Tales until Dawn/Sgeul gu Latha: The World of a Cape Breton Gaelic Story‑Teller.

TartesundfDawn

The World of a Cape BretonGaelic Story-Teller

Translated and edited by lohn Shaw

G a eli c - Engli sh E dition

foe Neil MacNeil Photo by Tom Ptacek

"A treasury of Gaelic lore unmatched - to my knowledge - by anyrecent collection in its scope and value ... clearly to become one of theclassics of Scottish Gaelic literature." Charles Dunn, HarvardUniversity

"The Cape Breton Gaelic oral tradition at its best ... a permanent

record of the depth and authenticity of that tradition, which was an

integral component of the life and culture of the Gaels of Cape Bretonfor seven generations." Margatet MacDonnell, author of The

Emigrant Expefience: Songs of Highland Emigrants in NorthAmerica

IvlcGill-Queen's Univetsity Press

r,$tt,

le Eds (Ebs Nill Bhig) MacNill

air ath-sgriobhadh, eadar'theangachadh's

a dheasachadh le

IAIN SEATHACH

Tnlesuntil lDawn

The World of a Cape Breton

Gaelic Story-Teller

]oe Neil MacNeil

Translated and edited by

IOHN SHAW

McGill-Queen's lJniversity Press

Kingston and Montreal

@ McGill-Queen's University Press 1987

ISBN 0-7735-0559-8 {cloth, English and Gaelic)ISBN 0-7735-0560-1 (paper, English only|

Legal deposit 3d quarter 1987

Bibliothdque nationale du QudbecPrinted in Canada

@

Printed on acid-free paper

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

MacNeil, |oe Neil.Sgeul gu latha : Tales until dawn

Text in Gaelic and English.

Issued also in an English-only edition, undertitle: Tales until dawn.

Bibliography: p.

ISBN 0-7735-0559-8 (bound, Gaelic-English)ISBN 0-7735-0550-1 (pbk., English only)

l. Folklore - Nova Scotia - Cape Breton Island.

2. Tales - Nova Scotia - Cape Breton Island.

3. Storytellers - Nova Scotia - Cape Breton Island.

4. Cape Breton Island (N.S.| - Social life and

customs. I. Shaw, John William. IL Title.III. Title: Tales until dawn.

GRI13.5.C35M261987a 398.2'09716'9 C87-093950-5

This book has been published with the help of grants from theCanadian Federation for the Humanities, using funds provided bythe Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,

from the Trust of Catherine McCaig and from MulticulturalismCanada.

Clir-Innsidh

FAcAL o'N tcnpr,n / xiv

CUID A H-AONSAOGHAL AN SGEULAICHE

Lathaichean antrs a'Rudha Mheadhonach / 2

Sgeulachdan'gan Aithris / 22

CUID A DHASGEULACHDAN'SA CHOIMHEARSNACHD

Na Ceanadaich / 4O

I Fear a' Chdta Liathghlais / 45

2 O Crdileagan nan Each / 563 iseadal Mae Righ nan Sealg, Dalta Fhinn / 60

4 Mar a Fhuair Osgar Ainm / 62

5 Osgar agus Mac a'Ltlin / 64

6 Fionn agus na Cathagan Coimheach'/ 56

7 Mt a Fhuair Conan Ainm / 66

8 Diarmaid agus Bean Chaol a'Chdt'Uaine / 68

9 Bis Dhiarmaid / 70

10 An t-Amhas Ormanach / 741l Iagan's a Mhaighstir /7412 Brid Mh6r Each / 90

Contents

AUTHoR's pnrre,cr / xv

AcKNowLEDcurNrs / xvi

rNTRoDUcrtoN / xvii

rurePs / xlii

PART ONE

THE WORLD OF THE STORY-TELLER

Middle Cape / 3

Stories and Story-Tellers / 23

PART TWO

THE RECITERS AND THE TALES

The Kennedys / 41

I The Man in the Light Grey Coat / 472 O Crdileagan of the Horses / 573 iseadal Son of the King of the Hunts, Fionn's Foster-Son / 61

4 How Oscar Got His Name / 63

5 Oscar and Mac a'Luin / 65

6 Fionn and the Strange Adversaries / 677 How Conan Got His Name / 678 Diarmaid and the Slim Woman in the Green Coat / 69

9 The Death of Diarmaid / 71

l0 The Amhas Ormanach / 75

11 fack and the Master / 7512 Great Brid of the Horses / 9l

viii CliLr-Innsidh i

13 Bis Cht Chulainn / 9614 An Righ agus an Searrach / 9815 An Cairteal a Thog Boban Saor / 11016 Boban Saor: Obair leis an Tii / ll417 Am Faca Sibh Mo Leithid Riamh / 114

Clann 'Illeain / 118

18 Duanach Mac na Banndraich / 12619 Fear nan Sgeulachd Fada / 13420 Mac Duine Liidir na Coilleadh / 1402l Am Boireannach a Fhuair na Brdgan mar Dhuais bho,n

Donas / 16022 Na Tri Snaoimeannan / 16223 Mar a Chaidh an Suiriche Sidhe a Mhealladh / 16824 An Oidhche a Bha i Sileadh na Lite / 16825 Cairteal Shruighle / 17426 An Spiocaire agus an Tilllear / I7527 Dithist Spiocairean / 180

Clann iosaig / 184

28 fackFury/ 18829 Am Fear a Fhuair na Tri Chomhairlean / 2O230 Am Ministear Diochuimhneach / 21031 Di-luain, Di-mdirt / 22032 An Turus a Chaidh Aonghus Maciosaig dha ,n Ghealuch / 22433 A'Mhuc Mh6r / 226

Clann'aclllemhaoil / 232

34 Nighean Righ na h-f,ipheit t ZZe35 An Dotair Birra / 24836 Nighean na Droch-Mhithar / 25037 An Gille, an Nighean'sa Chreathuill, agus am Fiinne / 25638 Mac na Banndraich agus na Robairean / 25839 An t-Eun Oir / 268

Aonghus MacCoinni ch/ 292

40 An Saighdear a Chaidh Deochan Uisge a Dhiiltadh Dha / 294

Eds Mac'Illeain / 302

4l L6ine an Duine gun Chtram / 302

ix Contents

13 The Death'of Ct Chulainn / 9714 The King and the Foal / 9915 The Castle That Boban Saor Built / 11116 Boban Saor: Working with the Adze / 11517 Did You Ever See the Like of Me / 115

The Macleans / 119

18 Duanach the Widow's Son / 12719 The Man with the Long Tales / 13520 The Strong Woodsman's Son / 141

21 The Woman Who Was Awarded a Pair of Shoes by theDevil / 151

22 The Three Knots / 16323 How the Fairy Suitor Was Tricked / 15924 The Night It Rained Porridge / 16925 Stirling Castle / 17526 The Miser and the Tailor / I7727 The Two Misers / l8l

The ll{aclsaacs / 185

28 fack Fury / 18929 The Man Who Received the Three Counsels / 20330 The Forgetful Minister / 2l I31 Monday, Ttesday /22I32 Angus Maclsaac's Trip to the Moon / 22533 The BigPig / 227

The MacMullins / 233

34 The King of Egyryt's Daughter / 23735 The Fair-haired Doctor / 24936 The Bad Mother's Daughter / 25137 The Lad, the Girl in the Cradle, and the Ring / 25738 The Widow's Son and the Robbers / 25939 The Golden Bird / 269

Angus MacKenzie / 293

40 The Soldier Who Was Refused a Drink of Water / 295

|oe Maclean / 303

4l The Shirt of the Man without Worries / 303

42

Clir{nnsidh

Iain ]}lacNill / 308

An Gille BeagaSguir dha'n Sgoil / 308

Bean Mhicheil'acNill / 315

Bodachan an t-Silein / 315An Sionnach, am Faol, 's an t-im / 318

Niall Caimbeul / 324

An Turus a Thug Boban Saor's aMhac / 324Mar a Fhuair Mac Boban Saor a Bhean / 326Boban Saor: Loighne na Cailc / 328

Ddmhnall MacNill / 330

Boban Saor: Aran Edrna agus Bainne / 330

Ruairidh MacNill / 334

Am Ballan a Thog Boban Saor / 334Gilleasbuig Aotrom agus a'Chearc / 336

Gun Urrainn / 340

Gilleasbuig Aotrom agus am Ministear Sitar / 340Gille M6r an Tuathanaich / 342

CUID A TRiBRIATHRAN BEOIL, SPORS IS EOLAS

Freagairtean Amasach agus Daoine Beinaidh / 360

Diarmaid MacCoinnich {Diarmaid Edin}/ 360Micheal Ddmhnallach (Micheal Raonaill 'ac Dhdmhnaill

oigl / 362Mirtainn MacAonghuis (Mirtainn Ruairidh Dhdmhnaill

Mh6ir)/ 354Alasdair Maciosaig ( Sandaidh'Illeasbu' Mh6ir) / 356Aonghus Maciosaig (Aonghus 'Illeasbu' Mir,i6irl / 366Iain Maciosaig (Iain'Illeasbu'Mh6ir) / 370Bean Ruairidh'ic iosaig (Anna Ruairidh Alleinl / 372Niall Maciosaig (Mac do dh'Anna Ruairidh Alleinl / 374

454647

4344

51

52

48

49

50

xi Contents

fohn MdeNeil / 3O9

42 TheYoung Lad Who Quif School / 3Og

Mrs Michael MacNeil / 317

43 The Little Old Man with the Grains / 31744 The Fox, the Wolf, and the Butter / 319

Neil Campbell / 325

45 The foumey Boban Saor Made with His Son / 32546 How Boban Saor's Son Found His Wife / 32747 Boban Saor: The Chalk Line / 329

Dan MacNeil / 331

48 Boban Saor: Barley Bread and Milk / 331

Roderick lYlacNeil / 335

49 The Tub That Boban Saor Built / 33550 Crazy Archie and the Hen / 337

Anonymous / 34I

5I Crazy Archie and the Minister Sutar / 341

52 The Farmer's BigLad / 343

PART THREE

WIT, LORE, AND PASTIMES

Repattee and Ready wit / 35I

Dermot MacKenzie (Diarmaid Edin) / 361Michael MacDonald (Micheal Raonaill'ac Dhdmhnaill

oig)/ 363Martin Maclnnis (Mirtainn Ruairidh Dhdmhnaill

Mh6ir|/ 355Alexander Maclsaac {Sandaidh 'Illeasbu' Ivlh6irl / 367

Angus Maclsaac (Aonghus''Illeasbu' lvlh6irl / 357

fohn Maclsaac (Iain'Illeasbu'Mh6irl / 37IMrs Roderick Maclsaac (Anna Ruairidh Ailein) / 373Neil Maclsaac (Mac do dh'Anna Ruairidh Ailein|/ 375

xll Clir-Innsidh

Ruairidh MacNill {Ruairidh lain'ic Ruairidh Ruaidhf / 374Eds MacNill (Eds Nill Btuel / 376Gun Urrainn / 378

Seanfhacail / 380

Gnith-ftacail / 384

Rannan dha'n Chloinn / 390

Na Cleasan / 394

Fios Leannain / 398

Manaidhean, Giseagan, is Di-Shealladh / 406

Taibhsichean is Bdcain / 420

Cedl is Dannsa / 426

Fidhleirean / 426Piobairean / zt32

Dannsaicheart / 435.

xiii Contents

Roderick MacNeil (Ruairidh Iain ,ic Ruairidh Ruaidh)/ B7Sfoe MacNeil {Eds Nil}Bhisl / 877Anonymous I 379

Proverbs / 381

Expressions / 385

Chil&en's Rhymes / 391

Traditional Games / 395

Mardage Premonitions / 899

Signs, $uperstitions, and Second Sight / 407

Ghosts and Apparitions / 421

Music andDance / 427

Fiddlers / 427Pipers / 433Danees / 437

Norrs / 443

sELEcr BrBLrocRApny / 479

AARNE-THoMpsoN TNTERNATToNAL FoLKTATs rvprs / 4g4

Facal o'n Ughdar

A luchd -leubh ai dh ghr d dh a ch

'S e ni a tha seo nach robh diil agam aig uair dhe'n t-saoghal guntachradh e a chaoidh, na sgeulachdan agus na seanachasan a th'anns anleabhar seo a bhith air an clo-bhualadh. Ach's fheudar dhomh innsedhuibh aig an am seo nach biodh e comasach dhomhsa a leithid sin abhith deante gu siorraidh mur b'e am brosnachadh's a'mhisneachagus am m6r-chuideachadh a fhuair mi bho'm charaid dileas IainSeathach; oir's esan a chunnaic iomchaidh agus cudthromach gumbiodh a leithid seo do leabhar air a chuir an drdugh, agus 's e thugdhomh a h-uile cuideachadh bha feumail timcheall air a'ghnothach.

Tha gach sgeulachd agus seanachas a th'ann air am faotainn bhomhuinntir ghasda, chdir nach eil maireann an diugh. 'S e mo mhianngun co-phiirticheadh sibh leam ann a bhith a'cuimhneachadh leaigneadh bhlith orra agus a' toirt m6r-urram dha'n luchd a choisinn i,agus gun mise a bhith air mo chunntais air ird-inbhidh idir, ach anurram agus an cuimhneachan m6r mar charragh-cuimhne a bhith aira'mhuinntir sin a bha ann anns an linn a dh'fhalbh agus a bha tilantaagus gasda, ciallach agus fialaidhle'n cuid sgeul; agus air gach aonmar an ceudna a bha biidheil rium anns a'ghluasad seo agus bha a'toirt misneach dhomh, agus gach aon a rinn cuideachadh ann andbigh neo air rud sam bith nach eil 'nam chomas aig an am seo bhith'ga ainmeachas. 'S e mo dhtrachd g,-tn cdrd an leabhar seo ribh uile'sgum faigh sibh m6r-thoileachadh as. 'S e sin a bheir toileachadhdhomhsa.

Eds MacNill, am Pdn Mtu 1986

Author's Preface

Dear Readers

A thing has happened which I thought would never come topass - that the folk tales and the items of Gaelic tradition thatare in this book should be published. But ftrst I must tell youthat this work could never have been realized were it not forthe encouragement and the constant help which I got frommy friend of long standing, )ohn Shaw. It was he who saw itfitting and important that this sort of publication be preparedand who gave me all the help that was neeessary.

Every story and item from our tradition here has come fromwonderful and kind people who are no longer living today. Itis my hope that you will share with me in remembering themwith great warmth and in respecting their achievements.Please do not regard me as deserving of any special praise butsee this book as a tribute to those living in times past whowere gifted, kindly and sensible, and generous with their storeof tales. I wish also to remember those people who werekind to me in the progress of this effort and who gave me thecourage to do it, as well as those who helped me in ways orwith things too numerous to name at this time. It is my wishthat you will all enioy this book and derive great pleasurefrom it, for that is what will give me the greatest happiness.

loe Neil MacNeil, Big Pond 1986