Matheson Collection > Gaelic proverbs and proverbial sayings, with English translations

CI^ANS AND CLANSHIP. I53
The origin of this saying was the situation caused by
the death of Clan Ranald at the Battle of Sheriffmuir.
Before leaving home at that time, the 1715 campaign,
Clan Ranald set fire to the old Clan stronghold of Castle
Tirram, in Loch Moidart, in order to prevent the possibility
of its falling into the hands of the Campbells in his absence,
or in the event of his death. From that time forward the
Clan Ranald Chiefs made their abode in other parts of
their wide domains, principally at Castle Ormaclate, in
Uist. The severance of the Clan Ranald Chiefs from their
Moidart clansmen in this manner was the cause of the
saying, with its ring of pathos.
631 Cho fad 's a bhios monadh an Cinn-t-sàile
Cha bid Mac Coinnich gun àl 's a chrò.
So long as there are moors in Kintail,
MacKenzies will not want for cattle in the
pens.
632 Casan tiorram Chlann-an-tòisich.
The Maclntoshs' dry feet.
633 Cho fad 's a bhios Frisealaich a stigh
Cha bhi MacRath a muigh.
So long as there's a Fraser inside,
A MacRae will not he left outside.
The above saying is said to have been inscribed on the
lintel over the entrance to the original Castle of the Chiefs
of the Frasers. The tradition associated with it is to the
effect that although the MacRaes have been for generations
holding their hands in Kintail off the Chiefs of the Mac-
Kenzies, and serving under the Seaforth Chiefs whenever
they went to battle, doubtless on all such occasions as
a self-contained entity, and immediately under a Ceann-
taighe of their own, as their separate tartan would indicate,
their original territory was in the Fraser cotmtry, on the
Airds of lyovat, their allegiance at that time being to the
Fraser Chiefs. On account of some signal services rendered