Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 2

350
NAMES OF RECITERS
Poem. Name. Occupation. Residence. District.
211 John EoGHAN Mac RUR Y 1 I'armer . . Grimnis . Benbecula.
214 Peigidh Macaulay 2 . ( Tofter's wife . Houglimor . South Uist.
215 Alexander Macneill" Fish Salter . Ceanntangaval . Barra.
216 John Stewart'' . . Merchant . Bachuill . Lismore.
' A higlily intelligent man, for whose knowledge
of old lore I am greatly indebted in this work.
- Nic Robertson — a bright, beautiful woman, who
possessed many beautiful songs and airs, which died
with her.
' Mr. Iain Canijibell of Islay and, for him, the
distinguished scholar Mr. Hector Maclean, Islay,
took down many tales from this reciter. I wrote
down many more, but all three of us made little
impression upon the old man's abundant lore. I
noted from him the names and characters of several
score of long heroic tales, any or all of which he
was ready to dictate to me. Amongst them was
a very long, complete, and wondrously fine version
of Deirdire. Alexander Macneill said that the
version of this tale which I had alreadj- taken down
from his brother Iain Donn was only a fragment.
Yet this fragment of the story of Deirdire has
been pronounced by critics equal to any ancient
or modern classic.
•* I am indebted to Mr. Stewart for much valuable
information regarding Lismore — still an island of
much interest, and anciently of much importance.