Here are the Gaelic words to ‘The Dark Island’, this translation done
By Iain Aonghas MacLeoid/John Angus Macleod. John Angus won the bardic
Crown at the Mod in Stirling in 1971 and this is taken from his book:
Na Freumhan Thug Dhomh Cothrom Fas. The book also contains Gaelic versions
Of Flower of Scotland, The first time I ever saw your face, A red red
Rose, Bridge over Troubled water, Mull of Kintyre, Isle of Arran
As well as many others he has written himself. He’s said it’s OK for
Me to post this here.
An t-Eilean Dorcha
Air taobh thall a’ chuain seo bu mhiann leam bhith ‘n drasd’,
Far eil smuaintean an ait’ ud gham tharraing gach la,
Far eil fraoch cubhraidh alainn air beanntan a’ fas
Tha direadh ard, ard os cionn an Eilean Dhorcha.
Seisd (chorus)
O Eilein bhig m’oige, ‘s ann riut tha mo mhiann,
sinn a’ fagail tir-mor ‘s a’ cur curs’ chun an Iar;
gheibh mi solas an anam nach d’fhairich mi riamh
on a’ chiad latha dh’fhag mi ‘n t-Eilean Dorcha.
On chuan thig an oiteag cho socair don ob,
A’ cur failt’ air an allt ruith gu traigh bhuidhe oir,
Far an cluinn mi gach la aighear ‘s gair’ aig clann og —
‘s e mo bhoid a chaoidh nach fhag mi ‘n t-Eilean Dorcha.
O sheud Innse Gall, tha thu sealltainn do luach
Ri boillsgeadh grein samhraidh chuir oidhche gu ruaing;
‘s truagh nach robh mi mar fhaoileig a’ saor-shiubhal cuain —
Gura luath bhithinn taobh ri m’Eilean Dorcha.
(c) John Angus Macleod 1989
John Angus also runs the Gaidhlig aig deas group — Scottish Gaelic
In the south. For more info on GAD or a copy of any of his books, you
Can contact him at: 5 Berkeley Crescent, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5SH.
If you do write to him, it would be useful if you could mention my name —
I’m trying to persuade John Angus to get onto the computer network and
This might be an interesting exercise in showing him the value of
Being on the network when it comes to spreading Gaelic news.