It's a Deal!	Siud Eadar-iomlaid!
Is fhada bho chaidh freumhan Ceilteach gillean cruidh Ameireagaidh air dhìochuimhne. Ach as t-samhradh nochd dealbh chiùil ùr, "Plaids and Bandanas", aig a' chòmhlan folk Cèilidh Ménage a dh'innseas le seinn, sgeul is slaidhd mun dàimh eadar eachdraidh fhada dròbhan na h-Alba is dròbhan a' Wild West. Air dha a' chuirm a thoirt mun Ghàidhealtachd agus chun na Breatainn Bige, rinn ball de ChLI sa chòmhlan Rob Giobsan an geàrr iomradh seo do Chothrom. Tha sinn a' dèanamh togail ris a' chlàr!	The Celtic roots of the American Cowboy have long been overlooked. But this summer saw a new show, "Plaids and Bandanas", by the folk group Cèilidh Ménage telling in songs, stories and slides of the links between the long droving history of Scotland and the trails of the Wild West. After taking the show around the Highlands and to Brittany, CLI and band member Rob Gibson gave Cothrom the following summary. A CD is eagerly awaited!
Tha an dàimh eadar dròbhairean na Gàidhealtachd is gillean cruidh Ameireagaidh 'na raon torach air son eilthireachd a' chiùil Cheiltich a rannsachadh. Tha i sealltainn gun deach cultar a' chruidh, a bha cho cudthromach ri mòran de dh'Alba is de dh'Èirinn bho ro Chrìost gun 19 linn, a thoirt a-null gu raointean farsaing Ameireagaidh is Canada leis na Gàidheil a bha 'nan ciad ghillean cruidh, na dròbhairean.	The links between the Highland drovers and the Wild West cowboys is fertile soil for studying the diaspora of Celtic music. They show that the Celtic cattle culture which dominated much of Scotland and Ireland from the pre-Christian era to the 19th century was transferred to the Great Plains of America and Canada by the very Highlanders who were the first real cowboys, the drovers.
Anns an t-sreath ùir seo, bidh sinn a' toirt sùil aithghearr air ainmean-àite a thèid an cur nar beachd leis na diofar stèiseanan, a' tòiseachadh le Inbhir Nis fhèin agus an sin a' dèanamh gu deas air Peairt. 'S iad na stèiseanan air an t-slighe Drochaid Chàrr, An Aghaidh Mhòr, Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich, Bail Ùr an t-Slèibh, Dail Chuinnidh, Blàr Athall, Baile Chloichridh agus Dùn Chailleann is Braonan.	In this new series, we'll being taking a brief look at place-names suggested by the various stations, starting with Inverness itself then heading south towards Perth. The intervening stations are Carrbridge, Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Dalwhinnie, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry and Dunkeld & Birnam.
Sann a uaislean nan cinnidhean a thàinig iad, agus an uair sin as na preantais malairt a thòisich mar ghillean phònaidh, a' ruith an tòir air na dròbhan. Cha bu bhog an t-oideachadh a' coiseachd casruisgte chun na h-Eaglais Brice - cha bu bhog neo a' bheatha aig Teacsanaich Slighe an t-Siosalaich.	Such men sprang from the clan gentry and later from the apprentice entrepreneurs who started as pony boys, running after the herds. Walking barefoot to Falkirk to learn the trade was a hard life - no harder than that of the Texans on the Chisholm Trail.
Bha "Coir a' Choille", Iain Camshron a Drochaid Ruaidh sa chiad leth dhen 19 linn, 'na eisimpleir gun samhail de dhròbhair Gàidhealach. Dh'obraich e air na dròbhan fad lethcheud bliadhna agus bha 20,000 caora aige aig aon àm. Chuireadh e a luchd ionaid a thional crodh a coimhearsnachdan sgapte mus iomaineadh e mìltean a chrodh gu deas, agus ri ùine a dhà uimhir a chaoraich. A' siubhal dusan mìle san latha chaidh iad bho ionaltradh gu ionaltradh is fasadh as t-samhradh is as t-fhoghar gach bliadhna. A Cataibh gu Carlisle, agus bho Fhèilltean Chraoibh is na h-Eaglais Brice gu feurach reamhrachaidh Norfolk.	"Coirechoille", John Cameron of Roybridge who flourished in the first half of the 19th century, was an outstanding example of a Highland drover. He worked on the droves for fifty years and owned 20,000 sheep at one time. He would send lieutenants to gather cattle from far-flung communities and drive on south with thousands of head of cattle, and later twice as many sheep. By twelve mile daily stages they moved from grazing to grazing and cattle stances in the summer and autumn of each year. From Caithness to Carlisle, and from the Crieff Tryst and Falkirk Tryst on to the fattening pastures of Norfolk.
Tha luaidh air obair is linn nan dròbhairean ann an cuid bheag a dh'òrain Albannach. Chaidh an t-seann bheannachd do chrodh seo a thional le Alasdair Macillemhìcheil an Uibhist a-Deas [Aithisg Coimisean Napier, Iar-fhacal A xcix, d478]:	A small number of Scots songs celebrate the work and times of the drovers. This early Gaelic blessing for cattle was collected by Alexander Carmichael in South Uist [Napier Commission Report, Appendix A xcix, p478]
Faodaidh ainmean Gàidhlig "Inbhir" a chall, mar ann an Lìte - ach ma chaill, tha ceàrn an seo air a bheil Inbhir Lìte [Inverleith]. Tha cuid a dh'Inbhirean eile dìreach rim faighinn san traidisean Ghàidhlig, me, Inbhir Pheofhara(i)n [Dingwall], no tha iad nan tionndaidhean bho "-mouth", me, Inbhir Ghrainnse [Grangemouth].	Gaelic names can also lose "Inbhir", as in Lìte [Leith] - though even here there is a local area called Inbhir Lìte [Inverleith]. Other Inbhirs exist in the Gaelic tradition only, eg Inbhir Pheofhara(i)n [Dingwall], or derive from a translation of "-mouth", eg Inbhir Ghrainnse [Grangemouth].
Siubhal beinne, siubhal baile Siubhal gu rèidh fada farsaing Buachaille Mhic Dè m'ar casaibh Guma slàn a thig sibh dhachaigh... Comraich Dhia agus Chaluim Chille Bhith m'ar timcheall a' falbh 's a' tilleadh Agus banachaig nam basa' mìngheal Brìghde nan òr chiabh donn.	Travel moorland, travel township travel gently far and wide the Son of God's herd about your feet I wish you come home safe... the protection of God and Columba encompass your going and coming and the dairymaid with the smooth white palms St Brighid of the clustering hair, golden brown.
Thuirt Iain MacAonghais de Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba gum b'ann cha mhòr 'na aonar a bha "Òran nan Dròbhairean" ann a bhith toirt iomradh air tilleadh aighearach nan dròbhairean sna gleanntan iomallach, an coltas calma is an giùlan cocanta dhen bhreacan [Scottish Studies Rola 9 dd189-204, 1965]:	John MacInnes of the School for Scottish Studies said that the Gaelic "Drovers' Song" was almost unique in describing the joyful arrival of the drovers in the remote glens, their sturdy appearances and their jaunty wearing of the belted plaid [Scottish Studies Vol 9 pp189-204, 1965]:
S cha b'i [briogais] Ghalld' a chuireadh stad Air lùths 'nur cas le banntaichean Nuair thigeadh sibh air thòir nam mart Mus tigeadh tart an t-samhraidh orr' Ach breacan ciatach nam ball fialaidh A bha riamh mar shamhl' agaibh An t-osan geàrr 's am fèileadh beag 'S chan fhaic sibh caitheamh choingeis aig'.	You wore not the Lowland breeks that curb the vigour of the leg with fastenings when you would come to collect the cows before they suffered the summer drought but the splendid ample plaid that was ever your emblem, the short hose and the kilt and and you won't countenance poor exchange for it.
Air a thional ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh an 1943, tha a ghrunn riochdan uile a' comharrachadh òran a deireadh na h-18 linn, le tùs na bu shine. Aithnichear am fonn air a' Ghalldachd mar "Wat ye wha I met yestreen". Tha sin a' comharrachadh co-sheilbh air fuinn le seinneadairean Gàidhealach is Gallda. 'S dòcha gun do chuir an t-ùghdar feum air fonn a chòrd ris na dròbhairean. Bha e cuideachd air a chleachdadh ann an Ros an-Iar air son bàrdachd Uilleim Rois, a Geàrrloch aig deireadh nan 1790n.	Collected in North Sutherland in 1943, its several variants all point to a late 18th century song with deeper antecedents. The tune is known in the Lowlands "Wat ye wha I met yestreen". That points to common tune ownership between Gaelic and Lallans singers. Perhaps the composer used a melody which the drovers would have heard and liked. It was also used in Wester Ross to set Gaelic poems by Uilleam Ross, of Gairloch in the late 1790s.
Tha grunn òrain, leithid "Broom o' the Cowden Knowes", a-mach air buachailleachd is an uair sin fuadach. Agus tha òran nuadh, "Trysting Fair at Falkirk" le Brian MacNèill, a' cuimhneachadh àm beothail beathail ann an Alba a thàinig gu ceann le lìonraidh nan rèilichean.	Many songs such as the "Broom o' the Cowden Knowes" celebrate herding and subsequent banishment. And a modern song, Brian McNeill's "Trysting Fair at Falkirk", celebrates a vibrant and vital era of Scottish life which was ended by the network of the railways.
Thug e trì seachdainean gus Ameireagaidh ruigheachd san 18 linn. Thàinig mòran theaghlaichean còmhla a-rithist thall - bha mòran de ghillean cruidh Taobh Siar Ameireagaidh dhe'n sliochd. Tha tuathanachas cruidh air buaidh a thoirt air ar fearann, ar n-òrain, ar sgeòil is ar beatha air gach taobh dhen chuan.	It was a three-week, crossing in the 18th century to America. Many families joined up again in the New World - the cowboys of the American West were often their descendants. Cattle ranching has shaped our land, our songs, our stories and our lives on both sides of the Atlantic.
Aig a' cheann thall b'ann do mhath Ameireagaidh a bha aimhreit nam Fuadaichean. A' tumadh ann am beul-aithris nan dròbh as a' Ghàidhealtachd chun na h-Eaglais Brice agus a Teacsas gu Abilene chithear iomadh coimeas. Ach an toiseach diofar - bha na dròbhan Ameireaganach ag amas air na rèilichean a bha sìor shnàgadh gun iar.	The upheaval of the Clearances were to America's long-term gain. Dipping into the lore of the cattle drives from the Highlands to Falkirk and from Texas to Abilene shows so many parallels. But first a contradiction - the cattle drives were made to reach the railroads which were spidering ever Westwards.
Ach thagh dròbhairean is gillean cruidh le chèile dìreach na h-òrain as maille as sèisteile gus na treudan sgeunach aca a chur a chadal. B'e sin a dh'fhàg na h-uiread a bhaileadan matha a Alba, Èirinn, Sasainn is a' Chuimrigh ann an stòr òrain nan gillean.	However drovers and cowboys alike chose only the slowest and most haunting songs to bed down their scary herds at night. Hence the love of so many fine Scots, Irish, English and Welsh ballads in the cowboy repertoire.
Seo dà eisimpleir. Chaidh bailead Buchanach nan sealgairean mhuc-mhara, "Fareweel tae Tarwathie", a chleachdadh air son "The Railroad Corral" le John Mills Hanson:	Here are two examples. The Buchan whaling ballad, "Fareweel tae Tarwathie", became "The Railroad Corral" by John Mills Hanson:
Come take up your cinches and shake out your reins, Come wake your old bronco and break for the plains. Come roust out your steers from the long chaparral For the outfit is off to the railroad corral.	Come take up your cinches and shake out your reins, Come wake your old bronco and break for the plains. Come roust out your steers from the long chaparral For the outfit is off to the railroad corral.
Chaidh a' bhrònsgeul Èireannach "The Bard of Armagh", air neo "The Unfortunate Rake", gu bhith "The Cowboy's Lament"	The Irish tragedy "The Bard of Armagh", or"The Unfortunate Rake", became "The Cowboy's Lament": ", you might hear for example "Eirear Nis", "Eilear Nis", or even the local Inverness-shire "Eor Nis".
Oh list' to the tale of a poor Irish harper And scorn not the strings in his old withered hand But remember these fingers could once move more sharper To waken the echoes of his dear native land	Oh list' to the tale of a poor Irish harper And scorn not the strings in his old withered hand But remember these fingers could once move more sharper To waken the echoes of his dear native land
Air 'aithneachadh nas fheàrr mar "The Streets of Laredo", chaidh an riochd siarach a sgrìobhadh le Francis Henry Maynard an 1876. Bha e fèillmhor aig gillean cruidh na h-Àird an-Iar, agus aig mòran a bharrachd nuair a thòisich clàran:	Better known as "The Streets of Laredo", the Wild West version was written by cowboy Francis Henry Maynard in 1876. It was popular with cowboys in the West, and to wider audiences with the arrival of records:
Oh muffle your drum slowly and play your fife merrily, Play the Dead March as you carry me along And fire your guns right over my coffin, There goes an unfortunate boy to his home.	Oh muffle your drum slowly and play your fife merrily, Play the Dead March as you carry me along And fire your guns right over my coffin, There goes an unfortunate boy to his home.
Bha na h-Albannaich adhartach tric an tùs cruthachadh nan ìompaireachdan mòra cruidh san Iar. Bha firmichean leithid a' Phrairie Land & Cattle Company stèidhte ann an Dun Èideann agus am Matador Land and Cattle Company ann an Dun Dèagh, bho na h-1880n gu, leis a' Mhatador, 1951.	The enterprising Scots were often to the fore in the build up of the huge Western cattle empires. Firms like the Prairie Land & Cattle Company were based in Edinburgh and the Matador Land and Cattle Company in Dundee, from the 1880s to, in the latter case, 1951.
Dh'obraich Murchadh MacCoinnich a Baile Dhubhthaich dha na dhà. Chluicheadh e fhathast an fhidheall aige aig dannsaichean, ach cha robh gunna riamh uime agus cha cheadaicheadh e deoch dh'a ghillean cruidh. 'Sann an taobh a' ghnothachais dheth a bha Iain Clay a Siorrachd Bhearaig cuideachd, san deach £45 mìle a chur le firmichean Albannach. 'Sann agus a bha an neach malairt leth-Albannach leth-Cherokee Jesse Siosal, air an deach Slighe Chr	Murdo MacKenzie, who hailed from Tain, worked for both. He still found time to play his fiddle for dances, though he never wore a gun or allowed his cowboys to drink. John Clay from Berwickshire also worked at the big business end, in which Scots firms invested £45 million in ten years. So did the half-Scots half-Cherokee trader Jesse Chisholm, whose name was given to the Chisholm Cattle Trail in 1867.
Lean iad ceum air cheum dròbhairean mòra na h-Alba, samhail Uilleamaich is Uilleam MacThomaidh an Ear Thuath, Rob Ruadh is Iain Camshron "Coir a' Choille" na Gàidhealtachd, agus Clann MhicTuirc Ghallghàidhealaibh, a thug crodh is caoraich 'nan deichean de mhìltean gu na Fèilltean mòra aig Craoibh, Dùn agus an Eaglais Bhreac. Gu minig lean iad orra gu Norfolk agus Lunnainn le'n crodh air son an reamhrachadh.	They followed in the footsteps of the great drovers of Scotland, such as the Williamsons and William McCombie of the North East, Rob Roy and John Cameron "Coirechoille" of the Highlands, and the McTurks of Galloway, who organised the delivery of tens of thousands of cattle and sheep to the great Trysts or markets at Crieff, Doune and Falkirk. They often drove on to Norfolk.
Bho Thàin Bò Cuailgne ann an Èirinn Oisein gu iorghail nan gillean aig ceann na slighe ann an Abilene, tha òrain, sgeòil is beul-aithris mun chrodh a' ceangal nan Ceilteach ris a' Wild West. Mar sin chan e uirsgeul a tha sa Ghille Chruidh Cheilteach, ach iasad de dh'òrain is fuinn bho thìrean uaine nan Ceilteach gu raointean àrda tartmhora Theacsas is Chanada.	From the Cattle Raid of Cooley in Ossianic Ireland to the hurrahing cowboys at trail's end in Abilene, the songs, stories and lore of the cattle link the Celts to the Wild West. So the Celtic Cowboy link is no myth - it is a true crossover of songs and tunes from the green Celtic lands to the arid High Plains from Texas to Canada.
[Deas. - Sgrìobh Iain MacAonghais ann an Scottish Studies 9, d204, gun deach innse dha 'na òige gun canadh seann dròbhairean nuair a bheireadh iad air làimh a chèile, "Siud eadar-iomlaid!]	[Ed. - John MacInnes noted in Scottish Studies 9, p204, that he remembers being told when young that when old drovers shook hands they would say, "Siud eadar-iomlaid!" - It's a mutual exchange.]

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.