Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG.
Besides consulting tlie family tree Miss Jos-
ephine MacDonell, Keppoch, informs me that
Nigiiean Miiic Aonghuis Oig was a grand-
daughter of Aonghus Og, lifth son (not fourth son
as alleged by some) of Alastair nan Cleas and
progenitor of the Acha-nan-coicheans.
The Rev. Mr MacLean Sinclair, however, main-
tains that " she was not a descendant of Keppoch,
but of Celestine of Lochalsh, and was a daughter
of Aongus Og, son of Angus, son of James, who
was the first of Ach-na-Coichean." He further
says tliat the family to which she belonged was
known as " Sliochd an larla." One ot the
family, Angus MacDonald, known as Aonghus
Mac Gilleasbuig went to Nova Scotia in 1830.
Tlie writer in the meantime holds by the family
tradition of the Keppochs.
Mr Alexander MacDonald, of Kidge, Altigonisli,
from whom Mr MacT^ean Sinclair derived a good
deal of information, is intimately acquainted witli
tlie history, tradition, and poetry of the Mac-
Donalds of Keppocli. He is a son of Allan Mac-
Donald, mentioned in the Glenbard collection,
p. 216. His father composed a number of songs ;
so has the son, besides being a good singer of all
Iain Lom's songs, and an excellent performer on
the violin.
Oran Do Dh' Alastair DomhnuUach, Mac
Uaonaill na Ceapaich, a bha 'na oifigeach anns an
arm, Le Padruig Caimbeul (Para Piobair).[|
Ged is fad' tha nii'm chadal
'S mithich dhomh a bhi dùsgadh ;
Our h-e dh' fhàg mi fo airsneal
Ceannard feachda na dùthcha
'Bhi gun oighreachd aig baile,
Bho 'n a chaidh thu a d' dhùthchas,
Ach na robairean meallta,
'Gabhail foill air gach taobh dhiot.
8 verses, 66 lines.
ADDITIONAL MATTER CONCERNING
DONALD DONN.
Some stanzas by Donald Donn to tiie " Nighean
donn bha an Cataobh," already mentioned in
Donald Donn's sketch. He went for a creach
(cattle raid) to Sutherland, and carried off a young
girl with him, the daughter of the man he pill-
aged, but, having left her in charge of one of his
companions, she managed to escape while her
custodian slept —
Thogainn form gun bhi troni
Air nighean donn 'bha 'an Cataobh,
Gruagach »)g a' chuil duinn
I)h' eiifadh sunnd orm ri t' fhaicinn.
Latha dhomhsa 'bhi siubhal bheinn
Falbh gu traing togail cruaclian,
Tliachair oi nisa an i;i u;ii;;ich dhonn,
\Um nan lum -buaiii nan dearcag.
'I'liridnii si,.., 's tli.'id iiiÌMias,
Bhoii- mi 1 uagadh d./n viniuil Chataobh,
'S ged bhitheadh taidhe roirahe cheanii choill
Blieiriiin pàirt do'ii chrodh bhreac leani.
'S iongatach leani do dhuine còrr
'S mòran stòras a bhi aige
Nach robli beurla ann ad cheann
Agus dannsa ann ad chasan.
There is another version of this song, so it is
impossible now-a-days to say which was the
original one.
Another song of his is, " Moladh a' Phiobaire,"
to Donald Campbell (" Am Piobaire mòr "), who
was piper to Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, and a
nephew of the poet.
Beir an t-soraidh so bhuam
Do Glileann Ruaidh le fear-eigin,
Gu buidhinn mo ghaoil,
'S iad nach saoilinn 'mhealladh orm.*
Chorus —
Hugoran o. u e ho,
I ri ri hiag o,
Hugan o lail o.
No ho i ri ri ho ro.
48 lines, 4 lines in each verse.
Additional verses by Donald Donn, when lie
was taken prisoner by the Laird of Grant : —
Bha Seumas Dubh ann air thus, '
Righ ! bu làidir a dhùirn,
Chuir e Uilliam ri 'ghli\n 'san fhiiran.
Bhitheadh am feileadh glè àrd.
Is bhiodh 'osain gle gheàrr,
'S biodag phiollacb air àirde na cruachainn.
'S ioma maighdean ghlan ùr,
'Chluinnt' farum a gùin
A chuireadh na crùn g'am fhuasgladh.
(tU bheil tè dhiubh 'an Strathspey,
N'an cluinneadh i mo sgeul
Gu'n cuireadh i ceud gle nihath ami.
Another song attributed to him is in the form
of a " Luinneag," published by Mr William Mac-
Kenzie in the "Transactions of the Gaelic Society
of Inverness," p. 57, Vol. Vll. ; but it's hardly
equal to his other songs.
* The air of this song was kindly sent to the writer
a few days ago by Mr Alexander MacDonald, Ridge,
Nova Scotia.