[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> << First "Rory Dall" is said to mean "Blind Rory", and was a generic term
> for a blind Harper and doesn't point to anyone in particular. >>
>
> For the harpers I know (including folks like Alison & Bill), we recognize two
> Rory Dall's: The Irish one (O'Cathain) and the Scottish one (Morison,
> Macleod's harper). We also understand that they got confused, since they were
> both "Rory" and both blind. I haven't heard that "Rory Dall" was used to
> describe ANY blind harper though.
> Not to sound rude, and with respect: what source do you have for that?
> Because if that is true, I'd like to know! Thank you!
> --Cynthia Cathcart
>
I think I have something more definite, and much more recent
than the following, but haven't been able to relocate it yet.
I'll pass it along if I can find it. O'Neill's 'Irish Minstrels
and Musicians' p. 60, of Rory Dall O'Cahan/ O Cathain/ O'Caghan/
O'Kane says: "Ruaidri, or Rory, born in 1646 [1546?], was nicknamed
Dall or blind, after losing his eyesight, it being a term commonly
applied to those similarly afflicted." [Someone may have read more into
this statement than is warranted.]
Incidently, Donal O'Sullivan says in his 'Carolan' I, p. 17, that
the information known about Rory Dall O Cathain is given in his
'Bunting Collection', Part IV, p. 42-9. He then goes on to give about a
page on him, II, p. 160. Irish by birth, but evidently spent much of his
life, and died, in Scotland. Said to have played to James VI of
Scotland. Attributed to him while in Scotland are- Da Mihi Manum, Port
Athol, and Port Gordon. O'Neill, in the work cited above, adds (from
Bruce Armstrong's 'The Irish Harp') Lude's Supper, Rorie Dall's Sisters
Lament, Port Lennox, and The Terror of Death.
Bruce Olson
--
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