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Gaelic Literature of the Traditional poets and
songmakers: H – L |
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best viewed on a desktop or laptop PC IAIN DUBH MAC IAIN ‘IC AILEIN (17th / 18th Century) Iain Dubh Mac Iain ‘Ic Ailein, John MacDonald,
appears to have belonged to the Morar branch of Clanranald. He
lived in Gruilean in Eigg and, according to the
Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair, may have been a Roman Catholic. Biographical references: i Revs. A. and A. MacDonald. Clan
Donald. Vol. 3 (MacDonald and MacDonald 1904:575 ii John
MacKenzie. Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach (MacKenzie 1872:68) iii Rev. William Matheson. (TGSI, 38:528 ; TGSI,
41:14) iv Rev.
A. MacLean Sinclair. Comhchruinneachadh Ghlinn-a’-Bhàird
(Sinclair 1890:42) v J.
L. Professor Derick Thomson
has described Iain Dubh as “a competent poet “, one of the aos-dàna. Prof. Thomson points out that most of Iain Dubh’s extant poems are dated to the years before and
after Sheriffmuir (1715) and that two of the poems
attributed to Iain Dubh in John MacKenzie’s Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd
Gaelach are in fact by Iain MacAilein (Thomson
1977:148, 313). The poems in
question are ‘Marbhrann do Shir
Iain Mac-Illeain’ and ‘Crosdhanachd
Fhir nan Druimnean’ (MacKenzie 1872: 70-72, 74-75). Poems by Iain Dubh have
been included in a number of anthologies and in 1994 an edition of the ten
poems attributable to him was published.
In 2001 three were included in an anthology of 18th Century Scottish
Gaelic verse (see below). Collections: (1) Colm
Ó Baoill (fear-deas.). Iain
Dubh: Orain a rinn Iain
Dubh mac Iain mhic Ailein. Obar-dheathan:
An Clò Gaidhealach,
1994. 90 dd. Editions
of the ten songs attributable to Iain Dubh, along with notes on their texts,
metres and tunes. I have not had sight
of this book. Reviewed by Coinneach D.
MacDhòmhnaill in Gairm (172:378-379). (2) Ronald Black (editor). An Lasair: anthology of 18th
Century Scottish Gaelic verse. Includes texts of three poems by Iain Dubh, along
with parallel English translations and notes by the editor: ‘Òran nam Fineachan’
(pp. 38-47, 379-382), ‘Marbhrann do dh’Ailean Dearg’ (pp. 54-59,
387-388), ‘Òran do Raghnall Mac
Mhic Ailein’ (pp. 72-77, 393-396). The texts of the poems are from Colm Ó Baoill’s edition (see above). ____________ IAIN-MOR-BUACHAILL. See MACPHERSON, John ____________ LACHLANN MAC THEARLAICH OIG (1665-1734) Lachlan MacKinnon, Lachlann Mac Theàrlaich Oig, was born in Strath,
Skye. He was one of the sons of
Charles MacKinnon, Teàrlach Og
Mac Theàrlaich, of the family of MacKinnon of Strath. In spite of an unhappy
second marriage, the poet was still renowned for his hospitality and
friendship. He was a good huntsman and
also an excellent fiddler. His songs
and witty sayings remained long within oral tradition. Lachlann Mac Theàrlaich
Oig died in 1734 at the age of sixty-nine and was
buried in Kilchrist. His funeral was one of the largest ever
seen in Skye. The above information came
from two accounts of the life of the poet: one by the Rev. Alexander
MacGregor in both Gaelic and English (An
Gaidheal, 3:120-121, 145-148; Celtic Magazine, 1:91-94) and one by the
Rev. D. Lamont in his account of Strath (Lamont 1913:112-119). While each account contains some material
not found in the other they are
fairly compatible. A third account, from John MacKenzie, relates an incident
concerning the birth of (1) ‘Bhiodag thubaisteach’ i Comhchruinneacha do dh’ Orain Taghta Ghaidhealach. Deasaichte le Paruig Mac-an-Tuairneir.
Duneidionn: T. Stiubhard,
1813, dd. 339-342. ii Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach. Edited by John MacKenzie. iii An Lasair: anthology of 18th Century Scottish
Gaelic verse. Edited by Ronald Black.
The first
version appears anonymously, but the second version, entitled ‘Sgian dubh an
sprògain chain’, is attributed to Lachlann Mac Theàrlaich Oig. There are
sufficient differences between the two versions to allow for the possibility
that MacKenzie had a source other than Mac-an-Tuairneir’s
collection. The third version is
entitled ‘Sgian dubh an sprògain chaim’
and has a parallel English translation by the editor with extensive notes. There are
twelve stanzas, beginning ‘Dh’ innsinn sgeul mu ‘n mhalairt duibh’. The
metrical pattern is the same as that of the poet’s ‘Latha
siubhal sléibhe’. It seems likely that these two songs, so
different in mood and theme, were composed upon the same tune. (2) Lachunn Mac Theàrlaich. ‘Cùram nam Bantraichean’. Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach. Edited
by John MacKenzie. John
MacKenzie notes that this song was composed by the poet upon hearing that a
friend of his was about to marry a rich old widow. No doubt his own
unfortunate second marriage had something to do with the views expressed in
the song. There are
eight verse-couplets and a four-line refrain: ‘Hug hoireann
ho-ro hura-bho / Bi’dh cùram air na bantraichean’. (3) ‘Cumha Mhic Leòid’ i Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaeleach. Edited by Alexander and Donald
Stewart. Duneidin:
T. Stiuart, 1804, pp. 411-415 ii
The
Gaelic Bards from 1411 to 1715. Edited
by the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair. iii The MacDonald Collection of Gaelic Poetry. Edited by the Revs. A. and A.
MacDonald. A lament
for John MacLeod of Talisker, son of Sir Roderick
MacLeod of Talisker, who died in 1700. This John MacLeod is also the subject of a
lament by An Clàrsair Dall
(Matheson 1970:74-79,
146-148). While
being within the tradition of Gaelic elegy, this lament is less formal in
style than some similar compositions by (4) 'Latha Siubhal Sléibhe' i Comh-chruinneachidh Orannaigh
Gaidhealach. Le Raonuill MacDomhnuill.
[Eigg Collection]. Duneidiunn: Walter Ruddiman, 1776, pp.93-96. ii
Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair
nam Bard Gaeleach. Edited by Alexander and Donald Stewart. Duneidin: T. Stiuart, 1804, pp. 488-494. iii Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach. Edited by John MacKenzie. iv Bàrdachd Ghàidhlig. Edited by William J. Watson. 2nd ed.
Perhaps
the most celebrated of Lachlann's extant poems, this may owe something to the Irish 'aisling' poems.
Here the poet encounter three weeping sisters
who speak of great men of the recent past.
There is a poignant expression of the sonse
of the passing of an old order. (5) ' i Comh-chruinneachidh Orannaigh
Gaidhealach. Le Raonuill MacDomhnuill.
[Eigg Collection]. Duneidiunn: Walter Ruddiman, 1776, pp.239.241. ii
Co-chruinneachadh Nuadh do dh' Oranniobh
Gaidhealach. Inbhirneis:
Eoin Young, 1806, pp. 115-117. iii
Co'-chruinneachadh de dh' Oranan Taogbhta. iv Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach. Edited by John MacKenzie. v The Gaelic Melodist. Edited by John MacKenzie. vi Comhchruinneacha do dh'Orain Thaghta Ghaidhealach.
Edited by Gilleasbuig Meinne. A love song in the
spirit of the Irish dánta grá, it
dwells on the lady's beauty and avows the poet's suffering, which he is quite
sure will not be fatal! _____________________________ |
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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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