Scope and Contents

Custom probably collected from Penelope MacLellan, Ormacleit/Ormaclete, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist which reads 'Going 3 times southwise of the cladh [graveyard] made a mare retain her foal, and this was done to all the mares in Uist [Uibhist]. Also notes that that Clann Mhuirich had a tearmad or sanctuary, which meant that when someone reached Clachan Staoligeary [Clachan Stadhlaigearraidh] they were safe.

Scope and Contents Family history and story about Clanvurich [Clann Mhuirich] Staoligeary [Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] probably collected from Angus Currie, pauper, Iocar [Ìochdar] describing the different lands held by different generations of the clan up until they lost Stadhlaigearraidh as the seventeenth generation to have lived there over three hundred and sixty years. The name of the last member of the clan to hold it was Niall mac Lachlain ioc Neill ioc Dhonil [Niall mac...

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...

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Cugarbhad, 'Righ nan Cat'' collected from Niall Maceachain [Neil MacEachan], crofter, Towbeag [Tobha Beag/Howbeg, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] in which Macmhurich Mor Staoligearraidh [MacMhuirich mò from Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry] is out hunting and his dogs kill Cugarbhat in a cave. A cat asks MacMhuirich if his dogs killed Cugarbhat three times and on each occasion grows larger eventually jumping at MacMhuirich's throat. One annotation has been made to the text in...

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Leabhar Dearg Chlann Mhuirich' [The Red Book of Clann Mhuirich] collected from Seonaid Nic Mhurich [Janet Currie], aged 64, Staoinebrig, Uist D[eas] [Staoinebrig, Stoneybridge, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] on 24 February 1865. The story tells how in a time of great violence the Iarla Leanna [Earl of Lennox but queried by Carmichael as Earl of Antrim] escaped to the mountains with his son. Feeling compelled to return to his people who he knew were in danger, he left his son in...

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Leabhar Dearg Clann Muirich' collected from Seonaid Nic Muirich [Janet Currie], age 64, Staoinebreac, Uist a chinne Deas [Staoinebrig/Stoneybridge, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. The story tells how in a time of great violence the Iarla Leanna [Earl of Lennox] escaped to the mountains with his son. Feeling compelled to return to his people who he knew were in danger, he left his son in the mountains telling him to go whichever way God told him to go. Muireach, the Earl's son...

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Mac Dhearg' [Muc Dhearg] collected from Iain Macinnes [John MacInnes], aged 70 years, Staoligeary [Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. The story tells of a woman in Howgearry [Hogha Gearraidh/Hougharry, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] whose child is replaced by a changeling and all he will say is ''muc dhearg muc dhearg'. MacIlleMhoire sends the woman and child to MacMhuirich Mòr in Stilligarry who manages to change the child back by repeating 'Muc dhearg'...

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'Mac Mhuirich' probably collected from John MacInnes, aged 70 years, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist. The story tells how MacMhurich is coming back from Rum [Rhum] when 'gille glas' asks if MacMhuirich will take him as far as Uist [Uibhist]. Reluctantly, MacMhuirich agrees exchanging some balast for the gille glas. En route water starts coming in so all are called upon to bale out the vessel but to no avail. The gille glas takes control of the steering...