Cuilionn,

I am delighted ta hear of your interest. My edition was "Printed and Published in the Highlands of Scotland by the SUTHERLAND PRESS, GOLSPIE July, 1970; second impression - January 1972", according to the inside cover.

My great-great grandmother, in Nova Scotia, was a Sutherland. I'm wonderin' if there's a connection?

The full title page reads as follows:

"THE PROPHECIES OF THE BRAHAN SEER (COINNEACH ODHAR FIOSAICHE)

By ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, F.S.A.(Scot.)

With Modern Footnotes, Maps and Illustrations"

Also, it was "First Published by ENEAS MACKAY, STIRLING Revised Edition 1899"

Yes, I did buy it used. If it is out-of-print or you absolutely cannot find a copy anywhere, I will be happy to copy it for you and send it over. It is just over 100 pages long. we have a copy center here, which only charges one cent on Sundays, so I really would behappy to do that. NOT that I make a habit of copying other people's works! Just rare, unobtainable pieces and I've only done it once before.

The Brahan Seer prophesied the end of the Seaforth line with the demise of Francis Humberstone, Lord Seaforth and his four sons, more than a century before they died. The book includes the following by Scott:

LAMENT FOR "THE LAST OF THE SEAFORTHS"

In vain the bright course of thy talents to wrong
Fate deaden'd thine ear and imprison'd thy tongue,
For brighter o'er all her obstructions arose
The glow of the genius they cold not oppose;
And who, in the land of the Saxon, or Gael,
Might match with Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail?

Thy sons rose around thee in light and in love.
All a father could hope, all a friend could approve;
What 'vails it the tale of thy sorrows to tell?
In the spring time of youth and of promise they fell!
Of the line of MacKenneth remains not a male,
To bear the proud name of the Chief of Kintail.

And thou, gentle Dame, who must bear, to thy grief,
For thy clan and thy country the cares of a Chief,
Whom brief rolling moons in six changes have left,
Of thy husband and father and brethren bereft;
To thine ear of affection, how sad is the hail
That salutes thee -the heir of the line of Kintail!

Na 'm biodh an t'earball na bu ruighne bhiodh mo sgialachd na b' fhaide."

The "i"s in "bhiodh" and "fhaide" are supposed to have umlauts over them, but I couldn't figure it out on my PC.

The tombs of the Seaforths are in "the disused Fortrose Cathedral - The Chanonry of Ross".

From the book, with a photo, "Chanonry Point, on the Black Isle, where the Seer was burned to death in a tar barrel. The course of the road has altered during this century (20th), but the stone on the golf course is said to mark the spot of his execution."

I am beginning to study correct pronunciation of Gaellic thanks to a Mudcat link. May I ask a question of you, though, until I know more? What is the correct way to pronounce your name? My son's name is Colin and I would be interested to know if yours is the Gaellic spelling of his name.

I have no problem reading your postings and in fact really enjoy them, as I was raised on Burns, Scott, etc. and my father was apt to go on in the same vernacular, as he grew up with his Crawford grandparents, from Nova Scotia, and heard it all of his life in Colorado.

Thanks for writing!

Ciaran,

I am not familiar with the work you mentioned. Please tell me more about it, where I can find it, etc. I will check the DT when I get this posted. Thanks very much!

Katlaughing