Donald MacNicol facts for kids

The Rev. Donald MacNicol (Scottish Gaelic: Domhnall MacNeacaill; 1735–1802) was an important Scottish church leader and writer. He was a minister in places like Saddell and Lismore in Argyll, Scotland. Donald MacNicol is perhaps most famous for a book he wrote. It was called Remarks On Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey To The Hebrides. In this book, he shared his strong opinions about another famous writer, Dr. Johnson, and his book about traveling in Scotland.

Helping a Famous Poet

Rev. MacNicol was a big help to a well-known Gaelic poet named Duncan Ban MacIntyre. Duncan Ban MacIntyre couldn't read or write. So, Donald MacNicol wrote down over 6,000 lines of his poems. This helped to save many of Duncan Ban MacIntyre's amazing works for future generations.

A Poem of Love

Donald MacNicol is also remembered for a beautiful Gaelic poem he wrote. It was about lost love and was called "Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh." This means "My Eye is After You" in English.

The poem has a chorus that goes like this:

Ochoin a chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh"

A chailin, mo chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh

A Lili, mo Lili 's mo shùil ad dhèidh

Cha lèir dhomh am bealach le sileadh nan deur

In English, this means:

Alas, my girl, my eye is after you

Girl, my girl, my eye is after you

Lily, my Lily, my eye is after you

I can't see the mountain pass for the flowing of tears

Donald MacNicol wrote this poem when he was about 35 years old. He wrote it because he wanted to marry a young woman named Lillias Campbell. She was the daughter of a local landowner. Lillias was 17 at the time and had already agreed to marry her cousin, Captain Alexander Campbell. However, things changed, and Lillias decided to marry Rev. MacNicol instead. They got married shortly after her eighteenth birthday. They went on to have a very large family with sixteen children! This poem was later turned into a song. It is still a popular folk song in the Scottish Highlands today.