St. Sechnall's Hymn to St. Patrick

Abstract

Sutherland known to me is Allt Uairidh, behind Abriachan, Inverness. It is probably a Pictish survival. Another term extremely common is rabhann, pronounced in some parts raftan, a species of grass growing in lochs of which sheep and cattle are fond. From it we have Bada-rabhainn, 'clump of ravan,' and such. It is probably to be connected with Welsh rafu, 'to spread'; rafon, 'berries growing in clusters.' LOn in Sutherland means 'a slow burn,' as in Skye. Saidh, 'bitch,' occurs several times, as in Coire na Saidhe Duibhe, 'corry of the black bitch.' Preas regularly means 'copse,' not 'bush.' Diminutives in-ie are very common, e.g. alltaidh, 'a burnlet'; also dailidh, 'a little dale.'