14/03/2011
Tha litir bheag na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's short letter for learners is introduced by Ruaraidh MacLean.
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An Litir Bheag 305
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An Litir Bheag 305
Tha an dealbh BĂ s an Daimh ann an Gailearaidh NĂ iseanta na h-Alba. Tha e aâ sealltainn Cailean Fitzgerald. Tha Cailean aâ sĂ bhaladh beatha RĂŹgh Alasdair III. Bâ e Cailean an tĂčsair, a rĂšir beul-aithris, aig Clann âic Coinnich.
           Bha Clann âic Coinnich dĂŹleas do rĂŹghrean na h-Alba. Ach thug an cĂČigeamh Iarla ShĂŹophort, Uilleam MacCoinnich, taic do na Seumasaich. Bha sin anns aâ chiad ar-a-mach aca ann an seachd ceud deug is cĂČig-deug (1715). Chaill e an tiotal aige. Agus chaill e am fearann aige.
           CĂČig bliadhnâ deug Ă s dĂšidh sin, cheannaich Uilleam cuid dhen fhearann aige air ais. Nuair a thĂ inig treas ar-a-mach nan Seumasach ann am Bliadhna TheĂ rlaich, thug mac Uilleim, Coinneach, taic do RĂŹgh DeĂČrsa.
Ann an seachd ceud deug, seachdad âs a h-aon (1771) thuirt Coinneach ris an riaghaltas gun robh e deĂČnach rĂšisimeid GhĂ idhealach a thogail. Agus fhuair e an seann tiotal air ais â Iarla ShĂŹophort. Seachd bliadhna Ă s dĂšidh sin, chaidh an rĂšisimeid aige a thogail â na SĂŹophortaich.
           Chaochail Coinneach gun oighre fireann. Aig aâ cheann thall, fhuair a cho-ogha, Francis Humberston MacCoinnich, ceannas na fine. Bha Ăčidh mhĂČr aig Francis anns na h-ealain. Dhâiarr e air aâ pheantair Ameireaganach, Benjamin West, an dealbh mĂČr, BĂ s an Daimh, a dhĂšanamh.
Bha MacCoinnich ag iarraidh dealbh a shealladh gun robh Clann âic Coinnich treun agus dĂŹleas. ChĂČrd an dealbh ris an RĂŹgh. Mas e propaganda a bha ann, dhâobraich e.
An-ath-sheachdain, cuiridh mi crĂŹoch air an eachdraidh seo de BhĂ s an Daimh. Ach innsidh mi dhuibh an-drĂ sta dĂš thachair do Francis Humberston MacCoinnich. Nuair a bha e ĂČg, ghabh e fiabhras. DhâfhĂ g sin bodhar e. Cha robh cainnt mhath aige air sgĂ th sin.
Bha ceathrar mhac aige. Ach chaochail iad uile mus do chaochail esan. Nuair a chaochail Francis fhĂšin, bhĂ saich âNa SĂŹophortaichâ leis.
Agus thug a bhĂ s faidheadaireachd gu buil. Bâ e sin an fhaidhead-aireachd aig Coinneach Odhar. Thuirt Coinneach gun tigeadh na SĂŹophortaich gu ceann le bĂ s cinn-chinnidh a bha bodhar agus balbh.The Little Letter 305
The painting The Death of the Stag is in the National Gallery of Scotland. It shows Colin Fitzgerald. Colin is saving the life of King Alexander III. Colin was the progenitor, according to oral trad-ition, of the MacKenzie clan.
       The MacKenzies were loyal to the Kings of Scotland. But the fifth Earl of Seaforth, William MacKenzie, supported the Jacobites. That was in their rebellion in 1715. He lost his title. And he lost his land.
       Fifteen years after that, William bought some of his land back. When the third Jacobite rebellion came in âThe Year of Charlieâ (1745-6), Williamâs son, Kenneth, supported King George.
       In 1771 Kenneth said to the government that he was willing to raise a Highland regiment. And he got the old title back â Earl of Seaforth. Seven years after that, his regiment was raised â The Seaforth Highlanders.
       Kenneth died without a male heir. In the end, his cousin, Francis Humberston MacKenzie, got the chieftainship of the clan. Francis was very interested in the arts. He asked the American painter, Benjamin West, to paint the great picture The Death of the Stag.
       MacKenzie was wanting a picture that would show that the MacKenzies were bold and loyal. The King liked the painting. If it was propaganda, it worked.
      Next week, Iâll finish this history of The Death of the Stag. But Iâll tell you just now what happened to Francis Humberston MacKenzie. When he was young, he took a fever. That left him deaf. He had poor speech because of that.
       He had four sons. But they all died before he died. When Francis himself died, âThe Seaforthsâ [the name] died with him.
       And his death brought a prophecy to fruition. That was the prophecy of Coinneach Odhar (âThe Brahan Seerâ). Coinneach said that the Seaforths would end with the death of a clan chief that was deaf and dumb.Broadcast
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An Litir Bheag
Litirichean do luchd-ionnsachaidh ura. Letters in Gaelic for beginners.