The book Arran; - Cook Clan

GAELIC SONGS OF ARRAN 347
Nuair a chuir mi anns a' chliath e,
Shiiibhladh e cho luath 's a dh'iarrainn,
Fhuair mi corr 'us obair bliadhn' as,
'Us rinn a bhian dhomh barb-skin.^
NOTES ON 'FAIDHIR AN T-SEASGAINN'
Shisken fair was at one time perhaps the most popular fair on the island. From
the circumstance of its being held at night, it easily lent itself to a great deal of
roguery, many stories of which are still current. There was far more business done by
way of swopping than selling for hard cash.
There is a story told of a Shisken farmer who, being pressed for money, went to
the fair to dispose of his horse. He returned home, after a series of exchanges, with
his own animal and five pounds in his pocket besides. Owing to various circumstances
the fair latterly began to dwindle, and was finally discontinued about fifty years ago.
The Irishman referred to in the song was one Duncan Kane, who had to leave his
native land for some political offence. He wooed and won the daughter of a Torbeg
farmer, promising to make her Lady Ballylochy, a district somewhere in the north of
Ireland, where his descendants by a previous marriage lived quite recently. After
settling in Arran he did a little horse-dealing. Evidently from having his pony
behind the mill, instead of along with the rest, in the vicinity of the public-house, he
intended to take advantage of any one whose simplicity allowed himself to be taken in.
Iain Ban was John Sillars, a Tormore farmer.
he also performed
lain Carra, the composer of the song, was a Loch Ranza crofter ;
the duties of local gamekeeper, and, being a weaver by profession, this explains why
he used the horse's skin as an apron, ' barb-skin ' being another term for weaver's
apron.
Oran a Rinneadh le Domhnull Macmhuirich^
turus do irbhinn le uisge-beatha
Chaidh ughdar an orain so le Alasdair Drobhair agus Raonall an sgiobair aou
uair gu Irbhinn le uisge-beatha air nach do phaigheadh cis, agus a chionn
gu'n robh an t-Sabaid ann nuair a rainig iad dh'fhalaich iad na buideil
anns a' ghainmhich gus an rachadh an Domhnach tharta. Nuair a thill
MacMhuirich agus ap sgiobair gus an aite-fallaich cha robh buideal no
bathar ri fhaotainn, agus bha iad a' cur na braide air Alasdair Drobhair.
An dill a chaidh mi thun na marachd
Le Alasdair an Drobhair,
Sheid a' ghaoth 'n iar 'na srannaibh,
'S chuir i car 's an t-seol oirnn
' Weaver's apron. See note at end.
2 In Arran the Jf of the Mac is not pronounced (i.e. 'acMhuirich), and the final ch
also is silent.
;