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

NIALL MAC-MHUIRICH. 61
NULL MAC-MHUIRICH.
Neil MacVurich, the family bard and historian of Clanronald, Mac-D/iònuiU, MhiC'
'Ic-Ailein, was born in the beginning of the seventeenth century. He lived in South
Uist, where he held a possession of land which is known to this day, as marked out and
designated Baile-bhàird, i. e. the bard's farm. He was of a succession of poets that
the illustrious family kept to record the history of their ancestors, and to fill the station
so indispensably requisite in those days, in the halls of chiefs of renown. There
were several poets of the name of Mac-Mhuirich, lineal descendants of the same man, who
were distinguished from each otlier in various ways, as specified in the brief account
given of Lachunn mor Mac-M/mirich Alhannaich ; Neil was simply, if not emphatically,
called Niall 3Iac-Mhuirich, Clanronald's Seanachaidh, or family historian.
He had written, in the Gaelic language, the history of the great clan whose records he
kept, and the strains in which distinguished individuals were commemorated for their
talents and prowess. But he satisfied not himself with writing what related to the family
that honoured him with the office of bard : he likewise had written ancient poetry, and
the history of past times. — See the Highland Society's account of the lied Book.
While this celebrated bard was most careful in recording every thing worthy of pre-
servation, it is to be regretted that so little of his own history and works have been pre-
served. This has been often the case with men of genius. Very few Gaelic bards were
at the trouble of writing their own productions : they trusted too much to memory ;
seldom reflected on what might happen in the lapse of time ; never apprehended that
succeeding generations would be indifferent about what seemed to them to be of the
greatest moment. Neil M'Vurich, while he adopted the best method of handing down
to posterity the invaluable relics of antiquity, might not think it worth his trouble to
write his own poems, or record any anecdotes concerning himself. These, like many
others, have been lost, with the exception of the two pieces given in tliis work. He
lived to a great age, and was an old man in 1715.
To throw more light on the history of this tribe of poets, we beg to give the following,
which is a copy of the declaration of Lachlan M'Vurich, a son of the bard, written in
Gaelic, and addressed to Henry M'Kenzie, Esq., at the time he was writing the High-
land Society's report of Ossian : —
Bakba, 9lh August, 1800,
Ann an taigh Phadruig Mhic-Neacail an Torlnim goirid o Chaisteal Bhuirghi ann an
Siorramachd Inbhernis, a naoidhamh latha de chiad mhios an fhoghair, anns an da fhichead
bliadhna agus naoidh-deug d'a aois, thainig Lachlunn mac NèiU, mhic Lachluinn, rahic