The Scots Gaelic Myth

[Allan Thomson]

I'm not so sure about that. Place name studies suggest that the whole of Ross-shire had a fair Norse presence - even the name itself may derive from Norse hross = horse.
https://ssns.org.uk/resources/Docume...6_pp_23-32.pdf
Certainly the Earls of Ross were of Viking descent.
I believe that the point Patrick was originally making is that, at least for a period of time (albeit short), Gaelic was the most widely spoken language in Scotland long after Pictish and Norse had disappeared. Even James VI (1473-1513) had Gaelic and possibly also his son James V. Accepting this does not in any way diminish the input of Pictish, P-Celtic, Norse, Anglish, Anglo-Norman etc into early Scots, It certainly does not imply that one is a Gaelic "extremist" or "separatist nationalist".

Alan

I can accept that, but as for Pictish & Norse disappearing, they didn't really, they just assimilated in & changed the language & place names. That's my point about Patricks map being innacurate in showing many parts of Scotland & the Isle of Man as Irish Gaelic rather than Norse Gaelic.

I can accept what you're saying & I support measures to protect Gaelic. My issue is when Gaelic is pushed as THE only true language of Scotland when it wasn't & it's not even the original language of the landmass we call Scotland.