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MACRIMMON, the
surname of a minor sept, (the Siol Chruiminn,) who were the
hereditary pipers of Macleod of Macleod. They had a sort of seminary
for the instruction of learners in bagpipe music, and were the most
celebrated bagpipe players in the Highlands. The first of whom there
is any notice was Ian Odhar, or dun-coloured John, who lived about
1600. About the middle of the 17th century, Patrick Mor MacRimmon,
having lost seven sons, (he had eight in all,) within a year,
composed for the bagpipe a touching ‘Lament for the children,’
called in Gaelic Cumhadh na Cloinne. In 1745 Macleod’s piper,
esteemed the best in Scotland, was called Donald Ban MacRimmon, When
that chief, who was opposed to Prince Charles, with Munro of
Culcairn, at the head of 700 men, were defeated by Lord Lewis
Gordon, and the Farquharsons, at Inverury, 12 miles from Aberdeen,
Donald Ban was taken prisoner. On this occasion, a striking mark of
respect was paid to him by his brethren of the bagpipe, which at
once obtained his release. The pipers in Lord Lewis’ following did
not play the next morning, as was their wont, and on inquiry as to
this unusual circumstance, it was found by his lordship and his
officers that the pipes were silent because MacRimmon was a
prisoner, when he was immediately set at liberty. He was, however,
shortly afterwards killed in the night attempt, led by the laird of
Macleod, to capture the prince at Moyhall, the seat of Lady
Macintosh near Inverness.
On the passing of the
heritable jurisdiction abolition bill in 1747, the occupation of the
hereditary bagpipers was gone. Donald Dubh MacRimmon, the last of
them, died in 1822, aged 91. The affecting lament, Tha til, tha til,
tha til, Mhic Chruimin, “MacRimmon shall never, shall never, shall
never return,” was composed on his departure for Canada. |
