A' Chailleach from Tairm by WHɎTE

A’ Chailleach (‘the Cailleach (old woman/hag)’)

Bha ann, o chian fhada ’n t-saoghail, cailleach mhòr, mhòr, a thàinig a-nuas à Lochlann.
There was once, long long ago, a great, great cailleach, who came down from Scandinavia.

Bha cliabh air a druim, agus slacan draoidheachd na làimh.
She had a basket on her back, and a magic wand in her hand.

Anns a’ chliabh, bha ùir is creagan, gu Albainn a dhèanamh.
In the basket, there was earth and rocks, to make Scotland.

Air an rathad a’ tighinn, thuit cuid den ùir ’s de na creagan san loch. ’S e sin a rinn na h-eileanan.
On her way here, some of the earth and the rocks fell into the loch. That’s what made the islands.

Bu nighean do Ghrianan a’ chailleach seo.
This cailleach was a daughter of Grianan (lit. ‘little sun’).

Cha robh ach an aon sùil ghlogach aice an clàr an aodainn; ach bha sealladh na sùla sin cho luath ri rionnach a’ chuain.
She only had one dull eye which was in her forehead; but the look in that eye was as quick as the ocean mackerel.

Bha neul a h-aodainn dubh-ghorm; agus bha fiaclan sgòrach ruadh na craos.
Her facial complexion was dark blue; and there were jagged red teeth in her gaping mouth.

Bha brèid air a ceann — mar a bhiodh air na mnathan o shean — ach an àite bhith geal ’s ann a bha e breac, ballach, ’s bha a ciabhan glasa mar chrithionn fo chrith-reodha, a sìos ma guailnean.
She wore a headdress — as the women of old did — but instead of being white it was spotty and speckled, and her grey locks were like an aspen under hoarfrost, down around her shoulders.

Cor uair bhiodh osain oirre, ’s cor uair mogain liatha; ach chan fhacas riamh i gun sùmag de phlaide odhar ma slinneinean.
Occasionally she would wear hose, and other times footless grey hose; but she was never seen without a dun blanket around her shoulders.

Bha treudan fhiadh aig a’ chaillich ; agus iomadh ealtainn de ghabhair is de chaoraich cho geal ris an t-sneachd. Shiùbhladh i leò thairis air mullach nan càrn, ’s a-nuas na slèibhte. B’ i a’ Chonathuil an clacharan thairis air am biodh na gabhair air an iomain a-nuas bho Chruachan, ach b’ ann a-nuas Gleann Nibheis a bu bhitheanta bha i ’g iomain nam fiadh.
The cailleach had herds of deer; and many a flock of goats and sheep as white as snow. She would travel with them over the mountain tops, and down the slopes. Connel was the stepping stones over which the goats would be driven down from Cruachan, but it was down Glen Nevis most often that she would drive the deer.

Bha treudan eile aice a-mach eadar na Torrainnean agus an Dubh-Irteach. ’S ann an sin a gheibhteadh na fèidh ag ionaltradh: cha robh raon eile cho fosgailteach ris gu ruith is mire gus am biodh iad seac sgìth.
She had other herds out between Torran Rocks and Dubh Artach. It was there the deer would be found grazing: there was no other plain as open as it on which they could run and frolic until they were fed up.

An uair a thigeadh an t-àm gus na gabhair a bhleoghan, ruitheadh iad nan treudan a-staigh do Uamh Bhuaile-nan-Drògh, aig Rudha na Caillich. B’ e ’n sealladh am faicinn, nan sreudan caoir-gheal, agus gaoir an t-sruth-bhleoghain ag èirigh gus na nèamhan.
When the time would come to milk the goats, they would flock in their herds inwards to Uamh Bhuaile-nan-Drògh (‘Fold-of-the-Droves Cave’) at Rubha na Caillich (‘Caliach Point’). It was some sight to see them in their incandescent herds and the loud, continuous sound of the milking-jet rising to the heavens.

An uair a dhèanadh a’ Chailleach sreothart aig Rudha na Caillich, chluinnteadh i an eilean Chola.
When the Cailleach sneezed at Rubha na Caillich (‘Caliach Point’), she would be heard in Coll.

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Cailleach mhòr an fhuarain àird
’S acfhuinneach i ’shiubhal chàrn
The great cailleach of the high spring
Well-equipped is she to traverse cairns

Nuair a bha ’mhuir na coill’ is na crìonaich
Bha mise an sin ’am nìonaig òig
When the sea was forest and brushwood
I was there as a young girl

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