Beagan Eachdraidh

A rèir Martainn Martainn (td.249) is iad na Dòmhnallaich an clann-cinnidh as sine agus is e ceann-cinnidh nan Dòmhnallach fear a thàinig ann an loidhne dìreach bho Shomhairle, Tighearna nan Eilean. Ann an 1608 bha aig cinn-cinidh ri an ainm a chur ri Reachdan Eilean I agus rinn Dòmhnall Gorm Mòr Shlèite sin mar a rinn a h-uile ceann-cinidh eile. Bho seo a-mach bhiodh aca ris a’ mhac a bu shine (a bhiodh a’ gabhail thairis mar cheann-cinidh) a thoirt gu foghlam ann am Beurla aig deas ‘gus am fàsaidh iad sìobhalta’. “...the island chiefs pledged themselves to help to restore order, to maintain justice, to refrain from attacking each other and to submit all differences to arbitration” (MacKenzie a rèir: MacNeacail td. 71, 72). Ann an 1622 chaidh a chur ris gun robh aig Dòmhnall Gorm Mòr ri fuireach aig Caisteal Dùn Tulm (td. 73) agus bha na Dòmhnallaich an sin fhathast ann an 1725 (td. 138). Ged a dh’fhàs esan sìobhalta gu dearbh chan ann fada an dèidh seo is a bha Clann ‘ic Dhòmhnaill air taobh nan Seumasach mar a bha Dòmhnall a’ Chogaidh agus athair cuideachd. Is coltach gun robh filidh aige fhathast:

“Sir Dòmhnall a’ Sleit’
Ceannard nan ceud
Ceansgallach treun ro-ghlic.”

“Sir Donald of Sleat
A chieftain o hundreds
Masterful, mighty and exceedingly wise.”

(Watson. Gaelic Songs of Mary MacLeod. a rèir: MacNeacail td. 136).


Agus cha b’ ann fada bhuaithe a bha clann ‘ic Dhòmhnaill a’ sàbaid air taobh nan Seumasach. Ann an 1715 bha clann ‘ic Dhòmhnaill faisg air Sruighlea ann am blàr Sheriffmuir an aghaidh feachd aig an robh deagh eòlas ann an armachd fo General Whethman. “When the command was given to begin the battle, the Highlanders, in the traditional fashion, having discharged their muskets, threw these weapons away, together with their bonnets and plaids, as mere impediments. Carrying swords and dirks only, they rushed with wild yells on the foe. Nothing human could withstand that furios onset and Argyle’s left was broken under the strain and thrown into wild confusion” (td.137-138). Seo an turas mu dheireadh a bha Clann ‘ic Dhòmhnaill a’ sàbaid còmhla mar chlann-cinidh. Cho fad ‘s a bha prìos na ceilpe àrd, mar a bha sna fichead bliadhna aig toiseach an 19mh linn, bha na croitearan luachmhor gu leòr dha na h-uachdaran. Nuair a thòisich na factaraidhean a’ cleachdadh alkali na h-àite thuit na croitearan ann am bochdainn uabhasach. Chuir iad buntàta san talamh – cha robh taghadh eile ann airson an teaghlach air fad a chumail beò. Agus ann an 1846, bliadhna a ghàiseadh a bhuntàta, bha goirt uabhasach ann. Air là na nollaige, 1846, thàinig buidheann a chur an riaghaltas air bhonn gu ceann a deas an Eilein. A bharrachd air goirt chunnaic iad fiabhras dubh, fiabhras a’ chaolain agus a’ bhuinneach-mhòr. Seo na chunnaic iad san àite seo agus chan eil fada bhuaithe: “’I found the father lying on the floor,’ he said, ‘ on a wisp of dirty straw, the bedclothes, or rather rags of blanket, as black nearly as soot, his face and hands of the same colour, never probably having been washed since he was laid down. The whole aspect of the man, with his hollow features and sunken eyes, and his situation altogether, was such as I had never beheld before. In a miserable closet, beyond the kitchen where the father lay, I found the rest of the family, four daughters from about eleven years of age to seventeen, all crammed into one small bed, two at one end and one at the other; the rags of blanket covering them worse, if possible, than those of the father; their faces and persons equally dirty, the two youngest having no night clothes of any kind. One of those poor girls was very ill and was not likely to recover’” (Hunter. td. 80-82). Nan robh cuideigin ann an Slèite m.e. le 85 bliadhna a dh’aois dh’fhaodadh e a’ bhith eòlach air cuideigin (is dòcha a shìn-sheanar) a bha beò aig an àm seo! Is coltach gun do shabhail am Mòrar MacLeòid na mìltean ann a bhith a’ toirt obair dhaibh. Ach bha an ceathramh Mòrar MacDhòmhnaill gu math coma mu bhochdainn nan daoine aige. B’ fheudar do mhuinntir na sgìre eadar 30 is 40 mìle a shiubhail gach seachdain gus biadh fhaighinn bho bàta an riaghaltais a bha na laighe ann am Port Rìgh. Bho chionn ‘s nach robh feum dhan mhòrar air na croitearan tuilleadh chaidh am fuadach mar a thuirt ministear Shlèite le “heartless cruelty” (Hunter. td. 83).
... to be continued ...

creag

Creag an fhèilidh an Tròndairnis (dealbh le Andreas Wolff)

air ais