Urchadnaich ghreannaich, ruaidh,

Na tog do cheann cho àirde suas,

Cha chuir sibh 'n còmhnuidh oirnn ruaig

Ged fhuair sibh buaidh an tràth ud.

Na bitheadh 'gar mhealladh fèin

An duil gun d' rinn sibh gnìomh bha treun,

'S e annaibh slaodairean gun fheum

Graisg de bhalaich thàilleir.

Air an lionadh suas le pròis -

Is olc a thig e do bhur seòrs',

'S gun cuireadh pioghaid thar an sgòr

De fhichead 's a dhà dhiubh.

Ach bha na Glasaich riamh gun bheum

Greannmhor, fearail, uasal, gleusd',

An cath gu robh iad neartmhor, treun

Cuir casg' gu grad air namhaid.

'S mar thig a' gheamhradh rithist mu cuairt

Le cota sneachd is reothadh chruaidh,

Cluicheas iad camag mar bu dual

'S gheibh iad buaidh air 's gach ait ‘.

Le Caiptein Siosal air an ceann

A’ toirt dhaibh misneachd anns gach àm,

Duin' uasal eireachdail, neo-ghann

Air nach eil cearb no fàillinn.

~~~~

Red, rough Urquhart-man

Don’t raise your head so high

You won’t always vanquish us

Though you got the win that time

Don’t deceive yourself

or believe you did a mighty deed

you are all useless sluggards

a gang of clubfooted boys

All puffed up with pride

It’s evil that will come to your kind

And that would put a magpie over the score

of the twenty two of them

But the Strathglass men were always without blemish

Lively, manly, honorable, expert

In battle they were strong and mighty

Swiftly putting a stop to enemies

And when the winter comes round again

with a coat of snow and hard frost

they will play shinty as always

and they will win everywhere

With Captain Chisholm in the lead

Giving them confidence at all times

A generous, handsome gentleman, 

who has no fault or blemish

Read by Catriona Reid, Torran Glas, Strathglass

Thàinig oirnn na seòid bha luath,

Cluich air camag mar bu dual

'S a choisinn buaidh 's gach àite.

Chunnaic mise sealladh rèidh

Nuair a choinnich iad ri chèil',

H-uile fear dhiubh ruith 's a leum

Cho luath ri fèidh na fàsaich.

'S ann an sud a bha na laoich -

Na Dòmhnullaich à Innse-braoin 

Cuir na Glasaich air an druim

H-uile taobh mar b' fheàrr leo.

Bha "Kilmartin" uasal, fial,

Mar bu dual do chinnidh riamh,

Thug e deoch dhoibh agus biadh

'S tha beannachd Dhia 's gach ait' air.

Ghabh Caiptein Friseil an command

'S e cho duineil air an ceann,

'S cluicheadh e ri fear a bh' ann

O cheann gu ceann do 'n phàirce.

'S e dol an aghaidh Caiptein airm

À Srath-ghlais le daoine garg,

Bu choltach iad ri sluagh gun seilbh

'S a' "churrachd dhearg" toir barr orr’.

~~~

From up Glenurquhart

Came amongst us these heroes who were swift

Playing shinty as always

and who earned the victory in all places

I saw a well-ordered spectacle

when they met together

every one of them running and leaping

as swift as the deer of the wild

There were the heroes

The Macdonalds from Inchbrine

who put the Strathglass men on their back

on every side as they wished

Kilmartin was honorable and generous

As his race as always been

He gave them food and drink

And God’s blessing is upon him everywhere

Captain Fraser took command

So manly to the fore

And he played it to every man

From one end of the park to another

And he went against the Army Captain

From Strathglass with savage men

They were more like a people without fortune

and the Red Cap had the beating of them

From the "Scottish Highlander" 1888/9

Read by Lauren Nicolson, Balmacaan, Glen Urquhart

“Nist an ath bhliadhna Srath Ghlais agus Urachdain. Nist an caiptein bho Cinn t-Sàile, Caiptein ‘Glassburn’ (MacRàth-Siosal), bha e còmhla riutha. Thàinig iad air an trean. Chan eil fhios ciamar a fhuair iad gus a’ Mhanachainn. Fhuair iad a-stigh air Inbhirnis agus ceathrar no còignear phìobairean aca à Glassburn. Choisinn Urchadan dà thadhal agus cha d’ fhuair iadsan tadhal. Cha robh airgead agam fhaighinn a staigh air Inbhirnis. Agus na seann bhodaich a bha seo, chuir iad s`ơs sinn gu ’n Phost oifis an Druim an Drochaid. Bha sinn ceathrar ann cha chreid mi. Gheobhadh sinn bho sin (telegram). Agus fhuair sinn fios de choisinn Urchadan agus bha sinn suas mar gum bitheadh fèidh gu Baile Bheag gu na Seann bhodaich. Sin am baiteal mu dheireadh a chaidh a chur le dhà air fhichead."

~~~

Translation

Andrew "The Brickie" Fraser was one of the last native Glenurquhart Gaelic speakers. He was a boy when the first games were played. He also recounted a bitter match with Glen Moriston before the big Strathglass game.

"Glen Urquhart went to Glen Moriston and they lost. Glen Moriston scored one hail. They came again to Glen Urquhart. The whole countryside was there and Glen Urquhart scored two hails. They (Glen Moriston) didn’t score at all. At the far end, there was an old woman there, an old woman from Glen Moriston and she had a stick. She was breaking it up like that. I was there watching her but she didn’t win.

"The next year it was Strathglass and Glen Urquhart and Captain Macrae Chisholm from Kintail, ' Captain Glassburn' was present with them. They (Strathglass) travelled by train but is not known how they got to Beauly. On reaching Inverness there were four or five pipers from Glassburn with them. Glen Urquhart scored two hails but Strathglass did not score. I had not sufficient money to go to Inverness. The old men here (in Balbeg)sent us down to the Post Office at Drumnadrochit, four of us, I think.

We were to get a telegram there and we got the news that Glen Urquhart won and came up to Balbeg like deer. That was the last contest between teams of twenty two."

Sruth, An Comunn Gàidhealach, 10/8/1967

Air fonn "Gabhaidh sinn an rathaid mór.”

Caithidh sinn a' Churachd Ruadh,

Cluithidh sinn an caigeann cruaidh,

Buinidh sinn do Gleann nam buadh,

Bheir sinn buaidh mar b' àbhaist.

Morisnich an gion 's an gruaim,

'S iomadh gaisge a tha riu fuaight',

Cha tig faisg do 'n Churachd Ruadh,

Bheir i buaidh 's gach àite.

Fir Srath Ghlais fo chaiptean airm

O chionn fad' an cleachdamh dearbht',

Fir nach tais - na gaisgich gharg,

A' Churachd Dhearg thug bàrr orr'.

Feachd o 'n Chaiplich 's taic a' chuain,

Aird is Afraic 's fad' mun cuairt

Daoine tapaidh 's dreachmhor tuar,

A' Churachd Ruadh gun nair' iad.

'N Inbhirnis is lìonmhor sluagh,

'M bi cluith 's cleas a deas is tuath,

Cha bu cheist nach toir i buaidh,

Nithear luaidh 's gach àit oirr’.

Ealant', eangach, greannmhor, gleusd',

Cumail teann ri reachdan réidh

Sluagh gun mheang toir hip-ho-ré,

Churachd fhéin a b' annsa.

~ Proph.


~~~

The Red Cap - sung to the tune of "Gabhaidh sinn an rathaid mór"

We will wear the Red Cap

We will play the hard scrimmage

We belong to the Glen of virtues

We will triumph as ever

The Moriston men in avarice and gloom

Many’s the feat that is tied to them

None comes close to the Red Cap

It shall be victorious in all places

The men of Strathglass under the army captain

Long they have been proven at this practice

unyielding men - the fierce warriors

The Red Cap overcame them

A force from Caiplich and the seashore

The Aird and Affric and all around

Strong men of shapely appearance

The Red Cap it embarrassed them

In Inverness full of people

with play and skill from North and South

There was no question it would win

It shall be praised all over

Expert, nimble-footed, brisk, keen

keeping close to the rules of the game

flawless folk shouting hip hooray!

The Cap itself was gladdest

These verses appeared in the "Inverness Courier" in March, 1888 after the second game. In that month Glenurquhart beat Strathglass 1-0. It was said by some after the 1888 game that Glenurquhart won because they had 24 men in the field against the 22 of Strathglass.

The Glen countered with complaints that Strathglass included in their team some players from outwith the district.· The verses were by one who gave his name as “PROPH."


Eòghan sang this song at the Royal National Mòd in Inverness in 2021 which, despite his Strathglass allegiances, he delivered with gusto.

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

eadar Bràigh ’s Srath

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

eeadar an Comar is an Ceathramh

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

eadar Allt a’ Bhodaich ’s Beith Òg

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

eadar Baile na h-Abhainn is Baile na Bruach

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

Giùthsachan ’s Canaich

gach àitreabh Glasach air an armuis

Easgadail, Breac Achaidh

Cnoc Fionn ’s Eirchlis

Farrair Afraig ’s Buntait

Cnag de rubair nan Innseachan

Oidhche agus Latha a’ Challainn

An Nollaig Bheag ’s an Nollaig Mhòr

’s i a’ chamag chianaosda a b’ annsa

Sìm aig an aghaidh

a’ gleusadh an fheadain

an giusal mòr, an gnàth-cuimhne

spac iomain mhòr Uachdar Albainn

’s às an fhuaran aig Allt na Glàislig

thàinig deoch mhilis ghlan na camaig

làn uisge ghlan is reachdan rèidh

Comunn Camanachd Straghlais air bun-stèidh

“chan ionann fear air mhisg is fear air uisg”

ach ’s ionann gach fear anns a’ chaigeann

’s deòch-slàinte mhòr dhan Chaiptein Airm

le neart us le dùrachd, Straghlais gu bràth ann

na gaisgich gharg sna lèintean geala

’s air an cinn na bonaidean biorach

’s briogaisean nam freiceadan dubha

na fir nach tais air an còrachadh

fichead ’s a dhà dhiubh, caiptean

’s ceann-cinnidh air raon mòr sa bhaile

eachdraidh fos an cionn

an catha mum coinneamh

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

gaisgeach ri gaisgeach us laoch ri laoch

 
 2. Gleann Urchadain

 ged is socrach mo leabaidh

bhiodh mo chaman fo m’ achlais

cumail suas an iomain

 ’s e Crasgaig gu ceart a th’ air Kilmartin

ged tha a’ chamag an comain a’ Chaimbeulaich

’s an-sin ’s ann am Bòrlam

a chuir aid an caigeann

na Moirisinich ann an gruaim

na cailleachan a’ briseadh nam maidean

mar gun robh iad ri taghairm

no a’ cur impis air sìthichean nan alltan

oir bha na h-Urchadanaich ag èirigh

taobh thall bràigh a’ Cheathraimh

’s mu dheireadh thàinig an dùlan

bho na gaisgich gharg Ghlasach

Na Siosalaich ’s an cuideachd

an Inbhir Nis a’ fèitheamh orra  

sealladh a b’ annsa a bhiodh ann

fear Urchadanach sam bith an là sin

le lèine ghorm ’s briogais gheal air 

’s a Churachd Ruadh air a cheann

aig Pàirc a’ Bhucht ri Tom na h-Iubhraich

’s iad ri còmhrag is ri còmhstri

sa chluith cuid a’ sìomanaich 

sa chatha cuid a’ caolruith

ealant’, eangach, greannmhor, gleust;

gun mheang na balaich an geam a’ glèidheadh

bha na Glasaich air an ciùrradh 

’s bhuin buaidh do Ghleann nam Buadh

na fir a’ tilleadh air a’ bhàta-smùid chun an Teampuill

ach am fios a cheana air tighinn tron ueir

na ponaich a’ ruith mar gum bitheadh fèidh

leis an naidheachd dha na bodaich

am Baile Beag ’s am Bràigh a’ Ghlinn’

far am biodh na tèintean gan cur air na cnuic

aig Baile a’ Mhuilinn, ’s Baile an Athain 

am bliadhna ud us an-ath-bhliadhna

mus do stad am baiteal rè trì fichead bliadhna

as dèidh tadhal mòr na gearra bàine

chan eil bàird anns an àite

bhon a dh’fhalbh Eòghann Shìm

’Ss fhada bhon a thog am Brickie

taigh le Gàidhlig a’ Ghlinn’

tha Gàidhlig Bhun Leòthaid

beò a-mhàin air pàipear ’s air sgrìn

ach chan eil a’ chamag air teireachdainn

’s i a’ taitinn fhathast rinn

far an robh bonaidean biorach

far an robh curachdan ruadha

caithear Ruadh-donn agus Liath

air neo Dearg agus Dubh orra

tha na dathan diofraichte

ach fhathast an caigeann ga chur

ged a rinneadh a ciùrradh iomadh uair

rinneadh aisleum gu minic leatha

theagamh gu bheil na Siosalach air sìoladh

’s cuid mhath de na h-àitreabhaich eile

chaidh na cinn-fheadhna a bha ann

fon ùir no thar nan cuantan

’s thàinig coilltean ’s hydro ’s caoraich

’s ainmean cèin ùra dhan sgìre

ach tha furan gu leòr air gach mac is nighean

on a h-uile rìoghachd ma ghlèidheas aid a’ chamag

à Sasainn, ’s às a’ Chuimrigh, ’s à Èirinn

’s fiù ’s sluagh à Zambia agus Ceinia

nach b’e fear leis an ainm “Inglis”

a thug geam nan Gàidheal gu bàrr sa Ghleann a-rithist?

ach sin aon ainm cliùiteach eile a-measg 

gach sloinneadh eile sa Ghleann ’s san t-Srath,

Clann ‘Icilleathain, Clann ‘icIlFhinnein

Clann ’ic Coinnich, Clann ’ic an Tòisich

Na Geadasaich, Na Gòrdanaich

Na Frisealaich, Na Cuimeanaich

Barr ’s Reid, Black, Dùghlas ’s Rothe

Bell, Phimister, MacRàth, na Leòdaich ’s an còrr

nìthear an còmhstrì fhathast gach bliadhna

ann an Canaich no sa Bhlàr Bheag

Cupa an Dòmhnallaich, ’s Cupa Ali Bhàin

’s Cuach NicIleFhinnein airson nam ban

is nuair a bhios coltas ann

nach làmhadh sgioba air a dhèanamh

’s ann an uairsin a thig a’ bhuaidh gun dùil

a chùmas an caigeann a’ dol gu bràth ann

gum bi na trì cuachan gu sìorraidh làn

le deoch mhilis na camaig gu bràth

’s i an cluith as grinne fon ghrèin a bhios ann

cho fad ’s a mhaireas a’ chamag chianaosta

eadar gach Bràigh agus gach Srath

Suas am ball, sìos am ball

Up the ball, down the ball

between Brae and Strath

Up the ball, down the Ball

between Comar and Kerrow

Up the Ball, down the ball

between Allt a’ Bhodaich and Beith’ òg

Up the ball, down the ball

between Balnahaun and Baile na Bruach

Up the ball, down the ball

Giusachan agus Cannich

every part of Strathglass on the arms

Eskadle and Breckachy

Knockfin and Erchless

Farrer, Affric and Buntait

a ball of Indian Rubber

New Year’s Day and Night

Christmas and Epiphany

the ancient shinty was preferred

Simon at the front

sounding his chanter

the great sport, the tradition

the great shinty game of the Highlands

and for the well at Glassburn 

sprung the sweet clean draught of shinty

full of fresh water and fine tuned rules

Strathglass Shinty Club was founded

“A man on the drink is no equal to the man on the water”

but every man is equal in the clash

a great toast to the Army Captain

Vi Aut Virtute, Strathglass forever

the fierce warriors in their white shirts

and on their heads the Glengarry

and Black Watch trousers

the unyielding men arranged

22 of them, captain and cheiftain

on the great plain in the town

history above them

the battle before them

Up the ball, down the ball

warrior v warrior, hero v hero

My caman under my arm

keeping up the shinty

Crasgaig is the real name of Kilmartin

though the caman is indebted to the Campbell

and there and in Borlum

they would play the scrimmage

The Moriston folk all gloomy

their old women breaking sticks

as if doing divination

or trying to wake the fairies of the streams

because the Urquhart men were rising

on the farside of Kerrow Brae

and finally came the challenge

from the fierce Glass warriors

the Chisholms and their company 

in Inverness awaiting

it would have been the finest sight

any Urquhart man that day

with his blue shirt and his white breeches

and the Red Cap upon his head

at the Bught Park by Tomnahurich

as they battled and struggled

in the play they zigzagged

in the battle they sprinted

talented, lithe, joyful, quickwitted

without fault the boys winning the game

the Strathglass men wounded

and victory belonged to the Glen of Virtues

the men returning to Temple Pier

but the news having arrived already by wire

the boys as if deers running

with the news to the old men 

in Balbeg and Up the Glen

where bonfires would be lit on the hills 

at Milton and Balnain

that year and the next

until the battle stopped for sixty years

after the white hare’s mighty goal

There are no Gaelic bards here 

since Ewen Macdonald passed

It’s long since the “Brickie”

built a house with Glenurquhart Gaelic

Bunloit Gaelic 

lives only on paper and screen

but the shinty has not ended

and the people still enjoy it

where there were Glnegarrys

where there were red caps

they wear maroon and blue

or red and black now

although the shinty has been injured many times

it has more often rebounded

right enough the Chisholms have petered out

and many of the natives

those men who were there 

in the grave or gone over the ocean

and in came forestry and hydro and sheep

and new strange names to the district

but there is plenty welcome for the sons and daughters

of every nation if they keep up the shinty

from England, from Wales, from Ireland

even folk from Zambia and Kenya

for was it not a man with the name “English”

who lifted up the Gael’s game in the Glen again?

but just one renowned name amongst

all the others of the Glen and the Strath

Macleans, Maclennans

Mackenzies, Mackintoshes

Geddes, Gordons

Frasers, Cummings

Barr, Reid, Black, Douglas and Rothe

Bell, Phimister, Macrae, MacLeod and the rest

They battle each year

at either Cannich or Blairbeg

The Macdonald Cup, the Ali Bàn

and the women for the Macleannan Quaich

And when it seems as if one team

just can’t manage to do it

that’s when they get the unexpected win

that keeps the game going forever

and may the three quaiches be full

with the sweet drink of shinty forever

it will be the finest game under the sun

for as long as the ancient caman lasts

in every Brae and Strath

Up the ball, down the ball

A Srathghlais nam fear chòir,

Thoir mo bheannachd dha "Glassburn"

'S dha na gaisgich bha còmhla ris.

Agus innis dhaibh mar a tha mi

Air mo chràdh 's air mo leònadh,

O'n chaill iad am blàr ud

Cha tèid an tàmailt ri 'm bheò dhìom .

An ainm an Aigh ciod a thachair

Dha na Glasaich 's a' chòmhrag?

Chaill iad baileach an tapadh

Mun deach stad air a' chòmhstri.

Air m' fhìrinn 's ann shaoil leam

'S bha mi daonnan an dòchas

Nach robh 'n leth-bhreachd ri fhaotainn

Ann an taobh seo de 'n Roinn-Eorpa.

Mo sheachd nàir' is mo mhasladh

Cha bheag an cachdan e dhomh-sa,

Luchd mo dhùthch' bhith dol dhachaidh

Gus an dad ach an deò annt'.

Ged a cluith iad le dìorras

Airson a' cheud ghreis dhe' 'n chonnspaid

Thug na h-Urchadnaich chrìonda

An cliù cho iosal 's a dh'fhòghnas.

Ach 's e gu tur rinn mo chiùrradh

Mo luchd-dhùthcha 's luchd m' eòlais

A bha dà uair air an rùsgadh

Dheth na chliù so bu nòs dhaibh.

Tha e thìom dhoibh o 'n uair so

Stad dheth 'n uaills' is an teòmachd

'S a chaidh gun dùlan thoir uapa

Do 'n "Churrachd Ruadh" fhad' 's beò iad.

Faodaidh "Glassburn' bhith sgrìo(bh)ag'

'S am bi e sgìth le cuid bòluich.

Bha e gòrach a rìreadh

Dhol a' slimeadh 's an dòigh so.

Ach cha bhreugnaich e fhìrinn

Ged a sgriobhadh e "volumes"

Oir tha buaidh le làn chinnteas

Aig Bràigh a' Ghlinn' 's tha mi pròiseil.


~~~

Written by John Fraser, Temple, who was Captain of the Urquhart Team in 1887 and 1888 - this song probably refers to the 1887 match

Good fellow who travels

from Strathglass of the Men

Give my greetings to Glassburn

and to the heroes who were with him

and tell them of my condition

pained and wounded

since they lost that battle

As long as I live the indignity will not leave me

In the name of all that’s good what happened

to the Glasaich in the battle?

They lost completely their agility 

before the competition was halted

Truthfully I supposed

and I always hoped 

That the like would never be seen

in this part of Europe

My seven shame and embarrassment

My chagrin was not a small matter

My countrymen going home

Without a jot or as much as the breath in them

Although they played with passion

for the first part of the strife

The prudent Urquhartmen

brought their fame as low as it could go

But what injures me completely

My countrymen and my comrades

who were two times stripped

of the reputation that was theirs always

It is their sorrow that this time

nobility and dexterity ceased

and they did not challenge 

the Red Cap as long as they lived

Glassburn may write

until he is tired with bluster

It was truly foolish

To gloss over in this way

But he can’t refute the truth

although he would write volumes

Because certain victory

Lies with the Braes of the Glen and I’m proud

Read by Megan Grant of Shenval

The necessity was, like most things over the last two years, due to COVID. COVID meant that any opportunity to stage any form of re-enactment, using the Glengarrys and Curachd Ruadh to give a sense of the old time matches, had to be cancelled. The opportunity for in person interviews, in particular with the older generation who may be nervous about speaking on microphone, but would happily do so eventually face to face but not over Zoom was also stopped.  Then even getting along to trainings to take portraits was going to be a tough job with restrictions and a rightful sense of caution still in place, thanks though to the Strathglass lads for mugging it up with the Glengarrys at least one night. Then finally the scheduled Macdonald Cup fixture before the beginning of the season brought a sense of crisis with deadlines near. It’s quite funny that similar 

COVID however, gave other opportunities, more time to research, for example, more time to delve into the Gaelic poetry of Ewen Macdonald, Eòghann Shìm, who played in both games in 87 and 88 for the Strathglass, which sparked ideas for another project, and also the opportunity to bring others into the project who I might not have brought in otherwise. It certainly helped me with the idea to use female Gaelic voices resident in the Strath and Glen to bring the very manly verses, overflowing with jibes and barbs that anyone unfortunate enough to read football twitter after a contentious penalty decision on Sky Sports would recognise. I’m very grateful to those women for giving their voices to bring these poems and songs in the first language of many of the players of that time alive once again.

The reflection was another, that as I delved deeper into the writings about the club, and spoke to more people that a simple but profound truth was at its heart. One that I already knew but that became more palpable with every moment. That shinty is a simple yet vital part of the life and identity of the people who live in these communities and the best thing I could do was get out of their way and let them tell their story. On a personal note, it has helped me strengthen my own attachment to the Strath club where I play my shinty, as well as appreciate more the importance of the eternal rivalry with the Glen. I hope that is reflected in “Suas am ball, sìos am ball” which tries to move between past, present and future of the sport in these special places.

Hopefully the voice recordings here will stand the test of time as much as the newspaper reports from 1887 and 1888 do and provide a social history explaining the importance of shinty to Strathglass and Glenurquhart in this time and place in history. 

A benefit of COVID, a COVIDIVIDEND one might say, is that people are finally au fait with using QR codes. Presenting all the audio material via a QR code accessed from traditional presentation boards was something which came quite late in the process. It was also important that a copy of the presentation boards were available in both Strath and Glen and it was a real sense of achievement to be able to present the boards to the clubs when the Macdonald Cup was finally played in April 2022. Hopefully the clubs will find a place in their local community where these can be accessed by locals and visitors alike for many years to come.

I’m grateful to Highlife Highland and Spirit 360 for the opportunity to tell shinty’s story as part of the project. Shinty and Gaelic go hand in hand and both sport and language face many of the same challenges, especially in the fragile communities that support them still. As part of the Iomain Cholmcille project, we believe that shinty and Gaelic can strengthen each other, and hopefully in bringing the Gaelic heritage of the two areas to the forefront again through its sport, then Gaelic can become again a language heard a little more frequently in Strath and Glen.

It’s of great personal regret that I started this project too late to capture the tales and stories of James “Jimmac” Mackintosh of Glenurquhart and Strathglass who passed away in September 2021.  This project is dedicated to his memory.

- Eòghan Stiùbhart