| Reference Number | 223 |
| Title | Perthshire election: Gaelic song |
| Author | Anon. |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | 1832 |
| Date Of Language | early 19c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 19th c. |
| DateMacro | Early 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | NP |
| Place Published | Perthshire |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Perthshire |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Perthshire |
| GeoMacro | Perthshire |
| GeoX | -3.7953 |
| GeoY | 56.3980 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Verse (Political) |
| Register Ed | Literature, Verse |
| Genre | Literature |
| Medium | Verse |
| Rating | B (TBC) A political song about the Reform Act and Perth Election of 1832. One of the earliest examples of Gaelic electioneering propaganda. |
| Alternative Author Name | N/A |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 28cm x 11.2cm |
| Short Title | Perthshire Election |
| Reference Details | NLS: EL.1.81.21(17) |
| Number Of Pages | 1 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | The song was composed in support the Reform Act of 1832 and also to back John Campbell, Lord Glenorchy, later Earl of Ormerlie (1796-1862) during his election campaign for the Perthshire Election of 1832 against the sitting MP the Tory Sir George Murray (1772-1846). The song is framed as that of a contest between a ‘Gàidheal’ (Highlander) and a ‘Gall’ (Lowlander) and uses conventional imagery of praise poetry. Ormerlie went on to win the election with a vote share surpassing his rival by more than two-thirds. |
| Contents | This Gaelic song concerns the Reform Act and Perthshire Election of 1832 consists of five verses along with a refrain and the associated tune is called ‘Blythe, Blythe, and merry was she.’ It is based upon a drinking song with a refrain which goes as follows: ‘Nuas am botul mor, ’s an copan, / Slaint an Righ theid grad mo ’n cuairt—Buaidh le Grey, le Brough’m ’s le Althorp, / Mhinistearan ard a chruin.’ The Gaelic song is followed by a translation into English. It may also be noted that the song was printed in The Perthshire Advertiser and Strathmore Journal (9 August 1832). |
| Sources | |
| Language | The song begins, ‘On thuaradh dhuin a mach ’n ‘Reform…’ The spelling may described as somewhat idiosyncratic and there appear quite a few typographical errors such as thuaradh, carid, Pheart, roighnaichadh, treigar. These, however, do not detract from comprehending the text. Other spellings of note include Biodh mid, guallaibh, Gael, mo ’n cuairt, an tsluaigh and tuagh instead of tuath. What is noticeable is a direct appeal to Gaelic identity acting as a persuasive device to sway voters to vote for their favoured candidate whilst the opposing candidate is identified as a non-Gael, i.e. Gall or Lowlander: ‘Chaidh Gael gasda, ’s Gall mo ’n cuairt.’ / ‘An excellent Highlander and a Lowlander went about.’ The language reflects the Gaelic dialect of Perthshire, on which see Ó Murchú 1989. |
| Orthography | The spelling conforms generally to the orthography of the early-nineteenth century. There are no lengthmarks. |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | Kidd, Sheila, ‘Electioneering in Gaelic in Perthshire’: http://thepeoplesvoice.glasgow.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Kidd.pdf. Ó Murchú, Máirtín, East Perthshire Gaelic (Dublin, 1989: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies). |
| Credits | |
| Link Label | Digital version created by National Library of Scotland |
| Link | http://digital.nls.uk/rare-items-in-gaelic/pageturner.cfm?id=102695470 |
| Download File | 223.pdf |
| NumWords | 450 |
