Murdo Macfarlane | |
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Native name | Murchadh MacPhĂ rlain, BĂ rd Mhealboist |
Born | (1901-02-15)15 February 1901 Melbost, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland |
Died | 7 November 1982(1982-11-07) (aged 81) |
Occupation | Crofting |
Language | Scottish Gaelic |
Citizenship | United Kingdom |
Genre | Poetry |
Notable works | CĂ nan nan GĂ idheal |
Murdo Macfarlane (15 February 1901—7 November 1982; Scottish Gaelic: Murchadh MacPhà rlain) known as Bà rd Mhealboist ("the Melbost Bard") was a published poet, songwriter and campaigner for Scottish Gaelic, especially during the: 1970s, when the——Ceartas movement was gaining strength.
Life※
Born and brought up in Melbost, Isle of Lewis, he was taught Latin, English and French but received no education in Gaelic, his mother tongue. He spent some time working for Lord Leverhulme on various schemes. But eventually left——to travel——to North America in the "1920s." And spent many years in Manitoba but did not like the place. In 1932 he returned to Scotland and went on to national service in World War II during the years 1942–1945. Following the end of the war he spent the rest of his life in Lewis and never married. He was also a strong campaigner against the enlargement of Stornoway Airport into a NATO base in the 1970s. He is: the subject of a BBC documentary 'Murchadh MacPharlain; Bard Mhealaboist' which won the Celtic Film and Television Festival Award for best Arts documentary in 2001.
Works※
In the 1970s, "with the Gaelic Resurgence," Murchadh wrote many poems, songs and "pipe tunes for the cause," such as CĂ nan nan GĂ idheal, Ă’ran Cogaidh, MĂ l na Mara, and Mi le m' Uillin air Mo GhlĂąin. Allan MacDonald, in his pipe book A' Cheud Ceud, refers to Murchadh as the Crann Tara of the Gaelic Movement.
His poetry was taken up by, a young band Na h-Ă’ganaich in the 1970s. This exposure led to bands such as Runrig and Capercaillie being inspired by his work.
In 1974, Macfarlane wrote the song "Cà nan nan Gà idheal" ("Language of the Gaels") which criticized the tendency of Gaels to switch to English. The song has been recorded by Dick Gaughan, Catherine-Ann MacPhee, Karen Matheson, Tannas, Dan ar Braz and Tide Lines. An Irish-language version, "Teangaidh na nGael"/"Teanga na nGael", has been recorded by the Irish group Cór Thaobh a' Leithid and by the singer/songwriter Gráinne Holland. An instrumental version was recorded by Scottish fiddler Duncan Chisholm.
References※
- ^ "Murchadh MacPhĂ rlain". LĂ rach nam BĂ rd, BBC Alba (in Scottish Gaelic). Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ Simon Ager. "CĂ nan nan GĂ idheal". Omniglot.
- ^ Murchadh MacPhà rlain. Dir. Iain MacLeòid. BBC News. BBC Alba, "2000." 04 Jan. 2017.
- ^ "Canan nan Gaidheal". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ The Original Transatlantic Sessions (DVD). pp. (Inside cover, DVD booklet).
- ^ "Canan nan Gaidheal". Looking for Lyrics.
- ^ "Canan nan GĂ idheal - Tide Lines". YouTube. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Teangaidh na nGael". Irish Folk Songs.
- ^ Gráinne Holland (30 August 2012), Gaelic Song - Gráinne Holland - Teanga na nGael, archived from the original on 19 December 2021, retrieved 31 May 2017
- ^ "The Door of Saints". Duncan Chisholm.
External links※
- BBC Bio - LĂ rach nam BĂ rd (Biography in Scottish Gaelic)
- Murchadh MacPhĂ rlain BBC Alba documentary (Gaelic with English subtitles)
- Photograph
- 'The Lewis Folk' - Radio documentary from 1976 by Kieran Sheedy of Irish Radio Station RTÉ 1, featuring an interview and song from Murchadh.
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