Ri Luinneig Mun Chro

Thugadh tiotal an leabhar 'Ri Luinneig mun Chro bho oran eilthirich a' cuimhneachadh le cianalas air seallaidhean agus fuaimean an aite san togadh e, nam measg luinneagan nam ban oga 's iad a' bleoghan nam bo. Airson iomadh linn, tha crodh air pairt gu math cudromach a chluich ann am beatha nan Gaidheal agus tha dualchas luachmhor de dh'orain agus sgeulachdan againn fhathast air sailleabh sin. A bharrachd air orain bleoghain, tha iomadh seorsa oran eile co-cheangailte ri crodh ann an Alba san leabhar seo, a dh'innseas sgeulachd inntinneach air cul faclan nan oran - orain mu dhrobhairean agus buachaillean calma ag obair ann an side nan seachd sian; orain a' moladh a' chruidh fhein no na daoine a bhiodh a' coimhead as an deidh shuas aig an airigh no aig a' bhuaile; rannan a sheallas luach nam beathaichean mar iomhaigh, mar tochradh, no mar airgead; orain mu gainnead de fearainn, fuadachadh agus eilthireachd; orain mu chreachadairean dana a' goid spreidh bho an nabaidhean no bho sgirean fad air falbh; orain agus orrachan airson spreidh a dhion bhon droch-shuil agus bho spioradan olc agus orain eibhinn naidheachail mu thrioblaidean le tarbh a' bhaile.Tha an caibideil mu dheireadh a' coimhead air mar tha cuid de na teamaichean seo air an gleidheadh chun an latha an-diugh ann an talaidhean socair, seimh. Tha faclan nan oran fhein rim faotainn ann an earr-radh aig deireadh an leabhair, le fiosrachadh air cait' an lorgar claraidhean no dreachan sgriobhte den fonn. Chaidh corra phort a chruthachadh cuideachd airson beatha ur a thoirt do chuid de na h-orain, nach eil fhathast gan gabhail is na fuinn aca air chall thar uine. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION The title of the book 'Ri Luinneig mun Chro' ('Singing round the cattlefold') is taken from a Gaelic song telling of the poet's fond memories of his homeland, including the evocative sound of young women singing as they milked the cattle. For many generations, cattle have played a very important role in various aspects of Gaelic life and culture and a rich heritage of song and story has survived with cattle as a prominent theme.In addition to many milking songs, the book includes a wide range of other songs and poems connected to cattle in Scotland and tells the fascinating story behind the lyrics - songs about valiant drovers and herdsmen working in difficult conditions; songs extolling the virtues of the cattle themselves or of the people tending them at the shieling or in the local township; poems which show the importance of cattle in economic terms, as a status symbol, unit of currency or dowry; songs about land poverty, de-settlement and emigration; songs about intrepid cattle thieves stealing livestock from neighbouring clans and from further afield; songs and charms to ward away evil spirits and protect livestock from the evil eye and humorous anecdotal songs about difficulties with the local township bull. The final chapter looks at how many of these themes have survived to the present day in beautiful, soothing Gaelic lullabies. The song lyrics themselves are included in an appendix at the end of the book, with information on where to find a recording or written version of the tune. Some new tunes are also included to bring new life into songs whose original tunes have been lost over time.