Superstition and story under the heading 'Roin' about seals and accompanying song beginning 'Ach an ighean Aoidh ic Eoin', c1875
Scope and Contents
Superstition and story under the heading 'Roin'. The superstition states that seals are enchanted people who travel around trying to find a way out of the enchantment. Seals have a sweet voice and if one seal is killed you can hear the others mourn it. Once on Teisgeir [Theisgeir/Heisker/Monach Isles] many seals were killed and a old man, who was sat on a rock fishing, saw a seal out at sea keening its dead partner with a song beginning, 'Ach an ighean Aoidh ic Eoin, Gu'm b eolach mu na sgèireans thu'. The song is composed of twenty three lines divided into four verses with a chorus. The text contains an amendments in pencil.
Dates
- Creation: c1875
Language of Materials
English Gaelic
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 183 folios ; 20 x 23.8cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 94v, line 1 to folio 95r, line 19
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
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
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