Lyr Add: Camanachd Ghlaschu (The Glasgow Shinty)

Subject: Lyr Add: Camanachd Ghlaschu (The Glasgow Shinty)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 24 Jan 21 - 07:45 PM

Camanachd Ghlaschu
(The Glasgow Shinty)

Song written in 1876 by Mary MacPherson (1821-1898), known as Màiri Mhòr nan Òran (Big Mary of the Songs)

Printed in her publication:
Da`in agus o`rain Gha`idhlig (Gaelic poems and songs), Mary MacPherson, 1891, pp.183-186

A song about a famous shinty match played at Queen's Park in the south side if Glasgow on New Year's Day 1876.



"Camanachd Ghlaschu"

curfa:
’S iad gillean mo rùin a thogadh mo shunnd;
’S i seo a' Bhliadhn’' Ùr thug sòlas duinn;
’S iad gillean mo rùin a thogadh mo shunnd.

’S iad gillean mo ghràidh tha ’n Glaschu nan sràid –
Is fhada bho àit’ an eòlais iad.

’S ann goirid ron Challainn a chruinnich an comann,
’S a chuireadh an iomain an òrdugh leoth’.

Nuair thàinig an t-àm, gun chruinnich na suinn,
’S bha caman an làimh gach òigeir dhiubh.

Aig aon uair deug a rinn iad an triall,
Le pìob, ’s bu bhrèagh’ an còmhlan iad.

Nuair ràinig na sàir gu ionad a’ bhlàir,
Gun chuireadh gun dàil an òrdugh iad.

Bha glainneachan làn dhen Tòiseachd a b’ fheàrr,
Is aran is caise còmhla ris.

Bha bonnaich gun taing is pailteas dhiubh ann,
’S clann-nighean nan gleann gan còcaireachd.

Nuair roinneadh na laoich ’s a ghabh iad an taoibh,
Bha mis’ air an raon toirt còmhdhail dhaibh.

’S e ’n sealladh as brèagh’ a chunnaic mi riamh,
Gach òigfhear gun ghiamh, ’s a chòta dheth.

Gach fleasgach gun mheang ’s a chaman na làimh,
’S a chnapag le srann ga fògar leo.

Bha cuid dhiubh cho luath ri fèidh air an ruaig,
’S cha chluinnt’ ach “A-suas i, Dhòmhnaill!” leoth’.

’S ann ann a bha ’n ealain le glagadaich chaman,
’S gach curaidh cur fallais is ceòthain deth.

Bha duine gun chearb le siosacot dearg
’S cha bhiodh am boc-earba còmhla ris.

Fear eile gun ghiamh ’s a chiabhagan liath,
Chuir “taigh” i bhàrr fiacail mòran diubh.

’S e duine gun tùr nach faiceadh le shùil
Gu robh iad bho thùs an òige ris.

Nuair chuireadh am blàr, gun choisich na sàir
Le pìob gu Sràid an Dòchais leoth’.

Suidhibh, a chlann, is gabhaidh sinn rann,
Gun cuirear an dram an òrdugh dhuibh.

Gun dhealaich na suinn mar thàinig iad cruinn
Len cridheachan coibhneil, ’s b’ òrdail iad.



"The Glasgow Shinty"

Chorus:
These are the lovely lads to lift my spirits;
This is the New Year that made us happy;
These are the lovely lads to lift my spirits;

My dear lads are in the streets of Glasgow,
They are far from the home they know.

The society met shortly before Hogmanay,
And the shinty match was set in order.

When the time came, the lads gathered,
And every young man had a shinty stick in his hand.

At eleven o'clock they made the journey,
With pipes, they were in fine style.

When the heroes arrived at the battlefield,
All was set for them.

Glasses were full of the best Ferintosh (whiskey),
Accompanied by bread and cheese.

There were creels of bannocks and plenty of them,
Cooked by the girls of the glen.

When the heroes divided and took to the pitch,
I was there alongside to talk tactics.

It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen,
Each young man, his coat off and each flawless youth.

Each young man with a shinty stick in his hand,
With the ball whizzing away from them.

Some were as fast as deer on the chase,
And all you could hear were cries of "Up with her, Donald!"

What skill, with a clatter of shinty sticks,
Each hero bathed in sweat and rising steam.

There was a faultless young man in red,
Your roe-buck couldn’t keep up with him,

And another grey bearded veteran,
Landed a goal right in the teeth of the opposition.

You’d be daft not to realise,
This is what they were raised with.

When the battle was fought, the heroes marched out,
To the sound of the pipes to Hope Street.

So, have a seat, lads, let’s sing a song,
And we’ll have the drams fixed up for you.

The heroes headed off then as they had gathered,
Hearts full and on best behaviour.

---------------


In November 1875, at a meeting in Hope Street, Glasgow, Comunn Camanachd Glaschu (The Glasgow Shinty Association or Club) was established under the auspices of the Glasgow Highland Association, membership being open only to members of that Association.

The shinty for which this song is sung was held by the Glasgow Shinty Club on Old Style New Year's Day 1876, in Queen's Park.
It was a Saturday morning and about fifty met on Hope Street, home of the Glasgow Highland Society, and walked to Queen's Park led by a piper, MacArthur.
The match was played between teams with thirty players a side, one lot in the kilt, the other in knickerbockers.
The result was a revenge win from the previous year for the Glasgow Gaels against their Greenock compatriots.
When the match finished the players marched home to the sound of the pipes to Hope Street.

---------

Letter written by Mary MacPherson to a friend, John MacLean in Bernisdale, Skye, describing the preparation of the night before the game. Page 183 of her publication (translated):

“Were I as wealthy as I am poor I would give a pound sterling to have you where I am tonight, in the Highlander's Great Hall in Glasgow; my sleeves rolled up to my shoulders, blinded with perspiration as I prepare and bake bannocks for the Hogmany lads; the President of the place is seated surrounded by three score shinty sticks, getting them ready for tomorrow.
We are going tomorrow to Queen's Park, three score gallant Highland lads; thirty in the kilt and thirty in knickerbockers with their sticks on their shoulders, pipers before and after them, and I with a horse and cart full of creels of bannocks, kebbocks of cheese as big as the moon, and a drop of ferintosh to put spirit in the lads"

---------

NEW YEAR 1876, QUEEN’S PARK, GLASGOW.
Shinty owes its first ever match report to a woman. From preview through live commentary to post-match analysis and celebration, Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, big Mary MacPherson of the songs, was the ultimate fan. She was the songwriting champion of the Gaels in Glasgow and unashamedly an admirer of the ‘young men’, as well as a major protagonist in the campaign against the Highland Clearances.


.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Camanachd Ghlaschu (The Glasgow Shinty)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 24 Jan 21 - 07:50 PM

Camanachd Ghlaschu
(The Glasgow Shinty)

Recordings

Artist: Mary Ann Kennedy
Album: Glaschu: Home Town Love Song (2019)


Artist: Catherine Ann Macphee
Album: sings Mairi Mhor (1994)
A short version of the song.

.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Camanachd Ghlaschu (The Glasgow Shinty)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Jan 21 - 10:27 AM

GUEST,Rory,

You have the bases covered. This may be of use. If not then simply ignore it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/orain/camanachd_ghlaschu/

The page can be viewed in either Scottish or English.