Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 2

250 NOTES
Erin and five-fifths in Stratherin (Stratheam), but better is one-fifth of Erin
than the five-fifths of Stratherin.
Coitchionn, coilciim, cailciiui, general, communal, a common grazing. In the island
of Tiree ' caitcinn ' is the form of the term. Possibly the Cathkin Braes, near
Glasgow, may have been the common grazing of the surrounding villages.
Conair, a blessing, a crown, a path, a course, a haven, a plant, a circle, a rosary.
' lomhaidh us conair Moire,' image and rosary of Mary ; ' Conair meangain,'
a plant mentioned in the ' Muilearteach.'
Conal, coiiali, love, friendship, the guardian spirit of childhood, the Cupid of the Gael.
A child had got lost in the mist and was benighted on the wild moor, when
a storm came on. But the good Conal took the child by the hand and led him
to safety. The following verse is part of a poem composed to the protecting
spirit : —
'Fhuaradh dha-san blatiis us conail, Found for him were warmth and love,
Oidhche nan seachd sian. On the night of the seven elements,
Fhuair Conal dha-san creagan, Coual found for him a bower,
Fo'n do ghabh e dian.' Whereunder he was sheltered.
Conal, conail, fruitage, fruitfulness, endowment, corn, ear of corn.
Cormag, Carmag, Cormac, St. Cormac. There were several saints of this name, the
most celebrated being the learned Cormac, king of Munster, who wrote a Gaelic
Glossary much prized by Celtic scholars. Probably the Cormac of these poems
was the friend and successor of Columba.
Corrachd, a promise, a very sacred promise, a death promise, entreaty. 'Coraidheachta,'
supplications, in Chronicon Scoloritm (Rolls Series). The word occurs in the
following song. A young maiden in Uist promised a young man that she would
meet him on the machair. But the maiden rued her promise and remained at
home. The 3'oung man was ' lifted,' and when moving with the ' hosts ' in the
sky above the girl's home, he was heard to sing ; —
' Mliorag bheag an cum thu rium catli ? Morag wilt thou hold the war with me .''
Bheil thu nochd air son na corrachd ? Wilt thou to-night keep thy promise ?
Mhorag bheag an cum thu rium cath.'' Morag wilt thou hold the war with me.'
Gu bheil an gath dha d' ionusuidh. And that the dart is towards thee.
' Bheil thu nochd air son na corrachd .' Art thou this night for the promise ì
Bheil thu nochd air son na coinneamh .'' Art thou this night for the tryst .'
Bheil thu nochd air son a chath.'' Art thou this night for the battle?
'S an t-saighead grad dha A' ionusuidh. And that the arrow is fast towards thee.
Crà, blood; hence red. ' Cra-dhearg,' blood-red ; ' cra-dhubh,' dark red ; ' cra-gheal,'
light red. ' Cra ' enters into place and animal names, as, ' Cra-re,' red rock, and
' Cra-leacainn,' red slope, place-names on Lochfyne ; ' cra-rionnach,' red mackerel,
tunny fish ; ' cra-chluasach,' red-eared ; ' cra-chu,' red dog, the fox ; ' cra-
fhaoileag,' red gull, the black-headed gull generally called 'ceann-dubh' and