by Alexander Shevlinn

 

When the Act called the Statutes of Iona was passed in 1609, the high point of Gaelic society and culture was coming to an end. This act prohibited many things normal to Gaelic culture. In particular, the traveling of vagabonds. This was the name given by the Government to the Bards and Musicians who traveled freely between Ireland and Scotland, from one great house to another, praising the Chiefs who were the very substance of Gaelic society.

The act also prohibited the bearing of arms, and drunken revelry. The Statutes also stated that the chief's oldest son should be educated in the Lowlands. This was most insidious, as it meant that the future Chiefs would be alien to their own culture, they would learn a different language, different ways, and different values.

Before this act was passed, Gaelic society and culture had been at its highest point for the last four hundred years. During the time of the high culture, the Lordship of the Isles, a principality in the Western Highlands and Islands, provided a secure Gaelic principality for the flourishing of that culture. This principality covered and area from the Isle of Man, to the Butt of Lewis. From about the 10th century, it had been squabbled over by the Kings of Norway and Scotland, also the Kings of Dublin, and the Earls of Orkney were interested in it.

During the 12th century a leader arose, Somerled was his name. Somerled was of mixed Norse and Gaelic origin himself. When he married the Norse King's daughter, this gave him a right to more of the Norse land. Unfortunately for the Norse King, Somerled ended up fighting him, and the land was again divided up in favour of the Gaels.

In 1614 Somerled went to fight the King of Scotland, Malcolm the Fourth, but he was murdered by his own page in Renfrew. Some people lookupon this as a great tragedy for the Gaels, because if somerled had won the battle against Malcolm the Fourth, Gaelic, rather than English or Scots, would have become the dominant language in Scotland.
The land that Somerled had gained for himself, the land of Argyll and the Southern half of the Hebridees, was divided up between his sons. From them we have the clans McDougal and McDonald. These were the most powerful clans for the next three to four hundred years. They continued to add to the lands ruled over by the Lords of the Isles by marriage alliances, and by making bonds with the Scottish Kings.
In 1462 they had incurred the wrath of the Scottish King, by making a treaty between the English King and themselves, against the Scots. This was seen as too much, and the lands of the Lordship of the Isles were forfeited.

In that period of a few hundred years, there was a stable system of rule. This was a time when the arts could flourish. The native education system provided training for poets, judges, historians, clerics, doctors and musicians. Although the lower echelons of Gaelic society had no formal education, and probably found the literary language of the professionals unintelligible, they had their own culture based on the vernacular form of the language. Traces of this 'low culture' survive, in Fenian ballads, and waulking songs.

During this high point of Gaelic culture, people's reputation was conveyed by poetry. A good reputation meant that the ruler could stay in his position of power, and a bad reputation could inevitably create his downfall. The telling of a a bad reputation was known as 'Satire'. there was a very real fear of 'satire' during this time, because the Gaelic word for satire means 'cutting'. The Gaels believed that satire could bring you out in blisters, and could even cause you to die. The poet was the most important of the professions. A poet would normally be trained for seven years by an established poet. This would consist of training in 'Classical Gaelic', and also the use of a variety of very strict meters. There were to be a specific number of syllables in every line of a poem. A third element of their training was in the various apologues that they accord. The various stories that could be incorporated into a poem from Gaelic Mythology, or history, to show how present ruler!
s should act.

Most poems praising the Chiefs during this period shown them as warriors and hunters. In other poetry, we see him as Chief of the Patron of the Arts, and as a host we see him surrounded by his warriors in the great drinking halls, gambling and drinking, with the noises of his musicians and poets about him. At times like this, the Chiefs were able to confirm the allegiance of their people. He would give them wine and food, and they would return this with their loyalty in battle. Often at the end of a poem, there would be a verse about the Chiefs wife, praising her beauty.

Many examples of the type of poetry written during the high point of Gaelic culture can be read in the 'Book of the Dean of Lismore'. This manuscript was compiled between 1512 and 1542. It was compiled by 'James McGregor', the Dean of Lismore, and his brother. It represented poetry from both professional, and aristocratic amateurs. The type of poetry that was written during this period, was normally based on honour and reputation, which was very important in Gaelic society.

Gaelic society and culture in Scotland during its high point, was a period of learning new skills, whether it was learning to be a poet, doctor, musician, judge, or historian. This was a time when changes were inevitable if Clans were to survive. Fortunately, their society and culture are recorded through the medium of poetry, so that present day Gaels can understand what life really was like for the 'Mediaeval Gael'.

Bibliography:

MacKinnon, Kenneth
Gaelic: A Past and Future Prospect
Edinburgh, 1991

Watson, J, William
Scottish Verse, From the Book of the Dean of Lismore
Edinburgh, 1937
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