Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

IAIN DOMHNULLACH
(John MacDonald).
In volume xxi. of the Transactions of the Gaelic
Society of Inverness thei'e was a paper read on
the 26th November, 1896, for Mr Neil MacLeod,
Edinburgh, the bard of the Society, entitled,
" Beagan Dhiiilleag bho Sheann Bhàrdachd
Eilean-a' cheo," in which he relates some jioems
by the old Skye bards. Amongst others there is
a song of eleven verses by the subject of this brief
sketch. John MacDonald, better known as
" Iain Mac Dhondinuill-'ic-Alasdair," a native of
Uig, in the Isle of Skye, was born about 1797.
He began life by enlisting in the 42nd High-
landers. His father, however, not approving of
his continuing the life of a soldier, bought him
out of the army, and he returned to his native
glen at Uig. He afterwards spent twenty-eight
years at the herring fishing, and generally spent
the winters at home. He composed a good many
poems and songs, most of which are now difficult
to recover. He died in 1875, at the age of seventy-
five years.
The following are a few verses from one of his
songs : —
Dh' eirich niise maduinn chiùin
'iS gu'n thog sinn siùil ri garbh-chroinn,
Chunnacas dubhradh mòr is dùdlachd.
An dara taobh 'n uair dh' fnalbh sinn ;
'S gu'n shèid i bras le borb-thuinn chas,
'S i tighinn a mach gu gailbheach ;
'S i ruith le sùgh air bhàrr gach stùchd,
R i togail smùid na fairge,
Bu mhath bhi 'n uair sin feadh na luachrach
Ruith mu'n cuairt gu siùbhlach ;
Mi fhin 's mo chruinneag ri mo ghualainn,
'S deamhais chruadhach diiint' aic',
Gach fear 's gille ruith mu'n cuairt
'S bhiodu Dòmhnull Ruadh le 'chù ann.
Sud an gleann 'is bòidhche sealladh,
Ann am maduinn reòta,
Le caoraicb gheala, dhubh, 'us ghlasa,
Cuid dhiu tarr-fhionn, brògach ;
'S bidh lair le'n searraich 'm bun gach bealaich
Suas ri srath nan lointean :
'S a dh' aindeoin gaillionn no fuachd Earraich,
Cha 'n iarr mart ann crodhadh.
'S iomadh caileag chuimir, ghuanach,
Tha ann ri cuallaeh spreidhe,
Le cuman 's buarach dol do'n bhuaile,
'S laoigh mu'n cuairt di 'geumnaich ;
B'e' n cebl nach b' fhuathach leam an duanag
'Na suidhe luadh air clèithe.
Mi-fhin gu h-uallach 's piob ri m' ghualainn
'Cluich nan nuallan eibhinn.
'S iomadh caileag bhoidheach chuimir,
'Bhios 'nan suidh aig cuibhle,
STiiomh nan r^lag, 'seinn nan luinneag,
Bidh gach iorram bhinn ac'—
An snath 'is boidhche falbli bho 'm mebirean
Gothrom, còmhnard, sìnte,
'S am fait 'na chuaich air cheil an cluais
'S e togta suas le cirean.
'N uair bha mi og mu'n d' rinn mi posadh
Bha mi gorach aotrom,
Falbh gu spnrsail 'measg nan oighean,
Sud an seol 'bu chaomh leam ;
'S an tè bhiodh coir 's a bheireadh pbg dhomh
Shuidhinn stolt' ri 'taobh-sa ;
'So' n te nach fuilingeadh ball'n a coir dhiom,
Gheibhinn dòrn mu'n aodann.
'N uair thig an geamhradh's am nam bainnsean,
Gheibh sinn dram no l'òiseachd ;
Bidh Nollaig chridheil aig cloinn-nighean
S aig ria gillean òga ;
Na mnathan fein gu subhach, eibhinn,
'S iad a' gleusadh òran ;
'S bidh dram aig bodaich anns an fhodar—
Sogan orra 'còmhradh.
There are other four verses in a similar strain.
I The song gives a faithful picture of peasant life in
his day, and, upon the whole, is an indication of
considerable talent.
MACDONALD MUSICIANS.
Intimately connected with the bards were the
musicians, especially the harpists, and in later
times, the bagpipers and violinists. The last of
the Highland harpists was a clansman, viz.,
Murdoch MacDonald, harper to MacLean of Coll.
He studied with Kory Dall, in the Island of Skye,
and afterwards in Ireland, and remained with
MacLean as a harper until 1734, after which he
retired to Quinish in Mull, where he died. He is
still spoken of as " Murchadh Clarsair," and his
son was distinguished as " Eoin Mac-Mhurchaidh
Chlarsair."
The Rev. Patrick MacDonald, Kilmore, near
Oban, was a famous violinist, and author of the
first collection of the vocal airs of the Highlands,
which was published in 1784, a work for which all
true Highlanders will for ever feel grateful. This
first great collector of Highland Music was born
at the manse of Durness, in Sutherlandshire, on
the 22nd of April, 1729, and died at Kilmore,