Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 280 Collections and/or Records:
Story entitled 'Saothach Maoldonaich', September 1872
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/149
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Saothach Maoldonaich' in which 'Fear Shanntrai' [Fear Shanndraigh/tacksman of Sanndray] finds a wrecked vessel and removes all the gold from it. He buried it in Caolas, Vat[ersay] [Bhatarsaigh/Vatersay] a grieve was also burying the cask of 14 gills. Both men died men 'died in a fever rather suddenly'. Property was left to MacNeil of Barra, his nephew, but when the creditors heard about it they wanted to take it. Fear Shanntraigh said he would build [a barrier of gold] from...
Dates:
September 1872
Story entitled 'Slinneanac', September 1872
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/170
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Slinneanac' [scapulimancy] in which Mac a Chreachain, butler, was asked to tell the future by MacNeil of Barra and reluctantly agreed, warning Ruari Breac [Roderick MacNeil] that Ciosmal [Caisteal Chiosmuil/Kisimul Castle] would end up in ruins. The story continues to tell more about MacNeil of Barra, his marriage to the daughter of MacLean of Duart and subsequent absence from the island. During his absence a signal came to the castle that a nobleman was there but no one went...
Dates:
September 1872
Story entitled 'Submerged Church', 4 November 1873
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW111/1
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Submerged Church', collected from Ken[neth] MacKenzie, mason, Dallabrog [Dalabrog/Daliburgh, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] at Eirisg, Barra [Eirisgeigh/Eriskay, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. MacKenzie tells Carmichael that he was made aware of the church, Caibeal MhicCeallaich, by another man while shearing sheep. He describes the dimensions and composition of the building in detail and its location as 'Below Bornish Uarach s[outh] side of point Lowest spring tide' [Bornais...
Dates:
4 November 1873
Story entitled 'Torradh Crannachain', September 1872
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/143
Scope and Contents
Story entitled 'Torradh Crannachain' probably collected on Barraigh/Isle of Barra, about a tailor working with a housewife while her family are out cutting peats: she is at one end of the house churning milk for butter and he is at the other end of the house. The woman's neighbour comes in and asks for kindling, which the tailor gives her but as soon as she is out of the door he takes a live cinder from the fire and places it in the water stoop. The neighbour returns shortly after asking for...
Dates:
September 1872
Story of the shipwreck of 'The Bermuda', 1883
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW120/201
Scope and Contents
Story of the shipwreck of 'The Bermuda' which took place on 'a fearful night' which was 'bitterly cold with 'driving sleet & with the snow thick on the ground'. The captain, his wife and young daughter survived but people began to rob and plunder the ship including the crew. In the midst of this, the captain's wife and daughter had their boots and outer clothing stolen from their person. 'The people believed that Prov[idence] had sent them another harvest. Should they not glean it while...
Dates:
1883
Story relating to Dun Chalavy and MacNeil of Barra, 19 October 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/167
Scope and Contents
Story collected from Rev Alex[ander] Campbell R.C. [Roman Catholic priest], telling how two men each described as a scion were wanted for their numerous robberies and raids. One of them lived at Dun Chalavy, Lochboisdale [Dùn Chalabhaigh/Castle Calvay, Loch Baghasdail, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. MacNeil was often told that his friend at Dùn Chalabhaigh had been caught but he never believed it. One day on being told this he asked what they had found in his dun and he was told 'that a groat...
Dates:
19 October 1871
Story relating to the shipwreck of the vessel 'Harmony', 1867
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/76
Scope and Contents
Story relating to the shipwreck of the vessel 'Harmony', possibly collected from Roderick MacLellan, receiver of wrecks, Barraigh/Isle of Barra. The story is fragmented but appears to dispute an account put forward by Capt Grey [Captain Thomas Gray] about local people looting the wreck and opinions such as 'The inhabiti[ants] of Lewis like those of other islands immoral' [Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis]. A quote from 'Charles O' Malley, The Irish Dragoon' which precedes a tale about the wreck...
Dates:
1867
Superstition about killing beetles, 1901
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW110/35
Scope and Contents
Superstition about killing beetles in which boys from the Isle of Barra/Barraigh believe that if they take 'nine nines of heads' off a beetle then they will not go to 'the aite s miosa [Hell] with teeth'. The text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Dates:
1901
Superstitions linking birds and death, 1901
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW110/83
Scope and Contents
Superstitions linking birds and death that if a dove is seen at the house of a dying person, this is a good sign but a raven is a bad sign. A small curlew predicts death and like the sand piper gives a sharp pipe or screech. On the Isle of Barra [Barraigh] a 'Glugabhas' is a bird that comes the night before a death. Text has been scored through.
Dates:
1901
The Carmichael-Watson Collection
Fonds
Identifier: Coll-97
Scope and Contents
The Carmichael-Watson Collection consists of papers belonging to the Reverend Alexander Cameron of Arran, Alexander Carmichael, civil servant and folklorist, Alexander MacBain of Inverness, and Professor William John Watson and his son James Carmichael Watson, along with books and papers belonging to the Reverend Charles Robertson of Jura, the Reverend Angus MacDonald, the Reverend Archibald MacDonald and the Reverend Father Allan McDonald of Eriskay. These include: invocations...
Dates:
18th century - mid 20th century