The word 'Loireag'
What is a
loireag
? According to Dwelly’s dictionary, it means a handsome, shaggy cow, a
small plump girl and a pancake. And two other things in addition – a
petrel (a type of seabird) and a water-nymph or water-sprite.
I want to tell you about the final ones – the
loireag as a supernatural creature, as was reported in Carmina Gadelica.
A
loireag
at one time lived next to the Beinn Mhòr in South Uist. There was also
an old man living there. The
loireag would suck the milk from his cow. His daughter tried to chase the
loireag
away. But she failed. She returned home. She told her father that the
loireag and the cow were not listening to her.
The old man went to the door. He was swearing at the
loireag
and the cow. He threw a large stone at the loireag. But he missed her
and hit the cow. He nearly killed the cow.
He took hold of the cow’s horn. In the name of the gentle Columba, he
asked the cow to leave. Columba’s name was powerful. The
loirea g jumped away from the cow. And the cow jumped away from the
loireag.
The
loireag
fled to Coire Choradail north of the mountain. She started to sing.
Here is what she sang:
Speckled female calves, Speckled female calves, Speckled female calves,
a storm in the deer-rut time.
Little old man from the base of the corrie, Little old man from the base of
the corrie, Little old man from the base of the corrie, Coradal and
Craigeo.
Little old man of the short coat, Little old man of the short coat, Little
old man of the short coat, Circeadal and Cragabhig.
Little old man from the base of the pass, Little old man from the base of
the pass, Little old man from the base of the pass, Strength to your hands,
I wish well for your health, Speckled, female calves.
It’s interesting to look for the place-names in the songs on the map.
Coradal is there. But I didn’t find Circeadal, Craigeo and Cragabhig.
And I don’t know what happened to the loireag. As far as I know, she was
never seen again.
An Loireag
Dè tha ann an loireag? A rèir faclair Dwelly, tha e a’ ciallachadh bò
eireachdail mholach, caileag bheag reamhar agus bonnach no breacag. Agus dà
rud eile a bharrachd – ‘petrel’ (seòrsa de dh’eun-mara) agus ‘ water-nymph’ no ‘water-sprite’.
Tha mi airson innse dhuibh mun fheadhainn mu dheireadh – an loireag mar
chreutair os-nàdarrach, mar a chaidh aithris ann an Carmina Gadelica.
Bha loireag uaireigin a’ fuireach làimh ris a’ Bheinn Mhòir ann an Uibhist
a Deas. Bha cuideachd bodach a’ fuireach ann. Bhiodh an loireag a’ deoghail
a bhà. Dh’fheuch a nighean ri teicheadh a chur air an loireig. Ach cha
deach leatha. Thill i don taigh. Dh’inns i do a h-athair nach robh an
loireag no a’ bhò ag èisteachd rithe.
Chaidh am bodach chun an dorais. Bha e a’ mionnachadh air an loireig agus
air a’ bhò. Thilg e clach mhòr air an loireig. Ach chaill e i agus bhuail e
a’ bhò. Cha mhòr nach do mharbh e a’ bhò.
Ghreimich e air adharc na bà. Ann an ainm Chaluim Chille chaoimh, dh’iarr e
air a’ bhò falbh. Bha ainm Chaluim Chille cumhachdach. Leum an loireag air
falbh bhon bhò. Agus leum a’ bhò air falbh bhon loireig.
Theich an loireag gu Coire Choradail tuath air a’ bheinn. Thòisich i air
seinn. Seo na sheinn i:
Laoigh bhreaca bhoireann, Laoigh bhreaca bhoireann, Laoigh bhreaca
bhoireann, Doinnean anns an Dàmhair.
Bhodaich bhig à bun a’ choire, Bhodaich bhig à bun a’ choire, Bhodaich
bhig à bun a’ choire, Coradal agus Craigeo.
Bhodaich bhig a’ chòta ghearra, Bhodaich bhig a’ chòta ghearra,
Bhodaich bhig a’ chòta ghearra, Circeadal agus Cragabhig.
Bhodaich bhig à bun a’ bhealaich, Bhodaich bhig à bun a’ bhealaich,
Bhodaich bhig à bun a’ bhealaich, Treise dha do làmhaich, Mealam dhut
do shlàinte, Laoigh bhreaca bhoireann.
Tha e inntinneach a bhith a’ coimhead airson nan ainmean-àite anns an òran
air a’ mhapa. Tha Coradal ann. Ach cha do lorg mi Circeadal, Craigeo no
Cragabhig.
Agus chan eil fhios a’m dè thachair don loireig. Fhad ’s as aithne dhomh,
chan fhacas tuilleadh i.
