The Rev. Donald MacNicol (Scottish Gaelic: Domhnall
MacNeacaill; 1735–1802), was a Scottish clergyman, as
Minister of Lismore in Argyll, and an author. He was
the son of Nicol Macnicol of Succoth, Argyll, and the
nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle. He is
perhaps best known for his Remarks On Dr. Samuel
Johnson's Journey To The Hebrides, a work which
commented rather vituperatively on Dr. Johnson's
equally insulting A Journey to the Western Islands of
Scotland.
The Rev. MacNic...(+)
The Rev. Donald MacNicol (Scottish Gaelic: Domhnall
MacNeacaill; 1735–1802), was a Scottish clergyman, as
Minister of Lismore in Argyll, and an author. He was
the son of Nicol Macnicol of Succoth, Argyll, and the
nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle. He is
perhaps best known for his Remarks On Dr. Samuel
Johnson's Journey To The Hebrides, a work which
commented rather vituperatively on Dr. Johnson's
equally insulting A Journey to the Western Islands of
Scotland.
The Rev. MacNicol assisted the renowned Gaelic poet,
Duncan Ban MacIntyre, by transcribing over 6,000 lines
of the illiterate man's work. MacNicol is also
remembered for his Gaelic poem of lost love, entitled
"Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh." (English: "My Eye is After
You")
Chorus:
Ochoin a chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh"
A chailin, mo chailin 's mo shùil ad dhèidh
A Lili, mo Lili 's mo shùil ad dhèidh
Cha lèir dhomh am bealach le sileadh nan deur
English Translation:
Alas, my girl, my eye is after you
Girl, my girl, my eye is after you
Lily, my Lily, my eye is after you
I can't see the mountain pass for the flowing of tears
The thirty-five-year-old Rev. MacNicol wrote the poem
in lament of being snubbed by Lillias Campbell, a local
laird's daughter. He had requested the
seventeen-year-old girl's hand in marriage, but Lillias
had already accepted the hand of her cousin, Captain
Alexander Campbell. However, Sir Alexander made an
ungallant bet with a servant which left the incensed
Lillias no choice but to accept the alternate proposal
of the Rev. MacNicol. They married just after her
eighteenth birthday, and would go on to have sixteen
children. The poem was later set to music and remains a
popular Highland folk song.
Although this work was originally written for Voice and
Folk Instruments, I created this arrangement for Flute,
Oboe and Concert (Pedal) Harp.