Thugadh tiotal an leabhar Ri Luinneig mun Chrò bho òran eilthirich a' cuimhneachadh le cianalas air seallaidhean agus fuaimean an àite san togadh e, nam measg luinneagan nam ban òga 's iad a' bleoghan nam bò. Airson iomadh linn, tha crodh air pàirt gu math cudromach a chluich ann am beatha nan Gàidheal agus tha dualchas luachmhor de dh'òrain agus sgeulachdan againn fhathast air sàilleabh sin.
A bharrachd air òrain bleoghain, tha iomadh seòrsa òran eile co-cheangailte ri crodh ann an Alba san leabhar seo, a dh'innseas sgeulachd inntinneach air cùl faclan nan òran - òrain mu dhròbhairean agus buachaillean calma ag obair ann an side nan seachd sian; òrain a' moladh a' chruidh fhèin no na daoine a bhiodh a' coimhead as an dèidh shuas aig an àirigh no aig a' bhuaile; rannan a sheallas luach nam beathaichean mar ìomhaigh, mar tochradh, no mar airgead; òrain mu gainnead de fearainn, fuadachadh agus eilthireachd; òrain mu chreachadairean dàna a' goid sprèidh bho an nàbaidhean no bho sgìrean fad air falbh; òrain agus orrachan airson sprèidh a dhìon bhon droch-shùil agus bho spioradan olc agus òrain èibhinn naidheachail mu thrioblaidean le tarbh a' bhaile. Tha an caibideil mu dheireadh a' coimhead air mar tha cuid de na tèamaichean seo air an glèidheadh chun an latha an-diugh ann an tàlaidhean socair, sèimh.
Tha faclan nan òran fhèin rim faotainn ann an eàrr-ràdh aig deireadh an leabhair, le fiosrachadh air càit' an lorgar clàraidhean no dreachan sgrìobhte den fonn. Chaidh corra phort a chruthachadh cuideachd airson beatha ùr a thoirt do chuid de na h-òrain, nach eil fhathast gan gabhail is na fuinn aca air chall thar ùine.
ENGLISH SUMMARY
The title of the book Ri Luinneig mun Chrò ('Singing round the cattlefold') is taken from a Gaelic song telling of the poet's fond memories of his homeland, including the evocative sound of young women singing as they milked the cattle.
For many generations, cattle have played a very important role in various aspects of Gaelic life and culture and a rich heritage of song and story has survived with cattle as a prominent theme. In addition to many milking songs, the book includes a wide range of other songs and poems connected to cattle in Scotland and tells the fascinating story behind the lyrics - songs about valiant drovers and herdsmen working in difficult conditions; songs extolling the virtues of the cattle themselves or of the people tending them at the shieling or in the local township; poems which show the importance of cattle in economic terms, as a status symbol, unit of currency or dowry; songs about land poverty, de-settlement and emigration; songs about intrepid cattle thieves stealing livestock from neighbouring clans and from further afield; songs and charms to ward away evil spirits and protect livestock from the evil eye and humorous anecdotal songs about difficulties with the local township bull. The final chapter looks at how many of these themes have survived to the present day in beautiful, soothing Gaelic lullabies.
The song lyrics themselves are included in an appendix at the end of the book, with information on where to find a recording or written version of the tune. Some new tunes are also included to bring new life into songs whose original tunes have been lost over time.
