DASG Blog

Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9 ann an Alba (Pàirt 4)

Fàilte air ais gu pàirt 4 Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9. An t-seachdain-sa bheir sinn sùil air òrain, bàrdachd agus duanagan mu àitean air, no mu timcheall, a’ mhòr-rathaid A9, a’ leantainn oirnn o bhaile Inbhir Nis gu Inbhir Ùige, crìoch an A9.
 
Rannan do Chlèir na h-Eaglaise Saoire an’ Inbhir Nis – Inbhir Nis
This song can be read in “Some Gaelic Verses from North Inverness-shire” by Hugh Barron in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. ’S e “Rannan do Chléir na Eaglaise Saoir ann Inbhir-nis. Mu sheinn nan laoidhean ùr ann an Aoradh Follaiseach an Tighearn’” –
“Gabhaidh sinn an t-seann chlach-chrìch’
A bh’ aig ar n-aithreachan ‘s gach linn,
’S cumaibh dìreach air an t-slighe
Tha dìreach chum Shinai.
 
An t-Ollamh MacAoidh, an gaisgeach tréun
’S Maighstir Dòmhnallach mar an céudn’,
Sheas iad dìleas aig a’ chléir
Air taobh an Lagh ’s nan Aithneantan...”
 
“Co-dhiù, thugainn Fonn nan Gaisgeach” by Iain MacIlleathain – Drynie, Mulbuie and Novar –
Iain MacIlleathain, from Drynie, Mulbuie, in the Dark Isle, this song. He was the bard of the “Highland Land Law Reform Association” and he wrote this song to the Doctor Ruairidh Dòmhnallach who was in the election in the general election in 1895, the Tacksman of Novar was beaten, from Novar. Dr Dòmhnallach stood on the side of the crofters and the song was composed to him –
“Co-dhiù thogainn fonn nan gaisgeach
Anns gach àit’ an òlainn drama;
Co-dhiù thogainn fonn nan gaisgeach.
 
’S e Dotair Dòmhnallach tha mi ’g ràidhtinn –
Is mac croiteir e gun àicheadh;
Thug e buaidh air Fear Nobhàr,
À Taigh na Pàrlamaid, chùm e mach e.
 
Ach gur e mo cheist an t-uasal
Sheas gu dìleas anns a’ chruadal;
Thug e nise uile buaidh orr’,
’S tha e shuas a dheòin no dh’aindeoin...”
 
“An Linnet Mhòr” by Artar Ros – Easter Ross
The town is a little away from the A9 but it is important for history of the region. A boat, "The Linnet", sank, close to the coast of Catboll. The crew of the town went out to save the boat before it went down but they were drowned along with the crew of the boat. The song was composed by Artar Ros, from the Loans of Rarichie, Fearn, in order to keep the awful night in mind –
“...An ‘Linnet’ Mhòr bha siubhal a’ chuain
Thàinig a-steach air oidhch’ fo ghruaim
Is chaidh iomrall anns an dorch
Is thilg an stoirm i Chadabol...”
 
“Òran do Chataibh” by Iain Rothach, Little Creich – East Sutherland
The bard was working in Clydebank and he longing to the beautiful land of his upbringing and youth. He composed this song here praising nature, beauty, and changes of the region of his place of birth –
“O thèid sinn, thèid sinn le suigeart agus aoidh
O thèid sinn, thèid sinn gu deònach,
O thèid sinn, thèid sinn thairis an t-Srùidh,
Gu tìr ar dàimh is ar n-eòlais.
 
Ged bha sinn bliadhntan fada, fada bhuaithe
Am Baile Chluaidh a’ còmhnaidh,
An tamall beag gun trèig sinn ar gairm is gun tèid sinn
A dh’fhaotainn an gràidh is an còmhraidh...”
 
“Marbhrann don Iarla Chatach” by Rob Donn MacAoidh – Dunrobin
“Rugadh mise anns a’ gheamhradh,
Measg nam beanntaichean gruamach;
’S mo chiad sealladh den t-saoghal
Sneachd is gaoth mu mo chluasaibh;
On chaidh m’ àrach ri aghaidh
Tìr na deighe gu tuathail,
Rinn mi luathreach tuiteam
’S rinn mo chuislidhean fuaradh.
 
Chrìoch mi sgur de na dàintibh
Chionn mo thàlann bhith gèilleadh;
Ach chan fhuil’ngeadh mo nàdar
Dhomh bhith nam thàmh air an adhbhar-s’ –
Ceannard teaghlaich Dhùn Robain
Na luighe ’n Abaid Dhùn Èideann,
Gun aon fhocal aig filidh
Dhèant’ na shiorramachd fèìn da...”
 
“Marbhrann do Dhòmhnall MacAoidh, duine urramach bha do thàmh ann an Risgill, Sgìre Latharn an’ Gallaibh ” by Seòras MacAoidh, from Roster – Reisgill
This death elegy praises an admirable man, Dòmhnall MacAoidh, from Risgill, Caithness –
“Is fhad a chualas fuaim do chaochladh,
Dhòmhnaill MacAoidh bhiodh bhràigh a’ Risgill,
Cha robh an Alba na bu dìsle,
Do dh’adhbhar Chrìosd an uair a b’ ìsle e.
 
’S trom an ochdach th’ aig tìr, chàirdean,
’Giùlan cionalas do bhàis-sa,
Dh’fhàg thu beàrn nach tèid a chàradh
Ach an dealaich bodhag a bhàis rinn...”
[Roster]
 
“Marbhrann na fìor fhianais, Alasdair Gair” – Wick
Alasdair Gair was born in Morangie, close to Tain in 1772 and after he spent time in Sutherland he moved to Caithness in 1817. He assisted the Gaels in Caithness, especially in Thurso, with his teaching and preaching –
“Tha sgeul a tha ri h-innse,
’S an tìm seo glè chràiteach,
Don fhuidheal[?] làg sgìth,
Tha nan aonar san fhàsaich.
 
Bhi lambhach[?] na fìor-fhianais,
Gu dian leis a’ bhàs aist’.
Is do rèir a rùn shìorraidh,
Gun d’ eug E, Alasdair Gair leis...”

I would like to do another blog like this another time, with the roads going north in the west, what are your opinions? Did you know any of the songs, pieces of poetries or ditties above? Do you know of any others? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our website!