Scope and Contents

Story about the youngest Macintire [MacIntyre] son at Smearclat [Smeircleit/Smerclate, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] being turned into an excellent piper by the fairies. The young man's father and brother were celebrated pipers but this son had never played the pipes before. Following his encounter with the fairies, visitors to the house made him play and when he played so well they remarked 'If this be the worst piper of the family what must the others be'.

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Sithein a Phiobaire' [Sìthein a' Phìobaire] collected from Kilpheadair S Uist [Cille Pheadair/Kilpheder, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. The story relates to Clann an t saoir Smearcleit [MacIntyres of Smeircleit/Smerclate] who were a talented family. One of their sons was a 'lecheallach' [leth-chiallach or half-wit] who was not fit to be a piper so was sent to watch cattle. He saw the light in the fairy hill and went in remembering to place a knife or nail in the door and said to...