Ailean a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill facts for kids

Allan The Ridge MacDonald (born 1794 in Allt an t-Srathain, Lochaber, Scotland – died April 1, 1868, in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada) was a talented bard (poet and storyteller), a traditional singer, and a seanchaidh (a keeper of old stories and history). He moved from the Gàidhealtachd (Gaelic-speaking Highlands) of Scotland to Nova Scotia in 1816. Allan continued to write Gaelic poetry in Canada. He is a very important person in both Scottish Gaelic literature and Canadian Gaelic literature. Along with John The Bard MacLean, he is one of only two 19th-century North American Gaelic poets whose many works still exist today.

His Family History

Allan a' Ridse, as he was known in Gaelic, came from a noble Scottish family, the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch. This is similar to other famous Gaelic bards like Iain Lom and Sìleas na Ceapaich.

His family line goes back to Alistair Carragh Macdonald, the first Chief of Keppoch. Through him, Allan could even trace his family to Scottish King Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce's granddaughter, Princess Margaret, married John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, and she was Alistair Carrach's mother.

The first tacksman (a person who leased land from a clan chief) of Bohuntine was Iain Dubh MacDhòmhnaill. He was born in the early 1500s. His father was Raghnall Mòr, the 7th Chief of Keppoch. Iain Dubh's mother was a weaver from Clan Cameron.

During the Battle of Boloyne in 1554, against Clan Cameron, Alexander MacDonald, the 8th Chief of Keppoch, was hurt. Iain Dubh MacDhòmhnaill of Bohuntine then took charge of the Keppoch forces. He led them to defeat the Camerons and their Chief.

For many years, Iain Dubh's family, the tacksmen of Bohuntine, were called Sliochd an Taighe ("The Family of the Household") and Sliochd na Ban-fhigich ("The Family of the Weaver-Woman").

After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the land of Clan MacDonald of Keppoch changed hands. It became owned by landlords who were becoming more English in their ways. One landlord, Sir Aeneas MacIntosh, was known for forcing MacDonalds off their land. He replaced them with people from Clan MacIntosh. This was part of the Highland Clearances, which caused many people to leave their homes or move away. Allan's son, Alasdair a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill, later wrote that the best singers and storytellers left Scotland, especially from Lochaber.

Despite these changes, Allan a' Ridse wrote a poem called Sliochd an Taighe. He composed it in Nova Scotia, on the Ridge of Mabou. In this poem, Allan proudly listed the brave history of his ancestors. He spoke of their courage in battles like Boloyne in 1554 and the Battle of Mulroy in 1688. He also mentioned their loyalty to the House of Stuart during the English Civil War and the Jacobite risings. Allan ended his poem by saying that the House of Hanover (the ruling family) was lucky the Scottish Gaels made peace with them. He believed the Hanoverian monarchs owed their victories in wars against France to the Gaels.

At that time, writing clan praise poetry in Gaelic was not common anymore. But Allan a' Ridse was different. His poem, "resounds with the martial ardour of past centuries." It showed the strong influence of war poetry from bards like Iain Lom and Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair.

Even though the clan system was broken after the Battle of Culloden, Allan a' Ridse felt it was his job as a Bard. He wanted to remind his people of their brave past. He hoped this would encourage them to keep the Gaelic language and their traditions alive.

Allan a' Ridse was also related to the Roman Catholic priest and poet Fr. Allan MacDonald of Eriskay. They shared ancestors from the tacksmen of Bohuntine. Both are very important figures in Scottish Gaelic literature. Historian Effie Rankin said that Fr. Allan MacDonald and Allan a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill are "the foremost Keppoch bards of the nineteenth century."

Early Life in Scotland

Allan MacDhòmhnaill was born in Allt an t-Srathan, Lochaber, in 1794. His mother, Mairi ni'n Dòmhnall 'ic Iain Duibh, was from Clan Campbell. Allan's father, Alasdair Ruadh mac Aonghas 'ic Alasdair Bhàin, was a descendant of the Bohuntine tacksmen. After moving to Canada, Alasdair Ruadh MacDhòmhnaill became the ceann-taigh (Chief Representative) of the MacDonalds of Bohuntine.

Alasdair Ruadh MacDhòmhnaill (died 1831) was a cattle drover. He lived near the River Spean. People say Alasdair Ruadh was also a good Gaelic poet, but none of his poems are known to exist today.

When he was young, Allan worked as a shepherd. He worked for a relative named Iain Bàn Inse. Later, Allan wrote a poem criticizing Iain Bàn, calling him "one who renounced the traditions of kinship."

In a later poem, Moladh Albainn Nuaidh ("In Praise of Nova Scotia"), Allan a' Ridse described how hard life was for working people in Scotland. This poem has been compared to later poems that supported the Highland Land League, which fought for land rights.

Until the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, there was a high demand for beef. So, Allan's father, Alasdair Ruadh, likely had a good income as a cattle drover. However, after the Battle of Waterloo, the economy became very difficult. Many soldiers returned to Lochaber, competing for food, land, and jobs. This, along with the constant threat of eviction, is why Alasdair Ruadh MacDhòmhnaill decided to move his whole family to Nova Scotia in 1816.

Journey to a New Land

We don't know the exact ship they took, but they sailed from Aberdeen. Their ship was one of five that arrived at the port of Pictou in 1816.

When he was just 22, Allan a' Ridse wrote a poem about his family's journey to the New World. The poem, Tighinn do dh' America ("Coming to America"), was set to a traditional tune. Effie Rankin described it as "a remarkable song which resonates with the dynamic energy of sailing ships and stormy seas."

A family story, written down by Mary A. MacDonald, tells of a dangerous adventure. The year after they arrived in Pictou, the MacDonald family hired a small boat called a shallop. They wanted to sail across the Northumberland Strait to Port Hood, Cape Breton.

On October 31, 1817, near Arisaig, Nova Scotia, a strong snowstorm blew their boat off course. Everyone except Allan was below deck. Just before being swept overboard, Allan grabbed a loom (a weaving tool). Holding the loom and gripping his plaid (a type of blanket) with his teeth, he swam to the shore of Cape Breton. The other passengers and crew also made it to shore. Local people welcomed them and gave them food like potatoes, herring, and tea.

Life on The Ridge

Like other Roman Catholic Gaels from Lochaber, the MacDonald family settled on a homestead near Mabou, Nova Scotia. This area was known as an Ridse ("The Ridge"). Allan lived there for over thirty years and continued to write Gaelic poetry. His descendants still use "The Ridge" in their name.

Allan and other MacDonalds on The Ridge enjoyed writing Òrain magaidh ("Mocking songs"), which are satirical poems.

One such poem is Òran Dhòmhnaill Mhòr ("Big Donald's Satire"). Allan a' Ridse wrote it about a local man from Bornish, South Uist. This man was known for being a coward and not very good-looking. He was beaten in a fight and then ran from the police after cheating a merchant.

Allan a' Ridse used sharp sarcasm to make fun of Big Donald. He also mocked the usual style of Scottish clan praise poetry. He pretended to praise Big Donald, saying he was as brave as the Jacobite Army at the Battle of Culloden. He jokingly added that famous heroes like Cuchulain, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Fionn Mac Cumhail could not match Big Donald in a fight.

Another satirical poem was aimed at the local black bears. Guns were rare, so bears often stole from the pioneer families in Mabou. People feared and hated them. Allan a' Ridse is thought to have written Aoir a' Mhathain ("The Bear's Satire") after an event at his brother's farm.

One evening, his brother, Dòmhnaill, saw a bear taking one of his sheep. Dòmhnaill, armed only with an axe and a burning stick, chased the bear. He threw the stick at the bear's head and buried his axe in its rear. The bear dropped the sheep and ran away, but Dòmhnaill's axe, a valuable tool, was lost. Months later, the rusted axe was found in a pile of animal bones.

In response, Allan a' Ridse used the power of satirical poetry. He hoped it would magically drive the bears away from Mabou. He based his poem on an old tradition of "rat satire" in Scottish Gaelic literature, which was believed to get rid of pests. Allan cursed the bears for their stealing and told them to leave Mabou for the United States. He urged the bears to steal everything they could from the Yankees of New England. This poem is known for its strong, angry words.

After he wrote this poem, people heard strange music from the nearby forest. This was seen as a bad sign. Because of this, Allan and the other MacDonalds on The Ridge stopped writing satirical poetry. That is why only two of Allan a' Ridse's satirical poems are known today.

In 1841, the first Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Alexander MacDonald, came to Mabou. He became a leader and supporter of poets. Fr. MacDonald was also related to the MacDonalds of The Ridge.

Moving to Antigonish

In 1846, there were several bad harvests. These were caused by the same plant disease that led to the Great Irish and Highland potato famines. One day, Allan was clearing land and burning brush. He saw a horse-like shape in the smoke. Seeing a vision of a horse or headless rider was traditionally a sign of a family death in Cape Breton. Because of this, Allan and his wife, Catriona MacDonald, joined many other Gaels moving from Mabou to Antigonish County. Allan sold their farm for £250 to his close friend and fellow poet, Aonghas mac Alasdair. This farm was later called Baile Bhàird ("The Farm of the Poet").

Allan a' Ridse disagreed with Bishop William Fraser's decision in 1841 to introduce a new rule in the Diocese of Arichat.

Despite his disagreement, Allan was very sad when Bishop Fraser died in 1851. Allan a' Ridse wrote a poem called Cumha do' n Easguig Friseal ("Lament for Bishop Fraser"). In this poem, Allan used traditional images of a Highland clan mourning their Chief. He adapted them to show Catholic Gaels mourning their Bishop.

His Family Life

Allan a' Ridse married Catherine MacPherson around 1822. She was the daughter of Muireach MacPherson of Bohuntine. They had seven sons and two daughters. Sadly, four of their children died young. Their oldest son, Alasdair a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill, was born on the Ridge of Mabou in 1823. He also became a well-known Canadian Gaelic poet, Traditional singer, and Seanchaidh.

His Final Days

According to his family's stories, Allan a' Ridse wrote his last song, Òran do dh' Aonghas mac Alasdair, while he was dying. During his illness, Allan had a dream. In the dream, he and his close friend and student, Aonghas mac Alasdair, were singing a Gaelic song together. It was called An cluinn thu mis' a charaide? ("Do you hear me my friend?"). Allan then wrote a new song to the same tune, dedicating it to Aonghas mac Alasdair. Allan encouraged his young friend to continue the traditions of a Highland Bard. He also asked him to pass these traditions on to younger people. Allan hoped to see his friend again "before Beltane" (an old festival). But this did not happen.

Allan a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill died from a serious illness on April 1, 1868, at age 74. People say that just before he died, he felt a bit better and recited a final poem:

"Ged tha mi fàs nam sheann duine

Gun gabhainn dram is òran!"

"Though I am become an old man,

I can still handle a drink and a song!"

His Lasting Impact

Historians Natasha Sumner and Aidan Doyle say that Allan The Ridge MacDonald and John The Bard MacLean are the only 19th-century North American Gaelic Bards whose many works still exist. Unlike John The Bard MacLean, who wrote down and published his own poetry, Allan The Ridge MacDonald was known as a poet and Seanchaidh, but he did not write down his works.

Allan The Ridge's Gaelic poems were shared by speaking and singing them. We have them today mainly because of Canadian Gaelic scholar Rev. Alexander MacLean Sinclair (1840–1924). He convinced Allan's son, Alasdair a' Ridse MacDhòmhnaill, to write down everything he had learned from his father. Alasdair a' Ridse often wrote, "Sin mar a' chuala mis' aig m' athair e", which means, "This is how I heard it from my father."

Alasdair a' Ridse wrote down so many traditions from Lochaber and his father's Gaelic poetry. The famous poet Sorley MacLean later said that Rev. Sinclair "had no need to come or to write to Scotland, as there was in Nova Scotia a great Seanchaidh, Alexander MacDonald of Ridge."

Allan the Ridge's grandson, Angus The Ridge MacDonald (1866–1951), lived his life on the family farm. He also became a legendary Canadian Gaelic traditional singer and keeper of traditions. Starting in 1937, Angus The Ridge MacDonald's collection of Gaelic songs, stories, and oral literature was recorded by many researchers.

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  Allan The Ridge MacDonald