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Updated 11/01/2019

 


Mairi nighean Alasdair

When Mary Mackenzie (Mairi nighean Alisdair) died, her widowed husband William MacKenzie (1856 - 1908) went to join his only remaining family who had all left for Canada but he died within a year of arriving in Canada and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Thunder Bay. Before leaving Lewis he pulled out one of his teeth and buried it with his wife so at least part of him remained there. William also composed many other Gaelic songs and poems.

PUBLIC NOTICE:

August 31, 1998

Relatives will gather at Cladh na h-Aoidhe, a cemetery in Point, Isle of Lewis, at the end of the week to lay a head-stone at the grave of Màiri nighean Alasdair. Rhoda MacLeod explains that Mary MacKay, from Garrabost, was married to William MacKenzie from Shader for twenty years. She died in 1904 and William then wrote the famous song. William went to Canada in 1907, and died the following year.

 

 

Lyrics

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Alasdair?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of Alasdair?

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Sheumais?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of James?

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Alasdair?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of Alasdair?

Bidh iad a' mire ri chèile

They often make merry together

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Alasdair?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of Alasdair?

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Sheumais?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of James?

Faca sibh Màiri nighean Alasdair?

Have you seen Mary, daughter of Alasdair?

Bidh iad a' mire ri chèile

They often make merry together

 

 

Cruinn, geàrr, sgiobalta

Neat, trim, tidy

Cruinn, sgiobalta, gleusda

Neat, tidy, deft

Cruinn, geàrr, sgiobalta

Neat, trim, tidy

Bidh iad a' mire ri chèile

They often make merry together

Cruinn, geàrr, sgiobalta

Neat, trim, tidy

Cruinn, sgiobalta, gleusda

Neat, tidy, deft

Cruinn, geàrr, sgiobalta

Neat, trim, tidy

Bidh iad a' mire ri chèile

They often make merry together