McIntyre History

The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac-an-T'saoir' meaning 'son of a
carpenter' which accounts for its occurrence throughout the Highlands.
By the end of the 13th century the McIntyres of Glen Noe were foresters to the
Lord of Lorn. Some became bards, Duncan of Bàn, and families of McIntyre became
hereditary pipers.
The first chief of record was Duncan who married a Campbell.
Originally the McIntyres held their land by right of sword but they had
acquired feudal obligations to the Campbells, which were purely symbolic until
the 18th century. When the Campbells of Breadalbane imposed a rent that
progressively grew too great, first Duncan, then Donald, 4th & 5th Chiefs
respectively, emigrated to America by 1806.
In 1991, the correct shield of arms was recorded by the 9th Chief and the
McIntyres once more took their seat on the Council of Clan Chiefs.

Where We Where

Gealic Version Of The Mcintyre Song

Gealic Version

Gabhaidh Sinn An Rathad Mór[Séisd:]
Gabhaidh sinn an rathad mór,
Gabhaidh sinn an rathad mór,
Gabhaidh sinn an rathad mór,
Olc air mhath le càch e.
Chorus
Olc air mhath le Cloinn-an-t-saoir,
Olc air mhath le Cloinn-an-t-saoir,
Olc air mhath le Cloinn-an-t-saoir,
‘S bodaich mhaol an làgain.

Gu Mac-’ic-Alasdair ‘s Lochial,
Bidh iad leinn mar bha iad riamh,
‘S Fear-na-Ceapaich mar ar miann,
Olc air mhath le càch siud.

Thig Cloinn-’Phearsoin, feachd nam buadh,
‘S thig Cloinn-Choinnich o’n Taobh-tuath,
‘S mairg an dream do’n nochd iad fuath
Nuair dh’éireas gruaim nam blàr orr’!

Thig Clann Ghriogair, garg ‘san strì,
Stiùbhartaich -- ‘s iad sluagh an Rìgh.
Meàrsaibh uallach: suas i ‘phìob --
Olc air mhath le càch e.

The McIntyre Song In England

In England

We Will Take The Good Old Way


McIntyres will lead the way
Lead the way into the fray
McIntyres will lead the way
The way the lies before us.

Chorus
We will take the good old way
We will take the good old way
We will take the good old way
The way that likes before us.

Climbing stiff the heathery ben
Winding swiftly down the glen
Should we meet with stragglers then
Their gear will serve to store us.

McIntyres watch on the hill
Be their wishes good or ill
We will keep whate're their will
The way that likes before us.

O'er the mountain's rocky steep
Down Glencoe out course will keep
In the King's name we will sweep
The rebels on before us.

To Glengarry and Lochiel
Keppoch trusty, true as steel
Hearts and claymores ever leal,
As were their sire's before them.

Bold McPersons will come forth,
With MacKenzies from the north
Where be they would try their worth,
In battles strife before them?

GABHAIDH SINN

GABHAIDH SINN AN RATHAD MOR. AKA and see "We'll Take the High Road," “We’ll Take the Highway,” "The Stewart's March," "London Bridge is Falling Down." Scottish, Country Dance Tune (cut time) or March. A Major. Standard. AAB. This melody is reported to have been played by the Stewart clan pipers at the battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. In a still earlier martial connection, Charles Stewart in his Killin Collection suggests (without verification) that this is the same "Stewart's March" said to have been piped at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. Scottish, Pipe Tune. It is perhaps the tune (under the title “Suan agus Lagan”) played by Alexander Lamon, piper to the Laird of Lamont, at the annual piping competition (originally the Falkirk Tryst) held at the Assembly hall, Edinburgh in October 1784 (as reported in the period journal Scots Magazine). To modern ears the tune is unmistakably the children's game-song "London Bridge is Falling Down," which has its origins as a Welsh 'penillion', or standard-tune, for use in traditional singing contests for improvising children's songs. A derivative of the melody is "Will You Go to Sheriffmiur?" published in James Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion of the 1750's. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 153. Greentrax CDTRAX 9009, Donald MacDonell (1888-1967) - “Scottish Tradition 9: The Fiddler and his Art” (1993).