The Festive Backroom: Ceitidh Campbell

We have Ceitidh Campbell in the backroom today, our first woman Bard, I'm ashamed to say. Ceitidh is one of the current 'Champions' of the Scottish Poetry Library, commissioned to choose emerging Gaelic poets for the SPL's digital platforms. She is also responsible for addressing a glaring oversight in the SPL's list of Scottish poets by promoting the inclusion of Mary MacDonald, the poet from Bunessan, Mull, whose life spanned, just about, the whole of the 19th century, and at whose memorial my mother always insisted on stopping in the old days, whenever we were on the island of her own birth.  During Mary's lifetime, another woman, Janet MacKenzie, of South Rona, having lost her husband, son, a brother and two brother in laws at sea, was given a pension by the Admiralty after making sure that, every night, a light showed in her window to guide ships. Ceitidh's poem here tells us that story. It's a striking image, and one very much for all times: a light in the window while the storm rages.

Ceitidh Campbell has connections to Raasay, Lochalsh, Inverness and Penicuik and started writing Gaelic songs and poems whilst at the School of Scottish Studies. She gained an honours degree in Scottish Ethnology and Celtic Studies with a focus on Gaelic song and poetry and its historic significance. She achieved 3rd place in the Oran Ùr do Mhuile song writing competition in 2008 and as part of Fèisean na Gaidheal’s An Taigh Oran project in 2012 produced a series of new songs with other Gaelic writers. In 2018 she won the Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd and regularly performs both traditional songs and her own work. A Gaelic teacher at Millburn Academy in Inverness she is currently developing work for her first collection. 

Here she reads  Moladh Bean Rònaidh:

Thàinig am bàs air an t-sluaigh, 
tubaist na mara a bha cho chruaidh. 
Bhàthadh maraichean sa chuan 
air beulaibh Bean thùrsach Rònaidh. 

Ged nach b’ i ach banntrach bhochd, 
gach oidhche las i solas còir. 
Gun ìmpidh, gun ghearran, le earrann bheag ola. 
Moladh Bean bhuadhach Rònaidh. 

Fad còrr is fichead bliadhn’ ’s a trì 
dheàrrsadh solais na mnà gun dìth, 
chumadh na seòlaidearean bhon strì. 
Taing, A Bhean thuigseach Rònaidh. 

Fhuair ceannard an nèibhi litir bheag 
bhon chaiptean a’ Chomet is thuirt e ris, 
“Feumaidh sinn airgead a chur dhi.” 
“Cò i?” “Bean shuicheanta Rònaidh.” 

Eadar an taigh ’s an Acarsaid Mhòr 
thall a Phortrìgh chaidh sòlas an ròis. 
Gu bràth, bidh cuimhn’ againn air Seònaid. 
Moladh Bean uasal Rònaidh. 



Death ravaged the people, 
maritime disasters that were so severe. 
Sailors drowned in the sea 
in front of the distressed woman of Rona. 

Although she was only a poor widow 
every night she lit a gentle light. 
Without persuasion, without complaint, with a little store of oil 
Praise to influential woman of Rona. 

For over twenty-three years 
the woman’s light shone without fail, 
keeping sailors from danger. 
Thanks, to the understanding woman of Rona. 

The Lord High Admiral got a missive 
from the Captain of the Comet which said 
“We need to give her some money.” 
“To whom?” The iconic woman of Rona. 

The light from the peninsula shone between the house in Big Harbour 
and over to Portree. 
Forever, we will remember Janet 

And praise the noble woman of Rona. 

Hear the 5 Gaelic poets chosen by Ceitidh as part of the Champions project here:

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/champions-2020/