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Story about Siol Mhurchaidh and Siol Ghoraidh, 13 July 1870 to 14 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/91

Scope and Contents

Story about Siol Mhurchaidh and Siol Ghoraidh collected from Ruary MacCoinnich [Roderick MacKenzie], aged 68 years, carpenter, Struan-rua, Malacleit [Sruthan Ruadh, Malacleit/Malaclete, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] telling how eighteen families of Siol Ghoraidh lived at Udal and murdered Siol Mhurchaidh while they were resting from ploughing. They put a bonnet on each cas chrom [plough] and Siol Mhurchaidh's wives thought that they were all working until they got close to them and found them all dead. One of Siol Ghoraidh, who lived at Greinetote [Greintobht/Grenitote] got other members of the clan together and under cover of darkness 'began a trench down a lake bet[ween] S{outh] & N[orth] Cliatarval - L[och] Cliatarval' [Cleitreabhal a Deas, Cleitreabhal a Tuath and Loch Cleitreabhal]. When they let water in it 'drowned alive thet valley below except one boy who was car[ried] by the rushing water but who got hold of by one Aon[gh]as Manntach Macvicar'. The boy grew up and had many descendants who are cottars and crofters in North Uist. MacKenzie states that he is 'the 6 glun from the young lad who lived at Udal so that he is a descendant of Siol Ghoraidh'. The story concludes by saying that a son of the young survivor lived at Dunsgealoir [Dùn Sgealair/Dunskellor] and quarrelled with Sir Seumas Ruadh, who lived at Sollas [Solas] about 'a bemdeal for catching geese at Loch Sollais [Loch Sollas]'.

Dates

  • Creation: 13 July 1870 to 14 July 1870

Language of Materials

Gaelic English

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 64 folios ; 19.5 x 23 cm

Physical Location

5.07

Physical Location

folio 27v, line 1 to folio 28r, line 11

Bibliography

Carmichael, Alexander, 'Notices of Teampull Michael, Keallun, North Uist, and of Sculptured Stones in Bearnarey, Harris, and in Benbecula; an "Abrach" Quern and Quarry for Querns, Heisgeir, North Uist, &c', Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol VIII, (Edinburgh, 1870) pp.278-280.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

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