Stories about John Morison, tacksman of Bragar and Roderick Morison, An Clàrsair Dall, including two poems, 1873
Scope and Contents
Story noted as being 'heard from a old man in Shiabost Lewis [Shawbost, Eilean Leòdhais] who spoke all he spoke in sean fhacail' about Iain mac Urach 'ic Ailein [John Morison], Shiabost and a servant girl who went missing having said she was afraid to go to the well alone. He went to the well but was pulled down by a man who told him to go to Stornoway [Steòrnabhagh] and meet with Mac Coinnich Bhra'ain [The Brahan Seer] and ask for Siatar na h-Airde [Shiabost bho Thuath/Shawbost, Eilean Leòdhais] for three years. Morison did this and got Siatar na h-Airde and had four sons, three of whom became ministers and the remaining one became a harpist 'An Clàrsair Dall' [Roderick Morison, The Blind Harper]. Roderick was sent to Ireland and afterwards worked for MacLeod of Dunvegan [Dùn Bheagain, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye]. When he returned his mother did not recognise him and recited a poem beginning 'Cha tig fuar gun tig earrach'. John Morison asked men to meet at the end of harvest but they left before he got home and he responded with a few lines beginning 'Ma dh'fhalbh ad ni mhiste liom'.
Dates
- Creation: 1873
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 92 folios ; 20.1 x 16.4 cm
Physical Location
folio 58v, line 5 to folio 58r, line 20
Bibliography
Subject
- MacKenzie, Kenneth, fl16th century (Coinneach Odhar or Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche or The Brahan Seer) (Person)
- Morison, John, fl1630-1708 (tacksman | Bragar | Isle of Lewis) (Person)
- Morison, Roderick, fl1656-1714 (Person)
- MacLeod (of Dunvegan) (Family)
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
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk