This relic of Celtic literature, so far as we know, is of the age of MALCOLM III. It is said to have been sung by the Gaelic bard of the royal house at the coronation of MALCOLM III. It is transcribed here as it appears in the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots where it is given as copied from the M’Firbis MS in the Royal Irish Academy.
Although the poem is given in Gaelic as it appears in the Chronicles, the translation into English seems to be the true one.
This poem is manifestly of great antiquity and of deep historical interest. Of the authorship little is known. It has been suggested that it is of Irish origin. This is possible, for judging by the synchronisms of Flann Mainstreach, the Irish seanachies were well informed on Scottish matters. But whether Irish or not, the whole poem refers to Scotland, and is entitled to a place among the Celtic remains of the country. It is our oldest and most authentic record of the Scottish kings, and in this respect commended itself to the regard of Pinkerton, who was no friend of anything that was creditable to the Celts or helped to establish their claims.
-from Steve McDuff, "The Albanic Duan", MacDhubaich, summer, 1998
| A eolcha Alban uile, A shluagh feuta folthuidhe, Cia ceud ghabhail, au eòl dhuibh, Ro ghabhasdair Albanbruigh? |
Ye learned of Alban altogether Ye people shy, yellow-haired Which was the first invasion, do ye know, That took the land of Alban? |
| Albanus ro ghabh, lià a shlogh, Mac sen oirderc Isicon Brathair is Briutus gan brath, O raitear Alba eathrach. |
Albanus took it, active his men, That famous son of Isacon, The brother of Briutus without guile From whom Alba of the ships is said. |
| Ro ionnarb a brathair bras, Briotus tar muir n-Icht-n-amhnas. Ro gabh Briutus Albain ain, Go rinn fhiadhnach Fotudain |
Briutus banished his bold brother Over the stormy sea of Icht. Briutus took the beautiful Alban To the tempestuous promontory of Fotudan. |
| Fota iar m-Briutus m-blaith, m-bil, Ro ghabhsad Clanna Nemhidh, Erglan iar teacht as a loing, Do aithle thoghla thuir Conuing. |
Long after Briutus the noble, the good, The race of Neimhidh took it, Erglan, after coming out of his ship After the destruction of the tower of Conaing. |
| Cruithnigh ros gabhsad iarttain, Tar ttiachtain a h-Erean-mhuigh, .X. righ tri fichid righ ran, Gabhsad diobh an Cruithean-chlar. |
The Cruithne took it after that On coming out of Erin of the plain, Seventy noble kings of them Took the Cruithnean plain. |
| Cathluan an ced righ diobh-soin, Aisnedhfead daoibh go cumair, Rob e an righ degheanach dhibh An cur calma Cusaintin. |
Cathluan was the first king of them, I tell it you in order, The last king of them was The brave hero Constantine. |
| Clanna Eathach ina n-diaigh, Gabhsad Albain iar n-airdghliaidh Clanna Conaire an chaomhfhir, Toghaidhe na treun Ghaoidhil. |
The children of Eochy after them Seized Alban after a great fight, The children of Conair, the gentle man, The choice of the brave Gael. |
| Tri mec Erc mec Eachdach ait, Triar Fuair beannachtair Patraicc, Ghabhsad Albain, ard a n-gus, Loarn, Fearghus, is Aonghus. |
Three sons of Erc the son of Eochy the joyous, Three who got the blessing of Patrick, Seized Alban; great was their courage Lorn, Fergus, and Angus. |
| Dech m-bliadhna Loarn, ler bladh, I fflaitheas Oirir Alban, Tar es Loarn fhel go n-gus, Seacht m-bliadhna ficheat Fearghus. |
Ten years to Lorn, by which was renown, In the sovereignty of Oirir Alban, After Lorn the generous and strong Seven and twenty years to Fergus. |
| Domhangart mac d’Fheargus ard, Aireamh cuig m-bliadhan m-biothgarg, A .XXIIII. gan troid, Do Comghall mac Domhangoirt. |
Domangart, son of the great Fergus, Had the number of five terrible years. Twenty-four years without a fight Were to Comghall son of Domangart. |
| Da bhliadhan Conaing gan tair, Tar es Comhghaill do Gobhran, Ti bliadhna fo cuig gan roinn Ba ri Conall mac Comhghoill. |
Two years of success with contempt After Comghall to Gobhran. Three years with five without division Was king Conall son of Comghall. |
| Cethre bliadhna ficheat tall Ba ri Aodhan na n-iol-rann Dech m-bliadhna fo seacht seol n-gle, I fflaitheas Eathach buidhe. |
Four and twenty peaceful years Was king Aodhan of many songs. Ten years with seven, a true tale, In sovereignty Eochy buy. |
| Connchadh Cearr raithe, rel bladh, A .XVI. dia mac Fearchar, Tar es Ferchair, feaghaidh rainn, .XIII. bliadhna Domhnaill. |
Connchadh Cearr a quarter, star of renown, Sixteen years to his son Ferchar, After Ferchar, see the poems, Thirteen years to Donald. |
| Tar es Domhnaill bric na m-bla, Conall, Dunghall .X. m-bliadhna, .XIII. bliadhna Domhnaill duinn Tar es Dunghail is Chonail. |
After Donald breac of the shouts, Was Conall, Dungal ten years, Thirteen years Donald Donn After Dungal and Conall. |
| Maolduin mac Conaill na creach A .XVII. do go dlightheach, Fearchair fadd, feagha leat, Do chaith bliadhain thar .XX. |
Maolduin, son of Conall of spoils Seventeen years to him rightfully. Ferchar fadd, see you it Spent one year over twenty. |
| Da bliadhain Eachdach na-n-each, Ro ba calma an ri rightheach. Aoin Bhliadhain ba flaith iarttain, Ainceallach maith mac Fearchair. |
Two years was Eochy of steeds, Bold was the king of palaces. One year was king after that, Aincellach the good, son of Ferchar. |
| Seachd m-bliadhna Dunghail dein, Acus a ceither do Ailpen, Tri bliadhna Muireadhiogh mhaith, .XXX. do Aodh na ardfhlaith. |
Seven years was Dungal the impetuous, And four to Ailpin. Three years Murdoch the good, Thirty to Aodh as high chief. |
| A ceathair ficheat, nir fhann, Do bhliadhnaibh do chaith Domhnall, Da bhliadhain Conaill, cern n-gle, Is a ceathair Chonall ele. |
Eighty, not feeble Years did Donald spend. Two years Conall, a noble course, And four another Conall. |
| Triocha bliadhain Cionaoith chruaidh, A ceathair Domhnall drechruaidh, .XXX. bliadhan co na bhrigh, Don churadh do Cusaintin. |
Thirty years Kenneth the hardy, Four Donald of ruddy face, Thirty years with effect To the hero, to Constantine. |
| Da bhliadhain, ba daor a dath, Da brathair do Aodh fhionnscothach, Domhnall mac Custain chain, Ro chaith bliadhain fa cheathair. |
Two years, sad their complexion, To his brother Aodh the youthfully fair, Donald, son of Constantine the mild, Spent a year above four. |
| Cusaintin ba calma a ghleac, Ro chaith a se is da fhicheat, Maolcoluim cethre bliadhna, Iondolbh a h-ocht airdrigla. |
Constantine, bold was his conflict, Spent forty and six. Malcolm four years, Indulf eight in high sovereignty. |
| Seacht m-bliadhna Dubhod den Acus a ceathair Cuilen, A .XXVII. os gach cloinn Do Cionaoth mac Maolcholuim. |
Seven years Dubhoda the impetuous, And four years Cuilen. And twenty-seven over all the tribes To Kenneth the son of Malcolm |
| Seacht m-bliadhna Cusaintin cluin Acus a ceathair Macdhuibh Triochadh bliadhain, breacaid rainn, Ba ri Monaidh Maolcoluim. |
Seven years Constantine, listen, And four to Macduff, Thirty years, the verses mark it, Was king of Monaidh, Malcolm. |
| Se bliadhna Donnchaid glain Gaoith .XVII. bliadhna mac Fionnlaoich, Tar es Mecbeataidh go m-blaidh, .vii mis I fflaithios Lughlaigh. |
Six years was Duncan of pure wisdom, Seventeen years the son of Finlay, After Macbeth with renown, Seven months in sovereignty Lulach. |
| Maolcholuim anosa as ri, Mac Donnchaidh dhata dhrechbhi, A re nocha n-fidir neach Acht an t-eolach as eolach, A eolcha. |
Malcolm is now the king, Son of Duncan the yellow-coloured, His time knoweth no one But the knowing one who is knowing, Ye learned. |
| Da righ for chaogad, cluine Go mac Donnchaidh drech ruire, Do shiol Erc ardghlain anoir, Gabhsad Albain, a eolaigh. |
Two kings over fifty, listen, To the son of Duncan of coloured face, Of the seed of Erc the noble, in the east, Possessed Alban, ye learned. |
- from Electric Scotland, http://www.electricsscotland.com/ . Search "The Albanic Duan"
Last Update: April 2005