An Fhideag Airgid (The Silver Whistle) ~ Seán Heely

On April 16th, 1746 the last pitched battle on British soil was fought. The Battle of Culloden. The Jacobite army led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart met a horrible defeat by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, on Drummossie Moor near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. This battle and the bloody aftermath led to the decisive end of the Highland clan system and way of life. This song like many others from the era depict how much hope the Highland people (the Gaels) had for this promise of a better life, and how much they believed in their rightful king. Thanks to Tess Kelly Hartis for providing a hauntingly beautiful accompaniment. An Fhideag Airgid: (The Silver Whistle) Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid Ho ro hu a hu il o Hi ri hu o, hi ri hu o Mac mo righ air tighinn a dh'Alba Air long riomhach nam ball airgid Tearlach og nan gorm shuil mealach Failte, failte mian is clui dhuit Fidhleireachd is ragha a'uil dhuit Co a sheinneadh? Nach seinninn fhin i? Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid English translation: Who will play the silver whistle Now that my King’s song has come to Scotland On a stately ship with silver rigging Young Charles of the beguiling blue eyes Welcome, love and reknown to you Playing of fiddles and the choicest music for you Who is to say that I will not sound it myself?