Ri Luinneig mun Chr?? Crodh ann am Beatha agus Dualchas nan G??dheal

Thugadh tiotal an leabhar Ri Luinneig mun Chr? bho ?ran eilthirich a' cuimhneachadh le cianalas air seallaidhean agus fuaimean an ?ite san togadh e, nam measg luinneagan nam ban ?ga 's iad a' bleoghan nam b?. Airson iomadh linn, tha crodh air p?irt gu math cudromach a chluich ann am beatha nan G?idheal agus tha dualchas luachmhor de dh'?rain agus sgeulachdan againn fhathast air s?illeabh sin.

A bharrachd air ?rain bleoghain, tha iomadh se?rsa ?ran eile co-cheangailte ri crodh ann an Alba san leabhar seo, a dh'innseas sgeulachd inntinneach air c?l faclan nan ?ran - ?rain mu dhr?bhairean agus buachaillean calma ag obair ann an side nan seachd sian; ?rain a' moladh a' chruidh fh?in no na daoine a bhiodh a' coimhead as an d?idh shuas aig an ?irigh no aig a' bhuaile; rannan a sheallas luach nam beathaichean mar ?omhaigh, mar tochradh, no mar airgead; ?rain mu gainnead de fearainn, fuadachadh agus eilthireachd; ?rain mu chreachadairean d?na a' goid spr?idh bho an n?baidhean no bho sg?rean fad air falbh; ?rain agus orrachan airson spr?idh a dh?on bhon droch-sh?il agus bho spioradan olc agus ?rain ?ibhinn naidheachail mu thrioblaidean le tarbh a' bhaile. Tha an caibideil mu dheireadh a' coimhead air mar tha cuid de na t?amaichean seo air an gl?idheadh chun an latha an-diugh ann an t?laidhean socair, s?imh.

Tha faclan nan ?ran fh?in rim faotainn ann an e?rr-r?dh aig deireadh an leabhair, le fiosrachadh air c?it' an lorgar cl?raidhean no dreachan sgr?obhte den fonn. Chaidh corra phort a chruthachadh cuideachd airson beatha ?r a thoirt do chuid de na h-?rain, nach eil fhathast gan gabhail is na fuinn aca air chall thar ?ine.

ENGLISH SUMMARY

The title of the book Ri Luinneig mun Chr? ('Singing round the cattlefold') is taken from a Gaelic song telling of the poet's fond memories of his homeland, including the evocative sound of young women singing as they milked the cattle.

For many generations, cattle have played a very important role in various aspects of Gaelic life and culture and a rich heritage of song and story has survived with cattle as a prominent theme. In addition to many milking songs, the book includes a wide range of other songs and poems connected to cattle in Scotland and tells the fascinating story behind the lyrics - songs about valiant drovers and herdsmen working in difficult conditions; songs extolling the virtues of the cattle themselves or of the people tending them at the shieling or in the local township; poems which show the importance of cattle in economic terms, as a status symbol, unit of currency or dowry; songs about land poverty, de-settlement and emigration; songs about intrepid cattle thieves stealing livestock from neighbouring clans and from further afield; songs and charms to ward away evil spirits and protect livestock from the evil eye and humorous anecdotal songs about difficulties with the local township bull. The final chapter looks at how many of these themes have survived to the present day in beautiful, soothing Gaelic lullabies.

The song lyrics themselves are included in an appendix at the end of the book, with information on where to find a recording or written version of the tune. Some new tunes are also included to bring new life into songs whose original tunes have been lost over time.