Biography

Archibald MacDonald, known as Gille na Ciotaig, was born in Paible in North Uist sometime around 1750. He got his nickname because his left arm was shorter than usual, and he had no fingers on that hand.

It was said that his family were one day at the sheiling in Uist when the landlord, Sir James MacDonald, came by hunting. Archibald's mother gave him a drink of milk, and during the conversation which followed she told him about her son's disability. When the landlord found out the boy's name, he said it was unfortunate that the boy was not named Colla so there would be another Colla Ciotach among Clan Donald. It seems he was touched by the boy's story and gave the family money to help with his education.

Archibald must have had a good education, as he was good at writing and worked at one time for a baillie of Clan Donald, Am Bàillidh Breac, in South Uist. He prepared a collection of his own poetry to print in Inverness, but sadly passed away on the journey, in Fort Augustus, where he is buried.

It is said that while in Fort Augustus he met Alasdair Stewart, who wrote the song A Mhàiri Bhòidheach 's a Mhàiri Ghaolach, and that he acquired ownership of Archibald's manuscript after his death and used it as the basis on which he compiled the collection of songs that came out under his own and his brother Donald's name, Co-chruinneachadh Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaelach, published in Edinburgh, 1804. Not much is known about these two men, but it is known Alasdair Stewart was a schoolmaster in North Uist, born in 1764 and died in 1821.

Gille na Ciotaig was known for his satire and humorous poetry. He was witty, as seen in his verses about a man in Bernisdale in Skye refusing to feed his horse:

Bodach Bheàrnasdail à Uinnis,
Duine 's grànda tha san t-Siorrachd;
Bodach Bheàrnasdail à Uinnis
Ceann-cinnidh gach dèistinn.
Amhaich fhada corra-ghrithich
Nì thu fhathast cainb a ruigheadh
Amhaich fhada corra-ghrithich
Nì na fithich feust ort!

Archibald could also be quite bitter. For example, he wrote the song Òran an Fhamhair about an old solider that he didn't like:

'S tu oighr' Iain Sculair
'S tu diùdhaidh gach seanchais
'S tu 'n trustair san trùilleach
'S tu 'n scùm air gach salchair;
'S tu am broc an àm dùsgaidh
'S tu mùrlaig na talmhainn
'S tu breunan nam feara
Ged nach toil leat mo sheanchas.

However, most of the time, Archibald was witty and full of fun. He once wrote a satirical elegy for a man who hadn't passed away, Marbhrann do dh'Iain Ruadh Pìobaire:

'S iomadh aon tha gad ionndrainn
On chaidh ùir ort san uaigh;
An toiseach labhair an spliùcan
Bhiodh tu giùlain gach uair,
"Tha mi fèin gun tombaca
Cha b' e siud cleachdadh a fhuair
'S tric a chuir Iain fo m' achlais
Greim is cairteal is cuach."

Thuirt a' ghlainne bha 'n Asdain
"Mo sgeul chràiteach, ro chruaidh;
Dh'fhalbh mo shùgradh 's mo mhànran
Thug am bàs leis Iain Ruadh.
Fear a chluicheadh a' chlàrsach
Dhèanadh dàn agus duan;
Cha b' e Callainn a' chrampaidh
Fonn a b' fheàrr leis ga luaidh."

Thuirt am pige bha làmh ris,
"Faigh an àrca gu luath;
Cuir am chlaigeann-sa spàirt e
Tha tart 's gach àite mun cuairt.
Thàinig conntraigh na plàighe
Tha nithe gnàthaichte bhuainn;
Cha bhith reothairt gu bràth ann
'S ann a thràigheas an cuan."

Thuirt am buideal 's am botal
Thuirt an goc ris an stòp;
Thuirt an copan 's an t-slige
"'S mòr an sgrios th' air tigh'nn oirnn.
Tha gach sruth air a dhùnadh
Bha cur a dh'ionnsaigh nan lòn;
Chan fhaighear drap air an ùrlar
A fhliuchas brù Dhòmhnaill Òig."

He then composed another song to follow it, Aiseirigh Iain Ruaidh:

Hò rò gum b' èibhinn leam
A chluinntinn gun do dh'èirich thu;
'S ann leam is ait an sgeula sin
Gun deach an t-Eug cho teann ort.

Chuala mi gun d' chailleadh thu
'S gun do rinneadh d' fhalaire;
'S e cùis mun robh mi gearanach
Do bhean a bhith na banntraich.

Thug iad bho na h-òstairean
Buideal an bun tòrraidh dhut
Ma bheireas mi gun òl air
'S ann nì sinn seòrsa bainnse.

On tha 'n giuthas sàibht' agad
'S gun d' rinn an gobha tàirnean dhut,
'S ann theannas sinn ri bàta
Thèid gu Phàro dh'iarraidh branndaidh.

Cha bhi dad a dh'èis oirre
Gheibh i gach nì dh'fheumas i
Ni 'n lìon-aodach seòl meadhain dhi
'S gun dèan na spèicean crann di.

Chan easbhaidh nach bi ballaibh ann
Gu cuplaichean 's gu tarraingean;
Tha ròpaichean gun ghainne againn
'S gun ceangail sinn gu teann iad.

Chan eil m' inntinn gearanach
On chuir thu dhìot an galair ud
'S ann tha do phìob na deannal
A' toirt caithream air ceòl dannsa.

Iain Ruadh was apparently very amused by both songs.

It is believed that Archibald also wrote the song Banais Chiostal Odhar, about a rowdy wedding in Ciostal near Uig in the Isle of Skye, although there is evidence that there was also a place in North Uist with the same name.

Archibald died in 1815.

List of compositions

Banais Chiostal Odhar