The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169829   Message #4105972
Posted By: GUEST,Felipa
13-May-21 - 09:49 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Thogail Nam Bo
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Thogail Nam Bó,
"speech" should be spelled "speach". As used in these verses, it means a hoofed animal, in this case cattle.

Carmina Gadelica includes something similar
https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cg2/cg2119.htm

'Thaine na Cait oirnn,
Thaine na Cait oirnn,
Thaine na Cait oirnn,
Thainig iad oirnn!

A bhristeadh a steach,
A thogail nan creach,
A spuilleadh nan speach,
A struilleadh nan each,
A rusgadh nam meach,
Thainig iad oirnne!'

The Cats have come upon us,
The Cats have come upon us,
The Cats have come upon us,
They have come upon us!

To break in upon us,
To lift the spoil,
To steal the kine,
To strike the steeds,
To strip the meads,
They have come upon us!

(Standard modern Gaelic for Thaine is Thainig)

Re the pipe tune McFarlane's Gathering (also McFarlane's Lantern):
https://www.pipesdrums.com/wp-content/docengines/8D0ED330C50842C9910964F3298D24D4.pdf

"‘Fionn’ noted in his ‘Celtic Scraps’ column in the Oban Times (07/06/1890, p.3) in response to a correspondent requesting information on the Clan Macfarlane:
‘They are known in Gaelic as “Clann Pharlain.” Their war-cry is 'Lochslòigh' (Lochsloy), and their 'gathering' or 'cruinneachadh' is 'Togail nam bò.' Sir Walter Scott in one of the notes to 'Waverley' has the following reference to this 'gathering':--'The Clan Macfarlane occupying the fastnesses on the western side of Loch Lomond were great depredators on the low country, and as their excursions were made by night, the moon was proverbially called their lantern or buat. Their celebrated pibroch of ‘Hoggie nam bo,’ which is the name of their gathering tune, intimates similar practices, the sense being:-
We are bound to drive the bullocks,
All by hollows, hirsts and hillocks,
Through the sleet and through the rain.
When the moon is beaming low,
On frozen lakes and hills of snow,
Bold and heartily we go
And all for little gain. ' "

ten minute documentary about the MacFarlanes

I like the Seudan recording of Thogail nam Bó, link given in the previous message.

Here is yet another recording Griogair Labhruidh - Thogail nam Bó