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Story entitled 'Submerged Church', 4 November 1873

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW111/1

Scope and Contents

Story entitled 'Submerged Church', collected from Ken[neth] MacKenzie, mason, Dallabrog [Dalabrog/Daliburgh, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] at Eirisg, Barra [Eirisgeigh/Eriskay, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. MacKenzie tells Carmichael that he was made aware of the church, Caibeal MhicCeallaich, by another man while shearing sheep. He describes the dimensions and composition of the building in detail and its location as 'Below Bornish Uarach s[outh] side of point Lowest spring tide' [Bornais Uarach/Upper Bornish] and later as 'on s[outh] side of Ruairdvaoilein nearer Bornish than Kildonan' [Rubha Àird a' Mhuile, Bornais and Cill Donnain]. He tells how he tore 'tangles' from about seven feet of wall and that there 'was more wall but this was all I bare.' He adds 'When I saw the beaut[iful] work so beaut[iful] I had not the heart to touch it.' He adds that there is another Caibeal MhicCheallaich at Daliburgh and that MacCeallan had requested to be buried as low as the tide went out and a chapel built about him. He states that his sons brought him some masonry from the Daliburgh chapel, that Mrs Martin and her son Allan know all the sub-marine places and that Kil Phead [Cille Pheadair/Kilpheder] is 'under the sea' and 'not seen now'.

Dates

  • Creation: 4 November 1873

Language of Materials

English Gaelic

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 93 folios ; 20.5 x 13.2 cm