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Story about ghosts at Howmore cemetery and accompanying place-name note, 29 October 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/108

Scope and Contents

Story about ghosts at Howmore cemetery [Tobha Mòr, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] in which Catri[o]na ni[gh]ean Do[mh]n[a]il[l] Ghuirm volunteered to watch the cattle-fold at night while the man who should have been doing it went fishing at Loch Sgioport [Loch Skipport]. While there, she saw the graves open and people going in and out of them. A woman ghost approached her and Catriona barred her way with a cuigeal or distaff. The woman demanded to be let past saying that she was Mòr nighean Rìgh Lochlann [King of Norway's daughter] and that she and her thirteen brothers had drowned off Scotland. Catriona let the cuigeal go and in the morning none came out of the fold. Amidst the story is an explanation of how Cille Pheadair/Kilpheder got its name.

Dates

  • Creation: 29 October 1872

Language of Materials

English Gaelic

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 117 folios ; 20 x 16.5 cm