Story about Sìne nighean MhicLeòid, 20 January 1871
Scope and Contents
Story collected from Eachann Macleoid [Hector MacLeod], aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuiri, Lianacleit [Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula]. His patronymic is given as 'Each[ann] mac Dhonul ic 'Urchai ic Neil ic Coinnich ic Iain ic Ruari ic Thormaid ic Uilleam ic Thorcail ic Leoid Leothais'. Hector states that he is the same age as Clanranald and that his great grandfather Niall mac Leoid [Neil MacLeod] came with Sine ni[gh]ean mhic Leoid Leodhais [Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis]. Mac ic Ailein went to get Sìne but her father was unwilling to let her go. He returned home but returned and stole her instead. MacLeod of Lewis followed them an on arriving at Roisinis [Rossinish] found only their birlinn and burnt it. The clan heard about this and insisted that the two get married and a sagart-bùird called An t-Athair Calum [Father Calum], an Irish priest was sent for. Father Calum refused to marry them but he was told 'that he would get him as good if he were broken'. The priest said that he sought 'no pain to your souls but slioc[hd] mor eir bheagan gliocais'. Thestory continues that the only bad thing that Sìne ever did was to quarrel with the priest and send him away. She had fifteen children and 'the only wise per[son] was Miss Peggie who had part of Ormacleit' [Ormaclete, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. Sìne was mother to Gordon, who is buried at Boisdal [Baghasdal] and Peggie and Ailein who are buried at Cladh Mhoire in Nunton [Baile nan Cailleach]. The story also notes how Clanranald 'had a fash[ion] of saying "Mach-ann"' and so they gave this nickname to 'Iain(?) mhic Raoil who left Borve Castle'.
Dates
- Creation: 20 January 1871
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 56v, line 8 to folio 57v, line 3
Bibliography
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Boats
- Disputes
- Elopement
- Family
- Family History
- Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland
- Marriage
- Names
- Nunton Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Ormacleit South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Priests
- Rossinish Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Ruabhal Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Sound of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Tales
- Voyages and Travel
Subject
- MacDonald, Ranald George, 1788-1873 (19th of Clanranald | Chief of Clan Donald | Member of Parliament) (Person)
- MacLeod, Hector, c1788- (Eachann mac Dhomhnaill ic Mhurchaidh ic Neill ic Coinnich ic Iain ic Ruaraidh ic Thormaid ic Uilleim ic Thorcail ic Leoid | Liniclate | Benbecula | Inverness-shire) (Person)
- MacDonald, Jean (Person)
- MacDonald (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