Gàidhlig / English
Ceann-snaoidh

Ceann-snaoidh

Posted by Kate on 18th December 2014

Is anyone in your family particularly organised when it comes to Christmas celebrations? If that’s the case, you may want to use the word ‘ceann-snaoidh’ to describe them; meaning leader. This word is used to describe someone who takes charge of the merry group when they gather together to celebrate Christmas. The ‘ceann-snaoidh’ would guide the group through each carol.

But Gaels would also use the term ‘ceann-snaoidh’ or ‘ceann-snaoth’ to describe the king of every animal, and indeed every animal under the sun has their own king! The salmon is king of fish, or ‘ceann-snaoth nan iasg.’ There is a ‘ceann-snaoth nan nì’ amongst the nowts, and ‘ceann-snaoth nam fiadh’ amongst the deer.

In South Uist, there was a township which was called Snaoiseabhal (or Snishival), on the banks of the river Hough. The river was often full of salmon, which would gather in shallow pools close to the bank of the river; where the water was shallow. It was seen at these times that the other salmon would follow the ceann-snaoidh in all his movements. This is what is meant by Snaoiseabhal- Snaothaisbhal (Alexander Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica, Volume II. p332.)

If you have ever heard of the term ‘ceann-snaoidh’, or know of the ‘ceann-snaoidh’ of any other animal, then please get in touch with us on TWITTER or on facebook .

Click here to view this section as it appears in the Carmina Gadelica 

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