| Reference Number | 208 |
| Title | Fionn ann an tigh a’ Bhlair-bhuidhe, gun chomas suidh no eirigh |
| Author | Macpherson, Donald Campbell |
| Editor | Maclaren, James |
| Date Of Edition | 1949 |
| Date Of Language | late 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1850-1899 |
| DateMacro | Late 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | Alex. Maclaren & Sons |
| Place Published | Glasgow |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National, academic, and local libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Glenroy, Brae Lochaber, Inverness-shire |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Highlands and Islands |
| GeoMacro | Argyll mainland |
| GeoX | -5.4113 |
| GeoY | 57.2096 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Prose (Oral) |
| Register Ed | Literature, Prose |
| Genre | Literature |
| Medium | Prose |
| Rating | B (TBC)
A folklore tale about the Fingalians and is as version of A’ Bhruidhean Chaorthuinn (The Rowan Hostel).
A good example of Brae Lochaber Gaelic from the mid-to-late nineteenth century.
Contains a number of Gaelic idioms. |
| Alternative Author Name | Dòmhnall Caimbeul MacMhuirich; Abrach; Glasrach; Diarmad, D. C. M. |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 16.4cm x 10.3cm |
| Short Title | Fionn ann an tigh a’ Bhlair-bhuidhe |
| Reference Details | NLS: HP1.79.2993 |
| Number Of Pages | i, 15 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | Donald Campbell MacPherson was born in 1838 in Bohuntine, Glenroy, Brae Lochaber. He was the sub-librarian of the Advocates’ Library in Edinburgh. In addition to this volume, he published the seventh edition of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair’s poetry, Eiseirigh na seann chanain Albannaich, no, An nuadh oranaiche Gaidhealach (1874). MacPherson also wrote Practical Lessons in Gaelic (1891) and contributed to Leabhar na Féinne, edited by J. F. Campbell (Text 101). He was a contributor to An Gaidheal (Text 102) and also to The Celtic Magazine, writing under the name ‘Abrach’, and assisted with the sixth edition of Iùl a’ Chrìosdaidh (1885). MacPherson died due to cardiac failure in 1880 in Edinburgh. |
| Contents | The story relates how the Fenians were resting after a hard day’s hunt when a hare appeared in their midst. As they pursued the hare a magic mist suddenly descended and while they wandered aimlessly they became lost, but after a while they accidentally found the house of Blàr Buidhe. As they entered the house, Blàr Buidhe, the giant, petrified each of Fionn’s six companions in turn, with the cast of a magic wand. However the magic enchantment did not affect Fionn, so the giant instead tried to kill Fionn by using a golden apple. This attempt failed also and after a bout of grappling the giant finally managed to skewer Fionn through the hips with a stake. Fionn was thus immobilised, and greatly feared for his life, therefore he resorted to a last ditched attempt to save himself, and blew Còrn na Féinne. Diarmaid, Fionn’s companion, on hearing the call responded quickly to it. He found Fionn crippled and near to death. After he had heard of the day’s events, Diarmaid vowed vengeance and set out for the giant’s house. The giant treated Diarmaid with the same contempt as he had shown to Fionn’s companions but Diarmaid proved too worthy an opponent for Blàr Buidhe. The golden apple provided Diarmaid with a weapon to likewise kill all of Blàr Buidhe’s companions. Diarmaid and the giant then grappled in a terrible rage whereupon the giant received his just desert when Diarmaid similarly skewered him through the hips with a stake. The giant pleaded for his life by offering a cup of healing balm to Diarmaid which he then used to wash Fionn’s wounds, which were then completely healed after being washed three times. This is a version of A’ Bhruidhean Chaorthuinn (The Rowan Hostel) where the Fenians are enticed into an enchanted bruidhean and are stuck to their seats until they are rescued by Diarmaid and his companions. The earliest manuscript of this tale is Scottish c. 1600. A tale such as this was part of the prestigious Gaelic tradition of heroic tales some of which may have originally entered oral tradition through manuscript collections. |
| Sources | This tale was written down by Donald C. MacPherson from his own grandmother, Màiri Nic an Tòisich/Mary MacIntosh, a great-grand-daughter of Eòghann Ruadh Mac an Tòisch, a veteran of Culloden. |
| Language | The language is that of a practised storyteller and is conveyed in that register which carries the narration along in flowing manner.
The tale begins thus La dh’an robh Fionn Mac Cumhail agus a’ chuid eile de’n Fheinn anns a’ bheinn-seilg (p. 1) and ends A dheanamh sgeula goirid dheth, lean a’ chuach ris an Fheinn, is dh’ fhàg mise aca i (p. 14). The terminology is consistent with a story-telling register which includes many phrase and idioms: sùrd gréidhidh (p. 1), iomairt nan còrn agus air seanchas mu’n àm bho shean (p. 1), agus gun fhiamh, gun umhail, cuirear car no dha dhi (p. 1), thug iad duibh-leum a mach as a deaghaidh (p. 1), chaidh iad ’nam brath-cheò mór le dorchadas (p. 1), Rachar a-stigh agus gabhar sgeul, ach cha d’ fhuaras forfhais (p. 3), dh’fhairich iad stùirn-stàirn (p. 3), Thug e crathadh beag mór air (p. 3), Tha mi a’ faireachdainn fàilidh fharbhalach romham (p. 3), slat-na-draoidheach (p. 3), ’nan cuilbh-chloiche (p. 3), robladh lomaidh (p. 5), tuilleadh dàlach (p. 5), B’ olc a’ bhiadhtachd e (p. 5), dromannan a chéile gabhar iad (p. 5), rochd gàire as (p. 7), eadar an t-euradh ’s an aimbeairt (p. 7), còrn-nam-fiùbh; mhàgair e a mach gu dubh balbh sàmhach (p. 7), iarraidh-mharbh aca air (p. 7), a thug iad geill is dubh-gheill (p. 7), Fionn ’na dheoiridh truagh (p. 7), gus an d’thugadh e a mach an aichmheil (p. 9), chuir e turraich air tharraich iad (p. 9), stob-na-feòla (p. 14), Am bàs air do mhuin, a’ bhodaich (p. 14), bu fo fhada leis (p. 14).
Personal forms of the preposition ann have initial apostrophe, e.g., ’na thosd (p. 5), ’na chuimhne (p. 5). Prepositions such as do retain an apostrophe, e.g., dh’an (p. 1), de’n (p. 3), do’n (p. 11), mu’n (p. 11). Occasional ellipsis appears, e.g., bha ’n (p. 5), ars’ (p. 3). Passive voice is occasionally used thigear (p. 1), rachar (p. 3), gabhar (p. 3), cuimhnichear (p. 7), cluinnteadh (p. 7). The use of hyphen is inconsistent, e.g., a stigh (p. 1), co dhiubh (p. 7), ma ta (p. 9), a nuas (p. 11), a nis (p. 14). Occasional inconsistent spelling, e.g., thubhairt (p. 3) and thuirt (p. 14), fhéin (p. 5) and féin (p. 14). Use of the grave accent is sometimes inconsistent as (p. 11), b’ fhearr (p. 11). Older spellings appear throughout the text, e.g., a stigh (p. 3), bhitheadh (p. 7), sud (p. 11), ’na h-aobrainn (p. 14), so (p. 7). The use of apostrophe is sometimes inconsistent, e.g., Dh’innis (p. 1) and dh’ fhàg (p. 5). The ‘schwa’ vowel is written as a rather than u, e.g., dorus (p. 9), dochunn (p. 11). Some unusual or rare words appear, e.g., ’na sgug (p. 11). Older forms of orthography are apparent throughout the text, e.g., tra (p. 3), gu’n (p. 7), cha’ n (p. 9), d’a (p. 9), ciod e d’ éiric (p. 14), tog dhìnn (p. 14), an nochd (p. 9), an d’thugadh (p. 9), an déigh tighinn dachaidh (p. 12), cha’ n’eil (p. 14) and fhathasd (p. 5).
The text may reflect the Gaelic of Brae Lochaber from the mid-nineteenth century. It would appear that the original transcription does not survive and thus it is now impossible to compare the printed and manuscript versions. |
| Orthography | The orthography conforms to the mid-twentieth century whereby the grave and acute are retained. No accents are shown on capital letters. |
| Edition | The 1949 edition was thoroughly revised and arranged in convenient form so that the original Gaelic text could be read along with the English translation. The English translation is more literal than idiomatic. The editor acknowledged the assistance of Hector Macdougall in translating and in proof-reading (p. 15).
The text was originally contributed to the Revue Celtica, i, pp. 193-202 by John Francis Campbell of Islay in 1870, and then reprinted in An Gàidheal, iv(37), pp. 10-13. It was also included in a volume of Readings compiled by Professor Mackinnon, Professor of Celtic at the University of Edinburgh, in 1889, and was again published some years after that as a small text book with an English translation by J. G. Mackay of London. The latter text has yet to be identified.
Variations of the tale have been collected and published by the Rev. James MacDougall in Folk and Hero Tales, and also by the Rev. John G. Campbell of Tiree in a volume of The Fians. There are other versions given under different titles, ‘Maghach Colgar’, vol II., West Higland Tales and Leabhar na Féinne, pp. 86-88. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | Anon., ‘In Memoriam’, The Oban Times 732 (1880), 5.
Anon., ‘The Late Mr D. C. Macpherson’, The Celtic Magazine V (LVIII) (1880), 391-92.
Anon, ‘A Forgotten Macpherson Scholar’, Creag Dhubh: The Annual of the Clan MacPherson Association,’ no. 15 (1963), 39-40.
Bruford, Allan. Gaelic Folk-Tales and Medieval Romances (Dublin, 1969: The Folklore of Ireland Society), 251.
Campbell, John F., ‘Fionn’s Enchantment’, Revue Celtique 1 (1870/72), 193-202.
Campbell, John F., Leabhar na Féinne. Vol. I. Gaelic Texts: Heroic Gaelic Ballads collected in Scotland chiefly from 1512 to 1871 (London, 1872: Spottiswoode), 86-88.
Campbell, John F., Popular Tales of the West Highlands, 4 vols. (Paisley, 1890: Alexander Gardner, 2nd ed.), 181-202.
Campbell, (Rev.) John G., The Fians; or, Stories, Poems, & Traditions of Fionn and his Warrior Band, Waifs and Strays of Celtic Tradition, Argyllshire Series, vol. IV (London, 1891: David Nutt), 233-38.
MacDougall, (Rev.) James, Folk and Hero Tales, Waifs and Strays of Celtic Tradition, Argyllshire Series, vol. III (London, 1891: David Nutt), 56-72, 270-75.
Mackinnon, Donald (ed.), Reading Book for the Use of Students of the Gaelic Class in the University of Edinburgh. Part I (Edinburgh, 1906: James Thin), 66-72.
MacMillan, Somerled, ‘A Letter from D. C. MacPherson to Juliet MacDonald, 1879’, Scottish Gaelic Studies XI (II) (1968), 237-47. |
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