Hardback book `Na Baird Thirisdeach / The Tiree Bards` edited by Rev. Hector Cameron in 1932. Various names and addresses are handwritten on the inside covers, including “Gifted by Mr Roddy MacEwan, Laxay, Lochs, Isle of Lewis; Joan MacDonald, Glasgow, 1949; Calum Alick MacDonald, Stornoway; Mina Martin, Glasgow 1949; Pte F MacLeod; George MacDonald, Glasgow; Iain MacDonald, Glasgow; Cathie MacDonald, Glasgow; Hector MacDonald, Stornoway.

There are two further copies of this title, one of which has ‘Mrs Kate MacLean, Nelson Ward. L.I.D.G H’ & ‘Kate McLean’ handwritten inside the front cover.

One of the poems, ‘Marbh-rann – An Nochd ’s Luaineach mo Chadal‘, on page 80 of the book, is transcribed below. It is a Gaelic elegy to Mrs Julian Noble composed by John MacLean, Bàrd Thighearna Cholla, in 1843.

This elegy, written in Nova Scotia by John MacLean (Iain Mac Ailein) of Caoles, was considered by Rev. Hector Cameron, the editor of ‘Na Bàird Thirisdeach’, as ‘perhaps the finest in the Gaelic language’.

It was composed in honour of Mrs Julian Noble, the daughter of Colin MacNiven of Greenhill, at the instigation of her bereaved husband, an eminent physician in Cape Breton. Julian, who died leaving a young family, was described as ‘comely in person and beautiful in character’.

The inscription on her tombstone in Whycocomagh reads: ‘Sacred to the memory of the lamented Julian Noble, wife of John Noble, surgeon. She was born in Tiree, Argyllshire, Scotland, and died 1st June, 1843, in the 38th year of her age.’