Wanderlust

By Seoras Aonghais - Fortis est veritas (Strong is the truth)

It was the sighing wind that told me one day,
Come to the hills that are far, far away.
Come with me where the cool forests lay.
Come to the hills that are far, far away.

So I went with the wind on that voyage so long.
With the wind that whistled like a beautiful song.
And the longer I traveled the more I did belong.
With the wind that whistled like a beautiful song.

Then at last I came to that far away land.
To finally rest with my vision at hand.
And smile at those who cannot understand.
To finally rest with my vision at hand.

Angus is a name for MacInnes or to be correct MacInnes is a name for the Sons of Angus.

Angus was one of three brothers who established the early Kingdom of the Scots in Dalriada - Angus is buried on the holy Isle of Iona among the Kings of Scotland. The Anguses, MacInneses, MacMasters and others are said to be descended from Angus. The name Angus in Gaelic - one of the oldest languages of Europe - is Aonghais, it is pronounced something like Innish or Innes, hence the Anglicised version Innes. The Clan MacInnes is in Gaelic "Clann Aonghais" in other words "Children of Angus". The Clan and the name Angus are among the oldest to be found in Scotland.

The origins of the MacInneses (Cenel n'Oenghusa, Clann Aonghais, Clan Angus) are steeped in antiquity. Here is an over simplification of the traditions and events.

The original account is that the eponymous Angus; from whom the Clan MacInnes derives its name; arrived in Scotland with his two brothers, Fergus and Lorn, around 500 AD from present North Antrim. The three brothers were the sons of an Irish ruler named Erc.

The three brothers founded Scottish Dalriada in Argyll in which Angus ruled the islands of Jura and Islay. From the Celtic lineage of Angus arose the Cenel n'Oenghusa (The Kin of Angus). From Lorn the Cenel of Loairn and from Fergus' descendants Comgall and Gabran future cenels.

Current thought now discounts the brothers story as myth. Used by later historians to boost the pedigree of later Scottish kings. What appears to be true is that the Cenel n'Oenghusa was well established in Scottish Dalriada long before the supposed date of migration from Ireland. If correct this would make Clan MacInnes the earliest recorded of the traditional Scottish clans. (See: 'Senchus fer n'Alban' and the Irish Annals)

Doctor Ewan Campbell of the University of Glasgow now states that there is virtually no archaeological evidence to support 'the migration from Ireland' theory - in fact, based on the archaeological finds; the reverse happened. That is, the Scots colonised Northern Ireland across the short North Channel. See:'Saints and Sea Kings' by Ewan Campbell.

Auld Lang Syne.

By Robert Burns

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.