Reference Number225
TitleOran do Chluainidh
AuthorNicMhuirich, Mairidh
EditorN/A
Date Of Edition1873
Date Of Languagelate 18th c.
Date Of Language Ed18th c.
DateMacroLate 18th c.
Date Of Language Notes
PublisherNP
Place PublishedScotland
VolumeN/A
LocationNational and academic libraries
Geographical OriginsBadenoch
Geographical Origins EdHighlands and Islands
GeoMacroE Inverness-shire
GeoX-4.4269
GeoY57.1168
Geographical Origins Notes
RegisterLiterature, Verse
Register EdLiterature, Verse
GenreLiterature
MediumVerse
RatingB (TBC)
The only praise poem extant composed by the Badenoch poetess Mary Clark, this is a typical example of the genre.
An example of the Gaelic dialect of Badenoch.
Alternative Author NameMary Clark
Manuscript Or EditionEd.
Size And Condition20.1cm x 12.1cm
Short TitleOran do Chluainidh
Reference DetailsNLS: H.M.44
Number Of Pages4
Gaelic Text ByN/A
IllustratorN/A
Social ContextThe Cluny MacPherson praised in the text probably refers to Duncan Macpherson (1748-1817), 13th chief of the MacPhersons, and son of the famous Ewen Cluny MacPherson. Duncan enlisted in the British army when he was 23. He served in the 63rd Regiment of Foot during the American War of Independence. In 1776 he was raised to the rank of major in the 71st Fraser Highlanders, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel for his conspicuous bravery in several conflicts. On his return home, he was captured by an American privateer and spent 16 months as a prisoner-of-war in New England before being released.
 
Mary Clark née MacPherson (Màiri NicMhuirich, c. 1740-c. 1815), known as Bean T(h)orra Dhamh, and was a daughter of Ewen MacPherson, a schoolmaster in the Parish of Laggan. Although only 7 poems of her survive, it seems likely she would have composed far more, perhaps 30 hymns may be attributed to her. The poem in praise of Cluny Macpherson is the only one now extant that she composed. Widowed young, she went around 1780 to 1790 to stay with her a married daughter in Perth. She was a pious individual and her poetic output offers a strong representation of the Evangelical revival which swept through the Gaelic Presbyterianism, especially after the publication of the New Testament in Gaelic in 1767. Her compositions are simple and direct and occasionally contain a fresh outlook on the Gaelic past. For more biographical information about the author, see Text 140.
ContentsThe pamphlet in which the text appears is 4 pages in length and the praise poem consists of a chorus (repeated after every verse) which contains 32 verses. After the title of the text, the chorus appears both at the beginning and at the end of the song.
Sources
LanguageThe text is typical of praise poetry composed during, before and after this period. The song praises Cluny MacPherson and emphasises his loyalty to Highland culture and Gaelic, his military prowess and hunting skills, his clothing and personality, his fame and honour at home and abroad as well as his generosity and kindness. A typical example from the text is: ‘Fhuair thu onair anns na blàraibh— / Fo do bhrataich gheibhte ’n cairdeas, / Chuireadh tu ruaig air an namhaid / Le do staillion air a ruinn. / Olaidh sinn deoch-slainte Chluny, &c.’ (p. 1). Another interesting verse appears where Cluny is praised for his keenness of Gaelic and where the antiquity of the language is exaggerated and which may indicate some influence of Alexander MacDonald: ‘Chuir sibh onair air a’ Ghaidhlig, / ’Si a’s sine measg nan canan, / Oir ’s ann leatha thubhairt Adhamh, / “Ciamar tha thu?” ris a’ mhnaoi. / Olaidh sinn deoch-slainte Chluny, &c. (p. 2).
 
The text is fairly easy to comprehend and also contains a few references to older motifs such as, ‘’S tu Oisean an déigh na Féinne,’ (p. 2).
 
The copula is realised as follows, ’se (p. 4).
 
Although the apostrophe is not retained in the possessive determiner it is used somewhat erratically, e.g., na m’ shuidhe (p. 1), na ’m ònar (p. 1), na ’nadur (p. 1).
 
The conjunction agus or is is contracted as A’s (p. 2) and as (p. 3) and S’ (p. 2) and S (p. 3).
 
The dative plural appears once as blàraibh (p. 1).
 
The second plural imperative also appears once as Cumaibh (p. 3).
 
There also appear examples of the irregular verb such as gheibhte (p. 1) and Cha’n fhaicear (p. 2).
 
A few English words in italics appear in the text, e.g. Gibraltar (p. 3), Ashantees (p. 3), sling (p. 3).
 
Others spellings of note are among the following: Cha ’n ’eil (p. 1), c’àite (p. 1), chuile (p. 1), sior’achd (p. 1), a bhi (p. 1), Ag cur (p. 2), riabh (p. 2).
 
Other than the fairly inconsistent use of accent or graves, there appear very few typographical errors but which do not detract from understanding the text: Bo (p. 1), taobh (p. 4), Sasuinich (p. 4).

The language reflects the Gaelic dialect of Badenoch.
OrthographyThe spelling conforms generally to the orthography of late nineteenth century. Acute and grave accents are both retained. Accents do not appear on capital letters.
EditionFirst edition.
Other Sources
Further ReadingBlack, Ronald, An Lasair (Edinburgh, 2001: Birlinn).
Kennedy, John (transl.), Three Gaelic Poems (Edinburgh, [1879]: [n. pub.]).
MacMillan, Dorothy and Byrne, Michel (eds.), Modern Scottish Women Poets (Edinburgh, 2003: Canongate).
MacRae, Alexander (ed.), Mary MacPherson, Bean Torra Dhamh, the Religious Poetess of Badenoch, her Poems and Life (Arbroath, c. 1935: The Herald Press).
Sinton, Rev. Thomas (ed.), Laoidhean Bean Torra Dhamh: Gaelic Hymns of Mrs. Clark: Including Three Never Before Published (Inverness, 1902: Northern Chronicle Office).
Sinton, Rev. Thomas (ed.), The Poetry of Badenoch (Inverness, 1906: The Northern Counties Publishing Company), 327-50 (Gaelic), 541-57 (English).
Credits
Link LabelDigital version created by National Library of Scotland
Linkhttp://digital.nls.uk/early-gaelic-book-collections/pageturner.cfm?id=76842309
Download File225.pdf
NumWords991