CLAR-INNSE / CONTENTS List of Poems vi Introduction xiii Ro-radh xlix A Note on Translation 1 Acknowledgements li Abbreviations Hi THE LEARNED TRADITION Religion 3 Panegyric 67 Elegy 167 Incitement 219 Satire and Humour 247 Love 283 Ballads 303 Occasional Verse . 341 THE SONG TRADITION Panegyric 365 Elegy 407 Occasional Verse 443 Love 455 Satire 477 Ballad 485 Lullaby 493 Notes 499 Glossary of Place Names 528 Glossary of Personal Names 535 Bibliography 539 LIST OF POEMS THE LEARNED TRADITION RELIGION 1. Tiugraind Beccain do Cholum Cille (The Lastlferses of Beccdn to Colum Cille) — Beccan mac Luigdech (c. 650) 4 2. Ma Ro-m-Thoiccthi Ecc i ndhl (If in Iona I Should Demise), — Adomnan (?) (c. 700) 8 3. Mor do Ingantu Do-Gni (Great the Wonders He Performs) — Adomnan (?) (c. 700) 10 4. Fil Suil nGlais (A Blue Eye Turns) — anonymous ('Colum Cille') (c. 1050) 12 5. Meallach Liom Bheith i n-Ucht Oilein (Delightful to Be on the Breast of an Island) — anonymous ('Colum Cille') (c. 1100-1150) 14 6. Eistidh Riomsa, a Mhuire Mhor (O Great Mary, Listen to Me) — Muireadhach Albanach 6 Dalaigh (c. 1220-50) 18 7. Na Leig mo Mhealladh, a Mhuire (O Mary, Protect Me from Deception) — Maol Domhnaigh mac Mhaghnuis Mhuiligh (c. 1500) . 30 8. Seacht Saighde Ata ar mo Thi (There are Seven Arrows in Pursuit of Me) — Donnchadh 6g (c. 1500) 40 9. Adhmad Beag (A Little Poem) — Seon Carsuel (1567) 44 10. Dursan Mh'Eachtra go hAlbuin (A Hardship My Journey to Scotland) — Fearghal 6g Mac an Bhaird (c. 1582) 46 11. Creud fan d'Tharlamar an Tursa? (Why Have We Met With Sadness?) — Eoin Stiubhart (c. 1580) 54 12. Is Mairg Do-Ni Uaille as Oige (Woe to the One who Takes Pride in Youth) — Athairne MacEoghain (c. 1600) 58 CONTENTS vii 13. Mairg dar Companach an Cholann (Woe to the One Whose Companion is the Body) — Athairne MacEoghain (c. 1600) 62 PANEGYRIC 14. Mairg Threigeas Inn, a Amhlaoibh (Woe to Him Who Neglects Me, A mhlaoibh) — Muireadhach Albanach 6 Dalaigh (c. 1215) 68 15. Domhnall mac Raghnaill, Rosg Mall (Domhnall mac Raghnaill of the Stately Gaze) — anonymous (c. 1220-40) 74 16. Ceannaigh Duain t'Athar, a Aonghas (Pay ForYour Father's Poem, Aonghas) — anonymous (c. 1250) 80 17. Fuaras Aisgidh gan Iarraidh (I've Received A Present I Didn't Request) —Tadhg 6g 6 hUiginn (c. 1420-40) 90 18 Fior mo Mholadh ar Mhac Domhnaill (True My Praising of MacDhomhnaill) — anonymous (c. 1450) 100 19. Ceannas Gaoidheal do Chlainn Cholla (The Supremacy of the Gaels for Clann Cholla) — 6 hEanna (c. 1450) 102 20. Coir Feitheamh ar Uaislibh Alban (It is Right to Serve the Nobles of Scotland) — anonymous (c. 1450) 108 21. Lamh Aoinfhir Fhoirfeas i nEirinn (One Man's Arm Can Halt in Ireland) — Giolla Criost Bruilingeach (c. 1450) 114 22. Gabh Rem Chomraigh, a Mheic Ghriogoir (Grant Me Your Patronage, MacGriogair) — Fionnlagh an Bard Ruadh (c. 1500) 122 23. Fada Coir Fhodla ar Albain (Long has Fodla Had a Claim on Scotland) —Tadhg Dall 6 hUiginn (c. 1580) 126 24. Maith an Chairt Ceannas na nGaoidheal (The Headship of the Gaels is Good Charter) — anonymous (c. 1580?) 140 25. An Sith do Rogha, a Righ Fionnghall? (Is Peace Your Choice, O King of Hebrideans?) — anonymous (c. 1590) 154 Vlii DUANAIRE NA SRACAIRE 26. Claim Ghiolla Eoin na mBratach Badhbha (Clann Ghill'Eathain of the Raven-blazoned Banners) — Mac Mhuirich (c. 1600?) 162 ELEGY > 27. M' Anam do Sgar Riomsa A-Raoir (My Soul Parted From Me Last Night) — Muireadhach Albanach 6 Dalaigh (c. 1200-30) 168 28. A Phaidrin Do Dhuisg mo Dhear (O Rosary That Woke My Tears) — Aithbhreac inghean Corcadail (c. 1470) 174 29. Ni h-Eibhneas gan Chlainn Domhnaill (There is no Joy without Clann Domhnaill) \ — Giolla Coluim Mac an OUaimh (c. 1493) 180 30. Marbhna Fhearchoir I Mhaoil Chiarain (A Great Loss Has Been Brought on Me) — 6 Maoil Chiarain (before 1500) 184 31. Alba Gan Dion a nDiaidh Ailin (Scotland is Defenceless After Ailean) — 'Mac Muireadhaigh' (c. 1513) 198 32. Do Loiscceadh Meisi sa Mhuaidh (Scalded Have I Been in the Moy) — O Gnimh (1586) 210 INCITEMENT 33. Dal Chabhlaigh ar Chaisteal Suibhne (A Meeting of a Fleet Against the Castle of Suibhne) — Artur Dall MacGurcaigh (c. 1310) 220 34. Brostughadh-Catha Chlann Domhnaill, La Chatha Gharbhaich (The Harlaw Brosnachadh) — Lachlann Mor MacMhuirich (1411?) 228 35. Beannuigh doTheaghlach, aThrionoid (O Trinity, BlessYour People) — Giolla CriostTailliur (c. 1450) 234 36. Ar Sliocht Gaodhal 6 Ghort Greag (The Race of Gaels From the Land of Greece) — anonymous (c. 1501-2?) 238 CONTENTS ix SATIRE AND HUMOUR 37. A Chinn Diarmaid Ui Chairbre (O Head of Diarmaid O Cairbre) — Eoin MacMhuirich, Dean of Knoydart (c. 1490) 248 38. Trieast Aon Diabhal na nGaoidheal (The Chief Devil of the Gael is Dead) — Fionnlagh an Bard Ruadh (c. 1510) 250 39. Alasdair, 'ndoThreigTu an Ghruaim? (Alasdair, HaveYou Given Up the Gloom?) — Donnchadh Mac an Phearsuin (c. 1500) 256 40. Cread da nDearnadh Domhnall Donn? (Of What Was Domhnall Donn Made?) — Sir Donnchadh Caimbeul Ghlinn Urchaidh (c. 1500) . 258 41. Bod Brioghmhar Ata ag Donncha (A Potent Prick Has Donnchadh) — Sir Donnchadh Caimbeul Ghlinn Urchaidh (c. 1500) . 262 42. Do Chuaidh Mise, Robart Fein (Yesterday I;Robert, Set Off) — anonymous (c. 1500) 264 43. Mairg Duine Do Chaill a Ghuth (Woe to Him Who Has Lost His Voice) — Donnchadh Mor 6 Leamhnacht (c. 1500) . 266 44. Tanaig Long ar Loch Raithneach (A Ship Has Come on Loch Rannoch) — An Bard Mac an t-Saoir (c. 1500) 268 45. Ca h-Ainm A-ta ar Fearghal 6g? (What Reputation Has Fearghal Og?) — anonymous (c. 1581) 274 46. Eatroman Muice o Ho (A History of the Pipes from the Beginning) — Niall Mor MacMhuirich (c. 1600) 278 LOVE 47. I mBrat an Bhrollaigh Ghil-se (In the Cloak on This Bright Breast) — Fearchar 6 Maoil Chiarain (before 1500) .284 48. Ata Fleasgach ar mo Thi (There's a Young Man in Pursuit of Me) — Iseabal Ni Mheic Cailein (c. 1500) 286 49. Is Mairg da nGalar an Gradh (Woe to the One Whose Sickness is Love) — Iseabal Ni Mheic Cailein (c. 1500) 288 X DUANAIRE NA SRACAIRE 50. 'S Luaineach mo Chadal A-Nochd (Restless my Sleep Tonight) — Eachann Mor MacGill'Eathain (?) (c. 1520) 290 51. Tha Bean an Crich Albainn Fhuar (There is a Lady in the Cold Land of Scotland) — Alasdair (mac Ruaidhri) MacMhathain (?) (c. 1520) . 292 52. TreigT'Uaisle 's Na Bi Rinn (Stop Boasting of Your Noble Birth) — Eoin Carsuel (?) (c. 1560?) 296 53. Soraidh Slan don Oidhche A-Reir (Farewell Ever to Last Night) — Niall Mor MacMhuirich (c. 1600) 298 f BALLADS 54. Arann na n-Aiged n-Imda (Arran's Hunting) — anonymous ('Oisin') (c. 1200) 304 55. Gleann Measach Iasgach Linneach (Fruitful Glen with Pools and Fishes) — anonymous ('Deirdre') (c. 1200) 306 56. Ionmhain Tir an Tir-Ud Thoir (A Dear Land) — anonymous ('Deirdre') (c. 1200) 310 57. Am Bron Binn (The Sweet Sorrow) — anonymous (c. 1500) 312 58. Ardaigneach Goll (High-Spirited Goll) — 'Fearghus File' (c. 1500) 320 59. Gleann Siodh an Gleann So RemThaoibh (This Glen Beside Me is Glen Shee) — Ailein mac Ruaidhri (c. 1500) 330 OCCASIONAL VERSE 60. Mor an Feidhm Freagairt na bhFaighdheach (Great the Load to Satisfy the Thiggers) — Giolla Coluim (c. 1450) 342 61. Duanaire na Sracaire (The Songbook of the Pillagers) — Fionnlagh Mac an Aba (c. 1500) . 352 62. 'Fada Dhomh an Laighe-se' (Long Have I Been Bed-ridden) — An Banin Eoghan MacCombaigh (c. 1500) 356 63. Fuath Liom (I Hate) — anonymous (c. 1500) 358 CONTENTS xi 64. Is Fearr Sgios Cos Bharr Gnimh Ghlain (Better Tiredness of Feet) — anonymous (c. 1500) 362 The Song Tradition PANEGYRIC 65. MhicPharlain an Arair (To MacPharlain of Arrochar) — Am Bard Laomainneach (c. 1520) 366 66. An Duanag Ullamh (The Finished Verses) — anonymous (c. 1528/55) 372 67. Caismeachd Ailein nan Sop (A War-Song for Ailean nan Sop) — Eachann MacGill'Eathain (1537). 386 68. Oran na Comhachaig (The Song of the Owl) — Domhnall mac Fhionnlaigh nan Dan (c. 1600) 392 ELEGY 69. Bealach a' Gharraidh/Cumha Mhic anToisich (Alas, My Calf, They LaidYou Low [Mac an Toisich's Lament]) — anonymous (c. 1520) 408 70. Mhic Iarla nam Bratach Bana (Son of the Earl of the White Banners) — anonymous (c. 1550-1600) 410 71. Cumha Ghriogair MhicGhriogair Ghlinn Sreith (Lament for MacGriogair of Glenstrae) — Mor Chaimbeul (1570) 414 72. Nach FhreagairThu, Cairistiona (Won'tYou Answer, Cairistiona?) — anonymous (c. 1580) 420 73. Chaidh Mis' a dh'Eubhal Imprig (I Went to Eaval on a Flitting) — anonymous (c. 1580) 424 74. Am Fonn Ileach (The Soil of May) — anonymous (c. 1598) 426 75. Seathan mac Righ Eireann (Seathan Son of the King of Ireland) — anonymous (c. 1600) 430 xii DUANAIRE NA SRACAIRE 76. Clann Ghriogair air Fogradh (Clann Griogair in Exile) — anonymous (c. 1600) 436 OCCASIONAL VERSE 77. Piobaireachd Dhomhnaill Duibh (The Piping of Domhnall Dubh) — anonymous (1431?) 444 78. 'S Maith an Cocaire an t-Ocras (Hunger is a Good Cook) — Alasdair Stiubhart, Earl of Mar (1431?) 448 LOVE 79. An Iorram Dharaich (The Oak Ship's Oar-Song) — anonymous (c. 1550) 456 80. Craobh an Iubhair (TheYew Tree) — anonymous (c. 1575-1600) 460 81. La Mille Garraidh (The Battle of Mille Gdrraidh) — anonymous (c. 1580) . 466 82. 'STrom an Direadh (Hard the Climbing) — anonymous (c. 1550-1600) 470 SATIRE 83. A' Ghriadach Dhonn — anonymous (c. 1550?) 478 BALLAD 84. A Bhean Ud Thall (The Jealous Woman) — anonymous (c. 1550-1600) 486 LULLABY 85. B' Fhearr Learn Gun Sgriobhte Dhuit Fearann (IWishYou Were Assigned a Charter) — anonymous (c.