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Naidheachd bheag mu Dhonnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir agus Alasd...

Date 13 November 1970
Track ID 58939
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1970.325.A5

Original Tape ID

SA1970.325

Summary

An anecdote about a meeting between Duncan Ban MacIntyre and Alexander MacDonald.

Duncan Ban MacIntyre and Alexander MacDonald met one another and Duncan sang the song he had composed for his wife. Alexander said that his wife must be beautiful and Duncan invited him to Edinburgh to see for himself. He went and visited and when he knocked on the door a big, ugly old woman came to answer. He asked if Duncan was in. She replied that he was and in he went. Then, when having a dram, Alexander turned round to Duncan and said that he must he the biggest liar in the world as his wife was so big and ugly. Duncan replied that he had not seen her with his eyes!

Item Subject/Person

Mac an t-Saoir, Donnchadh Bàn

Recording Location

County - Inverness-shire

Parish - Kilmonivaig

Village/Place - Roybridge

Language

Gaelic

Genre

Story

Collection

SoSS

Transcription

Mòrag NicLeòid (MN): What about this story about Donnchadh Bàn and Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair?

Leagsaidh Chaimbeul (LC): You know when...

MN: Innsibh ann an Gàidhlig i.

LC: Bha, Donnchadh Bàn 's Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, thachair iad, 's ò, bha iad a' cur am bàrdachd an cèill ri chèile. 'S ghabh Donnchadh Bàn, ghabh e an t-òran a rinn e dhan bhean, agus thuirt Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair:

"Uill, feumaidh gur e boireannach uamhraidh brèagha a th' anns a' bhean agad."

"Thig thusa a choimhead ormsa an Dùn Èideann... a Dhùn Èideann," thuirt e fhèin, "agus chì thu air do shon fhèin, a' chiad chothrom a bhios agad."

Dh'fhalbh Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair - [?theagamh] gun robh... gun robh adhbhar aige a' dol ann, ach chaidh e a choimhead air Donnchadh Bàn nan Òran. Ò bha tàir uamhraidh aige fhaighinn, ach fhuair e mu dheireadh e 's bha e a' dol an-àird staidhrichean fiodh agus thàinig e gu doras an sin, 's bha 'D. MacIntyre' air. Ghnog e an doras. Thàinig cailleach mhòr oillteil a-mach. Tè mhòr reamhar leathann. Agus thuirt e:

"A bheil Donnchadh Bàn nan Òran seo?"

"Tha. Thig a-staigh," thuirt i.

Chaidh e a-staigh. 'S bha esan na shuidhe a-staigh na sheann duine gun teagamh an uair sin. Bha a' chailleach bhochd a' fàs sean cuideachd. Agus bha cracas aca 's bha dramachan aca, 's a-nist agus thuirt Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair:

"'S fheàrr dhomh a bhith a' falbh."

Bha e a' dol taobheigin eile.

Dh'fhalbh Donnchadh Bàn nan Òran leis, agus rinn e an gnothach cinnteach nach cluinneadh a' chailleach e co-dhiù, agus nuair a bha e air falbh bhon àite, thionndaidh e mun cuairt 's thuirt e ri Donnchadh Bàn nan Òran:

"Uill, tha mi a' smaoineachdainn gur tu duine as breugaiche a th' air thalamh."

"Ciamar seo?" thuirt Donnchadh Bàn.

"Ò, an t-òran a rinn thu dhan bhean. Tha mi a' smaoineachdainn gura h-i cailleach cho grànda 's a chunna mi riamh."

"A bhròinein," thuirt e, "chan fhaca thusa tro mo shùilean-sa i."

MN: Glè mhath.

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good