Fascinating Gaelic Gravestone Inscription

[Nathan]

None of the key words in the inscription appear in modern dictionaries and it makes me wonder if it isn't an old proverb rendered in ancient Irish or something.

CUINIEH AM BAUS

"dean" is make or do.

"Agus" and
"an" the
"am" on the

Google translate Irish only recognized a word it rendered as "granaries".

A real stumper, Peter.

[creagdhubh]

Wow, thanks for sharing this, Peter. Very intriguing.

[Calgacus]

Could 'choigill' be a variation of 'coigil', to spare, preserve, or save alive?

Clutching at straws here, but it's fun!

[Calgacus]

Please ignore!

[figheadair]

Please ignore!

See #10. I think it is more likely to be a 'chiselo' for Idir.

[Calgacus]

'Remember the hand', for 'Cuimhne am bas'??

[figheadair]

'Remember the hand', for 'Cuimhne am bas'??

The mason should have written 'bàs'.

[Calgacus]

The mason should have written 'bàs'.

Ah. Cheery!

[figheadair]

None of the key words in the inscription appear in modern dictionaries and it makes me wonder if it isn't an old proverb rendered in ancient Irish or something.

CUINIEH AM BAUS

"dean" is make or do.

"Agus" and
"an" the
"am" on the

Google translate Irish only recognized a word it rendered as "granaries".

A real stumper, Peter.

For those that might be reading and don't understand the 'Irish' reference. Pre-19th century Scots Gaelic was often referred to by outsiders as Erse from Lowland Scots 'Erisch' meaning Irish but Irish Gaelic, especially now, differs significantly from Scots Gaelic. Auto Irish translation therefore won't work this out fully

Here is the inscription with the spelling corrected and annotated in bold:

Eadhon dean agus na caomhain idir

Cuimhne am bas

Air a cuir suas le Domhaull MacGrigair saor ann a maidhcheadh a mar chuimhneachan air Anna NichCaura a bhean a dheug air a cheud latha do June anns a’bhlidhna 1793 tri bliadhna deug agus da fhichead a’ dhaois agus Catrina NichGregair air a nighean a dheug air an aon latha a deug do Novr anns a’bhliadhna 1783 ceithir bliadhna a’dhaois

So, what do you, what do you find of particular interest and why?

[California Highlander]

Here is the inscription with the spelling corrected and annotated in bold:

Eadhon dean agus na caomhain idir

Cuimhne am bas

Air a cuir suas le Domhnaull MacGrigair saor ann a maidhcheadh a mar chuimhneachan air Anna NichCaura a bhean a dheug air a cheud latha do June anns a’bhlidhna 1793 tri bliadhna deug agus da fhichead a’ dhaois agus Catrina NichGregair air a nighean a dheug air an aon latha a deug do Novr anns a’bhliadhna 1783 ceithir bliadhna a’dhois

So, what do you, what do you find of particular interest and why?

"Even do, and spare not" motto of MacGregor. From The Adventures of Rob Roy.

Excerpt with phrase highlighted:
It chanced that on a day in summer, King
David I., of Scotland, was hunting with Malcolm
MacGregor, the eighth chief of Clan Alpine, on the
side of Cruachin, when a wild boar, of marvellous
strength, size, and ferocity, appeared in a rugged
defile. It at once assailed the monarch, whose
hunting-spear broke and left him at its mercy ; but
instead of rushing forward, the boar retired to whet
its tusks against the rocks, so Malcolm craved the
king's permission to attack it.


"E'en do," said the king; but spaire nocht !"
"Eadhon dean agus na caomhain!" shouted
MacGregor, translating the king's lowland Scottish
into Gaelic, as he tore up a young tree by the roots,
and kept the boar at bay until he could close with
it and bury his long dagger in its throat. At the
third stab he slew it.


Also on another gravestone http://www.ancestor.abel.co.uk/Angus/p/562.jpg