Duan Albanach

The Duan Albanach (Song of the Scots) is a Middle Gaelic poem. Written during the reign of Mael Coluim III, who ruled between 1058 and 1093, it is found in a variety of Irish sources, and the usual version comes from the Book of Lecan and Book of Ui Maine.

It follows on from the Duan Eireannach, which covers the earlier mythological history of the Gael.

It is a praise poem of 27 stanzas, probably sung at court to a musical accompaniment by the harp. If performed in a public context, it is possible that the audience would have participated in the performance.

The Duan recounts the kings of the Scots since the eponymous Albanus came to Alba. The poem begins with the following stanzas.

In the final stanzas it is seen that the poem dates from the time of Malcolm III, in the second half of the 11th century.