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 of Clanranald' was tacksman of Torlum [Cnoc na Monadh] and kept this tradition, as did his son Ronald. Around 1800, when Peter Nicolson from An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye got Torlum 'under still-bow tenure' he refused to follow tradition 'but sheer necessity compelled him to take to the old custom in giving an evening contribution to the gruagach, and he became a firm believer of the story. Even sixteen men failed to keep in the cattle on one occasion.'
Dates
- December 1894
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 114 folios ; 14 x 20 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 22v, line 1 to folio 24r, line 9
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Cattle
- Customs
- Fairies
- Family History
- Isle of Skye Inverness-shire Scotland
- MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)
- MacRury, Ranald, c1750 (Raghnall MacRuaraidh | descendant of Clanranald | Torlum | Benbecula)
- MacRury, Ronald, c1775 (tacksman of Torlum | Benbecula)
- Milk
- Nicolson, Peter, c1800 (tacksman of Torlum | Benbecula)
- Tales
- Torlum Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk