1104: Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill (1)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
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Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill (1)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Naomh Meircheard agus Gleann Moireasdan. An t-seachdain seo, bu mhath leam innse dhuibh mu àiteachan timcheall na sgìre sin, a tha co-cheangailte ri cogadh eadar Clann ʼic Coinnich agus na Dòmhnallaich anns an t-seachdamh linn deug.
Anns a’ bhliadhna sia ceud deug ʼs a dhà (1602), ghabh Clann ʼic Coinnich greim air Caisteal an t-Sròim bho na Dòmhnallaich. Tha sin air taobh an iar Rois. Bha oighre Mhic Raghnaill à Lunndaidh ann an Gleanna Garadh fiadhaich mu dheidhinn. B’ esan Ailean Dubh – Ailean Dubh mac Raghnaill. Chuir e roimhe dìoghaltas a dhèanamh air Cloinn ʼic Coinnich.
Thòisich e le bhith a’ dol mun chuairt ann an Dùthaich ʼic Coinnich ann an riochd ceannaiche-siubhail. Mar sin, fhuair e deagh eòlas air dùthaich a nàimhdean. A rèir aithris, anns an t-Sultain sia ceud deug ʼs a trì (1603), thug e feachd leis à Gleanna Garadh gu ruige an t-Eilean Dubh. Ràinig iad an t-àite faisg air a’ Bhlàr Dhubh madainn Didòmhnaich, nuair a bha an eaglais làn muinntir an àite – Clann ʼic Coinnich. Chuir na Dòmhnallaich teine ris an eaglais, agus mharbh iad an fheadhainn a dh’fheuch ri teicheadh. Rinn iad tuilleadh sgrios air an rathad dhachaigh.
Chaidh iad tarsainn Ghleann Urchardain agus stad iad air mòinteach eadar Meall Fuar-mhonaidh agus Loch Nis. Ge-tà, bha feachd aig Clann ʼic Coinnich air an tòir. Chunnaic iad na Dòmhnallaich agus thàinig iad sìos orra le droch rùn. Mharbh iad tòrr de na Dòmhnallaich, agus ʼs e Lòn na Fala a chanas daoine ris an àite sin chun an latha an-diugh.
Theich Ailean Dubh le a bheatha. Ràinig e allt air a bheil Allt a’ Ghiubhais mar ainm. Bha clais dhomhainn ann. Ruith Ailean mar pheilear, agus leum e thairis air an allt. Dh’fheuch fear de Chloinn ʼic Coinnich leantainn air, ach bha an leum aige goirid. Thuit e an comhair a chùil agus ghabh e grèim air craobh bheag. Thionndaidh Ailean Dubh. Le beum-claidheimh, gheàrr e stoc na craoibhe agus thuit am fear eile gu bonn na claise.
Tha an t-àite far an do leum Ailean Dubh aithnichte chun an latha an-diugh mar Leum a’ Cheannaiche. Bidh cuimhne agaibh gun robh Ailean a’ dol timcheall ann an Siorrachd Rois, a’ toirt a’ chreidsinn gur e ceannaiche-siubhail a bh’ ann. Mar sin, ʼs e Leum a’ Cheannaiche a chuir muinntir Ghleann Urchardain air an àite. Ann an Gleann Moireasdan, bha an t-aon àite aithnichte mar Leum Ailein Mhic Raghnaill. Ge-tà, ʼs e Leum a’ Cheannaiche a th’ air mapaichean na Suirbhidh Òrdanais.
Cha do chuir sin stad air Clann ʼic Coinnich, ge-tà. Fhuair iadsan tarsainn an uillt aig àite ris an canar Beul-àth nan Clach. Bha Ailean a’ tuigsinn nach biodh dol-às aige ach le bhith a’ dol a-steach a Loch Nis fhèin. A rèir beul-aithris, bha ceann-cinnidh nam Frisealach à Foithir a’ feitheamh ris le bàta. Shnàmh Ailean Dubh a-null don bhàta agus mar sin, fhuair e air falbh bho a nàimhdean.
Cha b’ e sin deireadh a’ ghnothaich, ge-tà. Chaidh Ailean Dubh am falach ann an Gleanna Garadh, mar a chluinneas sibh an-ath-sheachdain.
Faclan na Litreach: : Caisteal an t-Sròim: Strome Castle; oighre: heir; Lunndaidh: Lundie; Gleanna Garadh: Glengarry; Lòn na Fala [Fola]: ‘the damp meadow of the blood’; comharraichte:marked; clais: gorge; beum-claidheimh: a sword-stroke.
Abairtean na Litreach: cogadh eadar Clann ʼic Coinnich agus na Dòmhnallaich anns an t-seachdamh linn deug: a war between the MacKenzies and the MacDonalds in the 17th century; chuir e roimhe dìoghaltas a dhèanamh air X: he decided to gain revenge on X; a’ dol mun chuairt ann an Dùthaich ʼic Coinnich ann an riochd ceannaiche-siubhail: going around in the MacKenzie country in the guise of a pedlar; gu ruige an t- Eilean Dubh: to the Black Isle; faisg air a’ Bhlàr Dhubh: near Muir of Ord; mharbh iad an fheadhainn a dh’fheuch ri teicheadh: they killed those who tried to flee; tuilleadh sgrios air an rathad dhachaigh: more depradations on the way home; mòinteach eadar Meall Fuar-mhonaidh agus Loch Nis: a moor between Meall Fuarvonie and Loch Ness; theich X le a bheatha: X escaped with his life; thuit e an comhair a chùil agus ghabh e grèim air craobh bheag: he fell backwards and grabbed a small tree; a’ toirt a’ chreidsinn gur e ceannaiche-siubhail a bh’ ann: pretending he was a pedlar; bha ceann-cinnidh nam Frisealach à Foithir a’ feitheamh ris le bàta: the chief of the Frasers of Foyers was waiting for him with a boat; shnàmh Ailean Dubh a-null don bhàta: Ailean Dubh swam over to the boat; cha b’ e sin deireadh a’ ghnothaich, ge-tà: that wasn’t the end of the matter, however; chaidh X am falach: X went to hide.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: aithnichte chun an latha an-diugh mar Leum a’ Cheannaiche: known to this day as ‘the leap of the merchant’. This is a good example of a place-name which can only be understood through a knowledge of historical events (in this case illuminated by William Mackay in his book ‘Urquhart and Glenmoriston’). It refers to Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill who scouted the Ross-shire country of his enemies while disguised as a pedlar ( ceannaiche-siubhail ), and who escaped their pursuit by leaping the gorge at this point. And, of course, it is intimately connected to the nearby Lòn na Fala [Lòn na Fola (OS)], although that would not be immediately obvious. I would encourage all of you to take a close interest in your local history, ecology and place-names, and make efforts to find the links between them.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: fhuair e deagh eòlas air dùthaich a nàimhdean:he obtained good knowledge of the country of his enemies.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 800
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