Biography

Calum MacLean, Calum Beag Chaluim Iain Aonghais, from 84 Cross Skigersta Road in Ness, Lewis, wrote the song Deireadh Fòrladh while at home on leave in 1940. Before he had to return to the war, Calum got the news that his friend, Iain Uilleam Eachainn from Cùl a' Ghàrraidh, had died. Iain had been particularly talented at sports and was a good scholar at the Nicolson Institute before he joined the war effort.

Calum's father was a sailor and a bard, though only two of his songs remain today, Mo Rìbhinn Dhonn and Òran a' Bhàta. He was married to Màiri Dais from Habost and they had five children – Calum, Kirsty, Sandy, Agnes and Margaret.

Calum Beag was an innkeeper in Airdrie for many years. He married a local girl, Catriona Brannigan, and they had five children together – Mary, Sandy, Calum, Donnie and Thomas. Calum secured a job in a new hotel in Aviemore and moved there with his family. For a while, he had a drinking problem. However, he managed to get control of his addiction and spent many years afterwards helping others who were struggling with alcohol.

Eighteen of his songs can be found in the collections of Ness Historical Society. Among the humorous topics is a story of a night going home from the drove in a bus. If the lads had had a bit to drink, so had the driver:

Nuair fhuair e mòinteach Bharabhais sinn
'S ann thuirt e ruinn gun dearbhadh e
Gun robh e fhèin 's a' charbaid ud
Gu dearbh a' tuigs' a chèile.

Bha 'n rathad caol 's cha b' liar dha e,
'S ann shaoil mo laoch gum feuchadh e
Taigh-sholais Nis a dhèanamh dheth
Mar eun a' dol air sgèith ann.

An t-inneal bochd, is ràn aige
Dol mach 's a-steach mu ghàrraidhean;
'S ann chunnaic e là b' fheàrr a bh' aig'
Air sràidean slàn Dhùn Èideann.

Many of Calum's songs are about the Ness area and he often mentions the beauty of the hills and the machair, and the people he knew as a boy:

Mo smuaintean air 'n aiseag gu eilean mo ghràidh
'S mo chridhe san àite bho rinn e
Le bannan a' ghaoil a cheangal gu tràth
'S chan fhosgail gu brath an snaim ud;
'S ann ann nach deigheadh duine orm seachad air sràid
Gun thighinn dàn son crathadh na làimhe
Le dùrachd an cridhe cur furan is fàilt'
'S toirt facal no dhà de chainnt rium.

'S thàinig thugams' a-rithist air sgiathan na cuimhn'
Sealladh cho grinn 's a tha 'n nàdar
A' ghrian a' dol sìos an taobh siar dhen a' bheinn
Tarraing cleòca na h-oidhche mu sàile;
Ach 's e mheudaich mo shòlas ach crònan an uillt
'S e fiaradh tro ghlinn chun na traghad
'S an uiseag 's an smeòrach 's iad dhòmhsa ri seinn
Gu tuiteam na h-oidhch' air an àirigh.

Calum passed away in 1995 and is buried in Airdrie.

List of compositions

Deireadh Fòrladh, 1940