Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 280 Collections and/or Records:
Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1865-1886
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW7
Scope and Contents
Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing mainly Fenian songs and cattle charms. Most of the charms relate to cattle and working in the dairy and so are recited for the protection and healing of cattle, although there are some charms for protecting and healing people as well. A number of the charms include the use of medicinal plants, for which there is additional vocabulary. Carmichael also includes charms and customs for predicting marriage partners. Almost all of...
Dates:
1865-1886
Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1883 to 1885
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW87
Scope and Contents
Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected between October 1867 and December 1885. The material dated from 1883 to 1885 was probably written down at source. The notebook is marked as 'No IV' and the inside cover gives his address as 30 Royal Circus, Edinburgh [Dun Eideann] and the date as 16 November 1883. The material transcribed and collected in this notebook includes love songs, religious songs, waulking songs and songs relating to cattle. Much...
Dates:
1883 to 1885
Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1864-1869
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW104
Scope and Contents
Transciption notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael. The inside front cover is inscribed in ink with 'Bought at Wadebridge Cornwall Dec[ember] 1 1864 p 1/6 A A Carmichael' and the opposite page has 'A A Carmichael' written on it in pencil. The notebook contains Fenian songs or tales mainly collected in Uibhist a Deas/South Uist and Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula, some of which are repeated in full or in part. These include 'Laoidh na Muileartaich', 'Duan an Deirg' and 'A' Bhraoin Chaorain'....
Dates:
1864-1869
Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1872
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW154
Scope and Contents
Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, inscribed on the front inside cover with 'Alexander Arch[ibal]d Carmichael H. M. Inland Revenue. Iocar, South Uist 27th April 1872 No IV' [Iochdar, Uibhist a Deas] Printed on the front cover are the words 'General Entry Book No, 247'. The book contains five stories 'Clann Uisne', 'Torac na Taine', 'Rocabarraidh', 'Cugarbhad, Righ nan Cat' and an untitled story about a cockerel and a fox, collected in Uibhist a Deas/South Uist, Beinn...
Dates:
1872
Two poems and custom entitled 'Geaslanac na Callaig', 24 September 2010
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/112
Scope and Contents
Two poems and custom entitled 'Geaslanac na Callaig', the first poem begins 'Mas a gao[th] an ias a Challaig iasg us aran' while the second one begins 'Mi direadh leis an ardorus s mi tearna leis an tusan'. The custom tells how on Hogmanay, the caisean-uchd [breast-strip] was lighted and swung round the head of each member of the household three times and if the light went out, it would mean that the person would die that year. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed...
Dates:
24 September 2010
Two stories about cows concealing their calves, 1885
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW87/45
Scope and Contents
Two stories about cows concealing their calves collected from Niall Mac Iain Bhain [Neil MacNeil] Bruarnish, Barra [Bruairnis/Bruernish, Barraigh]. The first story involves Neil and the second involves 'Ruaraidh Ban' or 'Ruaraidh Lachlain', when he was herding at Vaslan, Eoligarry [Vaslain, Eòlaigearraidh]. The stories tell of how cleverly cows managed to hide their calves and the manner in which the herds managed to find them. The stories include some Gaelic vocabulary relating to land and...
Dates:
1885
Two stories about Raol mor mac ic Ailein, 20 January 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/152
Scope and Contents
Two stories collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about Raol mor mac ic Ailein [Raghnall Mòr mac 'ic Aileain or Ranald MacDonald of Clanranald]. The first story tells of a foster-brother of Nighean Mhic Neill came from Barraigh/Isle of Barra to visit her at Caisteal Borgh but unable to get across the ford he stayed at a shoemaker's house. In the morning, a miosgan ime was placed on the table and the Barrach...
Dates:
20 January 1871
Two stories about Ruary an tartair [Roderick MacNeil] and accompanying notes about Barraigh/Isle of Barra], 1867
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/25
Scope and Contents
Two stories about Ruary an tartair [Ruairidh an Tartair or Roderick MacNeil], the first being that when he had dinner he would send a servant to the top of He-eveall [Sheabhal/Heabhal, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] with a trumpet to proclaim as such, noting that 'Biola-creag was the badge on MacNeils livery' [Bual na Creige/Biulacraig, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay] and that it is the 'third if not the second highest [cliff] in Britain'. The second story tells how he went to challenge Rob Roy [MacGregor]...
Dates:
1867
Two stories relating to Cladh-Mhoire Nunton, 20 January 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/149
Scope and Contents
Two stories collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how Cladh-Mhoire Nunton [Baile nan Cailleach] had a roof which was burned the same night as all other church roofs were burnt in Scotland for reasons which remain a mystery. 'No such secret as this was ever Kept. Nothing is know[n] of it.' The first person to be buried there was Bard dugh mhic Neill Bharrai [Bàrd Dubh Mhic Neill Bharraigh] who fell...
Dates:
20 January 1871
Verse beginning 'Raonabo cuir an t uisge os', August 1903
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW178/19
Scope and Contents
Verse collected from Ciorstan Cameron [Christina or Chirsty Cameron], Leideag [Barraigh/Isle of Barra], wife of John Maclean, crofter, beginning 'Raonabo cuir an t uisge os, S a leud bruich boch[d]'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Dates:
August 1903