Hugh Smith on Duncan Reid

Suas Leis A' Ghaidhlig

Those who attend Gaelic concerts and National Mods will be no strangers
to the rousing sentiments expressed in the Gael's rallying song 'Suas
Leis A' Ghaidhlig'.
It was penned by Duncan Reid who was a stalwart of the Gaelic cause in
the latter part of the 19th century and was among the early members of
An Comunn Gaidhealach.
Reid was born in the Clachan community in the Kintyre penisula in 1849
and attended the local Parish School. A bright lad by all accounts, he
served a 5 year apprenticeship as a pupil teacher in the Clachan school
before embarking on a career in commerce at the age of 20 years.
This saw him taking up employment in Greenock and  Rothesay before
being appointed at the age of 35 years as the managing clerk and
accountant with the Glasgow shipowners and timber merchants George
Halliday Ltd.
The Gaelic enthusiast was to spend the rest of his life in the Clydeside
city and was to make an indelible mark on the Gaidhlig  community in his
adopted hometown.
His spare time was spent in teaching the Gaelic language and he was an
inspiring lecturer in his subject. He was the first Gaelic teacher under
the umbrella of the School Board of Glasgow and, from 1888 to 1903,
conducted the greatly supported Gaelic classes in the High School of
Glasgow.
Reid also published a comprehensive 'Course of Gaelic Grammar' in 1895
and an enlarged edition was released in 1902. Both publications were
well received and were widely used in schools throughout the Highlands
and Islands.
In 1908, he prepared the an 'Elementary Course in Gaelic' for An Comunn
Gaidhealach and was appointed editor of the Comunn's official magazine
'An Deo-Greine'.
Through his experiences as a teacher, Reid felt the need for Highland
youth to take a greater interest in their language, literature and
culture. This resulted in the formation of the Glasgow High School
Gaelic Ceilidh in 1894 where the founder acted as president until 1902.
This was followed by a 10 year period as Honorary President.
The Glasgow High School ceilidh was a 'must' in the Glasgow Highlanders'
social calendar and the event continued unabated until falling
attendance, coupled with other less Highland orientated attractions, led
to its demise over 20 years ago.
Sadly, Duncan Reid died in Glasgow on the 7th February, 1912.  He was 63
years of age. Happily, his most famous creation, set to music by the
Easdale isle composer Henry Whyte, better known to Gaels everywhere as
'Fionn', powerfully endures.
"Togaibh i, togaibh i, canain ar duthcha;
Togaibh a suas i gu h-inbhe ro chliuitich;
Togaibh gu daingeann i 's bithibh rith' baigheil,
Hi ho-ro, togaibh i; suas leis a Ghaidhlig!"