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New writer 2025: Sarah NicRath
Gaelic – Children's and YA
Sarah NicRath is an aspiring illustrator and Gaelic children’s book author from Lochalsh, now residing in Highland Perthshire. She has a background in Graphic design and Gaelic Early Years education. She began her writing journey during maternity leave in 2023, where a break from regular ‘work’ allowed her mind to wander and her creativity to return.
Her writing has a focus on stories with simple silly subject matter, repetition and rhyme suited for families with Gaelic or children learning Gaelic in the early years. She is currently working on illustrating and finalising copy for some of her stories and looking forward to having the time to spend on her catalogue of ‘works in progress’.
Writing sample
BROT GROD
Shìos anns a’ choille
Bha rudeigin a’ goilleadh
Dà bhana-bhuidseach a’ gocadaich ’s a’ seinn
A’ bocadaich ’s a’ buiceil mun cuairt poite mòir, cruinn
“Casan damhan-allaidh agus
cluasan madaidh-allaidh
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
A-steach dhan a’ phoit!”
“Peapaigean is seanganan is
cnogan mòr de theangannan
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!”
“Nathraichean is radan
is buinneagan is bradan
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
A-steach dhan a’ phoit!”
“Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!
Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!
Gheibh sinn rudan sgreamhail is
gheibh sinn rudan grod!”
Gu h-obann! Sguir iad ri seinn!
Sheas iad a’ coimhead a chèile thar a’ phoit mhòr, chruinn…
Bha fìos aig an dithis ac’ gun robh AON rud a dhìth
An rud as cudromaiche don reasapaidh
B’e corp bana-bhuidsich ugalaidh!
Agus ’s e sin an t-adhbhar a thòisich an strì…
“Tha thusa sgreamhail!”
“Uill, tha THUSA grod!”
Is dìreach mar sin, thòisich an trod!
Deiseal airson sabaid, aghaidh ri aghaidh
Dhiochuimhnich iad mun slatan-draoidh!
Thog iad an sguaban mar chlaidheamhan mòra
Geasagan neo draoidheachd, cha robh tìde gu leòr ann!
Le buille is le brag
Chaill tè dhiubh a h-ad
Le sgailc is le sgleoc
An tè eile a cleoc’
Air an sguaban a-nis os cionn na poit’
Bha e doirbh dhaibh fhaicinn am measg na toit
Slatan nan làmhan, thòisich na geasan
A’ lionadh an adhair mar theintean-ealain
Lasan mar dhealanach a’ boillsgeadh bhuap’
Mu dheireadh le buille, chaill tè a sguab
Thòisich i tuiteam car mu char
Nuair a bhuail i a caraid meadhon an adhair!
Fhuair iad greim teann
Air cas is air ceann
Is le sgal is le sgreuch,
Chaidh an dithis dhiubh SÌOS…
le PLUP! Is le PLOB!
A-steach dhan a phoit!
BROT GROD! BROT GROD!
Is e sin mar a ni thu brot grod!
Sarah says:
'I am delighted to have received a New Writers Award and am very grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been working away on my own for a while so I am really looking forward to having the guidance of a mentor to help take my projects further.'
Photo credit: ©JohnNeed.co.uk(this link will open in a new window)