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Story under the heading 'Roin' and accompanying songs, c1875

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/41

Scope and Contents

Story under the heading 'Roin' telling how a crew from Howgearraidh [Hogha Gearraidh/Hougharry, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] were hunting on Cousmal [Causmal] and caught a lot of seals. A farmer took a load of them home and put them at the end of the house so that they would stay cold. in the house was a nurse who was looking after a baby and heard a big seal coming to life and saw it kiss a small seal and singing a song beginning 'Spòg Spaidrich òig, Spog mo Chaidhich choir'. The song contains five lines. The big seal then went back to sea leaving his son dead on the floor of the house. Five years later the farmer was in Caolas-Heisgeir [Sound of Monach] fishing when a storm arose and he ended up washed ashore. A big, old man with a straggly, grey beard appeared where he landed and took him to his house. The man asked the farmer his name and he said 'Iogan' and when asked where he was from he said he was from Hougharry in North Uist. Lastly he was asked who his family were and he said 'Clann ioc Iogain' [MacKeegan] at which point the old man began singing a song beginning 'Iogain! Iogain! gad a thug mi bithe dhuit, Ime us caise s feoil'. This song was composed of four lines. He realised that this man was the seal which had come alive in his house and he got such a fright that he never went to sea again.

Dates

  • Creation: c1875

Language of Materials

Gaelic

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 183 folios ; 20 x 23.8cm