This is Acair's new website, it is currently under development and should not be used to buy anything. Continue shopping on the live site

acair
Basket
← Back to all books
FEUCH FICSEAN - Fo Fhasgadh Beinn Chianabhail — cover

FEUCH FICSEAN - Fo Fhasgadh Beinn Chianabhail

By Mòrag Anna NicNèill

£9.99

In stock

An Liosta Fhada aig Duais Leabhar na Gàidhealtachd 2025

Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2025

When Kenneth returns to the island after being away for years, he plans to make a good life for himself in his old house. But he soon realizes that things are not going to be as easy as he had hoped. There is no sign of the warm little community he remembers, and not everyone in Baile a’ Chamais is so fond of the stranger who has come among them. It is not long before strange things happen to him, which leave him frightened and confused. He is haunted by problems, and also by little Ella, who lives in a world of her own and spends her life running the moors in search of fairies. Is Kenneth losing his mind? Or is there a spark of truth in the supernatural legends he used to hear from his grandmother when he was little? Apparently, Ben Chianabhail holds many secrets.

Gheibhear leabhar-èisteachd an seo / An audiobook version is also available here.

160 pages, paperback

Watch

Films about the book and how it came to be written.

Glossary

177 words and phrases from the book, chapter by chapter, each with a recording. Written for readers and learners working through the Gaelic.

Chapter 1 15 words
anns a' chamhanaich
in the twilight
mar sheudan lainnireach
like radiant jewels
fo fhasgadh
in the shelter of
tuar car seunta
a slightly magical hue
solas liath-ghorm a' chòmh-thràtha
the lilac light of dusk
mar phlathadh dealanaich
like a flash of lightning
airson a dhol a shlupraich anns na glumagan
to go and splash in the pools
am falt a bu dualaiche
the curliest hair
fosgarra
forthcoming/open
cha tug i feart
she ignored
nach eil an gearradh ann
that he doesn't bite
nach dùraigeadh
wouldn't dare/like to
air a h-ùidh a ghleusadh
had piqued her interest
anns an dol seachad
in the passing
mobhsgaideach
feckless/slow
Chapter 2 17 words
culaidh-choimheach shìthiche
a fairy costume
nach robh e a' falbh far a druim
idiom: she never took it off
a' crònan an duain
humming the ditty
mar ghille-mirein
like a spinning top
a dhol bà-bà
idiom: to go beddy-byes (said to children)
rudeigin ga dìth
she lacked something
gus an tug esan a chasan leis
idiom: until he took off
gun abhsadh
incessant
adhbhar a balbhachd
the reason for her muteness
a dheònaich sealbh dhi
that providence had dealt her
ann an làrach nam bonn
idiom: immediately
gus toirt thairis
about to keel over
far a dòghach
in a bad mood
a' cur gheasan
casting spells
cho aosta ris na bruthaichean
idiom: as old as the hills
màileachan
elf/pixie
mar a' cheò dhùmhail
like the thick fog
Chapter 3 21 words
anns a' chiaradh
in the twilight
tormanaich an uillt
the bubbling of the stream
ràcan raspach nan traon
the raspy croak of the corncrakes
dubh-thràth
evening dusk
gu sìorraidh fuaighte
forever tied
gu sealladh orm!
idiom: oh my goodness!
air a spuaiceadh le sùith
smeared with soot
leis an deathaich
with the smoke
gun luaidh air
without mention of
fuaraidh
musty
air a chriomadh leis na leòmain
nibbled by moths
dhrùidh e air
it dawned on him
làthaireachd a sheanmhar
the presence of his grandmother
cuideachd dhaoine
people's company
a' dèanamh gu dripeil air an ceann-uidhe
busily making their way to their destination
shiolp e a-null air a chorra-biod
he crept over on his tiptoes
am fàth a bu lugha
the smallest glimpse
eadar-sholas
twilight
dh'fhidir e
he noticed
saobh-chràbhadh aineolach
ignorant superstition
gabhail mu thàmh
idiom: going to bed
Chapter 4 23 words
thàinig glasadh air an latha
daybreak came
cha do thog Piullag ceann
idiom: Piullag didn't appear
a h-anail na h-uchd
idiom: she was out of breath
chun an smir
to the core/marrow
air a tughadh le aodach
she was wrapped up in clothes
air a lathadh
idiom: numb with the cold
ri miastradh
up to mischief
an ainm an Àigh
idiom: for heaven's sake
sa mhionaid uaireach
idiom: this very minute
glaistig
malevolent female water spirit
mo thruaighe ort
idiom: woe betide you
oich, oich fhèin
idiom: dear me
nach robh an aois a' laighe oirre
idiom: that she didn't look old
guin cràidhteach
a sharp pain
giùlain thu fhèin dòigheil
behave yourself
a' dèanamh naidheachdan
making up stories
dè a-nis a bha a' tighinn rithe
idiom: what was bothering her now
mì-thapachd
mishap
do bheatha dhan dùthaich
idiom: welcome!
a' cur eagal a mhionaich air
idiom: making him scared stiff
a' chroit a bh' air a druim
the hump on her back
lachdann, preasach
sallow, wrinkly
rùchdail torrainn
a rumble of thunder
Chapter 5 11 words
gun robh e air a rathad
idiom: that he was on his way
aig baile
in the village
dìle bhàthte
pouring rain
a thìochdaisean
good gracious
cho mòr aig a chèile ri dà cheann eich
idiom: as thick as thieves
cho sona ris an Rìgh
idiom: as happy as Larry
b' eòlach a sheanair air
idiom: referring to something novel
cha chùm thu ceòl riutha
idiom: you can't keep up with their enthusiasm
cha robh e a' togail a thòine às
idiom: he was always there
chan eil sìon a' dol seachad oirbh
you don't miss a thing
stubag bheag
idiom: wee darling (said to little girls)
Chapter 6 8 words
sgrìob mun chidhe
a stroll around the pier
'S gann a thàrr air suidhe
He had hardly sat down
ann an iomadh riochd
in many guises
tha mi a' leigeil dhìom mo dhreuchd
I'm retiring
cha chuir thu às iad leis a' ghràpa
idiom: they are hard to get rid of
saoranaich chiallach
responsible citizens
a' cuimseachadh le chorraig
pointing with his finger
biorgadh farmaid
a pang of jealousy
Chapter 7 12 words
ag ochanaich is ag achanaich
moaning and groaning
criothnachadh eireachdail
lovely vibrations
gun chuireadh
without invitation
a theab a chur à cochall a chridhe
idiom: that almost scared him to death
chan eagal dhut
idiom: you have nothing to fear
ospagan dòlasach
mournful sobs
mar shluaisreadh nan tonn
like the surge/motion of the waves
mar fhreiceadain shàrachail
like tiresome sentinels
dìth cèille
lack of sense
nuair a chluinniste tartaraich
when the noisiness is heard
ri miread is ri mulad
up to merriment and misery
anart nam marbh
the shrouds of the dead
Chapter 8 11 words
leis a' chleachdadh
out of habit
bha bàrr fuar oirre
idiom: there was a nip in the air
fàl an rathaid
the verge of the road
sealastair a' cur an loinne fhèin
irises adding their own elegance
guirmead na mara
the blueness of the sea
a luaidh mo chridhe
idiom: darling of my heart
a chridhe na shlugan
his heart in his mouth
nan cois
idiom: with them
cho caol ri clobha
idiom: as thin as a poker
a liuthad àmhghar
the many troubles
feuch riut!
idiom: imagine!
Chapter 9 13 words
chaog e a shùilean
he squinted
leum-uisge na dheann
a gushing waterfall
fionnarachd an fheòir
the coolness of the grass
drùidhte chun na seiche
soaked to the skin
galar do bhàis
idiom: the illness of your death
a' gabhail ealla
paying attention
a' godail gu feargach
chattering angrily
a' ghrian a' spealgadh nan creag
idiom: the sun splitting the rocks
am feur cho gorm
the grass is as green
a' leigeil an analach
idiom: taking a breather/rest
àite uaigneach
a solitary place
fàisneachd dhìomhair
mysterious prophecy
fead curracaige
the whistle of a lapwing
Chapter 10 5 words
fealla-dhà gun chron
harmless fun
a' lasadh le fuath
blazing with hatred
mìle òrd a' slacadaich
a thousand hammers thudding
cho geal ri cailc
idiom: as white as chalk
a' spreadhadh na chom
bursting in his chest
Chapter 11 10 words
bha siud ann roimhe
once upon a time
a dreach fhèin
her own portrayal
a' gur gach facal
begging for each word
doras na sìth-bhruighne
the door of the fairy mound
cho sgiobalta air a bhonnan
as light on his feet
le cruas arain
because of the hardness of his bread
a' toirt a' char à Luran
tricking Luran
cho luath 's a rinn e car riamh
idiom: as fast as he ever did a thing
gun tigeadh iad gu buil
that they would come to fruition
droch isean
idiom: a bad egg
Chapter 12 10 words
bha e air oillteachadh
he was horrified
air a bhuaireadh le aithreachas
plagued with regret
mar ghath goirt dèididh
like a painful pang of toothache
ga lèireadh
tormenting him
gus an robh iad aige air a theangaidh
idiom: until he knew them off by heart
cha mheantairig mi
I dare not
rim mhaireann
for as long as I live
nach robh i idir anns an àbhaist
that she wasn't her usual self
àm na Fèinne
the age of the Fenians
cho geur 's a bha i
how keen she was
Chapter 13 8 words
mhaoidh i orra
she reproached them
mar ghocan-cuthaige
like the cuckoo's attendant
chan eil thu cho maol
you're not so daft
ge b' oil leatha
in spite of herself
am measg nam fàdan
amongst the peats
ròp-anairt
washing line
fàth a turais
the reason for her trip
na h-ònrachd
on her own
Chapter 14 9 words
am fagas
nearby
morbhan an uillt
the babbling of the stream
cha robh dol às aige
he had no alternative
dathan drithlinneach a' tuainealaich
sparkling colours swirling
gu mear
playfully
a' chireasail
the giggling
geilt
terror
gach cùil is ceòb
every nook and cranny
a dubh no a dath
idiom: hide nor hair
Chapter 15 4 words
aig uchd bàis
at death's door
a' cur às a corp
idiom: pontificating
corra naosg
the occasional snipe
rinn i turadh
it had cleared up

Details

Format
Paperback
Language
Gaelic
Extent
160 pages
ISBN
978-1-78907-191-7
Product code
1917

You might also like

Acair

An Tosgan, 54 Seaforth Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2SD

01851 703020

Catalogue of 454 titles

© 2026 Acair. A registered Scottish charity.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig Bòrd na Gàidhlig