Story about Mac a Chreachain, 1869
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/59
Scope and Contents
Story about Mac a Chreachain probably collected from Roderick MacNeil, aged 88, crofter, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay. In it Mac a' Chreachain prophesies that Ciosmaol [Caisteal Chiosmuil/Kisimul Castle, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] will be 'na garrai beiste dugh' [a cave for a black beast] and is sent to Maol donaich [Maol Dòmhnaich] as a punishment. He threw a stone into the sea and later caught a fish which had swallowed the same stone. He predicted that Barrai [Barraigh/Isle of Barra] would be full of grey geese so that everyone would be forced onto a sea rock; that Miulay [Miùghlaigh/Mingulay] would be full of horses, Beàrnaraigh/Berneray would be full of black beasts and Pabay [Pabaigh/Pabbay] full of sea cattle. The story continues that a man passing a herd of cows, sprinkled a handful of water on one of them and was able to take it home. In due time, the cow bore twelve calves. The man's wife warned him that the cow [called Maol Odhar] was getting old but the man refused to shackle it. That night he heard the Maol Odhar lowing twelve times so he woke up his wife and told her that Maol Odhar's time was coming. When they got outside they saw Maol Odhar and all her offspring heading into the sea and they were never seen again.
Dates
- 1869
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 88 folios ; 16.6 x 19.8 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 74r, line 3 to folio 75r, line 7
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
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk