Page 126 - Art First: Helen MacAlister: At the Foot o’ Yon Excellin’ Brae

Lighe Lighe (or Lì) – water with the idea of its covering something.
sand-blasted glass, 2010, A2, edition of 2 Water with fish in a pot, water covering stepping stones,
water flooding newly planted or sown ground. [when
anything was exposed first and later submerged, the water
covering it was called lighe] 1
The blue used is matched to Pantone 300
(international colour code). In 2003, the Scottish Parliament
recommended that Pantone 300 should be recognised as
the correct colour for the saltire. It’s an advisory decision
and does not have statutory force.
(As aside, ‘Lì, as in Mullach Lì in the west, is not
a short form of liath (grey), but means instead coloured or
hued’ ) 2
A world of specifics – “when that ray of
sunshine rests on the blue plate in the corner of the dresser,
it will be 5 o’clock.” 3
1 Gaelic Words and Expressions from South Uist & Eriskay - Fr.Allan
McDonald, p165
2 Scottish Hill Names - Peter Drummond, p104
3 Pilgrim Souls – Hector MacIver, p89

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