O^ ^^l /^^ : MACDONALD BARDS MEDIEVAL TIMES. KEITH NORMAN MACDONALD, M.D. {REPRINTED FROM THE "OBAN TIMES."] EDINBURGH NORMAN MACLEOD, 25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE. 1900. PRBPACB. \y^HILE my Papers on the " MacDonald Bards" were appearing in the "Oban Times," numerous correspondents expressed a wish to the author that they would be some day presented to the pubUc in book form. Feeling certain that many outside the great Clan Donald may take an interest in these biographical sketches, they are now collected and placed in a permanent form, suitable for reference ; and, brief as they are, they may be found of some service, containing as they do information not easily procurable elsewhere, especially to those who take a warm interest in the language and literature of the Highlands of Scotland. K. N. MACDONALD. 21 Clarendon Crescknt, EDINBURGH, October 2Uh, 1900. INDEX. Page. Alexander MacDonald, Bohuntin, ^ ... .. ... 13 Alexander MacAonghuis (son of Angus), ... ... ... 17 Alexander MacMhaighstir Alasdair, ... ... ... ... 25 Alexander MacDonald, Nova Scotia, ... .. .. ... 69 Alexander MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, ... ... .. 99 Alasdair Buidhe MacDonald, ... .. ... ... ... 102 Alice MacDonald (MacDonell), ... ... .. ... ... 82 Alister MacDonald, Inverness, ... ... .. ... ... 73 Alexander MacDonald, An Dall Mòr, ... ... ... .. 43 Allan MacDonald, Lochaber, ... ... ... ... .. 55 Allan MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, ... .... ... ... 101 Am Bard Mucanach (Tlie Muck Bard), ... ... .. ... 20 Am Bard CONANACH (The Strathconan Bard), .. ... ... 48 An Aigeannach, ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 32 An Ciaran Mapach (Archibald MacDonald), ... ... ... 14 An Domhnallach Furanach (Colonel Alex. MacDonald),.. ... 104 Angus MacDonald (Glenurquhart Bard), ... ... ... ... 68 Angus MacDonald, xxii., of Keppoch, ... ... ... ... 80 Captain Donald Roy MacDonald, ... ... ... ... 38 Concluding Remarks, .. ... ... ... ... ... 119 David MacDonald, ... ... .. ... ... ... 57 Donald Donn (Bohuntin .and Aberarder), .. .. ... ... 12, 95 Donald MacDonald, Tiree, ... .. ... ... ... 45 Donald MacDonald (The Barvas Bard), ... ... ... ... 78 Donald MacFhionnlaidh (The Loch Treig Hunter), ... ... 5 Donald Gruamach, ... ... ... ... ... .. 96 Donald MacDonald, son of Ranald, ... ... ... 22 Donald Ban a' Bhocain (of the Spectre), ... .. ... 24 Donald Ban a' Bhocain's Residence, ... ... ... ... 98 Farquhar MacDonnell, ... ... ... ... ... 66 Flora MacDonald, ... ... ... ... ... ... 114 George MacDonald, ... ... ... ... ... 63 GiLLEASBUlG NA Ceapaich (Archibald MacDonald), ... ... 40 GiLLEASBUlG NA ClOTAlG (Archibald MacDonakl, Keppoch),... ... 15 James MacDonald, ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 Iain Lom (The Lochaber Poet), ... .. ... ... ... 8 Iain Lom's Son, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 INDEX—(Continued.) Page. Iain Dubh (Black John MacDonald), 19 John MacDonald (son of Dugald, Uist Bard), 31 John MacDonald, Oban, ... 79 John MacDonald, of Uig, Skye, ... 111 John MacDonald, Lochbroom, 49 John MacDonald (Mull), ... Josephine MacDonald (MacDonnell), MacDonald Musicians, ... Martial Achievements of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, Mairi Nighean Iain Bhain (The Skye Poetes.s), Mrs Fraser MacDonell, Culbokie (Ardnabie), Margaret Shaw MacDonald (Crowbeg, Lewis), 71 Margaret MacDonald, Mull, 33 Michael Mor MacDonald (Uist), 43 Neil MacEachainn MacDonald,... 105 Nighean MhicAonghuis Oig, 19 Norman MacDonald (Waternish, Skye), ... 109 MacDonald Pibrochs, Ossian's Poems (evidence of authenticity), .. Rachael MacDonald (North Uist), Ranald MacDonald (of tlie Shield, Glencoe), Ranald MacDonald (Eigg), Ranald MacDonald (Minginish, Skye), ... 47 Ranald MacDonald (Ardness), 51 Rev. Allan MacDonald (Eriskay), 70 Rev. Angus MacDonald (Barra), ... Rev. Charles MacDonald (Moidart), Rev. Tain Mor MacDonald, Rev. John MacDonald, Fenintosh, Rev. Hugh MacDonald (Portree, Skye), ... 47 Residence of Alastair Carrach, &c., 97 Robert MacDonald, Dingwall, 107 SiLis MacDonald (M'Donell of Keppoch), ... IS, 92 Sir Alexander, Lord MacDonald (Skye), 36 Thomas MacDonald (Abriachan Bard), — ; CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS. Donald Donn p. 12, see also p. 95. Silis Nighean Mhic Kaonaill p. 18, corrected p. 92. Nighean Mhic Aonghais Oig p. 19, also corrected p. 95. Iain Dubh ^lac 'Ic Ailein p. 19, continued p. 99. P. 30, 16th line from top, for "flow," read "flaw." P. 62, 11th line from top, for "Breaknish," read " Breakish." " P. 64, add to Foot Note, died in 1896 ; delete some 7 or 8 years ago." P. 66, last line, for "flay," read "flev." P. 67, the witty dialogue was only related by Farquhar MacDonald ; he died some 10 years ago. P. 68, Angus MacDonald died September 9th, 1874. P. 86, 6th line, for "Loch Treig," read "Glen Roy." P. 89, 5th line from bottom, for "Logan," read " Laggan." P. 89, 27th line from bottom, for " 1493," read " 1495." P. 107, under the head of Robert MacDonald, add, he also composed an excellent poem of 8 stanzas, entitled " Opposite Characters," on " The greedy prodigal and miser, And honest men wlio yet are wiser." He died at Inverness in May, 1876. P. 109, line 13 from bottom, left column, for "relayed," read "relaxed." P. Ill, 20th line from the top, for " 1S75," read "1878." P. 113, Foot Note for "Lagan," read "Logan." P. 118, The stanzas quoted from the Ledaig bard as having been comiiosed to Flora Mac- Donald were not composed to her, but for the late Miss Campbell, Lochneli, who afterwards became the wife of Mr William Hosack, now of the Crofters Commission. The following fragment of a poem from "The Royalist" of April 16th, 1890, may take its place- Clan of the Isles, thy men could fail at need, But one brave woman that was born of thee,* Such full atonement for thy crime could make Drummossie is forgotten for her deed, And all the race of Somerled shall be Redeemed and glorified for Flora's sake. * Flora MacDonald was born at Milton, South Uist, not in Skye. MACDONALD BARDS FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES. "; MacDonald Bards from Mediaeval Times. INTRODUCTION. annals for preserving the memory of past trans- actions and of stimulating the youth to an ^pHE Ijjirdic order was a very ancient institu- imitation of the virtuous deeds of their an- i tioii among tlie Celts. They were originally cestors. Tlieir achicNonicnts were detailed so members of the priesthood, and no class of graphically, and national calamities portrayed in society among tlie ancients has been more cele- such aUrctiii- laii-ii,i,i;c, tliat their hearers were brated. "Whether we consider the influence animated In deeds ot the most daring heroism. which they possessed, their learning, or poetic So important and powerful an influence did tiiey genius, they ai'e one of the most interesting exert that Diodorus informs us the bards had order of anti(iuity, and worthy of our entire power to [irevent an engagement even when the admiration." spears were levelled for immediate action. The The fiivourite songs of the bards are said to jjractice of animating warriors by chanting iieroic have been those celebrating the renown of their poems is of most ancient origin. Tyrtaeus, tiie ancestors. The praises of great men were Lacedemonian, who flourished 680 years Ijefore the accompanied with a sort of religious feeling, Christian era, composed Ave books of war verses, which was not only useful in exhorting the fragments of which are supposed to be still in living to deeds of heroism, but was supposed existence. It M-as not only in actual war that to be particularly pleasing to the spirits of the bards rehearsed tlieir soul-stirring verses tliose who liad died in battle, and consequently each chief was constantly attended Ijy a number became a sort of religious duty as well as an of these poets, who LMitcrtaincd him at meals, and incentive to inspire youth with a generous spirit roused his ardoui- ;iiid liis followers" ronrage with of emulation ; and these, having often been their powerful ri>citati<iiis, and the respect in sung and played upon the harp, must have had which they were held shows how indispensable a i)owerful effect upon the listeners. Egiidiart their services were reckoned. (('lcl)rates Charlemagne for committing to writing In a publication by Cambray, member of the and to memory tlie songs on the wars and heroic Celtic Academy at Paris, it is said that Druidic virtues of liis ancestors ; and it. is universally learning comprised 60,000 verses, which those admitted that the Celtic bards influenced their of the first class were obliged to commit to liearers with a spirit of freedom and independence memory ; and Campion says that they spent ten whicii has been handed down to us, and which or twenty years at tlieir education, and talked exists among the Celtic populations even to the Latin like a vulgar tongue. When a student present day. was admitted to the pi'ofession of bard ism he Their compositions commemorating the worth was honoured with the degree of " Ollamh," and e.xploits of heroes were a sort of national and received an honorary cap called a " barred. In 192 the lawful price of the clothing of an and "bards of other years." "Thou shalt ph- " "oUamh" and of an"anra" or second poet in dure," said the bard of ancient days, after the Ireland, was fixed at five milch cows. In very moss of time shall grow in Temora, after the blast ancient times the bards sang the praises of the of years shall roar in Selma." The Tain-bo or good and valiant, and the Seanachies Avere the cattle spoil of Cualgne, commemorating an event registrars of events and custodians of family that occurred about 1905 years ago, is believed to history. be the oldest