Birlinnean agus Eathraichean
Longships and Coracles
The Battle of the Sheaves / Blar nan Sguab
Location: between Loch Bhasapol and Cornaigmore Beach
Story:
Whist working in the fields one day, Fionn (‘the fair’) spotted Norsemen coming to attack Tiree. He send his colleague, Thinman (‘Duorglas’ or ‘Gleghlas’ meaning ‘intensely grey’) and Back-of-the-Wind MacRae to fetch weapons to fight off the Norsemen. The Norsemen landed, battle began and Fionn and his men fought against them with the only weapons they had: the sheaves. They thrust them into the bodies of their enemies and managed to hold them off until Thinman and MacRae returned with real weapons. The Norsemen were driven off the island and never returned.
Anns a’ Ghàidhlig:
B’ e mac a rugadh do mhàthair Eireannach is do dh’athair Lochlannach a bh’ ann am Fionn (tha an t-ainm a’ ciallachadh ‘Bàn’). Aon latha, ’s e ag obair anns na h-achaidhean còmhla ri a luchd-leanmhainn, thug Fionn an aire do Lochlannaich a’ tighinn gu grad a thoirt ionnsaigh orra. Gun dàil, chuir e Caoilte, a bha ainmeil airson cho luath ’s a ruitheadh e, agus MacRath Cùl-na-Gaoithe, mac Ronain, a dh’iarraidh bhall-airm a bha air falach ann an lagan (dam b’ ainm Ciste nan Arm) anns a’ Chaolas – mu astar ochd mìle air falbh.
Thàinig na Lochlannaich air tìr agus thòisich am blàr, ged nach robh buill-airm sam bith aig Fionn neo aig na fir aige ach sguaban. Dh’fheuch iad air an nàimhdean leotha, gan cumail fo cheannsal. Chaidh aca air an cumail nan àite gus an do thill Caoilte agus MacRath Cùl-na-Gaoithe leis na buill-airm. Chuir iad an cath gu cruaidh an uair sin agus chaidh aca air na Lochlannaich a ruagadh sìos don chladach, is cha do thill iad a Thiriodh tuilleadh.
Agus gus an latha an-diugh cluinnear seo anns an eilean: ‘Sguab choirce gu crios ann an crios Lochlannaich’.
[Gaelic version from Mackinnon, Fiona E ‘Sgeulachdan a Tiriodh’ (1992)]
Sources:
Collection of five booklets of ‘Tocher – Tales, Songs and Traditions’ from the archives of the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, 1978-1991, containing Tiree material: Blar nan Sguab / Battle of the Sheaves, No. 18, pg 44
St Columba - Mallachdaig
Location: Gott Bay
Story:
When St Columba came from Iona to Tiree to spread the Gospel here, he is said to have tied his coracle to a little rock in Gott Bay. Unfortunately, his coracle broke loose and St Columba is said to have cursed the rock – resulting in its being called ‘Mallachdaig’ meaning ‘little cursed rock’. Having rescued his coracle, St Columba sailed across to Ruaig at the other end of Gott Bay where he found another small rock where his boat was held fast, so he blessed that rock, calling it ‘Naomhag’ or ‘little blessed rock’.
Anns a’ Ghàidhlig:
Air Tràigh Ghot ann an Tiriodh tha sgeir bheag, agus a rèir beul-aithris seo an sgeir ris an do cheangail Calum Cille an currach aige nuair a thàinig e a Eilean Idhe airson an Soisgeul a chraobh-sgaoileadh. (’S ann de chuilc agus de chraiceann a bha currach air a dhèanamh.) Ach bhrist am bàta beag air falbh bhon chreig. Rinn seo an Naomh doirbh, agus thuirt e, ‘Chan fhàs feamainn air an sgeir seo gu bràth tuilleadh.’ Thug e ‘Mallachdaig’ mar ainm air an sgeir.
Fhuair Calum Cille an currach aige air ais, agus sin sheòl e a-null gu Rubhaig aig ceann eile Tràigh Ghot. An sin lorg e sgeir bheag eile agus cheangail e an currach ris an sgeir seo, a chum i le grèim daingeann. An sin bheannaich e an sgeir sin agus thug e ‘Naomhag’ mar ainm oirre.
Chìthear Mallachdaig aig Tràigh Ghot faisg air bogsa a’ phuist, agus gus an latha an-diugh cha do dh’fhàs bileag feamainn oirre.
[Gaelic version from Mackinnon, Fiona E ‘Sgeulachdan a Tiriodh’ (1992)]
Sources:
Passages from Tiree: 'Celtic Christianity' and St Columba (meekwrite.blogspot.com); placenames; rocks. An IOdhlann 2020.14.3 Colour photograph of St Columba’s Chapel at Kirkapol before renovation in 2001; AP Monument rubbings (not specific to Oran); AI 2004.51.3, Gaelic map of Scotland and Ireland titled `Tir Cholm Cille`; 1916, Print of a lecture by the 10th Duke of Argyll on Ancient Columban Dedications in the Celtic West (1209/733); Lord Archie paintings