PORT
The word 'port', plural 'puirt' (pronounced like English 'poort') generally signifies an
instrumental tune. The Scottish term 'port a beul' means '(instrumental) tune from
mouth'. By the description 'a lesson', Arthur O' Neill and Edward Bunting may imply a
specific genre of harp tune. It is entirely possible that it is a Scottish genre in origin.
Bunting's explanation of the port as (generally) having two parts, one of which was
introductory, does seem descriptive of the structure of a number of surviving tunes in
the Gaelic harp repertoire. Some of these are 'cumhachan' (laments), some are
'fàilteachan' (salutes) and others are just known as ports or have a descriptive title.
The fact that a tune like Cumha Peathar Ruaidhri (lament for Rory's sister) appears
as A Port in the Straloch MS suggests that Bunting's explanation is correct and that
the word is originally related to the form of such pieces and not specifically to their
role. He himself uses the word 'lesson' in relation to Cumha Bharúin Loch Mór or
Scott's Lamentation. Bunting also says that the cumha (lament) had no words.
Féachain Gléis