Skye Gaelic poetry and song collections: An Cabairneach

Gaelic Literature of the Isle of Skye: an annotated bibliography

Traditional poetry and song: collectors and collections

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AN CABAIRNEACH

The periodical An Cabairneach was produced by the Portree High School branch of Comunn na h-Oigridh, the youth wing of An Comunn Gaidhealach. Many of the contributors came from other islands than Skye and had come to Portree for their secondary level education, but I have not made any attempt to separate these from the Skye-born contributors.

When discussing An Cabairneach’s prose content, Donald John MacLeod refers to its irreverence and zest (MacLeod 1976:215). These qualities could also be said to apply to much of its poetry. Of the thirty-two poems listed below, the majority are concerned with themes and topics of local interest. Of these, many are very humorous, reflecting an important element in the verse of the village bards.

There is nature poetry, much of which is within the tradition of Gaelic nature poetry established in the eighteenth century, although one or two items have a distinctly modern cast. Among the animal poems, there are some charming ones reminiscent of the work of English poets such as Walter de la Mare.

Exile poetry is but sparsely represented, possibly because exile had not yet become a reality for the young poets.

Metrically, the trend is away from traditional Gaelic metres.

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An Cabairneach (An t-Og Mhios 1944)

i ‘Cuimse’, p. 3.

Amusing poem in a ballad-style metre. Reminiscent of some of the work of Domhnall Grannd.

ii ‘Mealladh Dùil’, p. 8.

A crofter’s disappointed hopes for a subsidy. The metre is similar to that of the metrical psalms.

iii ‘Cliù nan Armunn’, p. 12.

Celebrates the exploits of Highland soldiers in WW2.

iv ‘Guidhe a Chabairnich’, p. 15.

A satire on Hitler.

v ‘Seòlaidh mi a’ Gheòla Bhàn’, p. 15.

vi ‘Loch Seun’, p. 17.

An attractive nature poem.

vii ‘Gillean na Rathaid’, p. 21.

An amusing address to road workers.

viii ‘Oran do Scalpaidh’, p. 23

ix ‘An Cuilean’, p. 24.

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An Cabairneach (An t-og Mhios 1945)

i ‘An Taghadh’, p. 4.

In a limerick metre.

ii ‘Na Suinn Nach Till’, p. 9,

Lament for soldiers lost in WW2.

iii ‘Greusachd’, p. 13.

Tale of an elderly husband’s attempts to avoid buying his wife a new pair of shoes.

iv ‘Oran an Earraich’, p. 16.

v ‘Do Roosevelt’, p. 21.

vi ‘Sìle’, p. 22.

Charming poem about a pet lamb. It was later set to music by Rhoda C. MacKay, winning for her a Mod prize for musical composition (Sruth (5th Oct. 1967), p. 8).

vii ‘ ‘A Mheanbh-chuileag’, pp. 22-23.

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An Cabairneach (An Céitean 1950)

i ‘Tractor a’ Bhùird’, p. 3.

ii ‘An Ciobair a’ leigeil a Choin’, p. 6.

A very accomplished poem.

iii ‘Teachd an t-Samhraidh’, p. 7.

iv ‘A’ Phiseag’, p. 11.

v ‘Do na Treig’, p. 18.

Lament for members of the armed forced lost in WW2.

vi ‘An Cuan’, p. 21.

vii ‘Muir-làn’, p. 24.