In Deò, Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, an up and coming young poet, released his first collection of Poems in Scottish Gaelic. This book is fully bilingual Gaelic - English.

In his foreword by Martin MacIntyre, he says:
"I was privileged to be given a sneak preview of Marcas's work in progress over the last two years or so; you now have the pleasure collected here in 'Deò' and desirous of your active reading.

These poems take us to many places, both physical and emotional, and they do so in carefully crafted apposite language. Fear, darkness and regret are there but also joy and hope and pursuit of a richer world. We often meet love. As is her wont, her capricious nature reveals anger, dissatisfaction, and bewilderment even, that she is not properly understood. She is also though capable of forgiveness, of falling head-over-heels, and does not conceal wonder at how deeply she has been stirred from placid repose."

More on the foreword...

REVIEW

Deo (meaning 'breath') is the first poetry collection from Marc an Tuirneir, ... The collection is written in Scottish Gaelic with English translations on the opposite page, facilitating those whose 'Gaidhlig' ranges from rusty to non-existant. Deo explores the journeys of youth from many perspectives, taking inspiration from such places as Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Alicante, Ireland and his home city of York.

The imagery in much of this poetry is strikingly beautiful and strong, taking inspiration from physical, emotional, and even linguistic landscapes. In Sluagh Ghairm (Battlecry) he plays with the concept of the gay 'closet' when addressing the topic of Gaelic in Scotland, using the word and its meaning in both Gaelic and English:

Cha dhaibhsan a tha mi a' sgrìobhadh, Ach do fhleasgaichean bàna, diùid, Sgaraicht' eadar clòaid leis an aodachIs clòsaid eile leis a' chac.

It's not for them that I'm writing, But for the timmering, gentle lad, Stuck between one closet with the clothingAnd another closet1 with the crap.

As many of his poems are powerfully descriptive, Mac an Tuirneir proves his worth with Deo, showing his beautiful mastery ofthe Gaelic language and of poetry in general. There is a musicality to his writing that is hard to find in modern Gaeilic literature, especially when dealing with translations and idioms. Deo is a welcome addition to the world ofGaelic poetry, as well as its new gay sub-genre.

REVIEW: Eile Magazine, Issue 06 -November 2013 -complete review at: http: //issuu.com/eilemagazine/docs/issue06
About the Author: Marcas Mac an Tuairneir was born in November, 1984, in York England. He was brought up in a family steeped in the local area and of second-generation Irish heritage.
He began his education at English Martyrs' RC Primary School and All Saints' Secondary School, York, where he found a deep love of language and literature. He travelled to Scotland in 2003 to continue his education at Kings College, University of Aberdeen, where he graduated in 2008 with an MA Hons in Gaelic and Hispanic Studies and in 2010 with an MLitt in Irish and Scottish Studies.

He moved to Glasgow in 2011 where he graduated, with the support of MG Alba, with an MA in Television Fiction from Glasgow Caledonian University. Whilst studying, he worked for many years at York Theatre Royal and later was involved in Gaelic Education, working for various bodies; including East Dunbartonshire Council, the Universities of Strathclyde and the West of Scotland and Meadowburn Primary School, Bishopbriggs.

This is his first collection of poetry, and was written with the support of the Gaelic Books Council and under their tutelage scheme, supervised by the Gaelic author and poet Martin MacIntyre.
Many of his poems have been published in journals and periodicals, one of which was shortlisted for the Coirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill poetry competition in 2013. He is currently working on a second collection of poetry, an anthology of twenty-first century Gaelic poetry, two novels and a television drama script. He co-wrote the play Take Me if You Need Me that was performed at the Òran Mòr, Glasgow in 2011.
Marcas lives in Inverness, where he is a member of Inverness Gaelic Choir. He has a great interest in poetry, drama and literature in general, music both modern and traditional and sociolinguistics and minority languages. He works as Internet and Information Officer for Bòrd na Gàidhlig. For further information, please refer to www.marcasmac.co.uk & www.facebook.com/MarcasMac