Diorbhail Nic a' Bhriuthainn explained

Dorothy Brown (Scottish Gaelic: Diorbhail Nic a' Bhriuthainn; died 1644) was a Scottish Gaelic poet and songwriter who lived on the Isle of Luing in Argyll, Scotland.

Songwriting

She was a prolific songwriter, but only two of her songs survive:

1. Alasdair a Laoigh mo chill ("Alasdair, love of my heart"), about Alasdair Mac Colla, a general in Montrose's army, which she wrote after seeing his ships pass through the sound of Luing on an expedition against the Cambpells.^[1] The song is in the style of troubadour poetry, where the author is inspired to fall in love with a character based on tales of their reputation.^[2]
2. a lament of the duchess of Coll^[3]

Death

Brown died in 1644 and is buried in the old churchyard in Luing.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Early modern women poets, (1520-1700): an anthology. 2001. Oxford University Press. Stevenson, Jane, 1959-, Davidson, Peter, 1957-. 0199242577. Oxford. 45350260. registration.
2. Book: Chedgzoy, Kate. Women's writing in the British Atlantic world : memory, place and history, 1550-1700. 2007. Cambridge University Press. 978-1107405912. Cambridge. 190861140.
3. Book: Early modern women poets, (1520-1700) : an anthology. 2001. Oxford University Press. Stevenson, Jane, 1959-, Davidson, Peter, 1957-. 0199242577. Oxford. 45350260. registration.
4. Book: The biographical dictionary of Scottish women from the earliest times to 2004. 2006. Edinburgh University Press. Ewan, Elizabeth., Innes, Sue., Reynolds, Sian.. 0748617132. Edinburgh. 367680960.