Skip to main content

MacPhail, Malcolm, Rev, 1837-1906 (minister | Kilmartin | Argyllshire)

 Person

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1874, 1877 and 1891

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW108
Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing songs, poems, tales, names, vocabulary and expressions collected in the Outer Hebrides [Na h-Eileanan an Iar]. The first part of the volume contains transcriptions taken as Carmichael listened to informants in 1877 while the second part appears to be copies of previous transcriptions of material collected by Carmichael and Rev Malcolm MacPhail in 1874 and written into the notebook in 1891. Amongst the material is a version of the lament...
Dates: 1874, 1877 and 1891

Story entitled 'A Mhaighdean Mhara' about a mermaid in Shawbost, 1891

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW108/144
Scope and Contents Story entitled 'A Mhaighdean Mhara' about a mermaid who followed sea-cattle ashore at Siabost [Shawbost, Eilean Leòdhais /Isle of Lewis]. It was customary for them to sprinkle urine between the sea-cattle and the shore, to stop them from returning to the sea. The sea-cattle were taken to a farm nearby and the mermaid followed. On observing the woman of the farm cleanning fish she said, 'Nigh[e] is glan gu math an t-iasg, Is ioma biasd a tha 's a mhuir', [Wash and clean well the fish, there...
Dates: 1891

Story entitled 'Airidh Neill' about a water-horse at Airidh Neill and Neill's dogs, 1874 and 1891

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW108/151
Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Airidh Neill' about a water-horse which arrives at Airidh Neill nam Beann [Àirigh Nèill] nam Beann disguised as a woman. The dog senses it is a water-horse and begins to snarl. The water-horse asks Niall to tie up his dogs but Niall refuses. He throws the water-horse some meat, which it eats in one go. Eventually the dog is let out and is unharmed but when the bitch is let out it kills the water-horse and the water-horse turns into a big white mare on the shore. Niall tied...
Dates: 1874 and 1891

Story entitled 'Maighdean Mhara' about a mermaid in Lochbroom, 1891

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW108/145
Scope and Contents

Story entitled 'Maighdean Mhara' about a mermaid in Loch Bhraoin [Loch Broom, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty] who appeared to a fishing crew and asked the helmsman for his leth-rann (half-stanza). He said, 'Long a thig sa theid an aithghearr, Sin mo leth-rann.' She said it was as well that was his reply and disappeared. A great storm occurred that day and many men were drowned. Consequently it is believed that when a mermaid like this one is seen, someone will drown soon after.

Dates: 1891

Filtered By

  • Subject: Mermaids X

Additional filters:

Subject
Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland 3
Poems 2
Prophecy 2
Proverbs 2
Water-horses 2