Rob Donn
Encyclopedia
Rob Donn was a Scottish Gaelic poet from Sutherland
. It is generally assumed that his surname was MacKay
(MacAoidh), but this has been disputed, so he is sometimes referred to as "Rob Donn MacAoidh".
, he never learnt to speak English
, nor to read and write, but his poetical abilities were picked up early on by Iain MacEachainn, a tacksman
who would patronise the former cowherd. In return, Rob Donn praised and delineated MacEachainn and his family in his poetry, in a way normally reserved for nobility in Scottish Gaelic poetry.
Two other major figures in his life were the Rev. Murdo MacDonald, the local minister
, and Donald MacKay, the fourth Lord Reay. Both were great influences on him, and celebrated in his poetry.
Rob Donn's life coincided with the two major Jacobite
campaigns, in 1715 (when he was only one) and in 1745.
men were often major figures in controlling written Scottish Gaelic. However, an exception can be found in the Rev. John Thomson, who succeeded Murdo MacDonald in the parish, and allowed his daughter to transcribe Rob Donn's works uncensored.
Later editors and collectors were not always so kind, in other ways. For example, Rob's Strathnaver
dialect was sometimes disguised by being rendered into more standard forms of Scottish Gaelic, which destroyed certain of the effects and even rhythms.
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
. It is generally assumed that his surname was MacKay
Mackay
Mackay is a Scottish surname which can refer to:*Clan Mackay, the Scottish clan from which the surname "MacKay" derives*Mackay Trophy, named in honour of Clarence Mackay, is awarded annually by the US Air Force for the "Most Meritorious Flight"...
(MacAoidh), but this has been disputed, so he is sometimes referred to as "Rob Donn MacAoidh".
Biography
Born in Strathmore, SutherlandStrathmore, Sutherland
Strathmore or An Srath Mòr is a strath in northern Scotland. It is best known for being the home of the Scottish Gaelic poet, Rob Donn. Ben Hope is to the east, and it terminates in Loch Hope...
, he never learnt to speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, nor to read and write, but his poetical abilities were picked up early on by Iain MacEachainn, a tacksman
Tacksman
A tacksman was a land-holder of intermediate legal and social status in Scottish Highland society.-Tenant and landlord:...
who would patronise the former cowherd. In return, Rob Donn praised and delineated MacEachainn and his family in his poetry, in a way normally reserved for nobility in Scottish Gaelic poetry.
Two other major figures in his life were the Rev. Murdo MacDonald, the local minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
, and Donald MacKay, the fourth Lord Reay. Both were great influences on him, and celebrated in his poetry.
Rob Donn's life coincided with the two major Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
campaigns, in 1715 (when he was only one) and in 1745.
Collection of his poems
Although sometimes moralist, Rob Donn's poetry sometimes contained bawdy images, which would be bowdlerised by later collectors; especially as Protestant clergyClergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
men were often major figures in controlling written Scottish Gaelic. However, an exception can be found in the Rev. John Thomson, who succeeded Murdo MacDonald in the parish, and allowed his daughter to transcribe Rob Donn's works uncensored.
Later editors and collectors were not always so kind, in other ways. For example, Rob's Strathnaver
Strathnaver
Strathnaver or Strath Naver is the fertile strath of the River Naver, a famous salmon river that flows from Loch Naver to the north coast of Scotland...
dialect was sometimes disguised by being rendered into more standard forms of Scottish Gaelic, which destroyed certain of the effects and even rhythms.