GF232i14  EACHDRAIDH AIR AN ÒRAN 'CHA TIG MÒR MO BHEAN DHACHAIDH'



Beulaiche: Gilleasbuig mac Eàirdsidh Sheumais | Archie MacKenzie
Tàr-Sgrìobhadh: Oighrig NicFhraing | Effie Rankin





Seadh, an t-òran mór 'Mòr mo bhean dhachaidh'— chuala mi tric aig a—aig na seann daoine gur e seanair Iain, Iain Mhór 'ic Iain Òig a shuidhich aig…aig Senacadie no aig Còbh a' Bhìobhair—gura h-e rinn an t-òran sin, nuair a chaochail a' bhean aige. Uill, nist, chan eil mi cinnteach a nist cò dhiù 's e Iain Òg—uill, b' e Iain Òg—b' e athair—no a sheanair, tha mi 'n dùil gura h-e seanair Iain Mhóir 'ic Iain Òig a thàinig a nall. Agus a….'s ann—tha an t-uamhas dhiubh timchioll a nist—sliochd Iain Mhòir 'ic Iain Òig mu thimchioll Baghasdal is Senacadie a' siud. 'S ann, 's ann—uill, 's ann á Barraigh a thàinig Iain Mór 'ic—mac Iain Òig ach ma dh'fhaoidte gur ann—cha chreid mise Cloinn 'ic Fhionghuin a bh' ann am Barraigh nach ann á fear dha na h-eileanan eile a thàinig 'ad an toiseachd.



Translation:



A HISTORY OF THE SONG 'CHA TIG MÒR MO BHEAN DHACHAIDH'



Yes, the song 'Mòr mo Bhean dhachaidh'— I often heard the—the old folk say that it was John's grandfather, Big John son of John Junior —who settled at…Senacadie or at Beaver Cove—that it was he who composed that song when his wife died. Well, now, I am not sure now whether it was John Junior or—well, John Junior was—his father—or his grandfather, I believe it was Big John son of John Junior's grandfather who came over. And…it is—many of them are now around—the progeny of Big John son of John Junior around Boisdale and Senacadie there. Yes, yes, well, Big John son of John Junior came from Barra but perhaps it was—I believe that the MacKinnons in Barra came from one of the other islands at first.