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Story about Siol Ghorrie [Sìol Ghoraidh] and Siol Mhur[achaidh], 14 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/99

Scope and Contents

Story about Siol Ghorrie [Sìol Ghoraidh] probably collected from Margaret MacDonald, Malacleit/Malaclete, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist. The story tells how Goraidh was descended from MacDonald of Duntuilm [Dùn Thuilm/Duntulm, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye] and Murdoch [Murchadh] from MacDonald of Cinntire [Cinn Tìre/Kintyre]. Mac Suain mor a Raarsai [MacSween of Raasay] killed Goraidh in an attempt to have Trotternish [Tròndairnis] for himself but he failed to get this. There were eighteen families in North Uist descended from Goraidh of which the last family lived in Udal. The 'MacDonald of the day' was coming to visit and they were prepared to welcome him but one of MacDonald's retinue said that they were preparding to attack instead but at present were 'lying drunk at Oda MhicRaail' [Oda Mhic Raghnaill]. The chief said that if they were sleeping they were to be killed and that is what happened. The survivors of Sìol Ghoraidh went to work at Loch Cleat [Cleitreabhal] and Loch Hosta, where Sìol Mhurchaidh lived in a dun. During the night while Sìol Mhurchaidh were asleep Sìol Ghoraidh flooded Dun Hosta and drowned them. Sìol Mhurchaidh are said to have got their name from Airdnamurchan [Ardnamurchan] where they lived after being in Kintyre rather than from anyone called Murchadh/Murdoch. They claimed to be descended from 'sean Aon[gh]as of Kintyre the fath[er] of Aon[gh]as og who fo[ugh]t at Ban[nockburn] & who earned the Laimh dheas to the Macdon[alds]'.

Dates

  • Creation: 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 31v, line 7 to folio 31v, line 18

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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