Coila | |
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 The statue of Coila at the University of the West of Scotland, Ayr |
Coila was the muse of Robert Burns who created her as a poetic device for his poem The Vision in which she provides inspiration and encouragement. [1] The University of the West of Scotland have erected a statue to Coila in recognition of her role in providing inspiration and encouragement to others. [2]
Coila's identity is the embodiment of the lands of Kyle, Ayrshire Coila my name; and this district as mine I claim [1] and is itself said to be derived from Coil, Coilus or Coel Hen, [1] King of the Picts, who lived, ruled and died in the area. [3] King Coel's grave is said to be near the Montgomerie's old estate of Coilsfield, Tarbolton. [1]
In the poem Epistle to William Simson we find Burns' first use of the name 'Coila' as a substitute for Kyle as in: We'll sing auld Coila's plains an' fells and O' sweet are Coila's haughs and woods. [3]
Burns informed Mrs Frances Dunlop [1] that the idea of Coila use as the name of his poetic muse first came to him from Dr James Beattie's use, under the nom de plumee 'Oliver Oldstile', of a muse named 'Scota' in his Scots language poem of 1768 titled To Mr Alexander at Lochlee: [1]
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In 'The Vision' the muse Coila acts as Burns' inspiration and encourages him on according to what she sees as his true nature and vocation. The farmer poet whilst living at Mossgiel near Mauchline [5] returns to his smoky cottage after an exhausting day's labour; he is startled to see a mysterious figure enter with a 'click' of the door: a comely maiden wearing a crown of holly and a broad green mantle on which Robert sees a representation of his native Kyle. [6]
This visitor is Coila, who explains that different spirits are assigned to poets of various degrees of ability, even the lowest. Having carefully watched his progress she describes his character and says that although he will not possess the particular powers of James Thomson, William Shenstone, or Thomas Gray, he will within his more "humble sphere" be a great success. Coila finishes by placing her holly-crown upon his head and then vanishes into the ether "like a passing thought." [6]
In the 1786 Kilmarnock Edition of Burns' poems 'Bess' is the only possible physical peer of Coila, however by the time of the printing of the Edinburgh Edition in 1787 'Jean' has once again taken the place of Bess, a position she had held in the manuscript version prior to the incident in which their marriage lines were destroyed, according to Burns' biographer Allan Cunningham. [7] The 'Bess' in question is likely to be Elizabeth Paton who gave birth to Burns's "Dear-bought Bess" or Elizabeth Paton Burns in May 1785.
In a song to the tune 'Roslin Castle' Burns represents Coila directly as the name of the shire :-
Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales, Her healthy moors and winding vales; [8] |
Mrs Frances Dunlop informed Robert Burns that her artist daughter Rachel Wallace-Dunlop was undertaking a painting or sketch of Coila, prompting the poet to write from Mossgiel Farm on 7 May 1788, saying:
I am highly flattered by the news you tell me of Coila. |
In the sketch on New Years Day Burn's says:-
Coila's fair Rachel's care to-day. |
In 1802 Rachel married Dr. Robert Glasgow Esq. at Dunlop House [9] and lived at the Montgreenan estate near Kilwinning. Mrs. Rachel Glasgow was an author with great literary taste, dying at Pau, in the Pyrenees, on 19 July 1828. Mrs. Glasgow was commemorated by the erection of a well in Kilwinning's Howgate; she had given £200 to the poor of the town. [10]
Peter Turnerelli (1774–1839) was responsible for the fine plaster mural of Coila looking down upon the poet at the plough whilst sheltering him with her cloak that adorns the back of the Dumfries Mausoleum. [11]
In the Directors Room of the Irvine Burns Club hangs a portrait inspired by The Vision of Burns and Coila by the artist James Christie (1847–1914). [12] In this painting a seated Burns is recovering from a hard days labouring on the farm and Coila has entered the room as a ghost-like entity, here figured hovering over his left shoulder apparently represented in the act of conversing with him. [12] It can be seen that Coila has crowned the incipient poet with her holly crown.
The reprint of the Rev. George Gilfillan's The National Burns has two representations of 'Coila', the first by John Leighton FSA is on the title page of each of the four volumes and the second is a full plate engraving in volume 1. The title page version shows a seated Coila holding a scroll of music sitting opposite Ossian who is holding a clarsach. Coila wears a wreath of holly, a tartan skirt and a cloak bearing scenes of the Kyle countryside, including a castle tower situated next to the sea. [13] The full plate engraving is titles 'The Vision' and a standing Coila who wears a wreath, a diaphanous dress with no discernible 'illustration' and who is showing a shapely calf to Burns who is seated in front of a fire as indicated by a poker lying on the floor; she appears to be by a different artist than the seated version of the title pages. [14]
In 1914 a statue of Robert Burns by Albert Hemstock Hodge (1876-1918) was unveiled in Stirling and one of the four bronze panels on the base is that of The Poet and his Muse. The original plasterwork for this panel now hangs in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Dumbarton Road, Sterling. [15]
In 2008 South Ayrshire Council accepted a small statue of Coila from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) at a ceremony within the County Buildings at Ayr. The statue was commissioned by the University to mark its 2007 inauguration and Professor Seamus McDaid presented the statue by sculptor Alexander Stoddart to Provost Sloan. [16] The statue is similar, but not identical, to the 2013 statue as described below.
On 24 July 2013 the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) unveiled a significant new work, a bronze representation of Coila that the university sees as an image that serves to inspire and encourage students in the same way that she inspired and encouraged the bard himself. The statue, again created by the Scots sculptor Alexander Stoddart, is positioned close to the River Ayr entrance of the university's Ayr Campus buildings, and is easily reached from the River Ayr walkway. The new interpretation of Coila was officially unveiled by Alice McDaid, wife of Professor Seamus McDaid, retiring Principal & Vice-Chancellor of UWS. [2]
In 1884 the "Coila", a timber built brigantine sank off Portland. She had been built at Sunderland in 1860 and registered at Dumfries. [17]
In 1922 HMS Coila was launched and was classified as an armed yacht. [18]
Coila is the name used by a professional ceilidh band [19] and the term 'Coila Provincia' is used for the province of Kyle in Blaeu's map of 1654. [20]
A Lake Coila exists in Australia. [21]
In a poem dedicated to Gavin Hamilton titled 'Nature's Law – A poem' the name 'Coila' is used in the geographical sense. [22]
Coila is also the name of a tiny hamlet just west of the Village of Cambridge, New York.
Coila is sometimes used as a personal name.
Ayrshire is a historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety of the historic county as well as the island of Arran, formerly part of the historic county of Buteshire. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire to the north-east, Dumfriesshire to the south-east, and Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire to the south. Like many other counties of Scotland, it currently has no administrative function, instead being sub-divided into the council areas of East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. It has a population of approximately 366,800.
The University of the West of Scotland, formerly the University of Paisley, is a public university with four campuses in south-western Scotland, in the towns of Paisley, Blantyre, Dumfries and Ayr, as well as a campus in London, England. The present institution dates from August 2007, following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College, Hamilton. It can trace its roots to the late 19th century, and has undergone numerous name changes and mergers over the last century, reflecting its gradual expansion throughout the west of Scotland region.
Central Ayrshire is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the south-west of Scotland within the North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire council areas. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) at least once every five years using the first-past-the-post system of voting.
Mauchline is a town and civil parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census Mauchline had a recorded population of 4,105. It is home to the National Burns Memorial.
Clan Cunningham is a Scottish clan. The traditional origins of the clan are placed in the 12th century. However, the first contemporary record of the clan chiefs is in the thirteenth century. The chiefs of the Clan Cunningham supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Clan Cunningham feuded with the Clan Montgomery. Historically, the chief of Clan Cunningham held the title of Earl of Glencairn. However, in modern times the chief of the clan is Cunningham of Corsehill. On 18 December 2013, Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cunninghame, Baronet of Corsehill, was recognized by Lord Lyon as Clan Chief after the chiefship had been vacant for over 200 years.
Dunlop is a village and parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies on the A735, north-east of Stewarton, seven miles from Kilmarnock. The road runs on to Lugton and the B706 enters the village from Beith and Burnhouse.
Eglinton Castle was a large Gothic castellated mansion in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Montgreenan is an estate in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The Lugton Water runs through the policies and farmland of Montgreenan. Nearby are the hamlets of Torranyard and Auchentiber.
During the years 1781–1782, at the age of 23, Robert Burns (1759–1796) lived in Irvine, North Ayrshire for a period of around 9 months, whilst learning the craft of flax-dressing from Alexander Peacock, who may have been his mother's half-brother, working at the heckling shop in the Glasgow Vennel. Dr John Cumming of Milgarholm, a provost of Irvine, claimed that he had invited Burns to come to Irvine to learn flax dressing. During this time he made a number of acquaintances, befriended several locals and took regular walks into the Eglinton Woods via the old Irvine to Kilwinning toll road and the Drukken or Drucken (Drunken) Steps. Steps over the Red Burn and back via the site of Saint Brides or Bryde's Well at Stanecastle. Burns had several other connections with the Eglinton Estate and other branches of the Montgomerie family. He probably left in March 1782.
The Drukken, Drucken Steps or Drunken Steps were stepping stones across the Red Burn in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland and are associated with Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. Drukken is used on the commemorative cairn plaque, but Druken or Drucken may also be used.
Craigie Castle, in the old Barony of Craigie, is a ruined fortification situated about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Kilmarnock and 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Craigie village, in the Civil Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle is recognised as one of the earliest buildings in the county. It lies about 1.25 miles (2 km) west-south-west of Craigie church. Craigie Castle is protected as a scheduled monument.
Mauchline Football Club was a senior football team based in the small town of Mauchline in East Ayrshire.
The Irvine Burns Club, based at the Wellwood Burns Centre & Museum, was founded on 2 June 1826 and is one of the world's longest continuously active Burns Clubs. At least five personal friends of Robert Burns were among the group of local gentleman, whose idea it was to form the club. Irvine in North Ayrshire is an old market town and port situated on the west coast of Scotland, approx 14 miles north of Ayr.
Coylton Coila Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Coylton, Ayrshire.
The Murder of Hugh Montgomerie, 4th Earl of Eglinton at the Annick Ford in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, took place in 1586 as a consequence of a long running feud between the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton and the Cunninghames, Earls of Glencairn, families who were competing for power and influence locally and nationally. The significant repercussions of this act were felt throughout the county of Ayrshire and beyond. The spelling 'Montgomerie' is used throughout for both the family and Montgomery for the clan and clan and district names 'Cunninghame' in the same fashion.
Wilhelmina Alexander (1756–1843), was born at Newton House, Elderslie, Renfrewshire. She was the 4th daughter of Claud Alexander of Newton and Joanna, daughter of Alexander Cuninghame of Craigends. Her lasting fame derives from being Robert Burns's 'The Bonnie Lass o'Ballochmyle' in the song of that title. Robert Burns was accustomed to taking walks and musing over his poetry and songs in the Ballochmyle Estate next to the River Ayr when he caught sight of her one-day and composed the song in memory of the event. She refused publication at the time and Burns never forgave this perceived slight on his genius, Wilhelmina never married, she did however treasure the letter and the manuscript of the song until her dying day.
The Lands of Dallars or Auchenskeith (NS463337) form a small estate in East Ayrshire, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Parish of Riccarton, Scotland. The present mansion house is mainly late 18th-century, located within a bend of the Cessnock Water on the site of older building/s. "Dullers or Dillers" was changed to "Auchenskeith" or "Auchinskeigh" (sic) as well as other variants and then the name reverted nearer to the original form as "Dollars" and then finally "Dallars". Dallars lies 3.25 km south of Hurlford.
Robert Burns Junior or Robert Burns ll (1786–1857) was the first son and one of the first pair of twins born to the poet Robert Burns and his wife Jean Armour. He was born on the 3 September 1786 and baptised on 5 September. John Tennant of Glenconner was a witness at the baptism. His twin sister was Jean Burns, who died of unknown causes in infancy on 20 October 1787. His father, who often called him 'Bobbie', died when Robert Junior was only nine years old, at which point he was the eldest of a family of five legitimate male offspring.
The Poetical Works of Janet Little, The Scotch Milkmaid, often incorrectly rendered as The Poetical Works of Janet Little, The Scottish Milkmaid, was a volume of poems by Janet Little, who worked in a dairy, thus the 'Scotch Milkmaid'. At the time the term 'Scotch' was not specific to whisky.
