The Oban Times, 24 August, 1901
Songs of Lorn
Cruachan-Beann
With reference to the version of this song given in a recent issue, a grand-daughter of Patrick McIntyre, author of the song, writes to say that his family were of the Glenetive McIntyres, and that they resided in Glenoe before going to Letterwood, Lochaweside. Glenoe and Letterwood are both referred to in the song. It is said that there were ten sons and four daughters in the family. Patrick, one of the sons, and author of “Cruachan-Beann,” was born and brought-up at Leitir-beann, a wooded slope near Lochawe, and he was for about fifty years parochial school master at Auchnacarron, near Kilchrenan. He composed a number of Gaelic songs, of which the one best known is “Cruachan-Beann.” The following are the words of the song is sung by the author:–
Cruachan-beann ‘s e cho mòr,
Tha e sònraichte r’a fhaicinn,
Cha’n’eil a leithid ‘s an Roinn-Eòrp’,
‘S geal a chòta ‘n àm sneachda.
Cloinn-an-t-Saoir g’am bu dual
‘Bhi ‘n ad chluanagan fasgach,
Bhai ad uair a’ seòl thar chuan
‘S fhuair iad buaidh air le ‘n gaisge.
‘S iomadh lìnn bho’n fhuair iad còir
Air a’ Ghleann a’s bòidhch’ ri fhaicinn,
‘S cho fad ‘s a ruitheas uillt gu cuan
Bidh an dualchas ud aca.
Fine ‘s duineala gun ghruaim,
‘S iomadh buaidh mhath ‘tha’n taic riu;
‘S mairg a theannadh orra dlùth
‘N àm ‘bhi dùsgadh nam batailt.
‘S iomadh blàr ‘s an d’fhuair iad buaidh;
‘N àm dol suas gu’m bu bhras iad,
‘S an Ceann-cinnidh air an ceann
‘Toirt command do na gaisgich.
‘N Leitir-beann chaidh m’`arach òg,
Deas thìr bhòidheach nam badan;
Gheibhteadh fiadh ann air an t-sliabh,
‘S earbag riabhach anns gach glae dheth.
Aite ‘s maisiche fo’n ghréin
‘Chaoidh cha léir dhomh r ‘a fhaicinn:
Leis gach seòrsa ‘tha ‘s an fhonn
Feadh gach tom ‘s air gach stacan.
Fichead mìle tha mu’n cuairt
Anns a’ Chruaich ud ‘tha maiseach,
Agus trì dhiubh air àird’:
‘S iomadh bàrd a ghabh beachd ort!
Soraidh nis le Cruachan-beann
‘S leis gach coire ‘s gleann ‘tha’n taic ris!
‘S e mo dhùrachd Cloinn-an-t-Saoir
‘Bhi chòmhnuidh air gach taobh ‘n a fhasgadh!
