Rob Donn (1)
Glen Golly, Glen Golly,
Glen Golly of the trees
Who could see it and not praise it,
Glen Golly of the trees
That’s the refrain of a famous
poem/song. Glen Golly is in the
Mackay Country. That’s in the north
of the Highlands. And who is the
poet? Well, none other than Rob
Donn – a very famous poet.
Rob was born in Allt na
Caillich, early in the Eighteenth
Century. Allt na Caillich is south of
Ben Hope. It’s close to Glen Golly.
But Rob was buried in Balnakeil
Cemetery. That’s in Durness, on the
shore.
Up the road from the cemetery,
there is a bookshop. I was on a trip
in the area last year. I went to look
at the cemetery. I saw Rob Donn’s
gravestone memorial. Then I went
up the road. I saw the book The
World of Rob Donn by Ian Grimble
on a shelf. I was wanting to buy the
book.
I put the book on the counter.
“I’m pleased to get this book,” I
said to the woman who was behind
the counter. She didn’t say anything.
“Particularly in this area,” I said.
“It’s just fitting.” The woman picked up the book.
She read the title – The World of
Rob Donn. “Rob Don – who was he
then?” she said. What could I say?
“Only the most famous person
ever to come out of here,” I said...
Fortunately, the children in
Tongue Primary School are more
familiar with Rob Donn. Many of the
pupils are in the Gaelic Medium
unit. And the others learn a bit of
Gaelic. Roddy MacLeod helps them
with the Gaelic. I mentioned
[named] Roddy in the Litir last
week. He was at one time a
fisherman in Kylesku.
I was in the Mackay Country in
the spring of this year. Roddy gave
me an invitation to go and watch the
pupils. They were singing songs.
Among those they sang was Gleanna
Gollaidh by Rob Donn.
Glen Golly, Glen Golly,
Glen Golly of the trees
Who could see it and not praise it,
Glen Golly of the trees
Rob Donn (1)
Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh,
Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh,
Cò a chì e nach mol e,
Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh.
’S e sin sèist aig dàn ainmeil. Tha Gleanna Gollaidh ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh. Tha sin ann an ceann a tuath na Gàidhealtachd. Agus cò am bàrd? Uill, cò eile ach Rob Donn – bàrd gu math ainmeil.
Rugadh Rob ann an Allt na Caillich, tràth anns an ochdamh linn deug. Tha Allt na Caillich gu deas air
Beinn Hòb. Tha e faisg air Gleanna
Gollaidh. Ach chaidh Rob a thiodhlacadh ann an cladh Baile na Cille. Tha
sin ann an Diùrinis, air a’ chladach.
Suas an rathad bhon chladh, tha
bùth leabhraichean. Bha mi air chuairt
anns an sgìre an-uiridh. Chaidh mi a
choimhead air a’ chladh. Chunnaic mi an
carragh-uaighe aig Rob Donn. An uair
sin chaidh mi suas an rathad. Chaidh mi
a-steach don bhùth. Chunnaic mi an
leabhar The World of Rob Donn le Ian
Grimble air sgeilp. Bha mi ag iarraidh an
leabhar a cheannach.
Chuir mi an leabhar air a’
chunntair. “Tha mi toilichte an leabhar
seo fhaighinn,” thuirt mi ris an tè a bha
air cùl a’ chunntair. Cha tuirt i guth. “Gu
h-àraidh anns an sgìre seo,” thuirt mi.
“Tha e dìreach iomchaidh.”
Thog am boireannach an leabhar. Leugh
i an tiotal – The World of Rob Donn.
“Rob Don – who was he then?” thuirt i.
Dè chanainn?
“Dìreach an duine a b’ ainmeile a
thàinig às a seo riamh,” fhreagair mi...
Gu fortanach, tha a’ chlann ann
am Bun-sgoil Thunga nas eòlaiche air
Rob Donn. Tha mòran de na sgoilearan
anns an aonad Ghàidhlig. Agus bidh
càch ag ionnsachadh beagan Gàidhlig.
Bidh Ruairidh MacLeòid
cuideachadh leis a’ Ghàidhlig.
Dh’ainmich mi Ruairidh anns an Litir an
t-seachdain sa chaidh. Bha e uaireigin na
iasgair anns a’ Chaolas Chumhang.
Bha mi ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh as t-earrach am-bliadhna. Thug
Ruairidh cuireadh dhomh dhol a
choimhead air a’ chloinn-sgoile. Bha iad
a’ gabhail òrain. Am measg na ghabh
iad, bha Gleanna Gollaidh le Rob Donn.
Gleanna Gollaidh, Gleanna Gollaidh,
Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh,
Cò a chì e nach mol e,
Gleanna Gollaidh nan craobh.
