Lithuania

 Gaelic

Like many parts of eastern Europe, Lithuania’s first associations with Scotland date to the arrival of Scottish mercenaries and merchants in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Scottish merchants established profitable communities in Lithuania, and as they did in neighbouring Poland many reached high status. During the eighteenth century the trend began to decline, and the sense of distinct Scottish identity amongst those who remained in Lithuania began to fade. By the nineteenth century the trend was in reverse, as it was Lithuanians who migrated to Scotland in search of better lives.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century there was a considerable amount of Lithuanian migration, with anything between 5,000 and 10,000 living in Scotland by the early 1900s. Some were escaping persecution or conscription, others were seeking better economic opportunities. Most arrived at Leith, and whilst the Jewish communities tended to then settle in around Glasgow, the Catholic Lithuanians tended to seek industrial employment at the mines or ironworks of West Lothian, Ayrshire, or North Lanarkshire (especially Bellshill and Mossend). The Bellshill area is sometimes referred to as little Lithuania, and the rise in the migrant population led to the opening of The Scottish Lithuanian Recreation and Social Club in the Mossend area which survived into the 21st century. One of the most famous Scots of Lithuanian descent was Sir Matt Busby.

Lituàinia

Coltach ri mòran phàirtean de thaobh an ear na Roinn Eòrpa, tha na ciad cheanglaichean eadar Lituània agus Alba a’ dol air ais gu tighinn nan saighdearan-duais Albannach ’s an luchd-malairt anns an t-siathamh agus an t-seachdamh linn deug. Stèidhich luchd-malairt Albannach coimhearsnachdan ann an Lituània a bha prothaideach, agus mar a thachair anns a’ Phòlainn rin taobh, ràinig mòran dhiubh inbhe àrd. Tron ochdamh linn deug, thòisich an t-aomadh seo a’ crìonadh agus thòisich am faireachdainn de dhearbh-aithne sònraichte Albannach a’ searg am measg an fheadhainn a dh’fhuirich ann an Lituània. Aig àm na naoidheamh linn deug, bha an t-aomadh sin air tilleadh oir bha Lituàinianaich a’ dèanamh imrich a dh’Alba a shireadh beatha nas fheàrr.  

Aig deireadh na naoidheamh linn deug agus tràth san fhicheadamh linn, bha mòran imrich a’ dol air adhart à Lituàinia le eadar 5,000 agus 10,000 a’ fuireach ann an Alba sna 1900an. Bha cuid a’ teicheadh bho gheur-leanmhainn no togail don arm agus bha feadhainn eile a’ sireadh chothroman eaconamach nas fheàrr. Thàinig a’ mhòr-chuid a-steach ann an Lìte, agus ged a bha na coimhearsnachdan Iùdhach buailteach aig an àm sin air socrachadh ann no mu thimcheall Ghlaschu, bha na Caitligich Lituàinianach buailteach a bhith a’ sireadh cosnaidh gnìomhachasail anns na mèìnnean no ann an ionadan-iarainn ann an Lodainn an Iar, Siorrachd Àir no Lannraig a Tuath (gu h-àraid Cnoc nan Clag agus Ceann a’ Chòinnich). Tha sgìre Chnoc nan Clag aithnichte uaireannan mar Lituàinia Beag agus lean a’ mheudachadh anns an àireamh-sluaigh a thàinig a-steach don sgìre gu fosgladh air Club Sòisealta is Chur-seachadan Lituàinianach na h-Alba ann an sgìre Cheann a’ Chòinnich, a shoirbhich a-steach don 21mh linn.  B’ e Matt Busby aon de na h-Albannaich ainmeil a thàinig bho shliochd Lituàinianach.