Bliadhna nan ÒranYear of Song

Iain Caimbeul (Bàrd na Leideig)

Rugadh Iain Caimbeul san Òban air 22 Sultain, 1823, ach ghluais an teaghlach gu ruige Meudarloch nuair a bha e mu dhà bhliadhna a dh'aois. B' e athair maighstir-sgoile na Leideig fad 35 bliadhna.

Bha Iain ga fhoghlam airson na ministrealachd ach thug dìth slàinte air sin a leigeil seachad. Thug e grunn bhliadhnaichean an Glaschu, àite nach d' thàinig ri chàil idir:

Thill Iain Caimbeul a dh'ionnsaigh na Leideig, far an robh bùth aige airson greis. Bha e pòsta agus bha còignear nighean aige agus, an ceann ùine, fhuair e obair a' ruith Oifig a' Phuist.

Chruthaich e gàrradh a bha ainmeil, far an robh e a' fàs lusan agus measan a bhiodh e toirt gu margaidh an Òbain. Ach bha ùidh mhòr aige cuideachd ann am maise a' ghàrraidh, mar a dh'innis fear Anndra Seumas Symington is e a' sgrìobhadh san iris, The Celtic Monthly, san Fhaoilleach, 1893:

"It is situated about two miles from Connel Ferry where are Ossian's Falls of Lora, and it stands immediately under Dun Valanree, near Dun Uisneach.

The dwelling itself consists of a little range of white houses, built at different times, one slated and the others thatched. All of them are trailed over with climbing plants and embosomed in greenery, while the windows are well nigh smothered up with roses - red, white, tea, or damask – honeysuckles too, clematis, and luxuriant masses of the escalonia macrantha abound, with its leaves of glossy green relieved by numerous clusters of scarlet wax-like flowers. It is admitted to be one of the most picturesque post-offices in Great Britain."

Bha Bàrd na Leideig cuideachd ainmeil airson nan coinneamhan soisgeulach a bhiodh e a' cumail ann an uaimh, faisg air a dhachaigh:

"Opposite the cottage, between the road and the sea, is the rock cave, approached through an arch of roses, in which nature has been helped by a wall on one side, a window, a door and a fireplace. In the cave are seats, a bookcase, and a swinging oil lamp while a pane of glass in the roof admits a patch of sunlight or shows the stars.

The cave can accommodate 50 children, and for the last three and twenty years has been usually crowded Sunday after Sunday. Fathers and mothers, who in their youth attended the class still like to come, in all weathers, and fetch their own little ones with them."

Chaidh an uaimh aig Bàrd na Leideig a sgrios ann an 1903 nuair a bhathar a' togail an rathaid iarainn gu ruige Baile Chaolais.

Bha an sgoilear ainmeil, an t-Ollamh Blackie, na dheagh charaid dhan bhàrd agus dh'eadar-theangaich esan cuid den bhàrdachd aige airson an leabhar a nochd ann an 1884. Tha an t-òran ris an canar mar is trice Is toigh leam a' Ghàidhealtachd air fhoillseachadh ann fon t-ainm 'An Gàidheal ra Dhùthaich 's ra Dhaoine'.

Chaochail Bàrd na Leideig anns a' Chèitean, 1897, agus tha e air a thiodhlacadh ann an Cladh Ach na Bà.