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Superstition and story under the heading 'Roin' about seals and accompanying song beginning 'Ach an ighean Aoidh ic Eoin', c1875

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/26

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

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