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Gaelic Literature of the Traditional poetry and song: collectors and collections |
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This page is
best viewed on a desktop or laptop PC CARMINA
GADELICA Carmina Gadelica is an extensive collection of Gaelic lore, mostly in
verse form, made by Alexander Carmichael between 1855 and 1899. Alexander Carmichael was a native of
Lismore and a dedicated amateur folklorist.
He worked as an excise man both in the Western Isles and the mainland
Gaidhealtachd. He contributed articles
on antiquarian topics to a number of publications, but he is probably best
known for Carmina Gadelica. Carmina Gadelica was originally published in six volumes, four of
them after Much of the material in CG is of a spiritual and
religious nature and some of it shows signs of a pagan origin. The material was collected for the most
part in the Western Isles, usually from ordinary people, although Prof.
Derick Thomson has pointed out that internal evidence demonstrates a literary
rather than a folk origin for a significant amount of it (Thomson 1983:36). Opinions as to Robertson’s views (Campbell 1978) The
Carmichael Watson Project: Edinburgh University Library, where the Carmichael
Watson Collection is housed has embarked on a project to make the collection
more accessible to the wider academic community as well as the broader
community (http://www.carmichaelwatson.lib.ed.ac.uk/
). Listed below is material in Carmina Gadelica relevant to the area
covered by this bibliography. Where
individual items are dealt with in more detail elsewhere, this is stated and
it may be assumed, unless otherwise indicated, that the items concerned are
to be found listed in sequence in the section for poetry and song of unknown
authorship. ____________ Carmina Gadelica. Vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Carmichael. 2nd ed. i ‘Ora
Boisilidh’, pp. 60-63. A bathing prayer from Janet
Campbell, nurse, of Loch Skiport, South Uist. She was born
a MacKinnon of Skye. ii ‘Beannachadh Bhliadhna Uir’, pp. 158-159. A New Year’s blessing from Ann
Morrison of Trumsgearry, North Uist,
née Ann Ross of Skye. iii A lively character sketch of Anne,
daughter of Flora MacDonald and wife of Major MacLeod of Stein. Includes one verse of a rann which she had for St.
Bride’s Day (pp. 170-171). iv ‘Bride Ban-Cobhair’,
pp. 176-177. A prayer for conception. From Janet Campbell, née MacKinnon, of Skye and South Uist. v ‘Crònan Bleoghain’, pp. 260-261. A milking croon. From Mary Stewart of Malacleit,
North Uist.
She came originally from Skye and knew many occult runes. ____________ Carmina Gadelica. Vol. 2.
Edited by Alexander Carmichael.
2nd ed. i ‘Eòlas
na Rù’, pp. 6-7. A charm for rose (growth on a
cow’s udder). From Catrine
MacCuithean of Fernilea
in Skye. ii ‘Eòlas’, pp.
58-59. Incantation to Peter, James and
John. From Mary Stewart of North Uist, originally from Skye. iii ‘An Earraid Shìth’, pp. 92-93. Incantation for the plucking of
fairy wort.
From Gormul MacKinnon of Lochmaddy,
North Uist, originally from Skye. iv ‘Earr Thalmhainn’, pp. 94-95 (no. 163). Incantation for the plucking of
yarrow. From Mary Stewart of North Uist, originally from Skye. v ‘A’ Chloimh
Chat’, pp. 118-119 (no. 178). Incantation for the plucking of
catkin wool. From John Beaton, a
shepherd of Aird nan Laogh,
South Uist, originally from Skye. vi ‘Am Bréid’, pp.
212-215. Version of the Rev. Donald MacLeod of Greshornish’s poem ‘Beannachadh
Bàird’. See entry in section for poetry and song of known
authorship. vii ‘A nighean righ nan roiseal soluis’: pp. 230-231
(pp. 232-233 in 2nd ed). See
individual entry for this
poem. viii ‘Thug an dithis dh’ an ainnir gaol’: pp.
269-270 (pp. 280-281 in 2nd ed). Ossianic poem from
Kenneth Morrison. See: The
Kenneth Morrison Collection. ix Fragment of Kenneth Morrison’s version of
‘The Lay of Fraoch’: p. 276 (p. 289 in 2nd ed).. See: The Kenneth Morrison
Collection. x Tale of Dùn Gharsain, with poem ‘Tilg an dearg air Tarmaid Dubh’. From Donald MacCuithean
of Fernilea in Skye: pp. 308-309 (pp. 329-331 in
2nd ed). See
individual entry for this poem. xi Notes on the sacred qualities of the
number seven, with an incantation from Kenneth Morrison of Trithion in Skye: pp. 322-323 (pp. 347-349 in 2nd ed). See: The
Kenneth Morrison Collection. ____________ Carmina Gadelica. Vol. 3.
Edited by James Carmichael Watson.
On p. 278 there is an account of
superstitions connected with the moon from an old man of Eigg named Robertson. ____________ Carmina Gadelica. Vol. 4.
Edited by James Carmichael Watson.
i Incantation from the Rev.
Kenneth MacLeod for the plucking of pearlwort: pp.
134-135. ii Account of Tobar
na Cloinne, at Strolamus
in Skye, with words of a Gaelic charm.
This well’s waters were said to cure infertility: p. 203. iii ‘Giullan geal thu’, pp. 316-319. Lullaby recorded from a Barra man.
Includes a reference to Blaaven in Skye (see
individual entry). iv ‘Thréig an cadal mi’, pp. 352-355. Song from Eigg (see
individual entry). v ‘Guidhe nan Leòdach’, pp. 356-359. vi ‘A Bhricein Bhallaich’, pp. 366-367. See entry in the Kenneth
MacLeod Collection. ____________ Carmina Gadelica. Vol. 5. Edited by Angus Matheson. i
‘Seathan Mac Rìgh Eireann’, pp. 60-83. From Janet MacLeod of
Eigg and Jessie Matheson of Skye. See individual entry for
this poem. ii ‘Tàladh Mhic Leòid’, pp. 184-233. Several versions. See individual entry for
this poem. iii ‘Mac Gille Chaluim Ratharsaidh’, pp.
300-304. Account of the
drowning of Iain Garbh Mac Ghille Chaluim in 1671,
together with a version of the lament attributed to his sister. See entry for Nighean Mhic Ghille
Chaluim in the section for poetry and song of known
authorship. iv Fragment said to have been
composed by Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh at the time of her sister’s funeral: p. 341. See entry for Màiri in section for poetry and song of known
authorship. |
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A-C D-Domhnall Domhnallach-Dz E–G H–L M–MacA MacB–MacC MacD MacE-MacK, MacLa-MacLeod MacLeòid A-H MacLeòid I-Z MacM-MacN MacO-MacZ M N O-Q R-Z Annie Arnott An Cabairneach Carmina Gadelica
Catriona
Dhùghlas Tormod Domhnallach Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Angus Lamont K. N. MacDonald Johan MacInnes Hugh MacKinnon Calum I. MacLean Sorley MacLean Kenneth MacLeod Niall MacLeòid Màiri
Nighean Alasdair Cairistiona
Mhàrtainn Alexander Morison Kenneth Morrison Angus Nicolson Portree
HS Magazine Lachlann
Robertson Frances Tolmie I Frances Tolmie II Somhairle
MacGill-Eain The New Poetry Books
etc: A-L Books etc: MacA-MacL Books etc: MacM-Z Periodicals, MSS, AV |
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© Sabhal Mòr Ostaig 2018