Story entitled 'Leabhar Dearg Clann Muirich', 24 January or February 1865
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Leabhar Dearg Clann Muirich' collected from Seonaid Nic Muirich [Janet Currie], age 64, Staoinebreac, Uist a chinne Deas [Staoinebrig/Stoneybridge, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. The story tells how in a time of great violence the Iarla Leanna [Earl of Lennox] escaped to the mountains with his son. Feeling compelled to return to his people who he knew were in danger, he left his son in the mountains telling him to go whichever way God told him to go. Muireach, the Earl's son fell asleep and was told three times in a dream that he would find his fortune in the rushes. When he awoke he looked in the bushes and found An Leabhar Dearg [The Red Book], a red, vellum book, as clean as if it had been kept in a kist. After he read the book a spirit told him where he was to go so he went straightaway to Uibhist a chinne Tuath [Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist], where he settling and on marrying had a son, who was Niall Mòr MacMhuirich. The story makes an aside to tell of how God granted Niall Mòr three wishes per day and he only used them once when he was on Canna [Canaigh, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] and the ship was confined to port because there was no suitable breeze to take them home. First, he asked for a breeze simply to take them home, then on cajoling from his son he asked for a strong wind. As they set off the weather became stormy, Niall Mòr refused to use his third wish and the crew only just landed and escaped as the boat broke in two. The aside finished, the story continues to tell how, An Leabhar Dearg told how the world and its people were created and that Muireach travelled throughout Scotland and Ireland relating history and genealogy. Niall Mòr was approached by a stranger, then a ship's master and then his kinsman about the book. He gave it to the latter and it was never seen again. The story concludes with a verse illustrating the right of the MacMhuirich clan to hold Baile-bhaird in Staolaigearrai [Baile a' Bhàird, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. The last of the MacMhuirich line is entitled to give the rights to anyone they choose for nineteen years. The text has been scored through in ink and written transversely is 'Transcribed into Book I page 167 Creagorry 1875'. [Creag Goraidh, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula]. Two annotations have been made to the text in pencil.
Dates
- Creation: 24 January or February 1865
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 86 folios ; 20.3 x 16.5 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 44v, line 1 to folio 47v, line 17
Bibliography
Newton, Michael, Bho Cluaidh gu Calasraid: from the Clyde to Callander (Glasgow, 2010).
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Canna Inverness-shire Scotland
- Creagorry Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Family
- Inheritance and Succession
- Manuscripts
- Poems
- Poets, Scottish
- Provenance
- Sea faring
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Staoinebrig South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Stilligarry South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Tales
Subject
- MacIsaac, Janet, c1798-1882 (Person)
- MacMhuirich (hereditary bards of Clanranald) (Family)
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
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk