Mac Feegles – Discworld’s Jocks

[An t-Ileach]

With due deference to the creative genius of Terry Pratchett, I’d like to introduce to those who haven’t yet met them Discworld’s own sensitive (they’re very sensitive about lawyers) kilted clansmen, the Nac Mac Feegle, or The Wee Free Men:



This is Rob Anybody:



The Gaelic sig line I use is a translation into Scottish Gaelic of part of their famous declaration, “Nac Mac Feegle! The Wee Free Men! Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna’ be fooled again!”

I reckoned that there must be a Discworld Gaelic to match Irish, Manx and Scottish from certain internal evidences such as “nac” (neach) and “tethera” (ceithir) so I translated the whole statement as “Neach Mhic Phaoigeal! Na Daoine Saor Beag! Gun rìgh! Gun bhànrìgh! Gun cheannard! Gun uachdaran! Cha mheallar sinn a-rithist!”

They certainly wear the kilt, but as they all seem to wear the same tartan there’s no evidence that they’ve caught up with Victorian fashions yet.

[Rob Wright]

There are numerous Pratchett fans on this board I cannae wit for the MAc Feegles next adventure myself .


Rob

[auld argonian]

I just managed to wrest the family copy of "Wee Free Men" from my daughter's grasp and started reading it again last night.

You DO know that there's a movie in the works, don't you?

Now THAT's going to be something.

Best

AA

[An t-Ileach]

...You DO know that there's a movie in the works, don't you?...

Yes, and supposedly to be directed by Sam Raimi. Waiting impatiently

[auld argonian]

I brought the movie up in an earlier thread and speculated as to whether or not they'll use live actors for the MacFeegles or if they will COP OUT and go to Computer Generated Images...

...I am obviously rooting for live actors and have my own faves for the roles...Robin Williams(Big Yan), Billy Connolly (William the Gonnagle), Hugh Laurie (Daft Wullie), etc. This could be the all star cast of all time...I wonder where they'll put cute, little Judy Dench?

Best

AA

[An t-Ileach]

Supposedly, though, Big Yan is modelled on Billy Connolly.

[auld argonian]

Big Yin = Big Yan?

...must have been a somewhat younger incarnation of Billy...he's matured somewhat lately, han't he?

Now if Ewan McGregor can play Alec Guinness as a young Obi-Wan, who do we get to play young Billy?

Best

AA

...and I love playing these "cast the movie" games...but, if they had done "Lord of the Rings" thirty years ealier, odds on that Charlton Heston would have been Aragorn instead of someone like Vigo! Hooray for Hollywood?

[James]

To get a real image of the Wee Free-think of the HLI on pay day-with their bonnets pulled forward over their eyes-razor blades in bonnet-and studded boots.

James