Duncan Bàn MacIntyre

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Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir (usually Duncan Ban MacIntyre in English, 1724-1812) is one of the most renowned of Scottish Gaelic poets and formed an integral part of one of the golden ages of Gaelic poetry in Scotland during the 18th Century. He is best known for his poem about Ben Doran ; "Moladh Beinn Dobhrainn" (English: "Praise of Ben Doran").

Born in Druim Liaghart in Glen Orchy he went on to work in various occupations including as a soldier in the Argyll Regiment of Militia, as a forester and as a constable of Edinburgh City Guard. While a soldier in the Argyll regiment he fought for the Hanoverian forces during the Jacobite rising of 1745-1746 although he displayed some jacobite sympathies in some of his works notably his "Oran don Bhriogais" (English: Ode to Trousers ) inspired by the Disclothing Act (1746) which saw the outlawing of traditional Highland Dress following the Battle of Culloden. Most of his poetry is descriptive and the influence of the great Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair is notable in much of it.

He is buried at Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, where a service in Gaelic is held in Greyfriars Kirk every Sunday.

[edit] References

Thomson, Derick S. The Companion to Gaelic Scotland, (Blackwell Reference 1987), ISBN 0-631-15578-3