Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1: III. Labour. Oibre: 100. Herding Blessing. Beannachadh Buachailleachd

BEING a pastoral people, the Highlanders possess much pastoral poetry. The greater part of this is secular with fragments of sacred poetry interspersed. The herding runes are examples of these purely pastoral poems. They are sung by the people as they send their flocks to the pastures, or tend them on the hills, glens, or plains. The customs vary in details in different districts, but everywhere is the simple belief that the King of shepherds watches over men and flocks now as of old--'the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.'

When a man has taken his herd to the pasture in the morning, and has got a knoll between himself and them, he bids, them a tender adieu, waving his hand, perhaps both hands, towards them, saying:--

'Buachailleachd Bride dh’ an tan,
Buan is slan dh’ an till sibh.

Munachas Mhuire Mhathar dhuibh,
Luth is lan gun till sibh.

The herding of Bride to the kine,
Whole and well may you return.

The prosperity of Mary Mother be yours,
Active and full may you return.

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'Cumraig Chalum-chille ma’r casaibh,
Gu mu slan gun till sibh dachaidh.

'Micheal min-gheal righ nan aigheal
D’ur dion, ’s d’ur gleidheadh’s d’ur comhnadh.

'Comraig Dhe is Dhomhnach dhuibh
Gum faic mise no mo chroilean sibh.

Cobhair Choibhi dhuibh.

Siubhal coire, siubhal coille,
Siubhal comhnaird fada sola.
Buachailleachd mhin na Moire
Bhith mu’r cinn ’s mu’r com ’s mu’r cobhair.'

The safeguard of Columba round your feet,
Whole be your return home.

Be the bright Michael king of the angels
Protecting, and keeping, and saving you.

The guarding of God and the Lord be yours
Till I or mine shall see you again.

The help of Coivi to you.

Travelling coire, travelling copse,
Travelling meads long and grassy,
The herding of the fair Mary
Be about your head, your body, and aiding you.

When these patriarchal benedictions are intoned or chanted, and the music floats over moor and loch, the effect is charming to the ear of the listener.

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p. 273

COMRAIG Dhe is Dhomhnuich dhuibh.
Comraig Chriosd a chomhnuidh dhuibh,
Comraig Charmaig ’s Chaluim-chille,
Comraig Chairbre, falbh ’s a tilleadh,
Is comraig Airighil oirghil oirbh,
Comraig Airighil oirghil oirbh.

Comraig Bhride mhuime dhuibh,
Comraig Mhoire bhuidhe dhuibh,
Iosa Criosda, Mac na sithe,
Righ nan righre, muir is tire,
Is Spioraid siochaint, suthainn, dhuibh,
Spioraid siochaint, suthainn, dhuibh.

THE keeping of God and the Lord on you,
The keeping of Christ always on you,
The keeping of Carmac and of Columba on you,
The keeping of Cairbre on you going and coming,
And the keeping of Ariel the gold-bright on you,
The king of Ariel the gold-bright on you.

The keeping of Bride the foster-mother on you,
The keeping of Mary the yellow-haired on you,
Of Christ Jesus, the Son of peace,
The King of kings, land and sea,
And the peace-giving Spirit, everlasting, be yours,
The peace-giving Spirit, everlasting, be yours.

BEANNACHADH BUACHAILLEACHD [100]

HERDING BLESSING