn a’ tionndadh air na daoine a bu bhochda anns a’ choimhearsnachd, a bha a’ dèanamh am beòshlainte à mèirle ’s eucoir. Cha ghabhadh na prìosanan na bha na cùirtean a’ cur thuca. Bha seann shoithichean aca aig puirt làn phrìosanach a’ cur thairis ’s cha ghabhadh na h-eucoirich a-nis a chur a dh’Ameireaga mar a chleachd bho fhuair na Stàitean an saorsa. Bha fuasgladh a dhìth air a’ cheist. Cha b’ fhada gun robh peanas gu tur ùr aig na cùirtean.
[Dòmhnall] Ann am foghar seachd deug ceithir fichead ’s a seachd fhuair a’ chùirt ann an Inbhir Nis Mairead NicFhionghain à Slèite anns an Eilean Sgitheanach ciontach air casaid gun do chuir i teine ri sabhal. Dh’òrdaich a’ chùirt gun deigheadh gabhail dhi le cuip tro ròidean Inbhir Nis, ’s mur a biodh sin dona gu leòr dh’òrdaich Am Morair Henderland cuideachd gun deigheadh a cur thar a’ chuain a dh’Astràilia le rabhadh nan tilleadh i a-chaoidh a Bhreatainn gun deigheadh a cur gu bàs.
[Dòmhnall] Còig bliadhna an dèidh breith na cùirteach chaidh Mairead NicFhionghain a chur thar sàile gu New South Wales. Chan fhaca i eilean a h-araich no an duine a bha pòsta aice a-chaoidh tuilleadh. B’ann a dh’àite iargalta a chaidh afògradh . Bha fòirneart ’s droch-dhìol mar bu trice ann am measg uaisle ’s ìosal. Ach bha aon duine a thòisich a’ toirt chùisean am feabhas. Gàidheal d’ am b’ ainm Lachlan MacGuaire.
[Dòmhnall] ’S e am bàta beag à Muile an aon dòigh air faighinn a dh’Eilean Ulbha. Chan eil ach sia duine deug a’ fuireach ann an-diugh. Chaidh an sluagh fhuadachadh às o chionn còrr air ceud gu leth bliadhna a dhèanamh àite dha na caoraich mhòra.
[Dòmhnall] B’ ann air an eilean-sa ann an seachd deug trì fichead ’s a h-aon a rugadh Lachlan MacGuaire. Cha b’ ann do theaghlach beairteach a bha e idir. B’e saor a bha na athair ’s chaochail e òg, ach thàinig a mhàthair bho dhaoine na b’ uaisle. Bhuineadh ise do Chlann ’IllEathain à Loch Buidhe, fear de phrìomh theaghlaichean Mhuile. Gu dearbh bha a bràthair, Murchadh, na cheann-cinnidh mu dheireadh. ’S e an càirdeas ri na Leathanaich, ’s gach doras a dh’fhosgail e dha, a bu choireach gun deach cho math do Lachlan òg anns an t-saoghal.
[Dòmhnall] Chaidh MacGuaire do dh’Arm Bhreatainn nuair a bha e còig bliadhna deug. Bha e na oifigear ann an Ameireaga , anns an Èipheit agus anns na h-Innseachan ’s fhuair e àrdachadh beag air bheag. Nuair a bha riaghladair ùr a dhìth ann an New South Wales chuir e a-steach airson na h-obrach.
[Dòmhnall] Bha MacGuaire dà fhichead ’s a seachd nuair a ràinig e Syndey. Ghabh e an dreuchd gu h-oifigeil Latha na Bliadhn’ Ùire ochd deug ’s a deich, ach ’s iomadh dreuchd a b’ fheàrr na i. Bha New South Wales air àite cho bochd ’s cho gràineil ’s a bha anns an ìmpireachd. B’ ann a bha barrachd dhaoine ann am Muile fhèin na bha de dh’Eòrpaich ann an New South Wales, ach dhall MacGuaire air agath-nuadhachadh na coimhearsnachd.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Bha feallsanachd car eadar-dhealaichte aig MacGuaire an coimeas ri na riaghladairean a bh’ ann roimhe. Bha esan a’ smaoineachadh gur e dùthaich ùr a bh’innte a bha ga togail fhèin aig ceann thall an t-saoghail ’s gum b’ fheudar dha poileasaidhean a chur an sàs a dhèanadh cinnteach gun robh cothroman aig a h-uile duine, cothrom na Fèinne fiù ’s aig na prìosanaich. Bha mòran ann am Breatainn aig an àm den bheachd gur e a bh’ ann an Astràilia ach prìosan dhaibh. Bha iad airson Astràilia a chumail cho ainmichte, cho cruaidh ’s a ghabhadh. Bha iad airson cliù Astràilia a bhith a’ cur eagal air na h-eucoirich ann am Breatainn, gun a bhith a’ dèanamh càil ceàrr no gun deigheadh an cur a-null a dh’Astràilia. Bha esan den bheachd gum bu chòir dha coimhearsnachd ùr a thogail ’s gur e dùthaich ùr dha-rìribh a bhiodh ann.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Na h-Eilthirich, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 1999.
[Donald] Sydney, the largest city in Australia. Its landmarks are some of the most recognisable in the world. It is a colourful, inviting, confident place today, very different to how it was originally when Britain settled the first community of prisoners here in New South Wales.
[Donald] Around the end of the eighteen century the British government was turning on the poorest people in the community, who were making their living from theft and crime. The prisons could not accept those that the courts were sending them. They had old ships at ports overflowing with prisoners and the criminals could not now be sent to America as they used to be since the States gained its independence. A solution for the problem was needed. It was not long until the courts had a completely new punishment.
[Donald] In the autumn of 1787 the court in Inverness convicted Margaret MacKinnon from Sleat in the Isle of Skye of setting fire to a barn. The court ordered that she be lashed with a whip through the streets of Inverness, and if that was not bad enough Lord Henderland also ordered that she be sent across the ocean to Australia with a warning that if she ever returned to Britain that she would be executed.
[Donald] Five years after the court’s judgement Margaret MacKinnon was sent across the sea to New South Wales. She never saw the island of her birth or the man whom she married ever again. She was exiled to an inhospitable place. Violence and mistreatment were commonplace amongst rich and poor. But there was one man who began to improve matters. A Gael called Lachlan MacQuarie.
[Donald] The little boat from Mull is the only way to get to the Island of Ulva. Only 16 people live there today. The population was cleared from it more than a hundred and fifty years ago to make way for sheep.
[Donald] It is on this island in 1761 that Lachlan MacQuarie was born. He was not from a rich family at all. His father was a joiner and he died young, but his mother was from more noble folk. She was related to the MacLeans of Lochbuie, one of the main families of Mull. Indeed her brother, Murdo, was latterly a clan chief. The relation with the MacLeans, and as it opened every door to him, is why young Lachlan did so well in the world.
[Donald] MacQuarie joined the British Army when he was 15. He was an officer in America, in Egypt and in India and he received gradual promotion. When a new governor was needed in New South Wales he applied for the job.
[Donald] MacQuarie was 47 when he reached Sydney. He official took charge on New Year ’s Day 1810, but there were many better jobs than that. New South Wales was amongst the poorest and most hideous places in the empire. There were more people in Mull itself than they were Europeans in New South Wales, but MacQuarie ploughed on to transform the community.
[Roddy MacLean] MacQuarie’s philosophy was somewhat different to previous governors. He thought that it was a new country that was building itself at the other side of the world and that he ought to implement policies to ensure that everyone had opportunities, that even prisoners had a fair chance. Many in Britain at the time were of the opinion that Australia was a prison for them. They wanted to keep Australia as hard as possible. They wanted Australia’s reputation to frighten the criminals in Britain, not to do anything wrong or they would be sent over to Australia. He was of the opinion that he ought to build a new community and that this really would be a new country.
This programme, Na h-Eilthirich, was first broadcast in 1999.