Post by Ealasaid on Aug 1, 2006 13:33:53 GMT -6
Mary Cameron MacKellar 1834 - 1890
Bàna Bhàrd Cloinne Camshron
Bardess Clan Cameron
Mary Cameron was born on 1st October 1834 in Fort William, the second eldest of five daughters and three sons. Her father, Allan Cameron, from Druimarben, had a baker’s business on the site of the present Bank of Scotland Fort William. Mary’s mother, Janet MacDiarmid, belonged to A’ Chloich, Loch Shiel side. Mary’s maternal grandparents, Duncan MacDiarmid and Mary Cameron came to live at Coire Beag (Corrybeg), Lochielside and it was with them that Mary spent the earlier part of her childhood.
Her grandfather, Duncan MacDiarmid, known as a fine seanachaidh, was also brought up by his grandfather, a veteran of the ’45. Her grandmother, Mary Cameron from Sunart, for whom Mary was named, was also a bardess, so Mary was immersed in the bàrdachd and history of the Gàidhealtachd from an early age.
Owing to the premature death of her father, Mary’s formal education ended when she was about eleven years of age and it became necessary to stay at home and assist her mother. Some years later, the family moved to Glencoe. There, she met and married John MacKellar and for many years sailed with him on his sloop “Glencoe” to numerous European ports. She was shipwrecked twice, once clinging to the rigging of the ship at the mouth of the River Weser for twelve hours and once, in the Baltic Sea. These years of hardship took their toll on her health and marriage and eventually, she had to remain ashore and live in Fort William. It was after this that her literary output became more prolific and she began to have poems, and articles published in newspapers and periodicals. She contributed to “The Scotsman” and “Celtic Magazine” amongst others. In the following years she was chosen to translate into Gaelic, for Queen Victoria “More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands”, wrote “A Guide to Fort William, Glencoe and Lochaber”, a Book of Gaelic and English Poems and, “ The Tourist Handbook of Gaelic Phrases for the Highlands”.
In 1876 Mary was appointed Bardess to the Gaelic Society of Inverness, an office she held until her death. With this position came the award of Poet Laureate, in recognition of her poetic talents. Throughout, she continued to compose Gaelic and English poetry and to record Lochaber folklore and history.
Mary MacKellar never forgot her origins in Lochaber and the clan of her birth and, even as her health was failing, she worked tirelessly to establish a Clan Cameron Association. She was appointed a founder member of the committee at the formation of the Society in 1889.
Mary Cameron MacKeller died in Edinburgh on September 7th 1890, one month short of her 56th birthday. She was laid to rest in the ancient, family burial place of Kilmallie, beside her father and young brother Charlie, who was drowned at the age of 21 years. A large crowd attended as Clan Cameron buried one of it’s own and later, erected a fine Celtic cross on her grave. Dr. Alexander Stewart of Nether Lochaber paid her this tribute. “A great heart has been lost to the Highlands. A great spirit has gone to God.” Mary had no children but, the descendants of her parents are in New Zealand, and Lochaber today.
Family tradition has it that the following song was written for her.
Far an Robh Mi’n Raoir
Chan eil fios aig duin' air thalamh Nobody on earth knows
Far an robh mi'n raoir; Where I was last night
Cha robh leam ach Màiri Ailein Only Màiri Alein was with me
Far an robh mi ‘n raoir, Where I was last night
Fhuair mi gealladh bho mo chaileig, I got a promise from my girl
Far an robh mi’n raoir, A mouth that would never deceive
Beul nach canadh foill, In a pleasant little wooded glen
Ann an gleannan caoin a' bharraich Where I was last night
Far an robh mi'n raoir.
Le Niall MacLeòid Bàrd an t-Eilean Sgiathanach
Bàna Bhàrd Cloinne Camshron
Bardess Clan Cameron
Mary Cameron was born on 1st October 1834 in Fort William, the second eldest of five daughters and three sons. Her father, Allan Cameron, from Druimarben, had a baker’s business on the site of the present Bank of Scotland Fort William. Mary’s mother, Janet MacDiarmid, belonged to A’ Chloich, Loch Shiel side. Mary’s maternal grandparents, Duncan MacDiarmid and Mary Cameron came to live at Coire Beag (Corrybeg), Lochielside and it was with them that Mary spent the earlier part of her childhood.
Her grandfather, Duncan MacDiarmid, known as a fine seanachaidh, was also brought up by his grandfather, a veteran of the ’45. Her grandmother, Mary Cameron from Sunart, for whom Mary was named, was also a bardess, so Mary was immersed in the bàrdachd and history of the Gàidhealtachd from an early age.
Owing to the premature death of her father, Mary’s formal education ended when she was about eleven years of age and it became necessary to stay at home and assist her mother. Some years later, the family moved to Glencoe. There, she met and married John MacKellar and for many years sailed with him on his sloop “Glencoe” to numerous European ports. She was shipwrecked twice, once clinging to the rigging of the ship at the mouth of the River Weser for twelve hours and once, in the Baltic Sea. These years of hardship took their toll on her health and marriage and eventually, she had to remain ashore and live in Fort William. It was after this that her literary output became more prolific and she began to have poems, and articles published in newspapers and periodicals. She contributed to “The Scotsman” and “Celtic Magazine” amongst others. In the following years she was chosen to translate into Gaelic, for Queen Victoria “More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands”, wrote “A Guide to Fort William, Glencoe and Lochaber”, a Book of Gaelic and English Poems and, “ The Tourist Handbook of Gaelic Phrases for the Highlands”.
In 1876 Mary was appointed Bardess to the Gaelic Society of Inverness, an office she held until her death. With this position came the award of Poet Laureate, in recognition of her poetic talents. Throughout, she continued to compose Gaelic and English poetry and to record Lochaber folklore and history.
Mary MacKellar never forgot her origins in Lochaber and the clan of her birth and, even as her health was failing, she worked tirelessly to establish a Clan Cameron Association. She was appointed a founder member of the committee at the formation of the Society in 1889.
Mary Cameron MacKeller died in Edinburgh on September 7th 1890, one month short of her 56th birthday. She was laid to rest in the ancient, family burial place of Kilmallie, beside her father and young brother Charlie, who was drowned at the age of 21 years. A large crowd attended as Clan Cameron buried one of it’s own and later, erected a fine Celtic cross on her grave. Dr. Alexander Stewart of Nether Lochaber paid her this tribute. “A great heart has been lost to the Highlands. A great spirit has gone to God.” Mary had no children but, the descendants of her parents are in New Zealand, and Lochaber today.
Family tradition has it that the following song was written for her.
Far an Robh Mi’n Raoir
Chan eil fios aig duin' air thalamh Nobody on earth knows
Far an robh mi'n raoir; Where I was last night
Cha robh leam ach Màiri Ailein Only Màiri Alein was with me
Far an robh mi ‘n raoir, Where I was last night
Fhuair mi gealladh bho mo chaileig, I got a promise from my girl
Far an robh mi’n raoir, A mouth that would never deceive
Beul nach canadh foill, In a pleasant little wooded glen
Ann an gleannan caoin a' bharraich Where I was last night
Far an robh mi'n raoir.
Le Niall MacLeòid Bàrd an t-Eilean Sgiathanach
