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An Dreathan-donn

An Dreathan-donn

Posted by Calum on 9th May 2019
Thoughts of Summer are on my mind while we are waiting for good weather and we in the office have been discussing “Aithris is Oideas”, a very interesting book filled with phrases and calls of birds and animals. I thought of the Wren, the dreathan-donn, recently and the folklore connected to it: Apparently there is a lot of things that the Gaels know about this little bird and they have an abundance of names for it, included are dreathan-donn, dreadhann-donn, dreolan and dròlan in our Fieldwork Archive. Dwelly has the following: dreallan, mionntan, and crìonag-ceann-bhuidhe.

There are various sorts of the wren that we have in Scotland: dreathan-Sealtainneach, dreathan-Hiortach, dreathan-Breatannach, dreathan-tuathach, dreathan nan Eilean Siar, conan-coille, conan-conaisg and crìonag-ghiuthais is recorded by Dwelly. Interestingly the word dreolanach is recorded by Dwelly for silly or foolish, perhaps it represents the nature of the wren.
 
In the Aird district, in Invernesshire, it was said that the wren would say fada, fada fos do chinn (far, far above your head) to the eagle, because it could fly higher in the sky compared to the eagle. This is explained further here on Wikipedia. In Aithris is Oideas  the wren sings:

“Thig, thig, thig a dhiol-déirce,
Thig, thig, thig a ghille-frìde;
Is gillean-frìde na h-eòin uile
Ach mise leam fhìn.
Ach mise leam fhìn,
Gillean-frìde, gillean-frìde”.

I will continue with more information, folklore and stories about the wren next week. Why don't you let us know your stories about the wren on facebook or twitter and our own website.

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