An gaidheal - National Library of Scotland

!February, 1874. THE GAEL. 879! any, anything at allTo drown this kirk-nursed caterwaulHow Scotland It can music callKone but herself can see.weary sir, O weary sir !Small wonder, listening near thee, sir,1 sometimes wish thyseK and choir,Down where the mermaids be INEWS OF THE HIGHLANDS ANDISLANDS.Aberdeen.—A conversazione of Highlanderswas held here lately when it wasresolved that a Gaelic Society should beformed similar to those which have succeededso well in Inverness, Greenock,and other places.Edinburgh.—The Sutherland Associationheld its annual gathering on Monday,the 1 2tli January. Mr John Macdonald,president, occupied the chair. Themeeting was addressed by the Chairman,Dr Maclauchlan, jMr Taylor Innes, andother gentlemen. The proceedings werealtogether most interesting.Inverness.—The second annual sui^perof the Gaelic society took place inthe Caledonian Hotel, on the eveningof Tuesday, the 14th January. Therewas a large attendance. Cluny Mac-Pherson, Esq., of Cluny, chief of thesociety, occupied the chair, while SirKenneth S. Mackenzie, of Gairloch, Bartand Sheriff Macdonald acted as croupiers.Addresses were delivered by the chairman(in Gaelic), Mr Murdoch of the Highlander,Mr John Macdonald, Sir KennethMackenzie, Mr Eose, Dr Charles Mackay,and others. The proceedings wereenlivened by the excellent bagpipe selectionsof the society's piper, jSIaclennau,and the singing of appropriate songs,Gaelic and English, by various membersof the company.Edinburgh. — The members of theEdinbrgh Shinty Club (Cuideachd-ChamanachdDhuneideaim) which still flourishesin Auld Reekie, had their annual gameonce more in the Queen's Park on New-Year's day—a day as inauspicious, onaccount of the high wind, as has everyet been experienced, except on theoccasion of the Club's first match withthe 93d Regiment, two years ago, whtnthere blew a perfect hurricane ; but as itis the rule of the Club to play on that daylet the weather be what it may, abouttwelve noon the " kilted lads" began togather, and soon thereafter the " Caman"was thrown to the " Senior Member,"Mr. M 'Alpine, by ^Mr. Forbes ; and afterthe hand over first process had been performed,and the necessary enquiries hadbeen made and answered, each proceededto choose his side. Quickly did theformer, who had the first " pick," singleout the athletic Pat Cameron, betterknown as Corriechoile " ; quite as eagerlywas his brother George selected by theother side, thus dividing the house, so tosay against itself. Thereafter the selectionswent on briskly for the first halfdozenor so on both sides, the well-triedSandy Macdonald from Skye, the skilfulCattanach, big Sandy Cameron fromDochanassie, Sutherland, jM'Nicol, Macleod,and so on, usque ad, &c., went thealternate calls, till the surrounding crowdwas di^^ded by two rows of brawny,kilt - girded, shinty - armed, and eagerplayers, '• eager (as Professor Blackie hasit) to leap as a mettlesome hound ' ' intothe fight with a plunge and a bound,"liosettes, blue and red, were distributed,the "veteran" choosing the red. Thesides being judiciously placed, the ballwas " asked," and in the twinklingof an eye " sud 'm badaibh a cheilel>ha na seoid." The 'runs" werefrequent and exciting, and by oneof these, and the fortunate position ofGeerge Cameron, who drove the hail, wasthe first hail won to the "Blues," amidshouts of triumph from them, and yellsof what was taken for sympatheticapplause from the ' ' piiblic. Sides being"changed and some rearrangements made,the ' ' Reds" resolved to \^'in, and wipeout the stain of defeat from the colour ofvictory ; but they had either not timeenough, or the " Blues" were too strong,for though they often got unpleasantlynear the hail of the "Blues," they failedto find their way between the poles.Time was called shortly after, 3 p.m., andafter some refreshments had been partakenof, each and all took the road,having thoroughly enjoyed the day'sgame. No accidents beyond a lickor two are to be recorded, whichis more than can l:ie said of some othergames.UiST and Barra.— The first annualgathering of the natives of North andSouthjUist and Barra, resident in Glasgow,was held in the Bath Street AssemblyRooms, on the evening of Friday, the2tìth December. Mr. D. Mackinnon,of the Kingston Foundries, occupied thechair. The haU was crowded by anassembly uumbeiing betv/een five and sixliundred, and not a few of the gentlemenpresent wore the Highland garb. After