Donald MacNicol
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Donald MacNicol , was a Scottish
clergyman, as Minister of Lismore
in Argyll, and an author. He was the son of Nicol Macnicol of Succoth, Argyll, and the nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle. He is perhaps best known for his Remarks On Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey To The Hebrides, a work which commented rather vituperatively on Dr. Johnson
's equally insulting A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
.
The Rev. MacNicol assisted the renowned Gaelic poet, Duncan Ban MacIntyre
, by transcribing over 6,000 lines of the illiterate man's work. MacNicol is also remembered for his Gaelic poem of lost love, entitled "Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh." (English: "My Eye is After You")
Chorus:
English Translation:
The thirty-five year old Rev. MacNicol wrote the poem in lament of being snubbed by Lillias Campbell, a local laird's daughter. He had requested the seventeen year old girl's hand in marriage, but Lillias had already accepted the hand of her cousin, Captain Alexander Campbell. However, Sir Alexander made an ungallant bet with a servant which left the incensed Lillias no choice but to accept the alternate proposal of the Rev. MacNicol. They married just after her eighteenth birthday, and would go on to have sixteen children. The poem was later set to music and remains a popular Highland folk song.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
clergyman, as Minister of Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
in Argyll, and an author. He was the son of Nicol Macnicol of Succoth, Argyll, and the nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle. He is perhaps best known for his Remarks On Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey To The Hebrides, a work which commented rather vituperatively on Dr. Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
's equally insulting A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland is a travel narrative by Samuel Johnson about an eighty-three day journey through Scotland, in particular the islands of the Hebrides, in the late summer and autumn of 1773...
.
The Rev. MacNicol assisted the renowned Gaelic poet, Duncan Ban MacIntyre
Duncan Bàn MacIntyre
Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir is one of the most renowned of Scottish Gaelic poets and formed an integral part of one of the golden ages of Gaelic poetry in Scotland during the 18th century...
, by transcribing over 6,000 lines of the illiterate man's work. MacNicol is also remembered for his Gaelic poem of lost love, entitled "Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh." (English: "My Eye is After You")
Chorus:
- Ochoin a chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh"
- A chailin, mo chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh
- A Lili, mo Lili 's mo shùil ad dhèidh
- Cha lèir dhomh am bealach le sileadh nan deur
English Translation:
- Alas, my girl, my eye is after you
- Girl, my girl, my eye is after you
- Lily, my Lily, my eye is after you
- I can't see the mountain pass for the flowing of tears
The thirty-five year old Rev. MacNicol wrote the poem in lament of being snubbed by Lillias Campbell, a local laird's daughter. He had requested the seventeen year old girl's hand in marriage, but Lillias had already accepted the hand of her cousin, Captain Alexander Campbell. However, Sir Alexander made an ungallant bet with a servant which left the incensed Lillias no choice but to accept the alternate proposal of the Rev. MacNicol. They married just after her eighteenth birthday, and would go on to have sixteen children. The poem was later set to music and remains a popular Highland folk song.