Mediaeval times
'Na shineadh an sud fo na pluic
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- In MacPhersons "Dunaire" it is said that when John Lom was buried, Coll of Keppoch said to Angus Mac-Alasdair Ruaidh of Glencoe, " Let
- to say," and he produced
- Chunna mi criech air m fhear cinnidh
- Dia dheanamh sith ri danam. B fhuath leat Màiri bfhuath leat Uilleam
- Dhinnseadh tu dhaibh e gun iarraidh.
- Gun tugadh Dia mathanas dut Bha thu dioghaltach
- of poets.
- Battle
'Na shineadh an sud fo na pluic, Tha gaol an Leòmhainn's fuath an Tuirc. t A handsome monument was erected over his grave some years ago. In MacPherson's "Dunaire" it is said that when John Lom was buried, Coll of Keppoch said to Angus Mac-Alasdair Ruaidh of Glencoe, " Let us now hear what you have got to say," and he produced the following elegy: — Chunna mi criech air m' fhear cinnidh, 'G a chàramh an diugh 'an Tom-Aingeal; Iuchair nam bàrd—righ nam filidhj— Dia dheanamh sith ri d'anam. B' fhuath leat Màiri b'fhuath leat Uilleam, 'S b'fhuath leat Siol-Diarmaid uile, 'S a h-uile h-aon nach biodh rioghail Dh'innseadh tu dhaibh e gun iarraidh. Tha gaol an Leòghainn, 's fuath an Tuirc, Anns an uaigh's am bheil do chorp, Gu'n tugadh Dia mathanas dut Bha thu dioghaltach's an olc! X King of poets. MAC IAIN LUIM (JOHN LOM'S SON). * See MAcLean Sinclair's Bards, Uil to 1715. t The " eirig," or ransom, was really for the killing of a person of one's own nation, and dates back to the time of the Druids and was determined by the quality, or birth of the individual. One hundred and forty cows was the " èirig " of an Earl; one hundred that of an Earl's son or thane ; and sixteen of a villain or plebeian. Tacitus tells us that the same custom prevailed among the ancient Germans—" Luitur homicidium certo armentorum ac pecorum numero, pars civitati pars propinquis." John Lom's son fought under Dundee at the battle of Killiecrankie in 1687. It is said that he was a captain. He was killed in a duel by Donald Donn Mac Fhir-Bhothfhiunntain, about 1690. The duel was fought at High Bridge about eight miles from Fort William. He was a good poet, though of course not so famous as his father. In fact, ne had no time to become famous as he must have been killed when comparatively a young man. The following song was composed by him, but owing to the fame of his father few of his productions have been preserved :— " Latha Raon Ruari." An Raon-Ruari so 'bha'nn B' lìonmhor ceann is colunn gu làr, Mòran Ghàidheal is Ghall Bh' air chall's an uilinn ri bàir. 'Nuair a thàinig an clann 'Nan deann an deireadh an là, Cha b' e tilleadh gun chall A shanntaich gillean mo ghràidh. Bha an t-Alastair Ciar Gu dian le 'bhrataichean; Ann an àm dol a sios Cha b'mhiann leis fuireach 'nan deigh : Cha bu chlaidheanih no sgiath 'Bu dion do'n ehuraidh 'bha treun; Cò a chumadh ris strìth, 'S an Righ mar spionnadh d' a sgèith ? Is bha Dòmhnall nan Dùn Gu dlùth air uilinn a' bhàir ; Bha 'chuid ghillean ri 'chùl, 'S cha seachnadh iad cùis le dàil: Bha ùr ghasda mo rùin 'G 'ur leanailt gu dlùth mu'n sàil, Is mar bhuineadh da'n cliù, Ri casgairt le lùths nan làmh. There are other four verges of the above song equally good, but as the air is not known to which it was sung, it has not so much interest at the present day. DOMHNULL DONN (BROWN DONALD). Donald MacDonald, poet and politician, commonly called "Donald Donn," was of the house of Bohuntin and Aberarder, a branch of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, the second son of John MacDonald, fourth of Bohuntin, and uncle to Gilleasbuig of Keppoch. His mother was a daughter of Cameron of Glenmailie. Donald was not on friendly terms with his chief, Coll of Keppoch, or '* Iain Lom," whose son, as already mentioned, he had killed in a duel. Like many of his countrymen he was a "creachadair," or raider, his exploits in which direction history fails to record. There is, in fact, not very much known about him. It seems that he was in love with a daughter of the chief of the Grants, whose seat was at Glenurquhart, but the Grants would not hear of the match on account of his poverty, though of high lineage. The poetand his lady-love having planned an elopement, Donald to be at hand hid himself in a cave on the north side of Loch-ness, near " Reilig Ghorraidh." Here he was to remain until Miss Grant was able to join him, but Donald's secret and retreat were betrayed to the brother of his love, and he was decoyed into a house in the neighbourhood of the castle, by a pretended message from Miss Grant. Donald, thrown off his guard by the kindness and hospitality of the lady's pretended confidant, was prevailed on, not only to drink freely, but also to sleep in the barn. No sooner was he asleep than his sword and target were removed by his treacherous host, hence, when his foes came upon him in the morning, he had no weapon but his gun, which missed fire, so that he was literally unarmed, on which he composed " Mìle mallachd gu bràth air a' ghunna mar arm," &c. Donald expected that his cian would interfere and pay his èirig t fine, but the bad terms he was on with his chief, and Iain Lom, prevented that. The night before his execution while in prison, he composed the beautiful song :— 'S truagh a Righ ! Mo nighean Donn, Nach robh mi thall 'am Muile leat, Far am faighinn iasg is sithionn fhèidh, 'S cha bhiodh, a chiall, oirnn uireasaibh. According to tradition Donald's sister was present at lus execution, and the head articulated, after being struck off, the words, " A Cheit tog an ceann," " Kate, take up the head." So far as I am aware only a few of his other 6ongs have been preserved. Donald Donn wasa handsome man, a brave warrior, a good poet, and an excellent harper. He was executed in 1691. His allusion to Mull in " 'S truagh a Righ," etc., was probably on account of nis having planned his elopement for that locality; he would be safer on an island than on the mainland. MacLean Sinclair says that he had a son by a girl in Sutherlandshire—"An nighean donn a bha 'n Cataobh"—and a daughter by another girl, and that the latter paid him a visit while in prison, and that it was to her he addressed the noem «'S truagh, a righ! mo nighean donn." I tnrefer, however, holding by the Grant romance aa being more likely. He composed other three sones at least, besides " 'S truagh a Righ ! mo I nithean donn." They will be fonnd in Mr Maclean Sinclair's Gaelic bards. One is " Cha Taobh mi na Srathan." Cha taobh mi na srathan, Cha bhi mi 'gan tathaich Fhad's a chumas fir Atholl am mbd. Cha taobh mi, etc. Mi aig sàil beinn Muc-Duibhe, 'S neoshocrach mo shuidhe, 'S mi coimhead strath dubh uisge 'n eòin. Cha taobh mi, etc. The above is rather a good song, and consists of nineteen verses. Another is an " òran " (song). Beir an t-soraidh so bhuam. Do Ghleann-Ruaidh le fear eigin, Gu buidheinn mo ghaoil, 'S iad nach saoilinn 'mhealladh orm. Chorus. Hugoran o u e ho, I ri ri hiag o, Hugan o lail o, No lio i ri ri ho ro. This is also a good song, and extends to twelve verses. The third is : — "Mìle mallachd do'n òl." (A thousand curses on the drink). Mìle mallachd do'n òl. 'S mairg a dheanadh dheth poit, 'Se mo mhealladh gn*mòr a fhuair mi. Mìle mallachd, etc. Mìle marbhphaisg do'n dram 'Chuir an daorach 'am cheann, 'Nuair a ghlac iad 'san àirde-tuath mi, also a very good song of fifteen verses, drawn from personal experience of a pretty bad bout, reminding one of the Highlander, who once had a splitting headache next morning after a spree, and remarked " All ! whisky is a very bad thing, especially bad whisky." Poor Donald Donn, though he upheld the reputation of the MacDonald bards, had a checkered career and an unfortunate ending, which, at the present day, we can only look back upon with pity and sadness. I believe he also composed a song to'the " nighean donn tha 'n Cataobh," whom lie abducted from Sutherlandshire. ALASTAIR BHOTH-FHIUNNTAIN (alexander of bohuntin). John Dubh, natural son of Raonall Mòr na Ceapaich, was the first MacDonald of Bohuntin) His descendants are known as Slioclid-an-taighe, and also as Sliochd-na-banfhighiche. He married a daughter of Donald Glas Mackintosh with issue five sons—Alexander, his successor, Donald, John, Ranald, and Angus. He had also a natural son, Gillecalum Mòr; Donald, John, and Ranald were put to death by the unprincipled Alastair-nan-cleas of Keppoch. Alexander, second of Bohuntin, married a daughter of MacDonald of Glencoe, by whom he had one son, Aonghus Mòr. This Aonghus Mòr, third of Bohuntin, married a daughter of Cameron of Strone, and had three sons, John, his successor, Aonghus a' Bhocain, and Alastair na Rianaich. John, fourth of Bohuntin, married a daughter of Cameron of Glenmailie, by whom he had Alexander, his successor, Domhnall Donn, and Domhnall Gruamach, all men of good poetic talents. John Og, sixth of Bohuntin, and Domhnall Glas, his brother, were transported to North Carolina for taking part in the unfortunate rebellion in 1745. Alexander of Bohuntin was a poet of considerable merit. Mr MacLean Sinclair gives two of his poems in his " Gaelic Bards," nearly all his other poems have perished. Those preserved are:— " Cumha Nam Mac." Bho'n luighigeadh 'thug Dia dhomh, 'S mo mhath a bhi' ga iarraidh, Gu'm faic gach duine liath mi; 'S ann tha mi trom, trom. Cha dìrich mi ri fuar bheinn An fhireach's am bi 'n ruadh bhoc; Tha m' anail goirid luath dhomh, 'S ann' tha mi trom, trom. The other is :— " Cumha Eile D'A Mhic." Seachduin dòlach bho Fhèill Pàtric Sgeula cràiteach, dh' fhalbh na bràithrean, "Thug sguab-làrach air na càirdean, 'Bhios gu bràth 'n ar cuimhne, Bhios gu bràth, &c. Dh' fhalbh na h-àrmuin 'dheanadh stàth dhuinn, 'Bu mhòr tàbhachd ri uchd gabhaidh ; Och, mo chràdh-lot's goirt a thà mi Dh' fhàg sid m' àirnean brùite. The former consists of eleven verses, and the latter of seven verses. Both seem to be fairly good songs, but we lack the airs to which they were sung. "AN CIARAN MAP ACH," * Keppoch had 300 men at the Battle of Falkirk in or, GILLEASBUIG RUADH MAC DHOMHNUILL. Contemporaneously with " Iain Lom" was Archibald MacDonald, better known as "An Ciaran Mapach," who has hardly been done justice to by historians. I am indebted to the Rev. A. J. MacDonald, Killearnan, one of the historians of the great Cian Donald, for a coirect account of this famous clansman's pedigree. He was a lawful son of Sir Donald Gorm Og, Mac-Ghilleasbuig Chlèirich of Sleat, and a brother of Sir James Mòr MacDonald, who died on the 8th of December, 1678. This poet and soldier was a man of great bravery, sagacity, and prudence, and, as aheady mentioned, was Iain Lom's coadjutor in punishing the murderers of the lawful heirs of Keppoch. His father placed the greatest reliance upon his fidelity in any thing requiring prudence, tact, and zeal, and allotted him a grant of land in North Uist, which was seldom given except to gentlemen of liberal education for the times. As a poet he does not seem to have been a voluminous author, few of his compositions having been preserved, which is a pity, as his taste, education, and natural powers entitle him to a high place among oar Gaelic bards. One of lus songs, " B' annsa cadal air Fraoch," '"Twere better to sleep on heather," was composed when the poet-soldier was in Edinburgh under the care of a surgeon for an injured ankle. It extends to 66 lines, each verse consisting of 8 lines, and judging from the tenor of the song, the air of which is slow and plaintive, it must have been very popular. The melody is in the last edition of the " Gesto Collection of Highland Music," and has got an ancient ring about it which is very pleasing. The plaintive nature of the song, " B'annsa cadal air Fraoch," will be seen from the following words in the Ist stanza : - Ge socrach mo leabaidh, B' annsa cadal air fraoch Ann an lagan beag uaigneach A's bad de'n luachair ri'm thaobh ; 'Nuair a dh'èirinn's a' mhaduinn 'Bhi siubhal ghlacagan caol, Na bhi triall thun na h-Abaid, 'G èisdeachd glagraich nan saor. The above lines breathe home-sickness. It seems that he was a sportsman also, for in the second stanza he says— Agus Uiginnis riabhach An tric a dh'iarr mi an damh donn, adding to his attainments of poet and soldier that of deer-stalker. His " Marbhrann Do Shir Seumas Mac-Dhònuill"—" Elegy on Sir James MacDonald," the poet's brother—is a much longer poem, and extends to 144 lines. In the 6th stanza there is mention of "Port Raoghuill Uidhir" "Dun Donald's tune," about which the following story is told. " Raoghull Odhar was a piper and a great coward. On one occasion, in the exercise of his calling on the field of battle with his cian, he was seized with such fear at the sight of the enemy that he left oil' playing and began to sing some dolorous song to a lachrymose air, some stanzas of which had been picked up and preserved by his fellow soldiers, and which, on their return from the war, they did not fail to repeat. When an adult is seen crying for some trifling cause, he is said to be singing " Port Raoghuill Uidhir." Similarly, when a Highlander is threatening vengeance against any one he will say—" Bheir mi ort gu seinn thu Port Raoghuill Uidhir,—" I will make you sing Dun Donald's tune." The folio\ving stanzas give an idea of the song :— " B'e so an talamh mi-shealbhach ! Tha gun chladach gun gharbhlach gun chòs Anns an rachainn da'm fhalach, 'S sluagh gun athadh a' teannadh faisg oirnn. Fonn (Chorus). Tha mi tinn leis an eagal, Tha mi cointeach gur beag a bhios beò ; Chì mi lasadh an fhùdair, Chluinn mi sgoilteadh nan dubh-chlach ri òrd. Fhuair mi gunna na^.h diùlt mi, Fhuair mi claidheamh nach lùb ann am dhòrn, Ach ma ni iad mo mharbhadh, Ciod am feum a nì 'n armachd sin dhòmhs' ? Tha mi tinn, etc. Ged do gheibhinn-sa sealbh, Air làn a' chaisteil de dh-airgead's de dh-òr, Oich ! ma nì iad mo mharbhadh ! Ciod am feum a nì 'n t-airgead sin dhòmhs' ? Tha mi tinn, etc. We should like to know a little more about this famous man, how many songs lie conrposed, and how long he lived, etc., but I fear that little more can be ascertained about him. GILLEASBUIG NA CEAPAICH. (archibald macdonald, kefpoch.) This distinguished branch of the MacDonald s were notable for their bardic gifts. Besides Iain Lom, who was himself a cadet of the family, and his son, who inherited a considerable measure of his father's poetic talents, both Gilleasbuig (Archibald) and Coll, and several others were bards as well as chiefs. The subj ect of the present sketch was the 15th chief of Keppoch, and father of Silis (Cicely), the celebrated poetess. He had a large family of four (some say nine) daughters and four sons. It may here be mentioned that the chiefs of the MacDonalds of Keppoch could bring out on an emergency three hundred fighting men of their own people* as brave and gallant a band as ever trod on heather. Indeed, they were by far the most patriotic of all the Highland clans in the Stewart cause, and would have shed the last drop of their blood in the cause of their chief. The chiefs always appeared at the head of their own men, although only a branch of the great Cian Donald. They might have secured rights as they had just claims to land for signal services, but they, unfortunately, cared not for titles on parchment, they claimed their rights and titles by the edge of their sword. Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich (Archibald) was the second son of Alasdair Buidhe of Keppoch, and succeeded his father about 1665. He married Mary, daughter of MacMartin of Letterfinlay, by whom he had four sons and four daughters—Coll, Raonall Mòr, Thìr-na Drise, Aonghas Odhar, Alasdair Odhar ; Mòr, Janet, Catherine, and Cecelia (or Cicely). He died in 1682, when Iain Lom composed a splendid elegy for him. Mac-Pherson's " An Duanaire " says that he was the grandfather of Cicely, the poetess. Regarding Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich's claims as a poet, I find in Donald MacPherson's collection of Gaelic songs, " An Duanaire," published in 1868, several songs never printed before, amongst which are several songs and poems by the subject under consideration. This Donald MacPherson was a native of Bohuntin, in Brae Lochaber, who was long employed in the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh, and, of course, had access to many books and papers not accessible to ordinary collectors, or, at any rate, not very convenient for reference. It is not known how many songs Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich composed, but the following are authentic, so far as can be ascertained : "Tearlach Stiuiirt, Fear Chail-Bhinn," air fonn "Mac-talla 's an Dùn," of which the following is a stanza— Gu'm bheil mulad orm ihèin, Agus m' i'nntin gu lèir fo sprochd ! Mu'n naidheachd so fhuair Mi air Caoil-Bhinne chruaidh nan cnoc : Thus', a Thearlaich òig ùir, 'Bhi 'nad laidhe's an ùir an nochd ! Fhir a' chridhe gun sgàth, 'Dheanadh faoilte 'n uair thàrlainn ort. It extends to 56 lines, and was evidently an " oran mulaid," the air of which must have been sad and heavy. " Rannan-Fìrinneach " is a poem of 26 lines, not a song, so is " Rannan-Brèige " of 38 lines, the former being a true epigram, the latter a false one. His " Oran do Domhnull-Donn, Mac-Fhir Bhoth-Fhiùnntain" (song to brown Donald, younger of Bohuntin) also consists of 8 lines in each verse. The chorus goes:— Ho hì ri gheallaidh, Air faire co naile! Ho hì ri gheallaidh Air faire co naile ! Air falbhan beag oho, Trom othoro naile! 'Bhi'g'ur ruith air feadh dalach, Le geur-lanna's e b' fheàrr leam ! This song seems more lively than the previous one, and has got some humour about it, and some satire regarding the marks of small pox upon his nose. The " Freagairt" (reply) to Alastair Friseil's (Fraser's) song on " Iain òg MacAlasdair " consists only of 8 verses of 4 lines in each verse, but reads well, and the language is fluent, as shown in the following stanzas:— Soraidh uam dhuit 'Alastair, Ge mòr do phròis's do mhearaichinn, Clann Dòmhnuill os cionn d' analach Ge b' oil leat e's am bàs. Ma is sgoilear leughaidh thu 'Tha làn de bheachd's do-lèirsinneachd ; Thoir cuimhne cheart mar dh'èirich do Bhlàr-Lèine sid 'bha thall. Iain Mùideartach mòr, iomartach, 'Mac oighre sin 'bu shine dhiubh ; A dh' aindeoin na bha'd chinneadh ann Gu'n robh Mac-Shimidh 'n làimh. " Rannan Fìrinneach," a true epigram, and " Rannan Brèige," a false epigram, are also good poems. Besides the above, "An Chailleach," " Moladh na Pìoba," and many other poems, were written by Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich. ■ Ni' Mhic Aonghais òig, of the Achnancoichans was a great-grand-daughter of Alasdair nan cleas, she was a poetess also. "An Ulaidh Phrìseil bha bhuainne, about the coming of Prince Charlie, is one of hers. " Angus Odhar," a brother of Silis, and son of Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, considered by some superior to his father as a poet, also composed a number of songs, one of which is in " Leabhar Raonuill Duibh," published in 1776, page 226. He left no descendants. There is also some of his songs published in MacLean Sinclair's Gaelic bards, entitled " Thugas Ceise Do Mhnaoi Ghasta," in praise of an excellent wife, consisting of eleven stanzas :— Download 4.23 Mb. Share with your friends:
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