Culloden: Rare collection of Gaelic songs written around time of battle released for 274th anniversary

A collection of Gaelic songs written around the time of the Battle of Culloden have been released to mark the anniversary of the final clash between the Jacobites and the British Army.

The works have been made public by the National Trust for Scotland as its usual commemoration of events of April 16, 1746 at Culloden Battlefield are cancelled this year.

The songs were collected by folklorist John Lorne Campbell from the Highland bards who were passed down the songs over the generations.

The 274th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden will be marked tomorrow, April 16.

John Lorne Campbell collected the songs for his book Highlands Songs of the ‘45, many which had never been written down before, which was published in 1933.

It is considered to be the work that the prolific scholoar of Gaelic culture and life was most proud of.

Songs collected by Lorne Campbell include ‘Òran do’n Phrionnsa/ Song to the Prince’, ‘An Suaithneas Bàn/ the White Cockade’ and ‘Am Breacan Uallach/The Proud Plaid’.

Folklorists John Lorne Campbell and his wife Margaret Faye Shaw at their home, Canna House on the Isle of Canna.

A film released today by NTS features the original audio recordings of some of those who shared the songs.

Scholars have claimed the works greatly increase the understanding of the those who fought for Charles Edward Stuart’s army and their struggle.

Raoul Machin-Curtis, the National Trust for Scotland’s Operations Manager at Culloden said: “The anniversary of the Battle of Culloden is a significant date for so many and while we can’t be onsite today, we know that people will want to pause, reflect and remember.

“These beautiful songs reflect the haunting beauty of battlefield, one of Scotland’s most special places, so powerfully. We feel it is fitting to share them on this poignant day.”

The film released today was created by the Trust’s Canna House archivist Fiona MacKenzie who had been due to give a talk on the book at the battlefield as part of the 2020 anniversary programme.

Tomorrow, April 16, marks the 274th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden, one of the most pivotal moments in Scotland’s history, where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic and brutal end.

The site of the last pitched battle fought in Britain, Culloden attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year and the impact of the battle and its aftermath resonates across Scotland, and the wider world.