Hew Morrison Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry

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SAR-OBAIR NAM BARD GAELACII.
IAIN LOM
JOHN MACDONALD, THE LOCHABER POET.
This celebrated individual, a poet of great merit, as well as a famous politician, was
commonly called Iain Lorn, literally, bare John ; but so named from his acuteness, and
severity on some occasions.* He was sometimes called Iain Manntach, from an impedi-
ment in his speech. He was of the Keppoch family; lived in the reigns of Charles I.
and n., and died at a very advanced age about the year 1710.
We know little ofthe early education of the Lochaber bard. Of him it might be said,
"poeta nascitur nonfit C but from his descent from the great family, Clann-Raonaill na
Ceapach, a sept of the M'Donalds, he must have seen and known more of the men and
manners of those times than ordinary. His powers and talents soon rendered him a dis-
tinguished person in his native country ; and subsequent events made him of importance,
not only there, but likewise in the kingdom.
The first occurrence that made him known beyond the limits of Lochaber, was the
active part he took in punishing the murderers of the heir of Keppoch : the massacre
■was perpetrated by the cousins of the young m.an, about the year 1663. The poet had
the penetration to have foreseen what had really happened, and had done all he could to
prevent it. He perceived that the minds of the people were alienated from the lawful
heir in his absence : he and his brother being sent abroad to receive their education dur-
ing their minority, and their affairs being intrusted to their cousins, who made the best
use they could of the opportunity in establishing themselves by the power and authority
thus acquired in the land. Although he could not have prevented the fatal deed, he was
not a silent witness. He stood single handed in defence of the right. As he failed in
his attempt to awaken the people to a sense of their duty, he addressed himself to the
most potent neighbour and chieftain Glengarry, who declined interfering with the affairs of
a celebrated branch of the great Clann-Diiyhaill ; and there was no other that could have
aided him with any prospect of success. Thus situated, our poet, firm in his resolution,
and bold in the midst of danger, was determined to have the murderers punished. In
his ire at the reception he met from Glengarry, he invoked his muse, and began to praise
Sir Alexander M'Donald.
Nothing can give us a better idea of the power of the Highland clans, and of the state
of the nation at this period, than this event, which happened in a family, and among a
people, by no means inconsiderable. M'Donald of Keppoch could bring out, on emer-
gency, three hundred fighting men of his own people ; as brave and as faithful as
ever a chieftain called out or led to battle, that would have shed the last drop of
* Some !>ay he was called Iain Lorn because lie was liare in the face, and never had any beard.