History

Also Known as: " Gallant Murray", "Athole Gathering" and "Gathering of Athole." Note: Athole is the auld (old) spelling for the region of Atholl from the Gaelic 'ath Fodla,' translated as 'New Ireland.'

The pipe setting was created by Pipe Major Evan Kohler-Camp and David Deering in 2006. As Evan said: "Being the pipe band of Clan Murray it seemed approriate. I had played it as a solo for years since hearing it. The real trick was getting the band up on it. My Clan, Ogilvie, was with the Atholl Highlanders at the battle of Culloden in 1746 fighting against the British Crown."

A song of the Jacobite Risings. These were a series of uprisings and wars in Great Britain and Ireland. They were dedicated to returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, as well as any descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after James was deposed from rule by Parliament during the so-called 'Glorious Revolution.' Jacobite and Jacobitism comes from 'Jacobus', the Latin name for James. The "First Jacobite Rebellion" (1715) was known as "The Fifteen" and the "Second Jacobite Rebellion" (1745) was called "The Forty-Five".

During the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, many Murrays fought on both sides. The Jacobites fought for Prince Charles (Prince 'Charlie' or 'Cherlie') Stuart. The Chief of Clan Murray, John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl, supported the British Crown; however, three of his sons supported the Jacobites.This resulted in the forces of the chief and his sons fighting against each other in battle. John Murray of Broughton served as secretary to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, head of the rebellion (Of course, 'rebellion' is what it's called by the 'winners.') He was also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender.

At the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745 two Murray regiments, called 'Murrays 46th Regiment' and 'Murray's 42nd Regiment,' fought for the British Crown. At this same battle there was another Murray regiment on the Jacobites' side led by Lord George ('Geordie') Murray, one of the sons of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl.

Lord George Murray was one of the Jacobite commanders involved in the Siege of Carlisle, 13th-15th December, 1745. He fought at the Clifton Moor Skirmish on 19 December, 1745. Lord George Murray was the Jacobite general responsible for the Jacobites' initial successes during the early part of the 1745-1746 rebellion. Another Jacobite commander, William Murray, landed with Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1745 at Borodale 25th July; he was the main Jacobite commander at the Battle of Prestonpans, Battle of Falkirk (1746) and the Battle of Culloden.

After the Battle of Culloden in 1746 William Murray tried to escape. Suffering from bad health and fatigue, he surrendered on the 27th April 1746 to Mr Buchannan of Drummakill. He was taken to the Tower of London where he died on 9 July, 1746.

Lyrics

Chorus:
Wha will ride wi' gallant Murray? 
Wha will ride wi' Geordie's sel'? 
He's the floow'r o' a' Glenisla
And the Darlin' o' Dunkel'
See the white rose in his bonnet
See his banner o'er the Tay
His guid sword' he now has drawn it
And he's flung the sheath away


Every faithful Murray follows,
First of Heroes! Best of men!
Every true and trusty Stewart
Blythely leaves his native glen
Athole lads are lads of honour
Westland rogues are rebels a'
When we come within their border
We may gaur the Campbells claw

(Chorus)

Menzies, he's our friend and brother
Gask and Strowan are nae slack
Noble Perth has ta'en the field
And a' the Drummonds at his back
Let us ride wi' gallant Murray
Let us fight for Cherlie's crown
From the right we'll never sinder
Till we bring the tyrants down

(Chorus)

MacKintosh, the gallant soldier
Wi' the Grahams and Gordons gay
They have ta'en the field of honour
Spite of all their chiefs could say
Point the musket, bend the rapier
Shift the brogue for lowland shoe
Scour the dirk and face the danger
MacKintosh has all to do

 

From the book "Ancient Jacobite Relics II" by Hogg
Can be heard on Tannahill Weavers Album " St.Kilda Wedding" and Andy M.Stewart's "Donegal Rain"