MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula) | University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895

Series

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1

Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael but also used by John Ewen MacRury. The front cover bears a sticker which reads 'Gaelic Notes 1894-5. (Collection of traditions, tales, etc. by Alexander Carmichael (?). Many pages cancelled, indicating publication.) [Carmichael Watson Collection]'. The flyleaf reads 'Gaelic Notes, 1894-5' and the rear flyleaf contains a jotting which reads 'Wishing Guidhe'. The beginning of the notebook contains field notes made by Carmichael in Uibhist a...

Dates: 12 September 1890 to 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection

Story and customs about Leac na gruagaich, December 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/57

Scope and Contents Story and customs written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about Leac na gruagaich [Leac na Gruagaich, Beinn na Faoghla, Benbecula], a stone which was on the croft of Angus MacAulay, Liniclate [Lionacleit] at 'Rudha Chuidh Oib or Cuidh an Obain', an old cattle fold. The tradition was to pour a little milk into the hollow of the stone to prevent the gruagaich letting the cattle out of the fold and into the corn. MacRury tells how Raoghnull MacRuaraidh 'a Cuial decendant...

Dates: December 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Story entitled 'Tuaireasgeul Mor', 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/105

Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Tuaireasgeul Mor' describing the tuairsisgeul as 'a wonderful tale'. It is described as a story which would take a good reciter 'seven winter long nights from beul na hoiche dusk to Goirm choilleach cock-crowing to repeat it in full.' The best reciter was deemed to be Domhnull Ban Dughallach [Donald MacDougall] who was a famous piper of the MacCrimmon school. His son John, a skipper on a Clyde steamer, 'who left...

Dates: 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Vocabulary note and story about the name Craideag, 18 May 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/102

Scope and Contents

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Craidsag, stating that it is a name for a bad joiner or 'timber-spoiler' from the word cnag meaning a short cutting of timber. He adds that 'A man in North Uist [Uibhist a Tuath] is known as Craidsag and a joiner of the most primitive style.'

Dates: 18 May 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Vocabulary note and story about the name Cruaicean, 18 May 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/101

Scope and Contents

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Cruaicean. He states that it is 'applied to a short thick stout man of considerable strength. Cruaic a short stump of a tree or a course (sic) piece of timber'. A man from Rona, North Uist [Rònaigh/Ronay, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] who was known as Cruaicean emigrated to America with his family about sixty years before [c1835] where they are known as 'Clann Chruaicean'.

Dates: 18 May 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Vocabulary note and story about the name Dustaidh, 18 May 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/104

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Dustaidh, stating that it is the modern term for a bad kelper. 'A man that did not burn the sea weed well and in the usual manner, was known to have a great deal of duast dust, which would require to be reburnt with some well seasoned seaweed very carefully.' A man in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist became known as dustaidh following a season kelp-making on Rona [Rònaigh/Ronay] 'the ground...

Dates: 18 May 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Vocabulary note and story about the name Fideadh, 18 May 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/103

Scope and Contents

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Fideadh that is it used for a 'bad cooper'. MacRury says he remembers a Benbecula man who was given the name Fideadh for that very reason and adds that some say that the surname Fiddes comes from Fideadh. He also states 'In olden times country cooper[s] were numerous but a good tradesman was known as Cuipear - Cooper.'

Dates: 18 May 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895

Story and customs about Leac na gruagaich, December 1894

Story entitled 'Tuaireasgeul Mor', 1895

Vocabulary note and story about the name Craideag, 18 May 1895

Vocabulary note and story about the name Cruaicean, 18 May 1895

Vocabulary note and story about the name Dustaidh, 18 May 1895

Vocabulary note and story about the name Fideadh, 18 May 1895

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