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Gaelic Literature of the Traditional poets and songmakers: MacLeòid: A - H |
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on a desktop or laptop PC MAC LEOID,
Domhnall (1698 – 1759) Domhnall MacLeòid was the son of the tacksman of Greshornish in
Skye. He was ordained to the ministry
of the Church of Scotland in 1725.
After a period in the Uists he moved to Duirinish in Skye, where he received the renewal of his father’s tack of Greshornish. Much
esteemed for his personal qualities as well as his literary ones, he died in
1759, fifteen days after it is said that his death was foretold by a woman
seer. Domhnall MacLeòid composed many Gaelic poems, most of
which have been lost. (Information from The MacLeods:
the Genealogy of a Clan: Section 2 MacKinnon and Morrison 1969:120-121).) (1) ‘Beannachadh Bàird’ i An Gaidheal, 2
(1873), 63-64 ii History
of the MacLeods.
Alexander MacKenzie. iii iv The Gaelic Bards from 1715 to 1765.
Edited
by the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair. v History
of Skye. Vol. 2. Alexander Nicolson. vi Carmina Gadelica.
Vol.
2. Edited by Alexander
Carmichael. I have not here followed my usual
practice of listing versions of a poem in chronological order of
publication. As I believe the versions
which I have numbered one to five to be closely related to each other and the
sixth version to be an independent one, it seemed useful in this case to vary
the sequence slightly. Apparently it had been an old
custom in the The first version listed here was
given in manuscript form to the Rev. Mr.
Stewart, ‘Nether-Lochaber’. There are
twenty-four lines, beginning ‘Mile failte dhuit le d’ bhreid’, printed as
a single stanza, and with an English version by ‘Nether-Lochaber’. The second version shows a few textual
variations from the first and it is accompanied by the Rev. James Sutor’s English language version. The third version, in Magnus MacLean’s
‘Skye Bards’, reproduces the text of the first, but printed as six quatrains,
along with ‘Nether-Lochaber’s English version. The fourth version is arranged in six
quatrains and appears to be based upon both the first and second versions,
with a new variation in the second quatrain.
The fifth version is textually identical to the second, but arranged
in six quatrains. The notes to the first version
indicate that two lines in the manuscript were illegible and could not be
reproduced. Inclusion of these lines
would of course preclude the quatrain form, which Sinclair and MacLean evidently
believed to be the poem’s proper form.
The quatrain form is quite convincing in terms of the twenty-four
lines given and it is possible that the illegible two lines were in fact
four. Even though the syllable count
is not totally regular I would describe the metre as a loose form of rannaigheacht mhór. The sixth version, in Carmina Gadelica
is an independent one. Alexander
Carmichael noted down the song in South Uist from
the singing of a Skye woman, who had learnt it from the singing of a grandson
of a MacLeod of Raasay. He had
originally heard it in childhood before learning it as an adult from a
Highland soldier in There are seven stanzas. It is not ascribed to the Rev. Domhanll MacLeòid in this volume of Carmina Gadelica,
but it is ascribed to him in Angus Matheson’s indexes to the series in Vol. 6
(Matheson 1971). The Rev. Canon R.C. MacLeod
presents an English version of this poem and attributes the original to
Donald MacLeod of Bernera, who is said to have
presented it to each of his three wives.
See The MacLeods:
their history and traditions ( (2) Domhnall
Mac Leòid. ‘An Dealachadh’. The
Gaelic Bards from 1715 to 1765. Edited
by the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair. This poem is headed ‘Le Mr
Domhnall Mac-Leoid, Ministir
an Uibhist a’ Chinn-a-Tuath’. As the
Rev. Domhnall was minister in North Uist from 1736
to 1754 the poem could be dated to any time during that period. It was composed for a group of people going
to Skye and the sixth stanza contains some puzzling allusions to the
religious persuasion of the group. There are eleven quatrains,
beginning ‘Ge subhach comunn nan cairdean’. As with ‘Beannachadh
Bàird’, I would describe the metre as rannaigheacht mhór, even
though there are irregularities in the syllable count. ____________ MACLEOID,
Domhnall (1787 – 1873) Domhnall MacLeòid, Domhnall nan In 1811, at the age of twenty-three, Domhnall
MacLeòid published a collection of Gaelic poems, many of which were his own
composition. Unfortunately the book
has many errors, but R.C. MacDiarmid believes that this was due to poor
editing and the poet was not altogether responsible for them. Eventually a representative selection of
works from this 1811 collection were edited by Meg Bateman and published in
an anthology of works by Domhnall and his two sons, Niall and Iain Dubh (Bateman and Loughran 2014). John MacKenzie tells us of Domhnall’s unsuccessful attempt in 1829 to raise funds
for the publication of a book on Calum-Cille and a
number of other Gaelic historical figures (MacKenzie 1872:352). Eventually Domhnall emigrated
to Domhnall’s poetic gifts were
inherited by at least three of his other children, apart from Niall and
Iain. A son Fionnlagh
(Finlay) is named as a bard in a Macleod genealogy (Morrison 1976:50). This was confirmed to me by a friend who
was a native of In 1871 a second, smaller, collection of Domhnall
nan many of them were then in the
possession of the poet’s widow in the family home in R. C. MacDiarmid has given a vivid account of
Domhnall nan Sources of
information on the life and work of Domhnall MacLeòid: Sàr-Obair nam
Bàrd Gaelach (MacKenzie
1872:351-352); ‘Donald MacLeod, the Skye Bard – His Life and Songs’
by Dr. R.C. MacDiarmid (TGSG,
1:18-33); ‘Domhnull nan ‘Bàird an Eilean Sgiathanaich: Domhnull
MacLeòid, ‘Domhnull nan The MacLeods – the Genealogy of a Clan: Section 5 (Morrison 1976:17-51). _______________ (1) Domhnul
MacLeòid. Orain Nuadh Ghaelach: maille ri beagain
do cho-chruinneachadh urramach na ‘n aireamh. Le Domhnul MacLeòid, ann an Durinish, sa
‘n Eilan Sciatheanach. Inbhirnis: Eoin Young, 1811. viii, 271d. Of the sixty poems in this collection, twenty are of
Domhnall nan Eulogy and
Elegy: The largest category, with eight poems in all. It is useful to bear in mind here Dr. John
MacInnes’ comment that the poet saw himself in the role of Clan MacLeod bard
(Thomson 1983: 64). i ‘ Composed upon the occasion of the
return of the young chief,
John Norman, XXIV MacLeod of MacLeod, in 1809. Most of the motifs of the traditional
praise poem are to be found here. ii ‘Marbhrann do Dhomhnul Domhnulach, an Grishernish, ann sa Bhliadhna 1808’, pp. 31-35. A traditional elegy with a strong
emphasis on the subject as protector of his people. iii ‘Oran Nuadh air Reismeid Mhic-Shimi’, pp. 61-65 Also published in Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach, where MacKenzie declares his editorial
work on it (MacKenzie 1872: 352-354). iv ‘Marbhrann do Chaiptean Alastair MacLeòid, ann a Bhattuin’, pp. 107-112 Celebrates in particular Captain
MacLeod’s military exploits in v ‘Cumha do Theaghlach Ois’,
pp. 112-116 Mourns the deaths of several
members of the Ose family. vi ‘ vii ‘Smeòrach na Leòdach’, pp. 127-133 Takes up a convention first used
by Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair and John MacCodrum. There
is an abbreviated version in Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach with some
textual variations (MacKenzie
1872: 354-355). There is a version in The Gaelic Bards from 1775 to 1825 which is only a fragment of
the original and whose refrain shows variations in the vocables
(Sinclair 1896:145-146). viii ‘Cumha Shiorram Farluin’, pp. 239-241 Satire and
Comedy: i ‘ Satire on a Church elder’s
herdsman. Revealing of the attitude
towards anyone who tries to act ‘above his station’. ii ‘Rann Molaidh
do Sheann Bhàta’, pp.
151-155 ‘Rann Firinn do n’ Bhàta Cheudna’, pp. 156-158 Among the most accomplished and
amusing of Domhnall nan iii ‘Rann Mollaidh do Thigh Uir’, pp. 175-176 A satire upon the pretensions of
one Ruairidh Mac Néill, a
merchant of Stein, in which the fifteen-year old poet makes fun of his fine, new house with extravagant overpraise. It has
also been published in Guth na Bliadhna, 15
(1918), 68-71. A version from the oral
tradition, sent from iv ‘Duan calluin’, pp. 177-178 Love: i ‘ ‘ Two songs composed to the daughter
of Stewart of Borrodale, both with the dánta grá theme
of love as a fatal sickness. The first
is modelled upon the popular song ‘O ‘s tu ‘s gur a tu
th’ air m’ aire’. ii ‘Litir Ghaoil ga Freagairt’,
pp. 144-147 Reminiscent in metre, and in its
use of the dialogue form, of ‘Úr-Chnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte’ by the
eighteenth century Irish poet Peadar Ó Doirnín. In my opinion, one of the best of Domhnall
nan iii ‘Luinneag Gaol’,
pp. 222-224 It is not clear whether this was
composed to Stewart of Borrodale’s daughter. iv ‘Oran Sugraidh
mar Chomhairle do Ghillean
Oga’, pp. 248-252 Didactic and
Social Comment: i ‘ Of considerable social interest,
composed when the potato already formed a substantial part of the
Highlanders’ diet and before the disastrous potato blight of the
mid-nineteenth century. ii ‘Rann … air dha Samhla fhaicinn’,
pp. 186-194 Takes the form of an encounter
between the poet and the spirit of a long dead Viking who lectures him on the
meaning of life, spiritual values and kindred matters. Echoes of Dùghall
Bochanan, but lacks his power and intensity. Metres: Domhnall MacLeòid uses a variety of traditional
stressed metres in this 1811 collection, In at least two instances he uses a
syllabic metre: ‘Rann
Molaidh do Sheann Bhàta’
and ‘Rann Firinn do n’ Bhàta Cheudna’ are in snéadhbhairdne. (2) Domhnull MacLeòid. Dàin agus Orain. Glascho: G.
Mac-na-Ceardadh, 1871, 20d. One would need to be cautious when
making comparisons between this collection and Domhnall nan i ‘Rann do dh’ Eildeirean an Loin Mhóir’, pp. 3-6 Otherwise known as ‘Eildeirean Dubha an Loinmhoir’ (TGSI. 47:400), this is probably the
best known of Domhnall nan by the Lonmore church elders.
They may have rued the day they did so, for Domhnall turned on them
with this stinging satire in which he displays his own knowledge of
Scripture. It was again published in An Deò-Gréine (12:7-8)
in a version almost identical to that in the poet’s collection. A noticeably different version is given by
the Rev. Domhnull Budge (TGSI, 47:400-403). This version probably
came from oral tradition and in addition to the fourteen stanzas of the previous
ones has an extra stanza in which favourable mention is made of Tormod Mac Mhurchaidh Shaoir. Tormod was the maternal grandfather of the
Rev. Coinneach Ros: see his Aitealan Dlù is Cian (Ros
1972: 23-24) ii ‘Dan do ‘n Ghréin’,
pp. 6-9. ‘Dan d ‘n Ghealaich’,
pp. 9-11 The poet discusses religious and
moral issues with the sun and moon. A
similar device as in ‘Rann … air dha Samhla fhaicinn’
in his earlier collection, although in that case the dialogue is with another
human, albeit a long dead one. The
question of influences arises.
Domhnall nan The poem to the sun is, with some
variations, also in An Deò-Gréine (12:61-62). iii ‘Dàn a’ Bhreithanais’, pp. 11-14 There is little description of the
actual Day of Judgement and the poet concentrates on warning men of the wages
of sin, etc. It is rather pedestrian,
but occasionally lightened by some vivid imagery. There are also references to the sun and
the moon in the same role assigned to them in the previous two poems. iv ‘Dàn do ‘n uaigh’, pp. 14-16 Another dialogue poem, this time
with the grave. The predominant theme
is that of Christ conquering death. v ‘ A delightful poem, strongly
reminiscent of eighteenth century nature poetry. It has also been published in An Deò-Gréine
(12:172-173). vi ‘ Similar in spirit and content to
the previous poem. Metres: There is not the same variety of metres as in the
1811 collection; not surprisingly, considering the much smaller number of
poems. The most favoured forms are
different types of cumha and amhran. (3) Domhnull MacLeòid. ‘Oran Molaidh do Dhomhnull
MacLeoid, Fear a’ Chlaiginn’. The
MacDonald Collection of Gaelic Poetry.
Edited by the Revs. A. and A. MacDonald. According to the editors’ note (p.
xxxiii), the subject of this eulogy is Donald MacLeod, tacksman
of Claggan on the MacLeod Estate in Skye and
afterwards of Kingsburgh and then Coulmore, where he died in 1877. There are many of the elements of
the traditional praise poem, although the mood is pleasantly informal. There are six stanzas, beginning with ‘Moch ‘s mi ‘g eiridh ‘s a’ mhaduinn’. It is modelled upon ‘Mo Rùn
geal òg’. (5) Meg
Bateman and Anne Loughran (eds). Bàird Ghleann Dail: theGlendale Bards.
This work brought together the
work of Domhnall nan ____________ MACLEOID,
Gilleasbuig (19th / 20th
Century) Gilleasbuig MacLeòid belonged to Grealin
in (Information from Old Skye Tales (MacKenzie 1934: 97).) (1) Archibald MacLeod. ‘ Composed during the First World
War, which the poet sees in terms of a struggle between Good (Britannia) and
Evil (Kaiser Wilhelm). There is no
sense of a distinct Scottish or There are ten stanzas, beginning ‘ ‘S goirt an sgeul a dh’ iomadh creutair’, in an amhran metre. (2) Gilleasbuig
MacLeòid. ‘Aig
sruthan coimheach Bhabilon. Gairm, 53 (An Geamhradh
1965), 29 Composed during the time the poet
was working One eight-line stanza is
given. The metre is similar to that of
the metrical Psalms. (3) ‘Mo rùn an ainnir’ i Gairm, 53 (An Geamhradh
1965), 29-30 ii Orain an
Eilein. Cairistiona
Mhàrtainn. An t-Eilean Sgiatheanach: Taigh nan Teud, 2001, p. 37 Composed to Màiri
Nic-an-toisich, a teacher in the school at Valtos who died young.
The first version is entitled ‘Mo rùn an ainnir’ and is from the Rev. Tormod Domhnallach’s article
‘Dioghlum bho Achaidhean
na Bàrdachd (3)’ (Gairm,
53:29-42. Just five lines of the song
are given. The second version has four
six-line verses and the tune, from Eòin
Domhnallach, in staff notation. (4) Gilleasbuig
MacLeòid. ‘Dh’éirich
Tormod Og is Màrtainn’. Gairm, 76 (Am Foghar 1971), 307-308 A song about the land agitation in
Valtos: from the Rev. Tormod Domhnallach’s article
‘Aoirean agus Luinneagan Eibhinn’ (Gairm,
76:299-319). The Tormod Og mentioned was the Rev. Domhnallach’s grandfather. Four lines only are given. (5) Gilleasbuig
MacLeòid. ‘A chruinneag
dhonn, ‘s toigh leam thu’. Orain an
Eilein. Cairistiona
Mhàrtainn. An
t-Eilean Sgiatheanach: Taigh nan Teud, 2001, p. 38. A pleasant love song. Four four-line verses and a refrain. The tune, from Eòin
Domhnallach, is given in staff notation. |
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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