An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 49--51, January 1954--December 1956

those who use and value the song know nothing
of the author. His Songs of the Hebrides, in
collaboration with Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser,
despite what the critics say, have won for
Gaelic music a world-wide audience.
But Kenneth’s richest contribution to the
life of his times was his own personality. The
jealousies and pettinesses that, alas, too often
marred the brotherly spirit that should bind
together all who, with a common concern and
a common loyalty, labour, as scholars and j
writers, in the Gaelic Cause, found no place ;
in his heart. His severest criticism of anyone I
was always kindly and usually gently humorous.
It left no rancour. The Gaels have been on the
whole a pugnacious race, but Kenneth Macleod
had steeped himself so much in the finer ideals
of our people that he seemed, as he grew older,
to become more and more the embodiment of
them. We ne’er shall see his like again.
Null do irilmilo
Le Alasdair Camshron
(‘ ‘ Taobh-Tuath Earraghaidheal’ ’)
NUNN do Mhuile theid sinn.” Is e sin
a thubhairt priomh bhard na Mor-
bhairne, Iain MacLachainn a Rath-
uaidhe, agus a nunn do Mhuile chaidh mi
fhein agus moran eile gu liith-chleasan na
Dreolluinne a bha air an gleidheadh an Tobar-
Mhoire air an aona la fichead de’n luchar.
Is ann rathad Chaol Mhuile le bataichean
Mhic a’ Bhruthainn a chaidh a’ mhor-chuid,
ach is ann as an t-Sailean Shuaineartach leis
A’ Bhan-tighearna Bhdn aig MacEanraig a
chaidh mise agus grunnan eile.
Bha an aimsir a reir ar miann, la briagha gun
deo gaoithe agus sruth traghaidh leinn. Tha
Loch Suaineaft agus am fearann air gach taobh
boidheach aig an am seo de’n bhliadhna; agus
gu dearbh bha maise cruthachadh Dhe air a
nochdadh gu pailt air a’ mhadainn alainn seo—
gach beinn is coire, glac is doire ann an trusgan
boidheach.
Bha Beinn ladain braighe Ghleanna-cneip-
easdail anns a’ Mhorbhairne ar learn a sealltainn
na b’fhearr na a piuthar, Beinn Shianta thall
ann an Ard-nam-murchan. Gun teagamh,
bho’n tha Beinn ladain air taobh an dubhair,
cha. robh uimhir de bhlath losgadh na greine air
a h-aodann. Tha uisge fior-mhath anns a’
bheinn seo, agus biolair uaine cois gach fuarain.
Nach e a thubhairt Donnchadh Mac-a’ -
phearsain, neo Donnchadh Iain Oig (mar a
theireadh na h-eolaich ris),
“Uisge fallain, glan Beinn ladain,
Ruith gu loch nam bradan lionmhor. ’ ’
Tha i gle dhona le sgriodain, agus tha e a’
cur m6r-ionghnaidh orm ciamar a bha a luchd-
fiitich ceud gu leth bliadhna air ais—“Clann
’Ic ’ Ille Mhaoil na Beinne,’’ mar a theirteadh
riutha—a’ cosnadh am beoshlaint air a
bruthaichean casa.
Tha ainmeannan nan eileanan anns an loch,
mar a tha Reasga agus Orasa, a’ cumail air
chuimhne an uair a bha buaidh aig na Loch-
lannaich anns a’ chearn seo. Their seann
daoine na duthcha gu robh caisteal aca aig
Dun-ghallain. Faodaidh seo a bhith fior a
chionn tha Port nan Gall goirid bhuaithe.
Air a’ mhadainn alainn seo bha fuaim gu
leoir anns a’ chaol eadar Rubha Dhun-
ghallain agus eilean Charna, le guileag fhaoil-
eag, sgriachail stearnain, agus goil rionnaich.
Tha an riortnach daonnan a’ toirt sgriob do
Loch Suaineart an uair a tha an luchar tioram
agus teth.
Chuir e ionghnadh orm nach robh canaichean
no peileagan, mar a their cuid, ri’m faicinn
a’ cur car-a’ -mhuiltein dhiubh fhein. Faod¬
aidh gur fhearr leo a bhith am measg an
t-saodthein na am measg nan rionnach.
Bha monaidhean is coilltean Ghleann-
boradail a’ sealltainn gle bhoidheach, agus
bha sealladh math air a’ chaisteal, ach chan
’eil a’ chlach ghoireal dhearg leis a bheil e air
a thogail aig an taigh. Bhiodh clach ghlas
fada na bu nadurra. Tha eas-aonachd eadar
sgoilearan agus beul-aithris nan daoine a thaobh
ciall an ainme. ‘ ‘ Boradal. ’ ’ A reir beul-
aithris, is e curaidh Lochlannach a bha ann,
agus tha e an tiodhlacadh an seo. Chi neach
larach na h-uaighe aige goirid bho Allt-an-
innis. Their cuid de sgoilearan nach ’eil facal
firinn an seo, agus gur e a tha an t-ainm a’
ciallachadhagus gum b’e am fort an
Caisteal Breac. Tha Coire Bhoradail anns a’
Mhorbhairne, agus chan ’eil fios agamsa gu
robh aon fort an seo.
Ged as ann a nunn do Mhuile a bha m’aire,
tha eilean beag aig Gleann-boradail agus cha
bhiodh e ceart dhomh gun iomradh a thoirt air
anns an dol seachad. Is e sin Reasga. Is e
ainm Lochlannach a tha an seo, agus tha mi a’
creidsinn gu bheil e a’ ciallachadh “Eilean-
nam-preas.’’ De an t-ainm a bha air roimhe
sin chan fhios domhsa, ach a reir beachdan
feadhainn de oileanaich fhoghluimte bha daoine
a’ fuireach air aig an tim ris an can iad
Prehistoric Scotland. Tha gearraidhean air na
creagan air ceann an iar an eilein agus diiin
luaithe. Chan ’eil fios cinnteach de seorsa
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