Donnchadh Bàn @ 300 / Duncan Ban @ 300

The great Gaelic poet Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir (Duncan Ban MacIntyre) was born 300 years ago on 20th March 1724. Born in Glen Orchy, he was an integral figure in a golden age of Gaelic poetry during the 18th century. Duncan Ban was part of the oral tradition, formally illiterate, who carried his poetry in his memory. It was eventually written down by a Lismore clergyman, Donald MacNicol. His poetry would later be translated into English by the likes of Hugh MacDiarmid, Derick Thomson and Iain Crichton Smith. Duncan Ban spent the last decades of his life in Edinburgh, where he was a member of the City Watch, and is now commemorated in Greyfriars churchyard.

To celebrate the anniversary, poets Martin MacIntyre, Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, Pàdraig MacAoidh and others will join us at the SPL for a reading and celebration of his poems and songs: his words stretch between Argyll and Edinburgh, and his love of the natural world is still hugely important for the 21^st Century.

This event will be largely in Gaelic, with some English.

Tickets are only £3 entry. Unwaged, under-16 and OAP: £1. (A small handling fee will be charged by Eventbrite.)

Wednesday, 20 March
5:30pm-7pm | Scottish Poetry Library

This event is organised by Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann alongside the Scottish Poetry Library. Fhuair an tachartas seo taic bho Alba Chruthachail agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig.