Scope and Contents

4 versions of Carmichael's article 'Place Names of Iona', 'Scottish Geographical Magazine', ii (1886), 461-74; iii (1887), 80-7, 242-7.

Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected mostly in An Apainn/Appin and Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire. A large proportion of the stories and biographical information about Appin was collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, who was known as Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair. Amongst the material collected from Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair are proverbs, sayings, customs, stories about local figures and families and historic anecdotes. The other main...

Scope and Contents

Fragment of a story about hidden treasure on Am Muile/Isle of Mull. The story relates to the betrayal by MacLeod of Dunvegan and Maclean of Lochbuie of Hector Odhar Maclean at the Battle of Bloody Bay. When Maclean realised he was betrayed he 'car[r]ied the treasure up & threw it in the well where it is buried. closed up now simply a hollow.'

Scope and Contents

Incomplete note about a MacIntyre woman which reads 'Taigh Iona oran [-] Mairi [lianaidh]. She was a Macintyre. This woman'.

Scope and Contents

Note which reads "Hebraice dictur Iona" Adam[nan] Saint Columba left Ireland of his own accord - Scotia is not Scot[land] even tho[ugh] of old Ireland so Ui is now island'.

Scope and Contents

Note about Lighe sgeir that it is 'on a line between Musdail and Bearnaray' [Liath Sgeir, Eilean Musdile and Bernera Island, all Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], it was where rock was quarried for gravestones in Iona [Ì Chaluim Chille], that the quarrying marks are still visible and that the rock itself is visible at half tide opposite Cailleach [Campber].

Scope and Contents

Note about St Columba's first attempt to build a church on Iona [Ì Chaluim Chille], in which the walls were put up during the day but fell down at night owing to the spirit of darkness. Oran or Oranus was sacrificed to stop this happening. Text scored through perhaps to indicate it has been transcribed elsewhere.

Scope and Contents Note about the placename elements 'peighinn' [pennylands or pennies] and 'i' noting the number 'pennies' at Griminish, Peighin[n] Mhor, Scoplaig and Kilephead[air] [Peighinn Mhòr/Penmore, Griminis, Scolpaig, Cille Pheadair/Kilpheder, all Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] and that 'I for I chal[uim]-chille Kill i Phead[air] Grim-i-nis Scolp-i-aig - all belong to I Chal[uim Chille].' Across the text is written in ink 'Transcribed into No I B[ook] p[age] 196 A. A. C. [Alexander Archibald Carmichael]...

Scope and Contents

Note entitled 'Iona Names' containing scholarly suggestions for the origins of the name 'Iona' citing Irish, Hebrew, Greek and Latin as possible origins and noting that Norse writers call the island 'Insula Sancta Holy Island'. The note continues that 'Sodora' was the name for the village on Iona in old times and that no women were allowed to be buried near 'the Great church' as late as 1693. Note concludes 'M[anu]s[cript] writer unknown'.

Scope and Contents

Note on the 'ostiarij' [ostiarii or Iona's inhabitants] and that their name comes from their former office in the church [doorkeepers].They never exceed 5 or 8 in number from a male because of an act of misbehaviour committed in St Columba's time according to Dean Frazer [Dean John Fraser]. Also notes that Dean Frazer gave the governorship of the Isle of Man to Sacheverall and that the currach is still used in Wales.