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Dileab a' Bhaird/The Bard's Legacy

Episode 9 of 21

An American singer-songwriter finds out about his connection with the Isle of Lewis and an ancestor who shared his passion for poetry and music.

Ann an 1911 rinn Bàrd Shiadar, Murchadh Moireasdan (Murchadh a' Bhocs) an imrich a dh' Aimeireagaidh mar iomadach Leòdhasach eile. Bha an gràdh a bh' aige air eilean àraich agus maise na tìre fhèin a-riamh air aire Mhurchaidh ge-tà, agus còig bliadhna deug as dèidh dha a dhachaigh a dhèanamh ann an Niagra Falls chaidh cruinneachadh dhe a bhàrdachd fhoillseachadh ann an Glaschu. Tha òrain bhon chruinneachadh leithid Leòdhais mo Ghràidh agus Nuair Dh' iathas Ceò an Fheasgair Dlùth a-nise nam pàirt phrìseil de dhualchas òrain an eilein.

Ceud bliadhna as dèidh sin air eilean Leòdhais, tha e air tighinn am follais gu bheil seinneadair-sgrìobhadair òg Ameireaganach dol a chluich ann an Steòrnabhagh mar phàirt de a chiad chuairt a Bhreatainn. 'S esan Cahalen Moireasdan, neach-ciùil tàlantach òg bluegrass, iar- ogha Mhurchaidh Mhoireasdain, 's tha e na phrìomh amas dha barrachd fhaighinn a-mach mun bhàrd, a
shinn-sheanair, agus mu a cheanglaichean làidir ri Eilean Leòdhais.

In 1911, the Shader Bard Murdo Morrison (Murchadh a' Bhocs) sailed for America with many other Lewis migrants. Love of Lewis and its landscape never faded for Murdo though, and 15 years after settling in Niagra Falls, a collection of his poetry was published in Glasgow. Songs from the collection such as 'Leòdhas mo Ghràidh' and 'Nuair Dh'iathas Ceò an Fheasgair Dlùth' have become part of the traditional repertoire of many island singers over the years.

100 years later, word comes to the Isle of Lewis of a young American singer-songwriter coming to play a concert in Stornoway as part of his first UK tour. The bluegrass, US roots musician is Cahalen Morrison, great-grandson of Murdo Morrison, who is on a mission to find out more about his great grandfather and his own connections with Lewis.

1 hour

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