Song beginning 'Hu ru o na hi oro' and accompanying story, 21 May 1869
Scope and Contents
Song collected from Donald MacPhee, blacksmith, Brèibhig/Breivig, Barraigh/Isle of Barra, beginning 'Hu ru o na hi oro, Na nam faite Seathain ri fhuasgla[dh]' [Seathan Mac Rìgh Èireann] composed of fifteen lines. The story tells how the song was composed by an aunt of MacLeod of Harris to MacNeill Dhun an t-Sleibh [Dùn an t-Sleibh, Barraigh/Isle of Barra], her husband. She alleged that a priest had tried to take advantage of her in the confessional the response to which was that the priest drowned a candle at mass to show she was excommunicated and her husband angry about this, argued with her causing her to leave home. She took up with a former lover but MacNeill went to get her back. He left the Catholic Church and at a time when the church had banned parties his son made sure he held them to spite the church and the priest. The story concludes that Lady MacNeill left Ciosmal [] and went to Lag fhliodh, near Doirlin at Tangasdal [Caisteal Chiosmuil/Kisimul Castle, Lag Fhliodh, Doirlinn and Tangisdale all Barraigh/Isle of Barra], where 'the women would come with the fish' [as payment for rent]. The text has been scored through in ink and written transversely across part of the text is 'B[ook] 2 p[age] [-] Tra[nscribed] 17 June [18]69 A[lexander] A[rchibald] C[armichael]'. The text contains a number of amendments in pencil.
Dates
- Creation: 21 May 1869
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)
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Full Extent
From the Series: 64 folios ; 17 x 20.3 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 3v, line 14 to folio 4v, line 18
Subject
- MacNeil, Gilleonan Roderick Murchadh, fl1427 (Person)
- MacNeil, Lady, fl1427 (Person)
- MacPhee, Donald, c1816-1869 (Person)
- Catholic Church. Roman Catholic Church (c100-) (Organization)
- MacLeod (of Harris) (Family)
- MacNeil (of Barra) (Family)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Doirlinn Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Kisimul Castle Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Lag Fhliodh Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Tangasdal Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
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