Màiri Nic a’ Phearsain/Mary MacPherson (Màiri Mhòr nan Òran/Great Mary of the Songs)
Ged a b’ e a’ Beurla (Ghallta is Shasannach) an cànan oifigeil is malairteach fad eachdraidh a’ bhaile Ghlaschu, bha coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig mòr sa bhaile fad na tìde sin. Bha àireamh-shluaigh na Gàidhlig a bu mhotha san 19mh linn nuair a thàinig mòran Ghàidheil dhan bhaile à Earra-Ghàidheal agus o fheadh na Gàidhealtachd airson a bhith a’ fuireach is ag obair ann. Bha Màiri Nic a’ Phearsain, ris an abradh na Gàidheil Màiri Mhòr nan Òran gu cumanta, aon de na Gàidheal a thug buaidh chudromach air cultar nan Gàidheil ann an Glaschu.
B’ ann à Sgeitheabost air an Eilean Sgitheanach a bha Màiri o thùs. Nuair a shiubhail a duine, chaidh i a dh’Inbhir Nis far an do dh’obraich mar bàn-òglach ann an taigh oifigear. Fhuair i binn 40 làithean ann am prìosan oir thogadh air Màiri gun do ghoid i aodaich bean an taighe, a fhuair bas o chionn ghoirid, ged a bhiodh Màiri a’ cumail oirre nach robh i ciontach fad a bheatha. Dhùisg suidheachadh Màiri fearg ann an iomadh Gàidheal a bha a’ creidsinn gum b’ e ana-cheartas a rinneadh oirre. Theireadh Màiri gum b’ e an tàmailt seo a thug oirre a bhith a’ dèanamh òrain.
Às dèidh sin, chaidh Màiri a Ghlaschu, agus às dèidh greis a Ghrianaig, far an do dh’obraich i mar banaltram agus an do dh’ionnsaich i ri leughadh. Fhuair i cliù mar seinneadair ann an taighean cèilidh Ghlaschu agus bhon a bhith a’ dèanamh òrain aice fhèin. Cuideachd, bha meas aig mòran Ghàidheil oirre air sgàth ’s gun do chuir i taic ri croitearan a bha an sàs ann an Còmhstri an Fhearainn agus thug i dealbh air beatha agus dorradas nan croitear, air an Eilean Sgitheanach agus air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Bhiodh i a’ seinn aig cèilidhean agus cuirmean-ciùil ann an Glaschu agus air feadh na h-Alba anns am biodh i a’ cur an cèill a taic ri na croitearan. A sàillibh sin, cha mhòr nach do chuir gach Gàidheal urram air Màiri Mhòr.
Mar a bhiodhte an dùil, tha ar rannsachadh a’ dearbhadh gu bheil mòran Ghàidheil às a’ Ghàidhealtachd a’ tighinn a Ghlaschu a bhith a’ fuireach, is ag obair, is ag ionnsachadh, agus a bhith a’ gabhail òrain no a’ cluiche ciùil ann an cuirmean-ciùil. Tha na Gàidheil seo a’ sealltainn gu bheil dàimhean daingeann ann eadar Glaschu agus a’ Ghàidhealtachd a tha stèidhichte air eachdraidh agus cultar cumanta.
While Scots and English have been the traditional languages of governance and commerce throughout Glasgow’s history, the city has meanwhile continued to have a significant Gaelic population including during the 19th century when many Gaelic speakers were drawn from Argyll and further afield to live and work. One of the Gaels who left their mark on Glasgow’s Gaelic cultural history was Mary MacPherson, who came to be known as Màiri Mhòr nan Òran – Big or Great Mary of the Songs.
Mary, originally from Skeabost in the Isle of Skye, came to work in Inverness as a domestic servant for the family of an officer after the death of her husband. However, she was sentenced to 40 days of imprisonment after being accused of stealing clothes from the officer’s late wife, a crime she continued to protest innocence of throughout the rest of her life. Her plight became a cause célèbre amongst Gaelic speakers who nearly universally believed that this was a case of gross injustice. Mary would later say that this “tàmailt” or offence/affront inspired much of her songcraft.
After her release, Mary came to settle in Glasgow, and later Greenock, where she worked as a nurse and learned to read and write. She also became a prominent song maker and performer at many of the Glasgow’s ceilidhs. She also became a prominent supporter of the crofters during the crofters’ land agitation during the 1880s with many of her songs speaking about the hardship experienced by many Gaelic speakers, including on her native Isle of Skye. Her outspoken support for the crofters and her active participation in ceilidhs and other performances which supported their cause, even after return to Skye in 1982, led to Mary to become a beloved celebrity of the Gaelic community in Glasgow and beyond.
Our research confirms, to near no surprise, that many Gaelic speakers from the Gàidhealtachd continue to be drawn to Glasgow, whether to live, study, work, and also perform. Their presence reinforces the shared links to Gaelic history and contemporary Gaelic culture Glasgow has with the Highlands and Islands and adds to the vibrancy of Gaelic culture in the city.
Image from: Am Baile (2022) “Màiri Mhòr nan Òran: An càrdadh”, Am Baile. Accessed: 18.05.2022. Available at: Màiri Mhòr nan Òran: An càrdadh - High Life Highland (ambaile.org.uk)