DASG Blog

Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9 ann an Alba (Pàirt 3)

Welcome back! We are continuing onwards Northernly from Badenoch to the border of Inverness.

“Bàl Ghlinntruim” by Dòmhnall Caimbeul (Dòmhnall 'ic Dhòmhnaill Phàil (son of the Kingussie bard, Dòmhnall Phàil) – Glentruim
This “Macaronic” song her is very fun, recounting a cèilidh that there was at a manor in Glentruim –
“Yesterday evening 's feasgar an raoir,
We marched away to Bàl Ghlinntruim
We could not get lasses cha reachadh iad leinn
And going without them bu mhuladach sinn...”
 
“Mo Nighean Donn as Bòidhche”, by Dòmhnall Phàil Caimbeul – Nuide
While the bard, Dòmhnall Phàil, was working at harvest time in Balincroan, in Badenoch, he stirred up a song and he wrote this ditty to a woman from Nuide, close to the main road, who was working there –
“I ri ì o, raithill o,
Raithill o, raithill o;
I ri ì o, raithill o,
Mo nighean donn as bòidhche.
 
’S i mo chaileag-s’ caileag Noid,
Far am bi i cha bhi sprochd;
’S fheàrr leam i na tè le stoc,
Cha bhi i crosd no beumach...”
 
“Guma Slàn do na Fearaibh”, by Dòmhnall Phàil Caimbeul – Kingussie
This is a song of emigration, with people leaving to Australia, written by Dòmhnall Phàil.
“Guma slàn do na fearaibh thèid thairis a' chuan,
Gu talamh a' gheallaidh far nach fairich iad fuachd.
Guma slàn do na fearaibh thèid thairis a' chuan.
 
Sinn a' fàgail an tìr' seo oir cha chinnich dhuinn nì ann
Tha 'm buntàt' air dol dhìth ann 's cha chinn iad le fuachd.
Guma slàn do na fearaibh thèid thairis a' chuan...”
 
“Gleann Feishidh nan Siantan”, – Glenfeshie
This ditty shows the beauty of the glen and its fertility, with its produce that can be found in the glen –
“Leam bu mhiann bhi ’n ad fhasgath,
Far am faighinn a’ bhroighleag,
An oighreag, ’s an dearcag.
Cnothan cruinn air a’ challtainn,
’S iasg dearg air na h-easan...”

“’S Coimeas Mise do dh’Oisean”, by Calum Mac an t-Saoir (“Calum nam Protaigean”) – Kincraig and Balnespick
This lament is about William MacIntosh, composed by Calum MacIntyre (“Calum nam Protaigean”). He was a nobleman and this lament was written about him to commemorate him –
“'S Coimeas Mise do dh'Oisean,
'Bhiodh ag ìnnse mar 'thachair do 'n Fhéinn;
'Bhiodh a' bruidhinn mu Oscar-
'Bhiodh ag osnaich mu ghnìomh nam fear tréun...”

“Fhuair Mi Naidheachd An-Dè”, by Uilleam “Ruidhe an Uidhe” Gobha - Doune
This is a song of a hunt in Braemar with nobles. There is a mention to Doune, in Strathspey, where they went to drink after the pursuit of the deer –
“Fhuair mi naidheachd an dé
Bho shealgair an fhéidh,
Chuir clach eadar mi féin ’s mo bhròg.

'S mi bhi 'n garbh-choire Dhé,
Ann an àros an fhéidh,
Far ann cuireamaid féum air lòn.

Troimh sneachda nan spéur
Seal mu 'n éirich a' ghréin,
Air mo bhreacan 'ga fhéileadh orm...”

“Gur Trom, Trom a Tha Mi”, by Eòghan Òg Dòmhnallach - Srathnoon, close to Moy Castle
The song can be read in “Gaelic Bards from 1825 to 1875”, p. 14. He fell in love to a milkmaid but he could not win her hand because that was not the wish of her father. After many years, after many years in the army, he returned and he won her hand at long last –
“Gur trom trom a tha mi,
'S gur trom a dh' fhag an t-earrach mi;
Gur truime 'n diugh na 'n de mi
'S mi cumha 'n deidh na banaraich...

Nam bithinn-sa 'n Strath-Eireann
Do speis cha bhiodh an aineol orm;
Ach tillidh mi ma 's beo mi,
'S le m' dheoin cha dean sinn dealachadh.”
 
“Gheibhte Siud an Taigh na Màighe” – Moy
This song is in praise of clan Clunie –
“Gheibhte siud an Tigh na Màighe,
Òl is Fìdhlearachd is aighear,
Faram sìoda ris na fraighean,
’Cur bhan-tighearnan a laighe.
 
Gheibhte siud an Tigh Chluainidh,
Cuirm, is copan, is cuachan,
Teine mòr air bheagan luaithre,
’S iad fèin ag òl air fìon uaibhreach...”
 
“Là Chùil Lòdair”, by Iain Ruadh Stiùbhart – Cuil Lòdair
Culloden is a bit away from the road but it is an important site and place in history and lore of the Gael that is it is important to put in this blog. This song was composed by Iain Ruadh Stiùbhart and he was involved in the battle itself, and he composed this song just as he saw what happened –
“O, gur mòr mo chùis mhulaid,
'S mi ri caoineadh na guin atà 'm thìr;
A Rìgh, bi làidir, 's tu 's urrainn
Ar nàimhdean a chumail fo chìs!
Oirnne 's làidir Diùc Uilleam,
An rag-mhèirleach, tha guin aige dhuinn;
B' e siud salchar nan sgeallag
Tighinn an uachdar air chruithneachd an fhuinn...”

We will continue next week for the last part of this series, carrying on from Inverness to Wick. Do you recognise any of the songs above? Do you have any others? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our website!