106: Eigg (2) 106: Eige (2)

Bidh deich bliadhna ann an ath-mhìos bhon a fhuair muinntir Eige sealbh air an eilean aca. Bha iad ag iarraidh an t-eilean a cheannach bhon uachdaran, Keith Schellenberg. Ach cha robh esan deònach a reic dhaibh. Anns a’ Mhàrt naoi ceud deug, naochad ’s a còig (1995), chuala na h-Eigich droch naidheachd. Bha an t-eilean air a reic.

Reic Keith Schellenberg Eige airson £1.6 millean. Cheannaich neach-ealain Gearmailteach e. B’ esan Marlin Eckhart. ’S e am far-ainm a bh’ air – Maruma.

Cò bh’ ann am Maruma? Bha cuid ag ràdh gur e adhradair-teine a bh’ ann. Cha robh fios aig daoine ciamar a fhuair e an t-airgead aige. Is cha robh fios aca carson a cheannaich e Eige.

’S e fear mòr a bh’ ann. Bha e a’ smocadh fad na h-ùine. Gheall e airgead mòr a chosg air an eilean. Ach cha robh daoine cinnteach mu dheidhinn. Thachair seo mus robh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ann am bith. Ach nochd an suidheachadh ann an Taigh nan Cumantan. Ge-tà, cha do rinn an Riaghaltas ann an Lunnainn dad.

Anns an Iuchar, naoi ceud deug, naochad ’s a sia (1996), nochd Eige air a’ mhargaidh a-rithist. Bha Maruma ag iarraidh £2 mhillean. Anns an Lùnastal, thòisich Urras Eige air airgead a chur ri chèile airson an t-eilean a cheannach. Thàinig na mìltean notaichean a-steach. Thàinig an t-airgead bho dhaoine air feadh an t-saoghail.

As t-Samhain bha £1.2 millean aig an Urras. Ach cha robh sin gu leòr do Mharuma. Dhiùlt e an tagradh. Dh’fhàg e an t-eilean air a’ mhargaidh. Bha e fhathast ag iarraidh £2 mhillean not. Ach bha a’ chùis a’ tighinn gu ceann. Bha neach-creideis aig Maruma ag iarraidh airgead air ais. B’ e sin airgead a thug e do Mharuma mar iasad. Reic Maruma an t-eilean airson an t-airgead fhaighinn.

Anns a’ Ghiblean, naoi ceud deug, naochad ’s a seachd (1997), chuir Urras Eige £1.5 millean air a’ bhòrd. Chaidh gabhail ris. Fhuair na daoine sealbh air an eilean air an dàrna latha deug dhen Ògmhios. Bha ceilidh mòr mòr aca air an oidhche sin!

Faclan is abairtean: Bidh deich bliadhna ann an ath-mhìos: it will be ten years next month; bhon a fhuair muinntir Eige sealbh air an eilean aca: since the people off Eigg achieved ownership of their island; cha robh esan deònach a reic dhaibh: he wasn’t willing to sell it to them; cheannaich neach-ealain Gearmailteach e: a German artist bought it; far-ainm: nickname; gur e adhradair-teine a bh’ ann: that he was a fìre-worshipper; ciamar a fhuair e an t-airgead aige: how he got his money; carson a cheannaich e Eige: why he bought Eigg; bha e a’ smocadh fad na h-ùine: he was constantly smoking; gheall e airgead mòr a chosg: he promised to spend a lot of money; mus robh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ann am bith: before the Scottish Parliament existed; Taigh nan Cumantan: House of Commons; cha do rinn an Riaghaltas ann an Lunnainn dad: the Government in London did nothing; anns an Iuchar: in July; air a’ mhargaidh a-rithist: on the market again; thòisich Urras Eige air airgead a chur ri chèile: The Isle of Eigg Trust started to put money together; na mìltean notaichean: thousands of pounds; bho dhaoine air feadh an t-saoghail: from people throughout the world; bha a’ chùis a’ tighinn gu ceann: the matter was coming to a conclusion; bha neach-creideis ag iarraidh airgead air ais: a creditor wanted [his] money back; a thug e do Mharuma mar iasad: which he gave to Maruma as a loan; reic Maruma an t-eilean airson an t-airgead fhaighinn: Maruma sold the island to get the money; anns a’ Ghiblean: in April; chaidh gabhail ris: it was accepted; fhuair na daoine sealbh air an eilean air an dàrna latha deug dhen Ògmhios ; the people got ownership of the island on the twelfth of June.