Hogmanay in Kintyre 1888

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Hogmanay in Kintyre 1888

Postby History » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:32 pm

Kintyre Hogmanay

The longed for…prayed for…welcome night
Was ushered in with meagre light:
And clouds at times conceal’d from sight
The planets, stars and moon.

It was the night of Hogmanay,
The choice of all the year,
When fun and frolic have their sway
Without restraint or fear;
When Dandies and Randies
For festival scenes gathered wandered and daundered
They care not whether or whither.

Beside the cross the gathered bands
From alleys, closes, rows and lands
A team of Madawaska's hands.
With fisher lads in tow

There’s folk from Greenland and Gartgrillan,
From neighbouring hut and shieling,
From Calliburn and Ballywillin,
And droves from Kilmahoe.
Peninver, Smerby and the Rhoin,
Drumlemble and Drumore
The Lossit Pans and Auchihoan.
Send gallants by the score
The Learside and the Largieside
The foremost place contest.
And Tangy and Langa
Claim record with the best

The shepherds hut on Bordadhu,
The sheltered Mill at Killarow’
The smugglers “toor” at Mulachdoo
Their tenants missing for a while;

And squads from Machrihanish Bay
Forsake their cod lines for the day
And to Ceannloch they plod their way
Ooer moorland, road and stile
And gamekeepers from Pennygown
And from Bengullions back
Neglect their work and seek the town
Even though they might get the sack

For twelve months toil they take revenge
From servants now to Lords they change.

Kilkeddan, Dalvraddan
Are seldom far behind
Wherever, whenever
The scent is in the wind.
Kilwhipnach too has sent a couple
As ardent sturdy’ trig and supple.

There’s MacCualisky of Dalintober
A lad of taste but just a toper
The best of guides while he’s sober.

There’s Tom Rae from Broom Brae
And Wylie of Lochend and Huie and Bowie
Their wise counsel lend.

Old Dalaruan’s shaggy chiel
The lusty sutor Doogy Neil
With Caine a scion of Milknowe
Mainspring of every local row.
And a lucky fugitive ‘till now
From jail and Botany Bay.

Oh Neil Mckeich your looking frisky
After a full flask of Colville’s whisky


To the revelers Katie Blue bestows a Kebbuck Fell
That she’d been sent for hersel’;
Tam Gilkie sacrificed his crate
Of fozy fizzing Gortchan peat
To light the tar barrel in the street.


Around the sacred bluish stone
That lures the tourist to the town
- Ionas’s sculptured cross –

The bells ring out their yearly call
Another year and happy all.

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Postby EMDEE » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:10 pm

New one for me there.

Any author's name?
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Postby History » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:18 pm

Don't know where it's from or the author. I found it on a piece of paper being used as a bookmark in an old book. The date says 1888??
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Postby EMDEE » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:22 pm

Serendipity! :D

Can't say that I've heard the word "kebbuck" used in Kintyre though. :?
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Postby History » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:25 pm

I found the mention of the Brig Madawska interesting. Was it in picking up emigrants? or just in for the festival.

Kebbuck! Cheese?
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Postby EMDEE » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:36 pm

Maybe a bit of further research might tell us what was going on in 1988. (if there is any info available anywhere)

"Kebbuck Fell", a phrase that appears in "The Cotter's Saturday Night", (tasty cheese).
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Postby History » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:15 am

EMDEE wrote:Maybe a bit of further research might tell us what was going on in 1988. (if there is any info available anywhere)


You will find more info on burning of the tar barrels and hogmanay in general at that time in Angus Martin's book "Kintyre Country Life published by John Donald under the heading "Festivities, Customs and Sports".

No mention of the poem though.

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Re: Hogmanay in Kintyre 1888

Postby The modfather » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:47 pm

i was expecting a youtube video
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Re: Hogmanay in Kintyre 1888

Postby EMDEE » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:30 pm

Just noticed that says 1988! :oops: :oops:
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Re: Hogmanay in Kintyre 1888

Postby jamesperry196 » Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:23 pm

That is an interesting poem. I'm also interested in the mention of the Madawaska. It belonged and was captained by Daniel McMurchy born 1801 in Campbeltown. It sailed from Campbeltown, Scotland to Campbelltown, NB Canada late 1820s to 1838.

The ship was wrecked in 1838 so I think the poem dates from earlier than 1888.

A diferent version of the Hogmanay poem including mention of the Madawaska is also here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5998113/Legen ... ntyre-1886

Regards,

James
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