The Effects of Historical and Economic Changes from 1746 to 1886 on Gaelic Society

These lines, which were presumably written by the Reverend Mr. Kelly of Campbeltown in the early 1830s and which belong to a poem titled “Farewell to My Country”, concisely express many contemporary Highlanders’ experience of the changes within their society - namely as a process of draining a cultural region of its vital powers. How such a perception of the development of one’s own culture could be formed and in how far it was justified will be analysed in this essay. Thus, the cultural changes will be looked at, at first, with regard to the economic situation, secondly, with reference to the development of the Gaelic language and thirdly, focusing on Gaelic literature and traditions. All this will be dealt with within the context of the political changes of the period from 1745 to 1886 affecting the Scottish Gaelic society. Finally, a conclusion will summarise the gained material and attempt a vision of Gaelic society’s future within Scotland.