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Òran na Cloiche is a Scottish Gaelic folk song, written by poet Donald Macintyre. It documents the return of the Stone of Destiny to Scotland, which was retrieved from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1950 by students. It was most notably covered by and Gaelic/folk singer Kathleen MacInnes on the Òg-Mhadainn Shamhraidh album and Scottish folk band Mànran from their eponymous debut album.
Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir (Duncan Ban MacIntyre; 20 March 1724 – 14 May 1812) is one of the most renowned of Scottish Gaelic poets and formed an integral part of one of the golden ages of Gaelic poetry in Scotland during the 18th century. He is best known for his poem about Beinn Dorain; “Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain” (English: “Praise of Ben Doran”).
Born in Druim Liaghart in Glen Orchy, he went on to work in various occupations, including as a soldier in the Argyll Regiment of Militia, as a forester, and as a constable of Edinburgh City Guard. While a soldier in the Argyll regiment he fought for the Hanoverian forces during the Jacobite Rising of 1745–6. He took part in the Battle of Falkirk as a substitute for a local gentleman, Archibald Fletcher of Crannach, and managed to lose his sword during the fighting — an event which would later lead to the composition of a humorous poem about the battle.
When he returned from the battle, MacIntyre was refused his pay by the gentleman who had commissioned him to fight in his stead because of the lost sword and it was in reply that Duncan composed the aforementioned poem, satirising the gentleman and the sword he had lost.
Despite his service with the Loyalist forces he displayed Jacobite sympathies in some of his works, notably his “Òran don Bhriogais” (English: Ode to Trousers ) inspired by the Disarming Act (1746), which saw the outlawing of traditional Highland dress, music, and weaponry following the Battle of Culloden. His conduct during, and attitude following, the Battle of Falkirk perhaps hint further at a lack of enthusiasm for the Hanoverian cause.
Most of his poetry is descriptive and the influence of the great Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair is notable in much of it. Despite the Jacobite upheavals that wracked Scotland during his lifetime it was his experience as a gamekeeper in Argyll and Perthshire in the employ of the Duke of Argyll which had greatest impact upon his poetry. His greatest work, Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain, stems from this period. The significance of Duncan Bàn’s nature themed poetry is such that it has, along with that of the aforementioned MacMhaighstir Alasdair, been described as “the zenith of Gaelic nature poetry”.
Duncan moved to Edinburgh in 1767 and was to spend the rest of his life there serving with the Breadalbane Fencibles and the City Guard before retiring in 1806. During his time in Edinburgh he composed several prize winning poems and attempted to win the place of Bard to the Highland and Agricultural Society, losing to Donald Shaw despite receiving much praise for his poetry.
Duncan Ban’s native region had no school and he remained illiterate throughout his life and kept his work by memory. He had to receive help from the minister of Lismore, Donald MacNicol, with transcriptions. The poetry of Duncan Bán would later be translated into English by such notable figures as Hugh McDiarmid, Derick Thomson and Iain Crichton Smith.
He is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, where he died in 1812, and a memorial to him stands there, having been erected by friends and well-wishers of the man who had gained fame during his lifetime as Donnchadh Bàn nan Òrain or “Fair Duncan of the Songs”. The church holds a service in Gaelic every Sunday.
A’ Chlach a bha mo sheanmhair ‘S mo sheanair oirre seanchas, Air tilleadh mar a dh’fhalbh i ghalghad a’ Chlach
‘S gur coma leam i ‘n Cearrara An Calasraid no ‘n Calbhaigh Cho fad’ ‘s a tha i ‘n Albainn Nan garbhlaichean cas
Curfá: ‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha Hilli um bo ruaig thu i hilli um bo ha ‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
Ga cur an àite tearmainn A chumas i gu falachaidh ‘S nach urrainn iad, nach dearg iad Air sgealb dhith thoirt às A’ Chlach a chaidh a dhìth oirnn Air faighinn às an ìnean ‘S gu deimhinne, ma thill i Tha ‘n nì sin gu math
Mionnan air fear deàrnaidh Gach màthair is mac Nach leig sinn ann an gàbhadh Am fear a thug à sàs i ‘S a mhiontraig air a teàrnadh À àite gum tlachd Ma chuireas iad an làmh air Chan fhuilear dhuinn bhith làidir Is buill’ thoirt air a thàillibh Le stàilinn amach
Bha ‘m Ministear cho tùrsach Sa mhadainn nuair a dhùisg e ‘S praban air a shùilean A’ tionndadh amach E coiseachd feadh an ùrlair Ag ochanaich ‘s ag ùrnaigh ‘S a’ coimhead air a’ chùil Anns an d’ ionndrainn e Chlach
Sin far robh an stàireachd ‘S an ruith air feadh an làir ann Gun smid aige ri ràidhtinn Ach “Càit ‘n deach a’ Chlach? ‘S a Mhoire, Mhoire, Mhàthair Gu dè nì mise màireach Tha fios a’m gum bi bhànrainn A’ fàgail a beachd”
Gun tuirt e ‘s dath a’ bhàis air “Cha chreidinn-sa gu bràth e Gu togadh fear bho làr i Nach b’ àirde na speech Tha rudeigin an dàn dhomh ‘S gun cuidicheadh an tÀgh mi Bha’ n duine thug à sàs i Cho làidir ri each”
The Stone that my grandmother And grandfather used to talk about Has returned as it left My brave Stone
And I don't care whether it's in Kerrera Callendar or Calvay As long as it's in Steep, rugged Scotland
Chorus: 'S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha Hilli um bo ruaig thu i hilli um bo ha 'S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
To be put in a place of refuge Which will conceal it safely So that they can't, they won't manage to Remove a single fragment of it The Stone that was lost to us Prised from their grasp And certainly, if it has returned That's a very good thing
Let us swear by our hand Each and every one of us That we will allow nothing to endanger The man who unloosed it And dared to rescue it From an unpleasant place If they lay hands on him We'll need to be strong And strike a blow for him Using steel
The Minister was so sorrowful When he woke that morning His eyes bleary As he turned out Walking the floor Sighing and praying And looking at the nook Where he'd found the Stone missing
There was much pacing And running 'round the floor And all he could say was "Where did the Stone go?" And, "By the Holy Mother What will I do tomorrow I know the Queen Will be beside herself"
Said he, looking deathly pale "I'd never have believed It could have been raised from the floor By someone no bigger than a wasp Something is to happen to me And Heaven help me The man who unloosed it Must be as strong as a horse"
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