FAMILY OF PIPERS
A famous family of pipers was honoured on August 2, when a memorial was unveiled to the MacCrimmoiis of Skyer. The MacCrimmons woro hereditary pipers to the Clan MacLeod,'and "MacCrimmon's Lament" is perhaps the best-known piece of bagpipe music, in tho world. According to tradition, it was composed by Donald Bar MacCrimmon before he embarked, with the MacLeods, to join Bonnie Prince Charlie. MaeCrimmon bad a presentiment that he would never return to Skye, hence the words: "I shall never return; although MacLeod returns, yet MacCrimmon shall never return." The presentiment was justified;' ho died fighting. Perhaps because of this association tho "Lament" was almost invariably played when emigrants from the Western Highlands and Islands left their native shore for tho new world. "We return no more," wailed the .pipers—and 9 for most of those who departed it was a true word. But they helped to build tlic Empire.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19331109.2.74
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 11
Word Count
152FAMILY OF PIPERS Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 11
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Evening Post. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.