Born: Unknown, United Kingdom
Died: 1644
Country most active: United Kingdom
Also known as: Dorothy Brown
Diorbhail Nic a’ Bhriuthainn was a Scottish Gaelic poet and songwriter who lived on the Isle of Luing in Scotland.
Although she was a prolific songwriter, only two of her songs survive, a lament of the duchess of Coll and Alasdair a Laoigh mo chill (“Alasdair, love of my heart”). The latter she wrote after seeing the general Alasdair Mac Colla’s ships pass through the sound of Luing on an expedition against the Campbells. The song is in the style of troubadour poetry, where the writer is inspired to fall in love with a character based on tales of their reputation.