First two stanzas of a praise poem to Norman MacLeod of MacLeod, 20th chief of Clan MacLeod.
Gaelic songs and poems were sung and recited at gatherings or ceilidhs. Some bards also wrote down the verse they composed. The Harris poet Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, or Mary MacLeod, (1615 to 1707) had some of her work included in the so-called 'Eigg Collection' of 1776. This was the second book of Gaelic poetry to be printed.
Màiri became famous during her lifetime for her praise poetry, but her poems only appeared in print about 100 years after she composed them. Màiri’s poems celebrated the strength and bravery of her clan, the MacLeods, their battles, sea voyages and banquets. Pipers and harpists provided the music at banquets.
After her death, the famous piper Patrick Og MacCrimmon, hereditary piper to the MacLeods of Dunvegan, composed the 'Lament for Mary MacLeod' in her honour. Tradition has it that she was buried face down at her own request.
[Library reference: ABS.1.86.152, p. 30 to 31]
