Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

28
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
pledged, particularly our venerable leader, Hereford,
whose presence and enthusiasm more than anything
else made the tour the signal success it was.
With much regret we parted next day with Mr.
James H. Mackay, London, and the rest of us accom-
panied Hereford to Rogart, where he presided at the
presentation by the IJuchess of Sutherland of the
prizes of the Rogart Institute. Before the proceed-
ings began, the deputation were presented to the
Duchess, who had a kind word to say to each. After
an interesting speech by the Duchess, and the
presentation of the prizes, there were many more
speeches, all more or less interesting, and to the
point. A Gaelic reading competition was held, and
arrangements were made for having Gaelic classes
conducted during the winter. The meeting over,
the deputation were hospitably entertained by Rev.
Mr. Mackintosh and Mr. Murray.
In the evening, Mr. John Mackay (secretary), Dr.
Dingwall, and Mr. Macleod went south. The
remaining four of us stayed in Rogart till Monday
morning. We parted at Golspie, when two went
north, two south, and so concluded one of the iDost
successful clan raids on record.
In conclusion, it is pleasant to record that a
deputation of very dissimilar interests, mostly
strangers to one another, held so many public meet-
ings and competitions, met so many people, and that
there was not even the shadow of a discordant note,
either between ourselves or with tlie many we came
in contact with during the ten days we were together.
It may be stated that several hundred volumes of
books, many valuable money prizes, and the four
silver teapots already referred to, were given in prizes.
It will be thus seen that the Clan Mackay have done
something tangible in the way of furthering the
objects of the Mdd, and in doing their duty towards
their clansfolk in the old country. Classes for the
study of Gaelic and music are being started all over
the Reay Country, the text- books being provided
free by the Clan Society. It is intended to send a
larger deputation next year, to hold athletic sports
on a large scale at Tongue, and to offer a greater
number of prizes for the Gaelic competitions.
Handsome donations to the prize list were given
by John Mackay, Hereford; Sheriff Mackay, Q.C. ;
Thomas Mackay, Largs ; Robert Mackay, London ;
Major A. Y. Mackay, Grangemouth; James H.
Mackay, London, &c.
AVe are indebted to Messrs. W. Drummond Norie
and James A. Rose for the photographs of the groups
which we reproduce.
AM FEAR-CIUIL.
(The following poem by Mr. Donald Mackechnie,
Edinburgh, was awarded first prize at the
recent Gaelic Mod at Oban.)
f^EASGAR latha, fuar is frasach ;
3^ Fhuair mi fasgadh an tigh-osd
Mo dhoagh charaid, Art MacAsgaill,
Aig Port-Aiseig Chaolas-Bhosd.
Chaisg mi m' iota, 's dhiol mi m' acras,
'S chuir mi phiob thombac' air seol ;
Leig mi dhiom mo sgios is ni' airsneal,
Togail chaisteal anns na neoil.
Obair thaitneach ach mi-tharbhach —
'S steidh neo-earbsach a' ghaoth-tuath —
Casad faiteach air mo chulthaobh,
'S thuit mo liichairt anns an luaith.
Thionndaidh mi dh' fheuch co a bh' agam —
Duine fada, tana, crom —
Gun mhor choltasfeol' no saille
Fo 'n t-sean fhalluinn 'bha mu chom.
Bha mi taingeil air son cuideachd,
Bho'n 'bha t-sid a muigh cho trom ;
Thug mi ffiilte dha le furan,
Ged bha 'luideagan car lom.
'Dheanadh cobhair air gun mhoille,
Leis na goireasan a bh' ann,
Thairg mi deur de dh' uisge goileach,
Agus — rudeigin na cheann.
Thuig mo charaid de 'bha math dha —
Cha'n e'n t-amadan a bh' ann —
Deasj'na ehomhradh, tuigseach, eilach,
Ged bha chuid de 'u stiras gann.
Thuirt e — " 'N uair tha 'n spiorad saraicht'.
Is air aghaidh naduir gruaim —
'N cridhe fann an imfhios t' f hiigail,
'S rabhadh giibhaidh anns gach fuaim.
'• Tha na 's miosa na 'n deoch IJiidir.
Dh'aiseag pairt de'n chiiil tha uainn,
'S air an fheitheid 'tha 'nar nadur,
A chur ckileigin de chluain.
"Ach ged tha mor bhuaidh 's a' chopan,
'Bhrosnachadh ar ciiil 's ar smuain ;
Tha e eheart cho deas g' ar doohann,
'S a thoirt taic an trosdain uainn.
" Math is olc, mar sin, gu minic,
Air am fiUeadh an aon dual —
Dlutli r'a cheil tha searbh is mills —
Nithe diombuan agus buan.
" 'S an aon lus, tha bks is iocshlaiut —
Spiorad firinn anns a' bhreig —
Coir is eucoir gun gheur chriochan —
Ard is iosal, freumh is geug.
" Eisd a' ghaillionn, 'seinn Hosana,
Ri seisd fharumach nan stuadh !
Druid a' chomhladh — Bruid a' bheblach —
'S cluinn cho ceblmhor 's 'tha ghaoth-tuath.
" Cluinn mar tha gach torman gleuste,
A comh-sheirm e'ibhinn, fann is cruaidh —
Builg na gaiUinn suas a' se'ideadh,
Garbh cheol-mearsaidh na gaoth-tuath.
" Creid nach aimhreit' tha's na ddilean,
Ach an t-urlar air an gluais,
Gach ruith shiiibhlach, Feirm is crunluath,
'Thtid a dhiisgadh fonn an cluais.
" 'S ionnan brigh do'n auam cheolmhor,
Ceileir coin, is toirm aig tuinn —
Cbisir chiiiil an liichairt morachd,
'S feadan cbmhlaich 'chos an tuim.
" Cha'n e fiodhaU, 's cha'n e clkrsach,
Bheir do 'n cheol is kird a' bhuaidh —
Crbnan m^thar thar a paisde,
Ceol is Mile 'n taobh so 'n uaigh.