Audrey
I was surprised at how this project made me consider all the topics I’ve studied about the history of the Gaels and the Gaelic language and how heavy my heart felt from time to time.
I guess there is a certain sense of the injustice of it all - how the determined efforts over the centuries to eradicate the culture and the language have affected my personal heritage. ’S mòr am beud. It’s a loss that I feel, and I have worked hard to try to regain and pass on what I can. It is my heritage.
It has been really interesting to see how certain things have been carried on and how words like seanair link us back to the past and are still relevant today.
My seanair, John Malcolm MacLeod of Raasay.
[Song by Iain Mac an t-Saoir, sung by Audrey Paterson with images by Davy Paterson.]
’S Cianail Mi Bhon Dh’fhalbh An Comunn
- Iain Mac an t-Saoir
’S Cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone
Luchd mo ghaoil bha ‘n taobh Loch Odha
The lovely people who lived beside Loch Awe
’S cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone
1. Gura mise tha fo èislein
How melancholy I am
Is mi tamh an Cill’ a Chreanain
Living here at Kilchrenan
Faicinn mòran den luchd Beurla
Seeing so many English speakers
Far an robh na Gàidheil gan togail
Where the Gaels were bred
’S cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone
2. Nuair a bha mi an tùs m’ òige
When I was a young man
B’ iomadh gaisgeach fearail, teòma
Many manly, dextrous heroes
Bha ‘s a Bharrabhreac a chòmhnaidh
Were living in Barbreck
Daoine còire, seòcail, foinnidh
Gentle, gentlemanly, handsome men
’S cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone
3. Chuir am “Factor” spèis ‘s na caoirich
The Factor put his trust in sheep
’S chaidh na teaglaichean a sgaoileadh
And the families were dispersed
Fhuair iad bàirlinn a bha daor leo
They got a summons of removal that cost them dear
Chum an saodach bho Loch Odha
And drove them like cattle from Loch Awe
’S cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone
4. Ach tha sòlas dhuinn mar tha iad
But it is joy to us how they now are
Thug iad buaidh a-mach ‘s gach ceàrna
They took success out with them from wherever they went
Chum iad urram ‘s cliù nan Gàidheal
And held on to the respect and renown of the Gaels
Mar a b’ àbhaist taobh Loch Odha
As they used to on Loch Awe-side
’S cianail mi bhon dh’fhalbh an comunn
How sad I am since our community has gone