[Description in progress]

Unbound notebook, 87 leaves. In four sections, stitched together into one volume. The original sections were: folios 1-23; 24-47; 48-62; 63-87. There is no scribal pagination, but library foliation has been supplied. In the hand of Rev. Donald MacNicol. Dated 1777 at the front, and signed by MacNicol on the first pages of the middle two sections (folios 24 recto and 48 recto).

The contents are:

Section 1:

Index of songs, headed "Dain" and listing 13 songs. The index page is dated at the top "Lismore 1777". Treating it as the overall index page for the combined volume, a note from Dugald MacNicol adds below the list: "With a variety of other pieces, and songs - some of them excellent, and very old. Novr 1836. D.Mc.N." Folio 1 recto. Folio 1 verso is blank.

[Unascribed]. Song without heading, beginning 'Gaoth 'n ear on aillibin ur / Mur a dh'orduich Righ nan dul'. 4 stanzas of 4 lines. Folio 2 recto.

[Unascribed]. Two lines without heading, beginning 'Thog iad na siuil bhreaca, bhaidealacha, bhana'. Folio 2 recto.

Verses headed "Le fear Ghlinn-ibhis & a mhac", beginning 'Slioc bhracaig nic Ion cheir, / Son na bhodaich bhreuna gun mhogh'. 2 stanzas of 4 lines. Folio 2 verso.

[Ossianic]. Verses headed "Miann Mhic Cubhail air a chu", beginning 'An Falt-luigh bhi fada on cheann'. Written as 8 lines. Folio 2 verso.

[Unascribed]. Short passage beginning 'Cu fada, luath, sceann math [?] nar a ruigeadh e, an tri focail.' Folio 2 verso.

[Unascribed]. Lines headed "Each math", beginning 'Mor chraidhe, mor chrugh, mor pholl-sroine'. Folio 3 recto.

Song headed "Marbh-rann an tShagairt Mhic Rath", beginning 'Marbh-rann sagairt an tShrath-ghlais / An de is da bhi fada gu tinn'. 2 stanzas of 4 lines. Folio 3 recto.

Verses headed "Le neach a thainig a choibhid sagairt ' bha gu tinn". Beginning 'Fhir tha 'g iomachd gu teach De, / Fag in Fhe' bheil an neart'. 4 lines. Folio 3 recto.

Verses headed "Le Matha Cobhnuill". Beginning ''Smithich dhuinne a bhi triall / A Barra chun nach eil paill'. 4 lines. Folio 3 verso.

Verses headed "Leis an neach cheudna uair a chaidh e a choimhead Mhic Mhic Ailean, & air dha bhi fliugh chaidh e dan chidsin a chuir caiseart thirim air: chunnaig e an sin fear s bhonaid sgroigte mu cheann ris 'ndo labhair e mar leanas". 4 lines beginning ''S teann a ghabhas ort a bhiurraid', followed by 4 lines headed "Fhreagair an fear maol", beginning 'Salloil an ceann thair Siol Chormaig'. Folio 3 verso.

Verses headed "Le Tearlach notair do dh'fhear se creimm Druill", beginning 'Mar scadan tersain 'm beul an tausain / Bha 'n droll aig Alasdair na dh'eudach'. 2 stanzas of 4 lines. Folio 4 recto.

Verses without heading, beginning 'Sagairt fada, firion, fionn'. 4 lines. Foolio 4 recto.

Verses headed "Do shagairtaibh a bha damhsa mu choinnibh Iomhaidh St Francis". Beginning 'Sagairt iunuidh 'siad ri cradh'. 4 lines. Folio 4 recto.

Verses headed "1st description of a night", beginning 'Mar ghuth ghuilbnich air crith reoghadh'. 4 lines. Followed by "2nd description", beginning 'Eirich amach aiteil'. 4 lines. Folio 4 verso.

Verses headed "Le Iain Mc Ailean do shron cleirich s ochdair dhain". Beginning 'Coltar geur-chruaidh, bir-chruaidh scadeach [?]'. 2 lines, followed by 2 lines headed "Fhreagair Dean Fraser e", beginning 'Bheannuicheadh greis air an urlar'. Folio 4 verso.

Song headed "Do Thaileir le Domhnull Duth Gunnach an Tiri". Beginning 'An cuala shibh an tamailt seo / A thug Duthal Taileir dho''. 4 stanzas of 4 lines. folios 4 verso-5 recto.

Verses without heading, beginning 'Ni' mi teanga leom is leat, / Uair nam & uair agam'. 4 lines. Folio 5 recto.

Lines without heading, as follows: 'Bh'fhearr leam a chreach 'theachd don tir / Na madain mhin an Fhaollaich fhuair.' Folio 5 recto.

Verses headed "Compared in Eating". Beginning ''S ionan seana-ghilli 's bean thorrach; / 'S ionan cailleach & cu'. 4 lines. Folio 5 verso.

Verses without heading, beginning 'An lamh leis an glacadh tu 'n tord'. 4 lines. Folio 5 verso.

Verses headed "Le Mac Mhuirich do dh'iom a fhuair e an Cana". Beginning 'Adhbhar Fhiabhrais logha lag'. 4 lines. Folio 5 verso.

Verses headed "Do Chana leis an neach cheudna". beginning 'An tir mhiuthair mhin-ocrach'. 4 lines. Folio 5 verso.

Verses headed "Leis an neach cheudna do na daona ceudna", beginning 'Thug iad an cul ris na creagabh'. 4 lines. Folios 5 verso-6 recto.

Verses headed "Do Mhac Iomain". Beginning 'Mhic an athar nach ro cruaidh'. 4 lines. Folio 6 recto.

Verses headed "Do mhnaoi a bha 'dol thar amhain". Beginning 'Mus a beus do bheus an t'shneachda'. 4 lines. Folio 6 recto.

Verses with no heading, beginning 'Chi mi dithist as mor bruithin'. 4 lines. Folio 6 recto.

Song headed "Mollachd Bhan Diuranais", beginning 'Gaoi 'n iar air son na feiste / Ceo is uisge'. Written in 8 lines. Folio 6 verso.

Song without heading, beginning 'Cha chadal do 's cha bhi dusgadh / Gus an faic mi coille ga rusgadh'. 6 stanzas of 2 lines, with a 2-ine refrain beginning 'Uillen is aill o uil o roho ho'. Folio 6 verso.

Song headed "Throid mo bhean". Dated 1777 beside heading. Beginning 'S ise bhean a bha gun chiall / Nuair a throdadh i ri male'. 11 stanzas of 4 lines, one of them unnumbered but marked for insertion between stanzas numbered 4 and 5. Folios 6 verso-7 verso.

Song headed "Nighin donn nan gabhar", beginning 'Nuair their mo chruinneag air and urlar / Dannsaidh i gu cuimir cuirteil'. 6 stanzas of 4 lines. Folios 8 recto-8 verso.

Song with no heading, beginning 'Ge boidheach do spuir sge fada t'iurabal / S mor t'iorraghail, a Chait, san tra seo'. 3 stanzas of 8 lines. Folio 8 verso.

[Posadh piuthar Iain Bhain]. Song with no heading, beginning 'Air bhi falbh na mointich dhuinn / Bha uisge mor is ceo againn'. 7 stanzas of 4 lines, with a refrain beginning 'Sfhad an la tha niu hiurabhi hu o ... posadh piuthar Ian Bhain'. Folio 9 recto-verso.

Song with no heading, beginning 'Gun d' threig mi mo chomun / mo chomun, mo chomun'. 3 stanzas. Folio 9 verso.

[O cuir a-nall am bodach.] Song with no heading, beginning 'Bighmid croidheal, bighmid ceolbhor'. 9 stanzas of 4 lines, with a 4-line refrain beginning 'O far a nall am bodach / E far a nall am bodach'. Folio 10 recto-verso.

Song headed "Bhirlin bhaig an t'sheann duine", beginning 'Latha dhuin bhi solasach / Ann oilein bhar na sealg'. 10 stanzas of 8 lines. Folios 11 recto-12 verso.

Verses without heading, beginning 'Tha croigh is leas is deidich / An deidich Ian Luim'. 6 lines. Folio 12 verso.

Verses without heading, catalogued by Mackechnie as belonging to the preceding. Beginning 'Mar gaoth tuath am madain earraich'. 4 lines. Folio 12 verso.

[Tha mo chean air an ògmhnaoi]. Song without heading, beginning 'Tha mo chion air an og mhnaoi / Thainig oirne thair linne'. 18 stanzas of 2 lines, with a refrain 'Horiunn o ho, hiri, hug eile, o ro ho horiunn o ho, hiri'. Printed in A and D Stewart, 'Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach' (Edinburgh 1804), pages 201-204, where it is headed "Òran do mhnaoi uasail ann am Muile". Folio 13 recto 13 recto-verso.

Song headed "An gothadh", beginning 'Gum bu chruadalach m'fheim / Mu'n ra seo la de / Mi bhi gabhail mu dheid do bheoil'. 11 seven-stress strophes. Folio 14 recto-verso.

[Laoidh an Amadain Mhòir]. Song headed "Laoidh an amadain mhoir", beginning 'An cual u sgeul luaineach 'scha bhreug / Air Eoin sin gaisgeil na sloigh?' 56 stanzas of 4 lines. Folios 15 recto-20 recto.

Song headed "A chailleach Oinnsin", beginning 'Nar a theid i radh a bhaile / Sann ga Gun a bhiodh an Farum'. 10 stanzas of 4 lines. Folios 20 verso-21 recto.

[Trì nithean gun iarraidh, ascribed to Nighean Fir na Rèilig]. Song with no heading, beginning 'Ach fhear a theid thairis thoir mo shoruidh do'n ghleann seo thuas'. 7 stanzas of 4 five-stress lines, written as 8 lines. The stanzas are numbered 2-8, with an incomplete first stanza crossed out. With a refrain of 2 five-stress lines, written as four lines: ''S ari failirin, ilirin oichirin oro laoidh; / 'S cruiaidh fhortan gun fhios a dh'fhag mise fuidh bhron a chaoidh.' A version of the song ascribed to Nighean fir na Rèilig, usually beginning 'Trì nithean gun iarraidh' or 'Thig trì ni gun iarraidh'. This was first printed in John Gillies, 'Sean Dain, agus orain Ghaidhealach' (Perth 1786), pages 246-248, where the opening stanza in the present version appears as the third. Folios 21 recto-22 verso.

Song with no heading, beginning 'Gur muladach mi / 'S mi 'm shuidh' ris an ni / Gun neach ach galrion am choir'. 17 seven-stress strophes, with text missing (st. 10, line 3 to the end of stanza 13) due to the lower half of the leaf having been cut away. Folio 23 recto-verso.



Section 2:

Contents page with song titles, signed at bottom "Donald McNicol". Folio 24 recto.

Mackenzie, Murchardh Mòr mac mhic Mhurchaidh. Song headed "Marbh-ran do Dhomhnul Gorm og Mac Dhomhnul a Sleibhte le Murcha Mor Mac Mhurchaidh, Fear Eaichildi". Beginning 'Ho o hom bo / Sgeula leat, a ghaoth a deas / Ho &c./ Sheirbhe do Ghair na'n Dom-blass'. Song of 55 lines. First printed in the Eigg collection, 1776, pages 23-25, where it is arranged in stanzas of 4 lines. Folios 24 verso-26 recto.

[Gad tha an oidhche nochd fuar]. Song headed "Oran a reinnidh do Mhac Dhomhnul Shleibhte a dh'eug an Lunduin a coghnadh le teaghlaich Lancastair an aoghaidh Gheorc". Beginning 'Gad ha 'n oiche nochd fuar / S beg air chaddal mo luaidh / Cho 'n e tainnid na fuaraid m' eididh'. 11 seven-stress strophes. Checklist 500. With annotations by a later hand (Dugald MacNicol?) dating this song to 1509 or earlier. Folios 26 recto-27 recto.

[Dòmhnall Ruadh gaolach]. Song with no heading, beginning 'Call oho i hu o / A Dhomhnuil ruaidh ghaolaich / Se do ghaol 'h air mo mheallagh / I, ir, ir, i u, io o ho hug eile'. 11 lines of text. First printed in the collection of John Gillies (1786), pages 283-284. Checklist 507. Folio 27 recto.

['N-raoir a chunnaic mi 'm bruadar]. Song headed "An Communn", beginning 'Nrair a chunna mi 'm bruadar / Ribhin shuairce nam choir'. 6 stanzas of 8 lines, with a refrain of 8 lines beginning 'Chaidh an communn, chaidh an communn, chaidh an commun air chul'. First printed in Gillies 1786, pages 201-204. Folios 27 verso-28 verso.

[An gille dubh ciar-dhubh]. Song headed "An gillidh duth ciar-dhuth", beginning 'Cha dirich mi bhudhach / 'S cha siubhail mi mointich'. A version was first published in Eigg 1776, pages 264-266, where 8 stanzas are printed, and often thereafter. Folios 28 verso-30 recto.

[MacDonald, Alasdair Òg, Mac Fir Ard na Bidhe. Màiri nighean Deòrsa]. Song headed "Mairi nin Deorsa", beginning 'O ceud mile failte do Mhairi nin Deorsa / Fal al dar aldiro, fal la diro daldal ri ro'. 6 stanzas of usually 12 lines plus lines of vocables. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 269-273. Folios 30 recto-31 verso.

[Nighean donn a chota bhuidhe]. Song headed "Ingheag a chota bhuidh", beginning 'Tha 'n inghin thall ud na suidhidh / Da 'n tug mise gaol mo chroidhe'. 7 stanzas of 4 lines, with a 6-line refrain beginning 'A nionag a chota bhuidhe / Deansa suidhe cude reom'. First published in Mairghread Cameron's collection, 'Orain nuadh Ghaidhealach' (Edinburgh 1785), pages 64-65. Folios 32 recto-verso.

Song headed "Am fear dubh gun bhi ruaidh", beginning 'Durachd mo chroidhe do 'n og / A dhimich air sheoil na mara'. 8 stanzas of 8 lines (4 lines missing from stanza 4). Folios 33 recto-34 recto.

Song without heading, beginning 'A gruagach a Ghaggain / Tha m' aigne 'se geir driul'. 25 lines with refrain. Folio 34 verso.

[MacDougall]. Song headed "Oran le Mac do Mhac Dhuthail Mhoir-thir", beginning 'Latha dhoibh gu mulladach / Falaibh mhulachan is ard'. 7 stanzas of 8 lines (the first lines missing from stanza 6). Folios 35 recto-36 recto.

[MacDougall]. Song headed "Leis an neach cheudna", beginning 'Sann an sin tha 'm firim, faram / chiris, chairis chainle'. 5 stanzas of 8 lines; the whole song is crossed out. Folios 36 recto-37 recto.

MacDonald, Iain Dubh mac Iain mhic Ailein. Song headed "Le Ian duth mac Ian mhic Ailean ann Muideart do mhnathan Ard-nan-fuaran as na Ceppich uair a throd iad ...". Beginning ''S beg orm na mnathan Faomhair / Nach glethidhan Baintichd'. 9 stanzas of 8 lines. A version of this is printed in Eigg 1776, pages 293-295, beginning there 'Marbhaisg air na mnaithean feadhair'. Checklist 79. Folios 37 verso-39 recto.

[MacAulay, Issachari, Maighstir Sgàire. Iorram na truaighe]. Song headed "Iuram na Truaidh", beginning 'Sgur hi seo Iurram na Truaidh / Tha mise san uair seo ga seinn'. 9 stanzas of 4 five-stress lines, written in 8 lines. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 251-253. Folios 39 recto-40 verso.

[MacDonald, Sìleas na Ceapaich. Alasdair à Gleanna-Garadh]. Song without heading, beginning 'Alasdair a Gleann Garadh / Thug u 'n diugh galair m shuilin'. 7 stanzas of 8 lines. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 286-288, and often thereafter. Checklist 151. Folios 41 recto-42 recto.

MacDonald, Iain Dubh mac Iain mhic Ailein. Song headed "Le Ioin duth mac Ioin mhic Aillean do dh'fhear Bail iunlaidh", beginning 'Inghuis oig mhic Sheumais / Fhir ghleust' an aigne choir'. 9 stanzas of 8 lines, the last 4 to be repeated. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 97-99, headed there "Òran do dh'Aonghas Bhail-Fhionnlaigh". Checklist 78. Folios 42 verso-43 verso.

Song without heading, beginning 'Do ghaol a Chairistine sin / Cha diochuibhnich mi 'm dheoin'. 6 stanzas of 8 verses. Folios 44 recto-verso.

[Macpherson, Lachlann, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh]. Song headed "Commun an uisge-bheatha", beginning 'Fear mo ghaoil an tuisge-beatha / Air am bi na daoin' a feathadh'. 21 stanzas of 4 lines (no. 18 repeated in numbering), with a refrain of 2 lines beginning 'Ciod eille chuireadh sunt oirn'. First printed in Gillies 1786: 79-82 and several times thereafter. Folios 45 recto-46 verso.

Verses headed "Dan", beginning 'An cuibhrig bha air toll a chac'. 4 lines. Folio 47 recto.

Verses headed "Dan", beginning 'Chuir sibh chugam air mo threinseir / Caid a bhaird do bhiadh na bainse'. 4 lines. Folio 47 recto.

Stewart, Dugald. Verses headed "by Dugd. Stewart the first Achnancon to his uncle Locheil", beginning 'An ceancinnich annabharach[?]'. 4 lines. Folio 47 recto.

Stewart, Earl of Mar. Verses without heading, beginning 'Bha mi oiche ann ad theach'. 4 lines, followed by a note: "The above was spoken by Stewart Earl of Marr who fought wt. Donald Ballach at Inverlochay where Allan Earl of Caithness was kill'd." Folio 47 recto.

Verses headed "By the Earl of Marr the night after he was at Obirin's House", beginning 'S math an cochdaire an t' acras'. 4 lines. Folio 47 verso.



Section 3

Contents list of song titles, signed at the bottom "Donald McNicol". Folio 48 recto. The verso is blank.

MacLeod, Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh. Song headed "Le Mairidh Nin Alastair ruaidh Mhic Leoid an te seinn an Cronan do mhac Dhomhnuil". Beginning 'Ha ulliadh orm an uabharachd / Mo ghift phriosail uasal u'. 15 stanzas of 6 lines. The song is better known with the opening line 'Tha tasgaidh bhuam an diomhaireachd', which is the beginning of the second stanza here. Checklist no. 283. For discussion, see C. Ó Baoill, 'Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh' (Scottish Gaelic Texts Society, 2014), pages 160-182. Folios 49 recto-50 verso.

Song headed "Le Nic Mhaistir Cailin Mrs Stivenson 1746", beginning 'Thainig achd ro chruaidh oirn / A nuagh a Sasgan'. 8 stanzas of 8 lines. Folios 51 recto-52 recto.

Song headed "Bean gun leannan", beginning 'Na'm faice du [sic] bean gun leannan / Bean gun leannan, bean gun leannan, / Na'm faice tu bean gun leannan, / Cha bhiogh fanadh uair aic'.' 10 stanzas of 8 lines. First printed in Gillies 1786, pages 293-295. Folios 52 verso-53 verso.

Matheson, Dòmhnall, Fear Atadail. Song headed "Comhairle do na mnai le Domhnul Mac Mhathoin Fear Ailiodail ann Lach-Carthuinn". Beginning 'Na'm bu teagasgach mi air an treud, / Do'n gairthear gu leir na mnai'. 21 stanzas of 8 lines (4 lines missing from stanza 15). Printed in Gillies 1786, pages 69-74. Folios 54 recto-57 recto.

MacDonald, Gilleasbaig na Ceapaich. Song headed "Le Gilespig Mac Mhic Ranuil shin-seanair an duin' tha Lathair. Fonn Alastair a Gleann Garadh." Beginning 'Tuig do dheire fein a dhuine, / 'S abhar giuraig dhuit do chuid'. 8 stanzas of 4 lines. The date 1775, when the manuscript was written, appears above the title. Printed first in Stewarts 1804: 231-232 (mistakenly printed as the final part of Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh's song 'Mo bheud 's mo chràdh'). Checklist no. 5. Folio 57 recto-verso.

MacDonald, Gilleasbaig na Ceapaich. Song headed "Leis an ti cheudna an leab' a bhais. Fonn Iurram na truaighe", beginning 'Sgriobh le toscaire biula [above the last word: 'billet'] / Theid air choiseachd a shireadh dho leigh'. 6 stanzas of 4 five-stress lines, written as 8 lines. Checklist no. 71. Folios 57 verso-58 verso.

MacDonald, Gilleasbaig na Ceapaich. Song headed "Leis an ti cheudna", beginning 'Smor a bhleide san rabhart / A rein blarain da ghoisdi'. 4 stanzas of 8 lines. Checklist 73 (where it is headed "Oran do Dhòmhnall Donn"). Folios 58 verso-59 recto.

MacDonald, Aonghas mac Alasdair Ruaidh. Song headed "Do Mhac Mhic Raonuil an deis la na Maoile Ruaighaidh le Aonghas Mac Alastair Ruaidh". Beginning 'Deoch slainte mhic Roanuil / Cha n' fheud mi gun h'ol'. 10 stanzas of 8 lines. Checklist no. 43. Folios 59 verso-61 recto.

[MacDonald, Mor nighean Uistein]. Song headed "He mann du", beginning 'Ri gur mise rein an dochoir / An oiche bha mi, an luib an lochain'. 42 lines. No chorus is given. Checklist no. 135. Folio 61 recto-verso. Folio 62 is blank.

Section 4

Macpherson, Lachlann, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. Song headed "Comhairle a bhaigead [?] le Fear Strath Mhathaisidh". Beginning 'Tha sluagh an tshaoghail nan deannadh / Fear a sgaoladh u fear a teanal'. 16 lines. First published in Gillies 1786, page 79, where it is printed as 4 stanzas of 4 lines. Folio 63 recto.

MacDhonnchaidh, Gilleasbaig Ruadh. Song headed "Le Gilleasbuig Ruadh Mc Dhonnachadh". Beginning 'Mile maramhfhasg ort a tshaoghail / 'S mairg bheireadh taoibh sin dod ghealladh'. 8 lines. Folios 63 recto-64 verso.

MacDhonnchaidh, Gilleasbaig Ruadh. Verses headed "Leis an ti cheudna", beginning 'S binn gach gloir o'n dhuinne bheairtich / Searmh a choir o'n aim-beantach". 4 lines. Folio 63 verso.

MacDhonnchaidh, Gilleasbaig Ruadh. Verses headed "Leis an ti cheudna", beginning 'Fear a chriodh 'se gun ni'. 8 lines. Folio 63 verso.

MacDhonnchaidh, Gilleasbaig Ruadh. Verses headed "Leis an ti cheudna", beginning 'Marmhaisg air an ainnis / 'Smairg air am faigh i fhein'. 4 lines. Folio 63 verso.

Song headed "Ailean Mor Mac Dhubhail Mothair do Bhard MhicLeoid", beginning 'Usa, bhaird bhinnich nan dronn / Chuir mar innisg orm bhi gann'. 24 lines. Folio 64 recto.

[MacDonald, Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair]. Song headed "Imrich Alastair as Eignaig do dh'Inbhir aoigh", beginning 'Dh'ailbh 'mi a narachan creagach / Lan conaisg 's do phreasabh sgrogach'. 22 stanzas of 4 lines. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 143-146. Folios 64 verso-66 recto.

Maclean, Iain Mac Ailein. Song headed "Eoin Mac Ailin a cumuail leanan amuil re Mac Lugais a choibhirsnich". Beginning 'Marbhaisg ort, a Shaoghail, / 'S mairg daone ga bheil a mar leanan'. 4 stanzas of 8 lines. First printed in Eigg 1776, pages 295-297. Checklist no. 234. Folio 66 recto-verso.

Song headed "Maramh-rann Alastair Uaibhraich le cearthar a thainig air uaidh", beginning 'Cearthar shuidh air uaigh an fhir / Air fiort /fioghthart/ Alastair Uaibhrich'. 5 stanzas, of which the first 4 have 4 lines, and the last one 21 lines, with a blank line to indicate a missing one. Printed in Eigg 1776, pages 133-135, where the missing line is added. With a note at the bottom of folio 67 recto: "In Dean of Lismore's Book. p. 83 of Gaelic. A.N." Mackechnie (Catalogue, vol. 1, p. 328) suggests that the scribe was Sheriff Alexander Nicolson. Folio 67 recto-verso.