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Fhuair mi post-d bho charaid ann an Sasainn. Sgrìobh e mu dheidhinn àite – Àth nan Damh. Smaoinich mi airson mionaid. Àth nan Damh? Thàinig e thugam – ‘the ford of the oxen’ no Oxford.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Tha ceist agam. Dè an ceangal a th’ ann eadar a’ Ghàidhlig, colaiste oilthigh ann an Àth nan Damh, seann abaid ann an ceann a deas na h-Alba, agus Rìgh na h-Alba?  ’S e am fuasgladh – Diorbhail.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     B’ e  Diorbhail Baintighearna Ghall-Ghàidhealaibh anns an treas linn deug. Ann am Beurla, ’s e Devorgilla an t-ainm a bha oirre.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Bha Diorbhail na nighinn aig Ailean, Tighearna Ghall-Ghàidhealaibh. Bha mi a’ bruidhinn ri fear-eachdraidh anns an sgìre sin. Thuirt e rium gun robh Gàidhlig aig Diorbhail agus a h-athair.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Nuair a bha i trì bliadhn’ deug a dh’aois, phòs i Iain, còigeamh baran Bhalliol. Bha fearann mòr aige ann an Sasainn.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Ann an dà cheud deug, seasgad ’s a trì (1263), bha Balliol an sàs ann an connspaid mu fhearann le Easbaig Dhurham. Chaidh a’ chùis an aghaidh Bhalliol. Chaidh iarraidh air, mar pheanas, colaiste a stèidheachadh ann an Oilthigh Àth nan Damh airson daoine bochda. Còig bliadhna an dèidh sin, chaochail Balliol. Lean a bhanntrach, Diorbhail, le bhith a’ cur airgead ris a’ cholaiste. Tha Balliol College ann chun an latha an-diugh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Ach dè mu dheidhinn na seann abaid agus an Rìgh Albannach? Uill, ann an da cheud deug, seachdad ’s a trì (1273), stèidhich Diorbhail abaid. Bha sin mar chuimhneachan air an duine aice.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý     Bha i air a bhith a’ giùlan a chridhe spìosraichte cuide rithe fad na h-ùine. Bha e ann an ciste bheag ìbhri. Nuair a chaochail ise ann an dà cheud deug is naochad (1290), bha a’ chiste air a tiodhlacadh ri a taobh. Mar chomharra air a’ ghaol a bha aice air an duine aice, ghabh na manaich Dulce Cor no ‘Sweetheart’ air an abaid. Sweetheart Abbey.

I received an email from a friend in England. He wrote about a place – Àth nan Damh. I thought for a minute. Àth nan Damh? It came to me – ‘the ford of the oxen’ or Oxford.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý I have a question. What is the link between Gaelic, a university college in Oxford, an old abbey in the south of Scotland, and a King of Scotland. The answer is – Diorbhail.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý    Diorbhail was the Lady of Galloway in the 13th century. In English, she was known as Devorgilla.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Devorgilla was a daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway. I was speaking to a historian in that area. He said to me that Devorgilla and her father spoke Gaelic.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý When she was thirteen years of age, she married John, the fifth baron of Balliol. He had large estates in England.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý In 1263, Balliol was involved in a dispute about land with the Bishop of Durham. The case went against Balliol. He was required, as penance, to found a college at Oxford University for poor people. Five years after that, Balliol died. His widow, Devorgilla, continued [his work] by funding the college. Balliol College is in existence to this day.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý But what about the old abbey and the Scottish King? Well, in 1273, Devorgilla established an abbey. That was in memory of her  husband.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý She had been carrying his embalmed heart with her all the time. It was in a small ivory kist. When she died in 1290, the kist  was buried beside her. As a mark of the love she had for her husband, the monks called the abbey Dulce Cor or Sweetheart. Sweetheart Abbey.