Ossian Collection > Carmina gadelica

328
DÌON OIDHCHE
URNAIGH OIDHCHE
[327]
From Peìgidh Nic Cormaig (Peggy MacCormack), nèe MacDonald,
Aird Bhuidhe, Loch Boisdale, Uist
The reciter said that this and similar hymns used to be sung in her father's
house at Àirigh nam Ban in Uist. Crofters then held the land now occupied
by sheep. The people were strong, healthy, and happy, and enjoyed
life to the full in their simple homely ways. They had sheep and cattle,
corn, potatoes, and poultry, milk, cheese, butter and fish, all in sufficiency.
They were good to the poor, kind to the stranger, and helpful to one another,
and there was nothing amiss. There were pipers and fiddlers in almost
every house, and the people sang and danced in summer time on the
green grass without, and in winter time on the clay floor within.
' How we enjoyed ourselves in those far-away days — the old as much
as the young. I often saw three and sometimes four generations dancing
AT ainm, ìos a chaidh a cheusadh,
Laighim fein a sios gu tàmh ;
^ Caithris mi anns a' chadal cheine,
Gleidh mi fein air do leth làimh ;
Caithris mi anns a' chadal cheine,
Gleidh mi fein air do leth làimh.
Beannaich dhomh, O mo Chriosda,
Bi ad sgiath dhomh dha mo dhion,
Fòir mo cheum anns a' chorraich chriaraich,
Treòraich ionnsaigh na beatha shior ;
Fòir mo cheum anns a' chorraich chriaraich,
Treòraich ionnsaigh na beatha shior.