[Angela NicIlleathain - Preseantair] Tha an craoladair Niall Iain Dòmhnallach air a bhith trang ann an New York ag ullachadh airson an turas iomraidh as motha dhe bheatha. Tha am bàta aige an ìre mhath deiseil son feuchainn tarsainn a’ Chuain Shiar gu ruige Steòrnabhagh. Thuirt e gu bheil e nis a’ feitheamh ri sìde fhàbharach anns na làithean tha romhainn. Tha Niall Iain ag amas airgead a thionail dha carthannas slàinte inntinn. Le tuilleadh, seo Iain MacAonghais.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Tha aon phàirt de dhùbhlan Niall Iain Dhòmhnallaich deiseil, sin New York a ruighinn ach tha an dùbhlan as motha roimhe fhathast, iomradh tarsainn a’ Chuain Shiar. Tha e fhèin ag aideachadh gu bheil e air ùine thoirt an ìre seo a ruighinn, ach tha e misneachail mu na tha roimhe.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha mi gu math misneachail mu na comasan a th’agam agus an t-seòrsa ullachaidh a tha mi air a dhèanamh son NY2SY, tha mi air tòrr trèanadh a dhèanamh, tha mi air tòrr rudan ionnsachadh, na sgilean a bhios a dhìth orm son an iomairt seo a dhèanamh ceart agus ann an dòigh a bhios soirbheachail ach tha mi dìreach toilichte bhith ann an New York mu dheireadh thall, cha mhòr ceithir bliadhna an ìre seo a ruighinn agus le tòrr obair agus tòrr strì ach tha sinn ann an seo, cha mhòr nach eil mi deiseil airson toiseach tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh air NY2SY. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ris, tha fadachd orm son tòiseachadh ach aig an aon àm tha an eagal orm, an aon eagal ‘s a bha orm nuair a smaoinich mi air an seo aig an fhìor thoiseach ach chan e rud dona tha sin idir tha mi smaointinn gu bheil sin toirt orm a bhith faiceallach mu dheidhinn a h-uile sìon.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Chuir Niall Iain seachad ùine mhòr le obair ullachaidh, cruinneachadh airgead agus trèanadh gus an ìre-sa a ruighinn. Ach chan e a-mhàin an t-astar a tha roimhe eadar baile New York agus Steòrnabhagh - còrr is còig mìle cilemeatair – ach na dùbhlain practaigeach leithid a bhith deisealachadh bidhe agus uisge airson a chumail a’ dol air an t-shlighe
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Feumaidh mise a h-uile pìos bidhe agus uisge a bhios mi cleachdadh a thoirt leam anns a’ bhàta. A thaobh bidhe, ‘s e bhios agam gach latha bidh baga a bhios mi tarraing a-mach agus sa bhaga tha sin tha am biadh agam airson fad latha, a h-uile sìon a tha dhìth orm agus cha bhi mi dèanamh sìon ach a’ goil uisge agus a bharrachd air sin tha inneal againn air bòrd – uidheamachd a bhios a’ cruthachadh uisge a dh’fhaodas mi òl bho uisge na mara agus bidh sin agam agus feumaidh mi a bhith gu math faiceallach leis a’ phìos uidheamachd tha sin, a bhith dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil e ag obair ceart, gu bheil mi coimhead às a dhèidh ceart
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] If the weather is too stormy outside, this is where I kind of retire to and I just close the door
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Tha na seachdainean a dh’fhalbh air sealladh a thoirt dhuinn air na cunnartan anns a’ Chuan Shiar ‘s leis an sin tha Niall Iain a’ cumail sùil air an t-sìde mus dèan e co-dhùnadh falbh.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha cùisean a’ coimhead glè mhath a thaobh na h-aimsire airson na dhà no trì làithean a tha romhainn ach chan eil sin gu leòr dhòmhsa, cha bhi mise deiseil ma dh’fhaodhte a-màireach an ceann latha eile bidh mise deiseil a thaobh a’ bhàta ‘s a h-uile sìon air bòrd agus mi-fhìn cuideachd. Feumaidh mi-fhìn a thighinn gu co-dhùnadh - seo e - tha mise deiseil son falbh. An uair sin bidh mi bruidhinn ris an duine tha cumail sùil air an aimsir anns an fharsaingeachd agus a’ faighinn comhairle bhuaithe-san mu dheidhinn dè bu chòir dhomh dhèanamh.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Agus le gun ach beagan làithean a-nis ‘s dòcha gus an tòisich an iomairt tha e follaiseach gu bheil taic dhaoine a’ toirt spionnadh do Niall Iain.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha mi dìreach airson taing a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine, air ais ann an Steòrnabhagh, ann an Leòdhas, anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, ann an Alba agus nas fharsainge na sin. Tha mi ag ràdh gu bheil mi dèanamh seo nam aonar ach cha b’urrainn dhomh fiù’s an ìre seo a ruighinn leam fhìn. An taic, seòrsa cuideachaidh a tha mi air fhaighinn bho dhaoine tha e dìreach air a bhith mìorbhaileach agus tha e ciallachadh an t-uabhas dhòmhsa agus tha mi’n dòchas gum faigh mi an aon taic ‘s an aon chuideachadh bhon h-uile duine fhad ’s a tha mi dèanamh an iomairt cuideachd air sgàth bidh feum agam air an sin. Na bithibh a’gabhail dragh mum dheidhinn, tha mi deiseil airson seo agus nì mi deagh oidhirp air agus tha mi coimhead air adhart ris a h-uile duine fhaicinn aig an taobh eile an nuair a chuireas mi crìoch air an seo.
[Angela Maclean - Presenter] The broadcaster Niall Iain MacDonald has been busy in New York preparing for the biggest rowing trip of his life. His boat is almost ready to row the Atlantic over to Stornoway. He said he now awaits favourable weather in the forthcoming days. Niall Iain hopes to collect money for a mental health charity. Here is Iain MacInnes with more.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] One stage of Niall Iain’s challenge is complete, reaching New York, but his biggest task, rowing solo across the Atlantic, still awaits him. He admits himself that it’s taken a while to get to this stage but he is confident about what lies ahead of him.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I am very confident in my abilities and in the type of preparation I have done for NY2SY, I’ve done a lot of training, I’ve learnt a lot, like the skills I need to do this journey properly and successfully but I’m just pleased to be in New York finally, it’s taken almost four years to reach this stage and with a lot of work and effort too but we’re here, I’m almost ready to make a start on NY2SY. I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait to start but at the same time I’m anxious, the same fear I felt when I first coined this idea but that’s not a bad thing I don’t think that it makes me take more care over things.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] Niall Iain spent a lot of time preparing, raising money and training to reach this stage. But the issue is not only the distance that faces him between New York and Stornoway – which is more than five thousand miles – but practical things too such as preparing food and water which will keep him going on his journey.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I need to take every scrap of food and water I will consume with me in the boat. With regards to food, I will have a bag each day which I will pull out and in it there’s enough food to last me a day, which is all I will require and all I need to do is boil water and in addition to that there’s equipment on board – a machine which converts sea water to water that is safe to drink which I need to be very careful with to make sure it works correctly and maintain it correctly.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] If the weather is too stormy outside, this is where I can kind of retire to and I just close the door
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] The weeks that have gone by have shown us the dangers of the Atlantic and with that Niall Iain is keeping an eye on the weather before he makes any decision on when to leave.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] Things look good with regards to the weather for the next couple of days but that is not enough for me, I may not be ready tomorrow or perhaps even the next day, I’ll be ready when the boat is ready, when everything is on board and when I’m ready too. It needs to feel right for me to make the decision – that’s it – I’m ready to go. Then the weather expert will advise me on what I should do.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] But with a matter of days to go before the journey begins it’s clear that all the support Niall Iain has received encourages him.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I would like to thank everybody back in Stornoway, in Lewis, in the Western Isles, in Scotland and even further afield than that. Although this is a solo challenge I couldn’t even have reached this stage on my own. The support and help I have received from people is just outstanding and it means so much to me and I hope to get the same support from everyone while I’m on my journey too as I will need it. Don’t worry about me, I’m ready for this and I will do my best and I’m looking forward to it and to seeing everyone on the other side when I finish this.
[Angela NicIlleathain - Preseantair] Tha an craoladair Niall Iain Dòmhnallach air a bhith trang ann an New York ag ullachadh airson an turas iomraidh as motha dhe bheatha. Tha am bàta aige an ìre mhath deiseil son feuchainn tarsainn a’ Chuain Shiar gu ruige Steòrnabhagh. Thuirt e gu bheil e nis a’ feitheamh ri sìde fhàbharach anns na làithean tha romhainn. Tha Niall Iain ag amas airgead a thionail dha carthannas slàinte inntinn. Le tuilleadh, seo Iain MacAonghais.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Tha aon phàirt de dhùbhlan Niall Iain Dhòmhnallaich deiseil, sin New York a ruighinn ach tha an dùbhlan as motha roimhe fhathast, iomradh tarsainn a’ Chuain Shiar. Tha e fhèin ag aideachadh gu bheil e air ùine thoirt an ìre seo a ruighinn, ach tha e misneachail mu na tha roimhe.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha mi gu math misneachail mu na comasan a th’agam agus an t-seòrsa ullachaidh a tha mi air a dhèanamh son NY2SY, tha mi air tòrr trèanadh a dhèanamh, tha mi air tòrr rudan ionnsachadh, na sgilean a bhios a dhìth orm son an iomairt seo a dhèanamh ceart agus ann an dòigh a bhios soirbheachail ach tha mi dìreach toilichte bhith ann an New York mu dheireadh thall, cha mhòr ceithir bliadhna an ìre seo a ruighinn agus le tòrr obair agus tòrr strì ach tha sinn ann an seo, cha mhòr nach eil mi deiseil airson toiseach tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh air NY2SY. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ris, tha fadachd orm son tòiseachadh ach aig an aon àm tha an eagal orm, an aon eagal ‘s a bha orm nuair a smaoinich mi air an seo aig an fhìor thoiseach ach chan e rud dona tha sin idir tha mi smaointinn gu bheil sin toirt orm a bhith faiceallach mu dheidhinn a h-uile sìon.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Chuir Niall Iain seachad ùine mhòr le obair ullachaidh, cruinneachadh airgead agus trèanadh gus an ìre-sa a ruighinn. Ach chan e a-mhàin an t-astar a tha roimhe eadar baile New York agus Steòrnabhagh - còrr is còig mìle cilemeatair – ach na dùbhlain practaigeach leithid a bhith deisealachadh bidhe agus uisge airson a chumail a’ dol air an t-shlighe
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Feumaidh mise a h-uile pìos bidhe agus uisge a bhios mi cleachdadh a thoirt leam anns a’ bhàta. A thaobh bidhe, ‘s e bhios agam gach latha bidh baga a bhios mi tarraing a-mach agus sa bhaga tha sin tha am biadh agam airson fad latha, a h-uile sìon a tha dhìth orm agus cha bhi mi dèanamh sìon ach a’ goil uisge agus a bharrachd air sin tha inneal againn air bòrd – uidheamachd a bhios a’ cruthachadh uisge a dh’fhaodas mi òl bho uisge na mara agus bidh sin agam agus feumaidh mi a bhith gu math faiceallach leis a’ phìos uidheamachd tha sin, a bhith dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil e ag obair ceart, gu bheil mi coimhead às a dhèidh ceart
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] If the weather is too stormy outside, this is where I kind of retire to and I just close the door
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Tha na seachdainean a dh’fhalbh air sealladh a thoirt dhuinn air na cunnartan anns a’ Chuan Shiar ‘s leis an sin tha Niall Iain a’ cumail sùil air an t-sìde mus dèan e co-dhùnadh falbh.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha cùisean a’ coimhead glè mhath a thaobh na h-aimsire airson na dhà no trì làithean a tha romhainn ach chan eil sin gu leòr dhòmhsa, cha bhi mise deiseil ma dh’fhaodhte a-màireach an ceann latha eile bidh mise deiseil a thaobh a’ bhàta ‘s a h-uile sìon air bòrd agus mi-fhìn cuideachd. Feumaidh mi-fhìn a thighinn gu co-dhùnadh - seo e - tha mise deiseil son falbh. An uair sin bidh mi bruidhinn ris an duine tha cumail sùil air an aimsir anns an fharsaingeachd agus a’ faighinn comhairle bhuaithe-san mu dheidhinn dè bu chòir dhomh dhèanamh.
[Iain MacAonghais – Neach-aithris] Agus le gun ach beagan làithean a-nis ‘s dòcha gus an tòisich an iomairt tha e follaiseach gu bheil taic dhaoine a’ toirt spionnadh do Niall Iain.
[Niall Iain Dòmhnallach] Tha mi dìreach airson taing a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine, air ais ann an Steòrnabhagh, ann an Leòdhas, anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, ann an Alba agus nas fharsainge na sin. Tha mi ag ràdh gu bheil mi dèanamh seo nam aonar ach cha b’urrainn dhomh fiù’s an ìre seo a ruighinn leam fhìn. An taic, seòrsa cuideachaidh a tha mi air fhaighinn bho dhaoine tha e dìreach air a bhith mìorbhaileach agus tha e ciallachadh an t-uabhas dhòmhsa agus tha mi’n dòchas gum faigh mi an aon taic ‘s an aon chuideachadh bhon h-uile duine fhad ’s a tha mi dèanamh an iomairt cuideachd air sgàth bidh feum agam air an sin. Na bithibh a’gabhail dragh mum dheidhinn, tha mi deiseil airson seo agus nì mi deagh oidhirp air agus tha mi coimhead air adhart ris a h-uile duine fhaicinn aig an taobh eile an nuair a chuireas mi crìoch air an seo.
[Angela Maclean - Presenter] The broadcaster Niall Iain MacDonald has been busy in New York preparing for the biggest rowing trip of his life. His boat is almost ready to row the Atlantic over to Stornoway. He said he now awaits favourable weather in the forthcoming days. Niall Iain hopes to collect money for a mental health charity. Here is Iain MacInnes with more.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] One stage of Niall Iain’s challenge is complete, reaching New York, but his biggest task, rowing solo across the Atlantic, still awaits him. He admits himself that it’s taken a while to get to this stage but he is confident about what lies ahead of him.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I am very confident in my abilities and in the type of preparation I have done for NY2SY, I’ve done a lot of training, I’ve learnt a lot, like the skills I need to do this journey properly and successfully but I’m just pleased to be in New York finally, it’s taken almost four years to reach this stage and with a lot of work and effort too but we’re here, I’m almost ready to make a start on NY2SY. I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait to start but at the same time I’m anxious, the same fear I felt when I first coined this idea but that’s not a bad thing I don’t think that it makes me take more care over things.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] Niall Iain spent a lot of time preparing, raising money and training to reach this stage. But the issue is not only the distance that faces him between New York and Stornoway – which is more than five thousand miles – but practical things too such as preparing food and water which will keep him going on his journey.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I need to take every scrap of food and water I will consume with me in the boat. With regards to food, I will have a bag each day which I will pull out and in it there’s enough food to last me a day, which is all I will require and all I need to do is boil water and in addition to that there’s equipment on board – a machine which converts sea water to water that is safe to drink which I need to be very careful with to make sure it works correctly and maintain it correctly.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] If the weather is too stormy outside, this is where I can kind of retire to and I just close the door
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] The weeks that have gone by have shown us the dangers of the Atlantic and with that Niall Iain is keeping an eye on the weather before he makes any decision on when to leave.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] Things look good with regards to the weather for the next couple of days but that is not enough for me, I may not be ready tomorrow or perhaps even the next day, I’ll be ready when the boat is ready, when everything is on board and when I’m ready too. It needs to feel right for me to make the decision – that’s it – I’m ready to go. Then the weather expert will advise me on what I should do.
[Iain MacInnes – Reporter] But with a matter of days to go before the journey begins it’s clear that all the support Niall Iain has received encourages him.
[Niall Iain MacDonald] I would like to thank everybody back in Stornoway, in Lewis, in the Western Isles, in Scotland and even further afield than that. Although this is a solo challenge I couldn’t even have reached this stage on my own. The support and help I have received from people is just outstanding and it means so much to me and I hope to get the same support from everyone while I’m on my journey too as I will need it. Don’t worry about me, I’m ready for this and I will do my best and I’m looking forward to it and to seeing everyone on the other side when I finish this.