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Mnathan a' caoineadh aig tiodhlacaidhean.

Fieldworkers
Date November 1964
Track ID 23596
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1964.78.A5

Original Tape ID

SA1964.078

Summary

Keening women at funerals.

In days of clan chiefs, women were paid to keen at their funerals. They wailed and beat themselves against the ground and praised him. They followed the coffin to the grave.

Anecdote about a woman who came upon a funeral unexpectedly. She began to keen in the hope of getting paid, but the mourners ignored her. Keening stopped in Barra when the MacNeils sold their land.

Recording Location

County - Midlothian

Parish - Edinburgh

Village/Place - Edinburgh

Item Location

County - Inverness-shire

Parish - Barra

Island - Barra

Language

Gaelic

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good