DASG Blog

Ainmean Pearsanta Bhò ann an Òrain-Luadhaidh

We have personal names for one another: we have personal names for one another as humans; we have personal names for pets; we have personal names for things without a soul even, but, therefore, what names did, or do, we have for a thing and creature that was extremely important to the Gael’s culture and heritage – the cow?
The cow is, and was, extremely important for the subsistence and livelihood of the Gael; they were needed for many things, their dairy and their flesh. Often cows were praised and referenced in songs and poetry, and the waulking songs we have are no different, we have mant of them in which cows’ names can be found. I read “Hebridean Folksongs”, by John Lorne Campbell, and there was a great list for cows’ names. Many of the names (some of whom are creative and descriptive) we have are in reference to their size and their colouring, and I would like to present them to you with their songs in which their names can be found:
 
Blàrag [“Blazen-face”]– “Gu dè nì mi nochd ri m’ àire”
Buidheag [“Little yellow one”] – “Gu dè nì mi nochd rim nàire”; “An robh thu sa bheinn?”
Ciar [“Dusky One”] – “A Mhic a’ Mhaoir”
Donn [“Brown”] – “A Mhic a’ Mhaoir”
Dubhach [“Black one”] – “A Mhic a’ Mhaoir”
Dubhbheag [“Little black one”] – “A Mhic a’ Mhaoir”
Duibhean [“Little black one”] – “A Phiuthrag ’s a phiuthar”; “Dhìrich mi suas an Coire Riabhach”
Gruagan [“Hairy one”] – “Dhìrich mi suas an Coire Riabhach”
Ruadhan [“Little red one”] – “A Phiuthrag ’s a phiuthar”, “An robh thu sa bheinn?”
Siùbhlach [“Speedy”] – “A Mhic a’ Mhaoir”
Subhach [“Cheery”] – “Dhìrich mi suas an Coire Riabhach”
 
A Phiuthrag ’s a phiuthar – LXXII (àireamh an òrain anns an leabhar “Hebridean Folksongs”)
“...Cha chualas riamh _ geum bu chruaidhe
Na geum Duibhein, _ is geum Ruaidhein,
Ach do gheum-sa, _ Dhubhach ghuailfhionn;...”
[“…Never was heard_a louder bellow
Than that of Duibhean_and that of Ruadhan,
Except your bellow,_white-shouldered Dubhach...”]
 
A Mhic a’ Mhaoir – LXXV
“...’s a Mhic a’ Mhaoir _ a ghaoil ’s a rùin,
Cha phàigh an ‘Donn’ _ dhut an t-ùnnlagh,
No ‘Dubhbheag’ no _ ‘Chiar’ no ’n t-Siùbhlach’!...”
[“... O son of the Steward,_my love, my dear,
The ‘Brown’ will not_pay the fine for you,
Nor ‘Little Black’_nor the ‘Dun’, nor the ‘Speedy’...”]
 
Gu dè nì mi nochd ri m’ nàire? – LXXVIII
Gu dè nì mi o ro ho _ nochd ri m’ nàire o ro ho
Fire fàire, hó ro ho _ Fire fàire, ó ro ho
Nochd ri m’ nàire....
Dheoghail an crodh...
-laoigh ’san fhàsaich...
Dheoghail Buidheag,...
Dheoghail Blàrag,...
’S dheoghail gach aon...
Mar a b’ àbhaist...”
[“What shall I do o ro ho_tonight to my darling?
Fire fàire, hó ro ho_Fire fàire, ó ro ho
Tonight to my darling...
The cows have suckled...
In the pasture...,
Buidheag has suckled,...
So has Blàrag...
Each one has suckled...
As is their habit...”]
 
’N robh thu ’sa bheinn? - LXXIX
Éileadh le hó ro, ho hu a
’N robh thu ’sa bheinn? _ ’n d’ fhuair thu na fèidh?
Ó ho hù a _ o ho hù a _
Éileadh le hó ro, o hu a, _ éileadh le hó ro, ho hu a,
‘Cha d’ fhuair, no ’n leath,’ _ Có bha bhuat dhiu?’
‘Nighean Buidheig _ ogha Ruadhain,
Nighean na bà _ ’s fheàrr ’sa bhuailidh.’
[“Éileadh le hó ro, ho hu a
‘Were you on the hill?_Or did you find the cows!’
‘No, nor half of them.’ ‘Which did you miss?’
‘The daughter of Buidheag,_the grand-daughter of Ruadhan,
The daughter of the best_cow in the cattlefold.’]
 
Dhìrich mi suas an Coire Riabhach - LXXXV
“...Càite ’n cualas _ geum bu chruaidhe
Na geum Dhuibhein _ is geum Ghruagain,
No do gheum-sa, _ Shubhach ghuaillfhionn?
Ag ionndrainn Iain _ dhonn na gruaige...”
[“...Where was there heard_A louder bellow
Than that of Duibhean_and that of Gruagan,
Or your bellow,_white-shouldered Subhach?
Missing Iain_Of the brown head of hair...”]
 
That is all for cows’ personal names for this week. There must be more names that I have not mentioned already, but please let us know on facebook, twitter and our website!