THE CELTIC CONNECTION • APRIL 1994
Page 11
Battle of Culloden Brings End to Clan Power
By RON JOHNSTONE
When first asked to write about the Battle of Culloden, I thought it would be relatively easy. How we delude ourselves!
The difficulty was in framing thousands of years of history, into a simplified context in which those events may be viewed.
As a focal point in history, April 16, 1746, the Battle of Culloden at Drummrossie Moor, closes on one era and opens on another; it is the end of Gaelic independence in Scotland and the opening chapters of "Mi-Run-Mor Nan Gall" (the Lowlander's great hatred) and the birth of Great Britain.
For centuries, Scotland's social, economic and political powers were the clans; and between all clans there was a long history of blood-feud, cattle raiding and treachery. But for our purpose, a major line of hostility may be drawn from southwest to northeast, through the Great Glenn.
In the West, the heart and soul of the "Gaidhaeltachd" sustained deep memories of Dalriada and Kenneth Mac Alpin (King of Scotland 843-860 A.D.); here, the MacDonalds ruled the last Gaelic polity until 1493, when the title was withdrawn by James IV.
At the zenith of MacDonald
[lower, they held the Great Buck-er of islands, from the Butt of Lewis to Islay, the Western littorial from Loch Alsh to Kintyre and marched claims inland through Lochaber, Glencoe, up the Great Glen and into Easter Ross.
The "Hawks of Islay" were renowned for their valour, wisdom and nobility; "there is no joy"
sang their bards, without Clan Donald.
The fate of Clan Donald and with it, the fate of Gaelic Scotland, was virtually sealed in March of 1603, with the death of Elizabeth I in England and the proclamation of James VI of Scotland (Son of Mary Queen of Scots and Henry Darnley) as her successor and as James I of England. The movement toward unifying ancient enemies was begun in ernest, and the Gael were in the way.
Linked by distant progenitors
and recurrent marriage with the MacDonells of Antrim, in Ulster; their intriguing and comradeship in arms were a constant threat to James' authority and the ever-present menace of a Celtic confederacy seemed the substance of royal nightmares. In the Basilikon Doron (a text written by James to educate his son in the ways of royal responsibilities), his opinion of the Highlanders seems almost a cry of despair.
In an attempt to break the feared confederacy, James I confiscated MacDonell land in Ulster and settled it with lowland Scots and English loyalists, thereby creating the situation in Northern Ireland that continues to the present day.
Entrusting thereafter the maintenance of law and suppression of disorder to the Southern Earls of Argyll, Seaforth and Gordon; James I and succeeding English monarchs prepared the ground for the animosities that would last another 150 years, eventually culminating at the battle of Culloden and the era of the fourth Jacobite uprising.
The ensuing repression of the Gael in Scotland was immediate and brutal, from martial law to the coming of the sheep, the year of burnings and the horror of the clearances.
We still see Culloden's legacy today in the struggle for Irish independence and the continuing diaspora of Scottish emigration.
Suggested reading: The Lion in the North and Culloden by ]ohnPrebble and The Survival of Scotland by Eric Linklater.
John Allen Cameron Shares Humour, Vitality and Music
By ALEXANDER GREER
VANCOUVER — Undoubtedly, the warmest, most unpretentious Canadians are Maritimers. On February 26, the Scottish Cultural Centre was alive with many Cape Bretoners there to hear John Allen Cameron (the 12-string guitar man) for a fun evening of music, songs and jokes — Maritime style.
Cameron is from Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and I had an opportunity to chat with him briefly during one of the intermissions.
Cameron has an eventful and interesting background having, many years ago, spent almost seven years in the Oblate Order
Preparing himself for the priest-ood. He decided to leave that establishment six months before becoming ordained and his decision to withdraw was obviously a difficult one. Considering his musical talent, it was a good choice, although, he probably could give a dynamic sermon.
He reminisced about his occasional appearances on the Don
Messer Jubilee program back in the Sixties and now much he enjoyed it because, "... it was live and it kept the cutting edge on things. If you broke a guitar string, you broke it. It's true to life. I find the recorded sessions don't have that spontaneity."
I asked him about his uncle, Dan R. MacDonald, who was the biggest musical influence in his life, and whose name is familiar to all Maritimers.
MacDonald was a well-known fiddler and Cameron became musically enthusiastic because of him, at age 12. He spoke fondly of MacDonald's guidance and spoke of once being in Tennessee and pleasantly surprised to hear a recording of the 75 fiddlers who played at his uncle's funeral. It must have been some funeral!
Cameron enlivens his songs intermittently with jokes, usually aimed at our scheming politicians or the Canadian police forces. His quip directed at the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was well received by his audience. He
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was explaining that one of the prerequisites for joining the police force was an IQ of 110 — "that's why you always see two of them in a car!"
My favourite song was the hilarious Cinderella tune which he wrote back in 1965. It would be too complicated to explain in this article; hopefully you might catch him singing it the next time he's in town. He sang many of his formidable tunes such as from Calin' Mo Kuinsa, Waltzing Matilda, Mary Mack, The Lord of the Dance and John Prine's song, Please Don 'I Bury Me — he really is a gifted musician.
The Sons of Terra Nova, a lively local band added an energetic and spirited touch to the event — they had practically everyone on the dance floor hopping and bouncing all over the place.
What struck me deeply about the evening was the sense of humour, spirit and vitality of a people supposedly coming from the "poorest" region of Canada but remarkably rich in culture, passion and feeling.
£-1-V Ppa Rogue Folk Club ^krVtAV The home of Celtic music in Vancouver ^8E9 at The W.I.S.E. Hall (1SS2 Adanac Si.U
Monday April 4th (8:00) John Renbourn & Robin Williamson (Van. East Cultural Ctr.) Saturday April 23rd (830) The sound of Scotland - past & present - the mountains b lochs, the myths & legends, the industrial past, all spiced with a touch of Gaelic & a jug of whisky Battlefield Band Centennial Theatre, N.Van
Saturday April 9th (830) B.C. Folk Night Jiggery Pokery, Lingo Sisters, 3 Strong Winds, Ross Douglas
Friday April 29th (830) Celtic music at its best - stunning musicianship & great humour The House Band
Friday April 15th (830) Ace Irish harper & hot guitarist Maire ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
Friday May 6th (830) Daniel Lapp & co.
Tues & Wed April 19 & 20 (8:00) Legendary Folk Singer Tom Paxton
Saturday May 14th (830) Boiled in Lead
^Tickets at Black Swan, Highlife, Rufus' Guitars ^ ^ For info. & reservations, call 736-3022 j
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at the Scottish Cultural Centre 8896 Hudson Street (604) 263-9911
SATURDAY, APRIL 16 AT 8PM THE CROFTERS DOUBLE STANDARDS St LORRAINE St HELEN IN BRITISH NIGHT Tkts $10 Members $8 Students $5 Reservations (604) 980-0950
FRIDAY, MAY 6 at 2:30 PM and 8PM
NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND PRESENTATION by JULIAN BIRCHALL RESERVATIONS (604) 980-0950
SATURDAY, MAY 14 at 8PM
THE GABERLUNZIE Scotland's Finest Folk Duo SE THE SONS OF TERRA NOVA CELIDH BAND Tkts. $14 a $12 Students $6 from (604) 980-0950 or (604) 263-9911