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Ard Choille!

'S Rioghal Mo Dhream
(Royal is my Race)

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MacGregor's Gathering
by Sir Walter Scott

MacGregor's Gathering - A Commentary
by Carolynn of Ard Choille
prepared for the Clan Gregor Society,
Western US Chapter's 2002 AGM

"The Moon's on the Lake", 1911 music score by Alexander Lee

It was Sir Walter Scott who vindicated Clan Gregor. He was professionally well-informed about the many legal complaints lodged against the clan, and he had much contact with many people who actually knew Rob Roy and his family. His novel, "Rob Roy" was published in 1818. Robert Louis Stephenson (another famous contemporary Scottish writer) declared Scott's book, "Rob Roy" to be one of Scott's best works, which would never have happened if he hadn't taken a personal interest in the affairs of Clan Gregor!

Scott's own ancestors, The Scotts of Harden, had been just as lawless and subject to the juris prudence of the day, as were the MacGregors, though they did not achieve the distinction of receiving a Proscription against their own name! So, then seems the reason behind the great affection and interest in the Clan's history and legal trysts!

It is not surprising also to learn that both Sir John Murray MacGregor (who became the first Clan Gregor Chief after the proscriptions were lifted) and his son, Sir Evan Murray MacGregor, founder of the Clan Gregor Society in 1822, were friends of Sir Walter Scott. Scott's public vindication of our clan has been a part of my appreciation of his great literature, romantic poetry and music set in the highlands."

The moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae,
And the clan has a name that is nameless by day;
Then gather, gather, gather, Gregalach!
Gather, gather, gather.

Our signal for fight, which from monarchs we drew,
Must be heard but by night in our vengeful halloo.
Then halloo, halloo, halloo, Gregalach!
Halloo, halloo, halloo.

Glen Orchy's proud mountains, Kilchurn and her towers,
Glen Strae and Glen Lyon no longer are ours,
We're landless, landless, landless, Gregalach!
Landless, landless, landless.

But doomed and deserted by vassal and lord,
MacGregor has still both his heart and his sword.
Then courage, courage, courage, Gregalach!
Courage, courage, courage.

If they rob us of name and pursue us with beagles,
Give their roofs to the flame and their flesh to the eagles!
Then vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, Gregalach!
Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance.

While there's leaves in the forest and foam on the river,
MacGregor despite them shall flourish forever.
Come then, Gregalach! Come then, Gregalach!
Come then, come then, come then.

Though the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall career,
O'er the peak of Ben Lomond the galley shall steer,
And the rocks of Craig Royston like icicles melt,
Ere our wrongs be forgot, or our vengeance unfelt.

Then halloo, halloo, halloo, Gregalach!
Halloo, halloo, halloo.