Discover the magical Gaelic folktales collected by John Francis Campbell of Islay (1821-1885).
Sgeul | Story is an exhibition in Gaelic and English about stories and storytelling traditions.
People share stories every day. A story is kept alive by a storyteller telling it to others. Folktales have survived all over the world, passed on from generation to generation.
Scotland is rich in stories but once upon a time, Scottish Gaelic folktales were almost unknown beyond the Highlands. In 1859, folklorist John Francis Campbell began to collect Scottish Gaelic folktales. He found a treasure trove.
Campbell worked with a team of helpers to gather folktales. They travelled from place to place across the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland meeting with storytellers.
See the manuscript diaries kept by Campbell and the watercolours he painted. In the storytelling area, you can read and listen to some of the folktales given by the storytellers in Gaelic and English.
Find out what stories and storytelling mean to Gaelic speakers of all ages today.
Faigh a-mach mu na sgeulachdan Gàidhlig air leth a chruinnich Iain Òg Ìle (1821-1885).
Gu 20mh den Ghiblean, 2024
Tha Sgeul | Story na taisbeanadh ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla mu sgeulachdan agus traidiseanan seanchais.
Bidh daoine ag innse sgeulachdan gach latha. Tha sgeul air a cumail beò le sgeulaiche ga h-innse do dhaoine eile. Tha beul-aithris ann air feadh an t-saoghail, air a thoirt seachad bho ghinealach gu ginealach.
Tha beairteas de sgeulachdan aig Alba ach uair den t-saoghal is beag gun robh fios aig mòran dhaoine air beul-aithris na Gàidhlig taobh a-muigh na Gàidhealtachd fhèin. Ann an 1859, thòisich an t-eòlaiche beul aithris Iain Frainsias Caimbeul (Iain Òg Ìle) air sgeulachdan Gàidhlig na h-Alba a chruinneachadh. Lorg e mòr-ulaidh dha-rìribh.
Bha an Caimbeulach ag obair còmhla ri sgioba de luchd-cuideachaidh gus sgeulachdan a chruinneachadh. Shiubhail iad bho àite gu àite air feadh taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd agus Innse Gall a’ coinneachadh ri sgeulaichean.
Faic na leabhraichean-latha ann an cruth làmh-sgrìobhainnean a sgrìobh an Caimbeulach agus na dealbhan dath-uisge a pheant e. Ann an àrainn nan sgeulachdan, faodaidh tu cuid den bheul-aithris a thug na seanchaidhean seachad ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla a leughadh agus èisteachd riutha.
Faigh a-mach na tha sgeulachdan agus seanchas a’ ciallachadh do luchd na Gàidhlig de gach aois san latha an-diugh.
Opening hours
Monday: 10am to 7pm
Tuesday: 10am to 7pm
Wednesday: 10am to 7pm
Thursday: 10am to 7pm
Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: Closed
Highlights / Na caill na leanas
Swipe left and right to view more
Fairy tale characters
By John Francis Campbell
This drawing of fairy tale characters is one of the few Campbell said was done with peat, soot and whisky. Many characters appear in Gaelic storytelling, from medieval heroes to witches and water creatures.
Gaelic manuscript
By John Francis Campbell
Mary MacTavish (1790 to 1881) was a friend of John Francis Campbell. She wrote stories down from memory, including stories that had been told to her by other people, and gave them to Campbell. Mary's 'Tale of the Sick Queen' is similar to the Grimms' tale of the 'Frog Prince'. This manuscript page shows her handwritten Gaelic version of the folktale.
Watercolour portrait
By John Francis Campbell
Some storytellers are vividly brought to life in John Francis Campbell's watercolour paintings. This portrait is of Rory Ruma, or Ruairidh Mac Nèill, a storyteller from Mingulay.
Tiree watercolour
By John Francis Campbell
John Francis Campbell travelled widely and documented his experiences. This watercolour of a blackhouse, a traditional thatched Highland house, was painted in Tiree. His silhouette is visible in the painting's foreground.
Further reading / Tuilleadh leughaidh
The saviour of Gaelic folklore
Published in the Library's Discover magazine, Issue 48, summer 2023.
Salmon in Sápmi
Read on the Library blog.
Explore related collections / Rùraich cruinneachaidhean co-cheangailte
John Francis Campbell of Islay
Journals, watercolours and sketches by Gaelic folklorist, artist, traveller, and scientist John Francis Campbell (1821 to 1885)
Early Gaelic book collections - John Francis Campbell
Volumes from a collection of books rich in Highland folklore, Ossianic literature and other Celtic subjects. Many of the books are annotated by John Francis Campbell of Islay.
Gaelic manuscripts of Scotland
Gaelic manuscripts from the 14th to 19th centuries. Subjects include songs, religion, history and mythology.