Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 280 Collections and/or Records:
Story about the wrecking of the ship 'Racoon', 1873
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW105/44
Scope and Contents
Story about the wrecking of the ship 'Racoon' which was sailing to Aberdeen with a cargo of slate but which drifted off course. The captain was Isaac Jones from Caernarfon, Wales. The six crew took to a small boat and were given help by people in Dunvegan North as they had 'no food nor wat[er] nor cloth[in]g' and were 'Drenched to the skin'.
Dates:
1873
Story about Vikings shipwrecked on Mollacag, 23 May 1869
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW150/36
Scope and Contents
Story collected from Roderick MacNeil, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay which tells how a Long Lochlannach [Viking ship] was broken on a rock called Mollacag at Airghrian [possibly Àird Ghrèin] about '120 or 60 years ago' [c1750 or c1810 or c1710, if 160 years ago is meant]. The gullies filled up with the bodies. The females were drowned, their gold taken away and they were refused permission 'to build in the sea'. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere.
Dates:
23 May 1869
Story and notes on MacNeil of Barra's rentals on Mingulay, 23 May 1869
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW150/35
Scope and Contents
Story and notes collected from Roderick MacNeil, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay telling how 'Barra one year made a rent of £14,000' and how MacNeill [MacNeil of Barra] came over fourteen days before Lunasdal stayed until '14 days of Foghar'. No one dared to go to Lianamal [Liànamul] before he came. The measurements of feorlig and peighinn are noted according to how many [barrels] are paid in rent according to feorlig or peighinn. The story states that 'All were taken from Lianamal. After that MacNeill...
Dates:
23 May 1869
Story entitled 'A Bhuileaistach' and accompanying song, 29 January 1875
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/123
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'A Bhuileaistach' [MacMhuirich and the Beast] probably collected from John MacInnes, aged 70 years, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist. The story tells how Niall Mòr MacMhuirich found a small creature and took it home. The creature's mother, a fearful beast came looking for her young. MacMhuirich threatened her and said that he would not give it back to her unless he built a bridge or causeway from him so that he could get to Lainginis [Langinish]. The...
Dates:
29 January 1875
Story entitled 'A Sealladh mu dheireadh a Roca-Barraidh', 1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/82
Scope and Contents
Story written down by John Ewen MacRury entitled 'A Sealladh mu dheireadh a Roca-Barraidh' [The last sighting of Rocabarraigh] telling how the island of Rocabarraigh was seen many years after it sank after it had been prophesied by an old man. The old man's family thought he had died but managed to rouse him and he told them what he had seen. In his vision he had wrestled with a man from Rocabarraigh, who threatened to sink Barraigh/Barra, whereupon every sort of fish would wash up on the...
Dates:
1895
Story entitled 'An Gruagach Ban Mac Righ Eireann', 22 March 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/2
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'An Gruagach Ban Mac Righ Eireann' collected from Alastair mac Ruari bhain MacNeill [Alexander MacNeil], saillear eisg or fish salter, Ceanntangval Barra [Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. The story tells how..... Some of the pencil text has smudged and is difficult to read. The accompanying note states that MacNeil heard the story from his father when he was a boy and that he is now seventy two years of age. Carmichael notes that he 'Wrote this tale while...
Dates:
22 March 1871
Story entitled 'An Sluagh', September 1872
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/139
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'An Sluagh' in which two men coming through a cliff at Creag an La'uir [possibly on Barraigh/Isle of Barra] predict trouble from the fairy host. One man is lifted by the fairies into the air, flapping his arms like wings and is dropped into the sea but manages to make it back to shore. When asked by his companion why he went looking for the fairies he says that sometimes he lets them so that he can get somewhere else. Text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed...
Dates:
September 1872
Story entitled 'An t-Og Chraobh', 13 February 1866
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW104/1
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'An t-Og Chraobh' collected from Alasdair Mac Neil [Alexander MacNeil], fisherman and crofter, Ceanntangvall, Barra [Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] written on 13 February 1866. Folios 10r to 11v contain text written transversely over the main text and starts from folio 11v. The transverse section of text appears to have been recorded from Lachunn Donullach [Lachlan MacDonald], cottar, Eilean Ghrimiseidh (Ceallun) Uist a Tuath [Ceallan/Kallin,...
Dates:
13 February 1866
Story entitled 'Bhalantaidh us Horsantaidh', 18 January 1865
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW113/9
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Bhalantaidh us Horsantaidh' collected from Alasdair Mac Neil [Alexander MacNeil], Ceantangbhall [Ceanntangabhal/Kentagaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. The story begins with Rìgh Lochlann's daughter being married off to an emperor and being accompanied to her new home by only one kinsman. The emperor's house priest falls in love with her and while the emperor is hunting, he declares his love for her and expects her to reciprocate. She refuses to do so and locks up the priest...
Dates:
18 January 1865
Story entitled 'Ciosmal' and accompanying placename notes, 23 March 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/3
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Ciosmal', collected from John Peirsean [John Pearson or MacPherson], Keantangval [Ceann Tangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra], concerning the origin of Ciosmal [Caisteal Chiosmuil/Kisimul Castle] telling how after Niall Glùn-dubh succeeded to the chieftaincy of MacNeil of Barra, he discovered he had been married as a child to the Earl of Bute's daughter. The marriage was consummated, and the earl visited his now pregnant daughter. On the earl's approach, his daughter...
Dates:
23 March 1871