Skip to main content

Stories about John Morison, tacksman of Bragar and Roderick Morison, An Clàrsair Dall, including two poems, 1873

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW105/34

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

Matheson, WIlliam (ed.),The Blind Harper (An Clàrsair Dall) (Edinburgh, 1970), pp. xxxix and 216

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