tarbh, sin fhein cli ga da b' ao-coltach ris an Donn-ghuaillionn e. "Se ors am buachaille." Ghabh an Garbh 'sam "buachaille sios a choi'ead na taine 's an tairbh, agus mhol 'us mhol an Garbh an tain agus tarbh Chuchullain. 66 "Sanna thainig mis eirson an tairbh" ors an Garbh "'s tha nám' a bhi folbh leis 's an t-anamoch a tighinn a "bhuachaille!' "Cha bhi'n t-im sin eir an roinn sin, cha leig mise leat an tarbh gos am foigh mi ordan mo mhaighstir 's gos an tig e dhachaidh as a bheinn sheilg." "Cha bhi mi fuireach ris," ors an Garbh 's rug e eir oiric eir an tarbh gos a thoirt leis. Leum am "buachaille 's rug e eir oiric eile 'n tairbh 's an tarbh cha leigeadh e leis. Bha 'ad a sin a drǎothadh an tairbh o cheile. Agam fhein a bhios e" theireadh an darna fear; "fiach riut theireadh am fear eile," gos na shrac 'ad an tarabh o cheile o chlar aodain gu bun urabail. Chuir am "buachaille' car ma cheann dha'n leth aige fhein 's bhuail e'n Garbh leis 's rinn e buta dheth 'sa pholl. "'Usa! bhodaich mhosaich le d' spadaireac a tighinn a chur draogh eir tarbh mo mhaighstir 's gu'n e fhein aig an teigh gus a thoirst dhuit." Dh-eirich an Garbh 's chrath e'm poll dheth fhein. "Crosam adhol an carrabh a mhaighstir d'uair tha 'm buachaille cho treasa seo" ors easan 's e crathadh a phuill dheth fhein. "Bu cho math liom Cuchullain a bhi am beinn 's a bhi aig baile an la thiginn an rathad. Ach a bhuachaille, bheil cleas 's am bith agadsa bhios Cuchullain a dianadh fiach an dian mi fhein e?" "Tha sin agam, fear na dha." "Siuthad ma tha! dian e," agus bhrosnaich e am "buachaille " gu cleasun Chuchullain a shealltain dha. Gu'm b'e chiad chleas a sheall am "buachaille" dha, trăigh us dorn-gulban a thomhas thar bearradh creaige. * * 66 'Trăigh 'us dorn-gulban" is a trick that used to be practised by boys of old in the Highlands, though probably they are becoming wiser now. A boy stands on the edge of a rock, and places the heel of one foot on the edge, and the heel of the other foot to the toe of that one, and his two closed fists side by side to the point of that toe again. He then leaps backward-if he can. See Leabhar Na Feinne, The higher the rock the greater the feat. "Thomh'se tu traigh 'us dorn-gulban Mor Chalum, Mor dhugh Chalum, An old sarcastic Barra song, levelled at a former factor there, who was famous for his yarns about his own feats of agility and strength. (a.) "Urrachagun" are the pins to which the halyards of a boat are fastened. (b.) "Na daraich," the boat, an old name, not now used.-A. A. C. Ach ga do thomhais am "buachaille" an traigh 's an dorn-gulban gu sgiolta cha b' ionan sin 's mar a dh-eirich dha'n Gharbh. D'uair chrom e cheann a dhianadh a chleas chuir am "buachaille" ghlaic an cul a amhcha 's thilg e sios leis a chreaig e. Dh-fhalbh Cuchullain a sin gu dol dhachaidh 's de thachair eir anns a ghleann ach lorg mhor-mhor duine agus brùit. Bha fhad agus a liad fhein an lorgan duine bha an deo'aidh na bruit agus mu dhe'inn lorg na bruit cha 'n 'eil fios de mheudac a bh'ann. Lean Cuchullain an da lorg mhor a bha seo fiach am faiceadh e de bu 's ciall daibh. D'uair bha e dol seachad gualain na beinne chunnaic e duine shios ri taobh an lochain agus tarbh aig eir oiric. Smeid an duine eir agus dh-eubh e ris. Bha eagal eir Cuchullain dol na choir ach coma co-dhiu chaidh e far an ro e. "Siuthad, cuidich mis" ors am fear mor. "Cha chuidich mi gos an cluinn mi de's aobhar dhuit mo chuideachadh iarraidh." "Innsidh mi sin dhuit. Tha mi o chionn sheac blianna toirst toirioc na taine bho m' bhrathair; ach mu'n tar mi dhol na dail tha easan agam, 's ga toirst uam. Ach cuidich thusa mi 's bithidh i againn marbh mu'n tig e agus tha cruach mhor mhoine thallad eir am bruich sinn i agus bithidh sinn na's treasa gu cath an déigh a h-ichidh." Mharbh am fear mor agus Cuchullain an tarbh agus dh-fhadaidh 'ad teine fo'n chruaich mhoine agus chuir 'ad an tarabh eir a muin ga rosladh. D'uair bha 'an rosladh bruich thoisich 'ad ri icheadh ach mu'n d' fhuair 'ad ach gle bheag icheadh dheth thainig brathair an fhir-mhoir eir am muin. Bha chraos fosgailt 's dhianadh a chridhe 's a ghruthan solust romh bhial. Sheas e ri tao' thall a bháigh 's shin an da bhrathair eir caitheadh nan sleagh eir a cheile. Shin Cuchullain ri cuideachadh an fhir mhoir bha eir a thaobh fhein ach cha tilgeadh [chuireadh] e 'shaighead treasa trian dha'n astar. Ruith e sin mu chuairst a' bhaigh agus shin e ri dochan an fhir mhoir o chul (reachadh e steigh fo gho'al), ann an cul nam bailc. Bha'm fear mor a faireacain tachas ri cul a chas agus thug e suil far a ghualain agus faicear Cuchullain. Bhuail e breab eir o thaobh a chuil agus tilgear Cuchullain a null gu tao' thall a bhaigh agus cait a mhi-sheala a phorst an do stad e ach gu'm b'ann an oiric an tairbh! Ach na fhuair easan a mhialainte tighinn as a sin cha d'fhuair duine riabh roimhe no na dheo'igh urrad. Cò-ris mhialaint a fhuair e, bhrist e chlaidh a tighinn as. Dh-falbh e sin, 's a chlaidh briste na dhorn. Bu tamailteach leis dol dhachaidh gu'n fhios nach saoileadh bean-an-teighe gur h-ann a gleac ri h-athair fhein a bhrist e 'n claidh. Thaghail e sin ann an ceardaich 'san dol seachad fiach am faigheadh e chlaidh eir a charadh. Bha cheardach lan dhaoine mar a bha chuile ceardach riabh 's a bhitheas. Shir e eir a ghobha chlaidh a charadh. "Cha chairich mi 's cha gha' e caradh gos an inns thu ciamar a bhrist thu e no gu de an gniomh gaisgich no an tapadh a rinn thu?" Cuir a mach na daoine mata (bha tamailt eir innseadh an la'ar na'n daoine gur h-ann ri linn dha bi ga thoirst fhein á oiric an tairbh a bhrist e chlaidh). Chuir an gobha mach na daoine. Ach dh-fhalaich nighean mhor mhungach rua leis a gho'a i fhein fo'n bhalg 's bha i g-eisdeac a chuile druideadh seanchais bha eadar a h-athair agus Cuchullain. "Cha'n ann ad' Chu Chullain bha thu 'n uair sin idir ach ad Chu adhriac ors ise ri linn dhi seanachas Chuchullain a chluinntinn. Siod Cuchullain a mach an dorust leis an tamailt. Cha do sheall e na dheo'igh 's cha d' fhuirich e ri sleagh no claidh. * * * * Treis an deo'igh seo thainig te do chlann a Challadair far an robh a Mhaoim Chruachain agus thug i comhairle oirre. "O na dh-fhairstlich an Donn-guaillionn eir gaisgich an t-saoghail cuir a nis fios eir reisemeid de bhoirionaich na h-Eirionn agus boirionnach 'na sinilear eir an ceann agus thoir la blair 'us baiteil do Chuchullain eir faiche-choraig agus bithidh mi fhein is mo dha phiuthair ga d' chomhnadh." Rinneadh seo. Chruinnich a Mhaoim Chruchain reisemeid do bhoirionnaich na h-Eirionn agus boirionnach na sinilear (? seanalair) eir an ceann agus chuireadh gu faiche choraig ad gu la blair as baiteil a thorist do Chuchullain. Chuala Cuchullain seo ach cha ro bheag no mhor a dh-umhail aige dhiu. Bha e dianadh gu'n cuireadh e fhein agus a ghille ri boirionnaich an t-saoghail. Rinneadh a seo la blair. Chaidh Cuchullain agus a ghille chun a bhial áth. Bha Maoim a Chruachain flein eir ceann a sluaigh. Bha Cuchullain ga'n leagail nam bătaichean a sios lis an t-struth gus an ro e toirst sgrios eir reisemeid an deigh reisemeid. Le teas na h-obrach thug e chlogad far a chinn agus leag e ri thaobh e. Thionndaidh a Mhaoim Chruachain a sin gu gnua ri Feannag, nigheann a Challadair, agus thuirt i rithe "Na'nn a brath mo chuid airm leigeil gu bas tha thu an deigh dhuit duais mhor a gha'ail uam ? Ghrad leum Feannag an rioc feannaig anns an speur agus thainig i nall's bhuail i eir seoladh anns an adhar o's cionn Chuchullain. Cha do chuir easan diu dhi-shaoil leis gu'm b'fheannag ghrannda ghlas i. Leig ise sios mionnach glaisein lan puisein eir a cheann ruisgte. Laidh siod eir an ionachain aigesan agus leig e osna ghointe bhais as. Tha mo nearst 's mo leirsin am threigsin, a dheo Laochaire caite bheil thu?" "Ri d' thaobh." "Cuir clach am laimh fiach gu de 'n euc a ni mi." laimh agus shad Cuchullain a chlach. Chuir Laochaire clach na "Am fac thu ca na bhuail a chlach a Laochaire?" "Bhuail an cul a chinn eir an dobhar-chu 's e eir strabh na fal' eir an ath. "An do mharbh mi e?" 66 "O mharbh dearbh ; gu cha'n eil sgrid ann-shaor e na raimh." "Tha sin ag innseadh gu bheil am bas agamsa. Bha e 's an dailgneac gu h-e sin a chiad euc 's an t-euc mu dheireadh a dhianainnse, cu 'mhar'adh. Tog thusa an claidh mor eir mo ghualain agus cuir an t-sleagh mhor fo m' uc. Saoilidh 'ad gu'm bith mi beo 's cha tig 'ad a nall eir an ath. Sinidh tus aiste gu Goll brathair mo mhathar agus innsidh tu dha mar thachair, ach fiach gu'n tiaruin thu do bheatha eir ra linn." Shin Laochaire mac Nearst a mach agus rainig e'n Fhinn-bha 'ad an Eirinn 's an am. "Seadh a Laochaire, ciamar a dh-fhag thu mo chaomh charaid Cuchullain," orsa Goll. "Bha e diana teigh ur dha fhein d'uair a dh-fhag mis, e." "O! Seadh! seadh! 'n ann mar seo a tha. Togaidh an goraiche 'n caisteal's ga'aidh an gliocaire comhnuidh ann.' Nach math gu'm foghnadh dhasan an seann talla bh' aig an Du'altach athair. Ach bithidh an oige 'san leom fuaighte ri cheile agus sin mar a dh-eirich do Cuchullain 's dha'n teigh ur tha e togail." "U! cha'n 'eil ann ach bothan beag, d'uair a laidheas e eir dhruim direach bithidh a shron 'sa ghath-droma." "Deart a thuirst thu mar sin ? 'S ionnan sin 's gu bheil mo chaomh charaid Cuchullain marbh.' "Cha tug mise guth eir bas-fhianuis sin orst fhein." "Cha tug thu 'ille mhaith's tu nach tug. Co eir am bu chruaidhe bas deagh mhaighstir no eir deagh ghille? Ach cha'n am seo gu fuireach 's Cuchullain na eigin." 'N am bhi dol seachad eir coille bhuain Goll tri ghadun chaola chruaidh agus chuir e siod eir bac ruithe Laochaire. "Seo" ors easan "cum sin gos an lion mis 'ad leis na cinn is docha leat fhein a bhi eir ghad." Thainig Feannag nigheann a Challadair a nall agus bhuail i eir seoladh o's cionn Chuchullain. Bha i tighinn na bu daine's na bu daine mar bhios na feannagun grannda'n comhuich gus mu dhireadh na laidh i eir a ghualainn dhios. "Tha'n t-suil a dunadh 's am bial a gròbadh 's faodaidh luc nan cleas tighinn a nall" orsa Feannag. Chrom Goll agus Laochaire le Faiche-choraig agus shin 'ad eir arm na Maoim Chruachain as an h-uair. Leig Laochaire ruith leis na gadan tri uairean. Thiondaidh Goll ris gu gnua. Ma bhios ceann a dhi nan tri ghad seo feumaidh do cheann fhein no mo cheann fhein dol eir a ghad ga lionadh. Seo d'uair a leig Laochaire ris do Gholl gun h-ruith a leig leis na goid. Thog 'ad a sin leo corp Chuchullain agus dh-amhlaiceadh e. Tha 'n sgial a mach. NOTE. The reciter is 76 years old. He was a joiner by trade, but failing health and sight disabled him from work for some years back. He is a descendant of, and is called after, Hector Macleod, the Uist bard, who so sweetly sung "Moch maduinn Cheitein's a cheo and who rendered good service to many who were out in the '45. The reciter says he heard "Toirioc Na Taine" 60 years ago from a Ruaraidh Rua Mac Cuithein, a native of North Uist, but who travelled in South Uist as a sort of catechist. This catechiser was a celebrated reciter and seanchaidh. He probably knew more ancient Gaelic poetry than any man of his day. The poetry and traditions of the Feinne were his principal themes, and these he always handled with much ability and acceptance to his ever varying yet ever admiring audience. Mac Cuithein gave much information about Gaelic poetry to Campbell, the author of ". Albyn's Authology" (?), and through Campbell's influence, Lord Macdonald, the present young lord's grandfather, gave Mac Cuithein a piece of land rent-free in N. Uist during the remainder of his life. son is grieve with the Misses Macdonald, Scolpaig, N. Uist, ach cha mhac mar an t-athair e. He has no old lore whatever. His Mac Cuithein, better known as "Ruaraidh Ruadh," died about fifty years ago. NOTES ON "TOIREACHD NA TAINE." We are indebted for the following valuable Notes on TOIREACHD NA TAINE" to Standish O'Grady, Esq., M.R.I.A. :— 66 This story begins with one of that series of feats by Cuchullin which in Irish are known as Maic-ghnìomhartha Chongculainn," or "Cuchullin's exploits while a boy. In the "Tain Bo Chuailgne," these doings are related round the camp fire to "Meadhbh Chruachna " and her husband Ailill, by Fergus Mac Róich and other warriors of Ulster who were then in the service, having left their own country in the matter of the sons of Uisneach, who had been killed whilst under the protection of Fergus. These exploits are narrated shortly after the setting out of the "Toireacht," in order to prepare Meadhbh of Cruachan and Ailill, and give them to understand what they might expect at Cuchullin's hands. In the Book of Leinster and other MSS., Culann, smith to Conchabhar Mac Neasa, King of Ulster, makes a feast for the latter. The King asks Cuchullin, whose name was at that time Sétanta Beag Mac Sualtaim, to join them. The boy says he will follow later. He does so, and is attacked by a famous "ár-chú” of Culann's outside the fort. Having taken with him his ball (liathroit, as a ball is still called at present,) and "caman" (word still in use, as is also the implement itself,) to beguile the way, he slays the hound |