DON'T MISS IT...
Oronsay will be featured in Part 1 of a new BBC series starting on Thursday 16 January at 7 p.m. The series is entitled "Rioghachd nan Eilean" (Kingdom of the Isles), presented by Donald William Stewart. Readers will remember that Dr. Stewart researched a fascinating series for "The Corncrake" entitled "The Colonsay Catechist". The series is in Gaelic with English subtitles; Part 1 is enigmatically entitled "Adhartach neo Iomallach?" (Advanced or Isolated).
THE McNEILL MEDAL
In a recent issue we gave details of the Gold medal awarded to one of the Colonsay McNeills - Bonham's, the auctioneers, have kindly provided this photograph. The medal was awarded to Lieut. McNeill for service at Sorauren on 30th July 1813 in an action that gave Wellington himself pause for thought.
STORM HORROR
The Met Office had been forecasting ferocious conditions for Wednesday 15 January, a prospect that was quite alarming after one of the mildest and most benign of winters to date. Many ferries were disrupted on the Tuesday and the Outer Isles service for Wednesday was cancelled in advance. The Highland news at 8 a.m. revealed that Coll and Tiree's ferry had been cancelled, and that Hydro-Electric engineers had been stationed on those islands in anticipation of damaged transmission lines. There was no mention of Colonsay, but at 8.20 a.m. Tesco called to advise CalMac staff that the service had been cancelled. Tension mounted.
In the event, all was well. There was a tremendous sea, but the worst of the storm passed to the north and the highest gust at Homefield was only 64 mph. For most of the day it ran between 50 and 60 mph, and by evening it looked as if the worst was over. Hooray.
NEW YEAR CEILIDH
More than 250 people attended the New Year's Night ceilidh in the Village Hall - it was a resounding success and, although admission was free, Angus McPhee took his hat round and raised some hundreds of pounds.
Unfortunately, accordion supremo Hector MacFadyen missed the ferry and the weather conditions did not tempt anyone to go and get him. This could have put the hames on the entire event, but his brother Angus generously stepped into the breach and acted as Master of Ceremonies. Angus put heart and soul into his efforts and saved the night - a tremendous piece of work for which we all were very grateful.
And of course he was not alone - some of our visitors contributed of their talents, and a splendid local quintet was in great form, comprising members Ellie Cornford, Morna and Jen MacNeill, Sandy Abrahams and Mairi MacDougall. Unusual and unsuspected skills were displayed when Don MacLeod took to the floor and led the company in "The Piano Song".
P.S. To avoid doubt, it should perhaps be pointed out that all the money raised in Angus MacPhee's hat was donated to Hall Funds.
Traigh nam Barc and the Paps of Jura at New Year
CALMAC CASH POINTS
Caledonian MacBrayne has introduced access to cash facilities at a number of ports and terminals.
Automated cash machines have been installed at sixteen terminals operated by the company across its network of west coast ferry services. The cash machines allow customers access to cash upon arriving at or departing from the ferry terminal.
Alasdair McNicoll, Caledonian MacBrayne's Director of Strategic Development, said: "The company is actively seeking ways in which it can enhance the service it provides to its customers and the new cash machines are an example of our commitment."
The new machines are located inside the CalMac waiting rooms and can be accessed during normal port opening hours. Cash machines have been installed at strategic locations which include Oban and Kennacraig.
THE PHOENIX
The Phoenix swoops on its own opinion
Into red-hot Fire Dominion -
And from the ashes, in red and gold,
A new Phoenix, a glory to behold!
Caitlin McNeill, Machrins
Note from the Editor
Our apologies for fairly rushed editions just now, due to pressure of conflicting deadlines elsewhere. Now that we all have computers, it would be good to hear from additional potential contributors. In the past we have had regular astronomy and nature columns - it would be good to revive these, and/or others: notes upon the farming year would be of interest, or perhaps the distilled fortnightly deliberations of the Bar Parliament. Some people are good enough to notify odd snippets of information, or to advise events for "What's On" etc.; - this sort of help is invaluable.
If there is some issue that you would wish to air, you might like to raise it in a letter or perhaps contribute an article. If you are want to discuss a potential theme, please feel free to contact the Editor.
THE NEW YEAR QUIZ
Please remember that 21 January is the closing date for the quiz… there is a prize to be won, and there is still plenty of time to enter. The questions were based upon a nineteenth century exam for 11 yr old children and can be seen in issue 67 of The Corncrake (via the "archive" link). So far, no 11 year olds have entered and there is plenty of scope for more entries - and no need to worry, nobody will be exposed even if their answers are a bit wide of the mark.
HERITAGE CONFERENCE
"Na h-eileanan agaibh; an dualchas againn"
Your Islands; Our Heritage II
Following the successful 2-day heritage tourism training event in September, the Nàdair Trust and our partners invite you to attend a further 2-day training and discussion event – Newcomers very welcome
This event could:
help you to use your knowledge, ideas and skills to develop a viable, sustainable business
OR
introduce you to a fascinating growth area in tourism
OR
give you a fresh insight into the nature, culture & history of Colonsay and the Hebrides
In short, ALL ARE WELCOME. All you need is an interest - no matter how passing - in the island and its heritage. The event is FREE.
The event will take place on 19th, 20th & 21st February 2003,
at Colonsay Village Hall.
The time: 13.30 – 15.30 on 19th, 10.30 – 15.30 on 20th, 10.00 – 12.00 on 21st.
(If you can’t make the whole session, come for as long as you can!)
There will also be a Drop-In Evening Workshop on 19th & 20th
from 1800 to 2000 for those unable to attend during the day.
For more information, or to book a place, please contact: Jennifer or Helen, Argyll and the Islands Enterprise, Kilmory Industrial Estate, Lochgilphead, PA31 8SH. Tel: 01546 602281. E mail:
Jennifer.Wardle@hient.co.uk
Dun Gallain at New Year 2003
THE NADAIR TRUST
Invitation to participate in
‘Nàdair 2’:
Argyll Islands Heritage Projects
The Nàdair Trust is an Oban-based charity dedicated to the protection of the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the Argyll islands and to the promotion of sustainable development. For the past 18 months we have been co-ordinating 30 projects throughout the islands that have involved community groups and other agencies in the protection of the built and natural environment and in the promotion of social and economic activity based on that heritage.
Through Nàdair, more than £3million will be invested in community-based projects by 2004 and several jobs will have been created or protected. With a view to building on this early success, Nàdair now wishes to invite islanders to put forward ideas for possible inclusion in a second round of heritage projects. We can help by working towards the creation of a partnership of funding bodies to finance your project, and by assisting you with administration. Ownership and the day to day running of the project would remain firmly in the hands of the community.
If you have an idea you wish to discuss with us, or if you would simply like to now more about the Trust, our objectives and our achievements to date, we would be pleased to hear from you.
The Nàdair Trust, c/o Tourist Information Centre
Albany Street, Oban, PA34 4AN
Tel.: 01631 570075 E-mail: dugie@nadair.org.uk
NOOKS & CRANNIES: "Loosescroobitan's" footprint?
In "The Book of Colonsay and Oronsay" (1923), Symington Grieve wrote:
"This footprint is lightly impressed upon the surface of an erratic boulder of red granite which for many years lay at the side of the public road near the croft of Mr. Jasper Brown, Upper Kilchattan [then A' Mhaol Dubh, now Mull Dubh - ed.]. The stone was originally near that place, but was said to have been in the way when the road was being made [c. 1830? - ed.]. It was therefore removed to the side of the road.
When a new house was being built upon the croft now occupied by Mr. Jasper Brown, the stone was used in connection with the building. The crofter stated he did not destroy it in any way, but used it, he thought, in connection with the foundations of the new house. This was about 1879. [This seems surprisingly late for such a house, very much the same as the ones described by Lord Teignmouth as being built in 1836; perhaps the date should read 1829 - ed.].
I was exceedingly anxious to discover the stone with the footprint at the croft house of Mr Jasper Brown at Kilchattan. It was therefore with much pleasure that I heard from Mr. Brown that one of his neighbours knew where the stone was built into the croft.
On the 14th October 1921 I visited the croft, and as Mr. Brown was from home his son was kind enough to take me to the old croft house, now turned into a stable and byre. [Surely not just 42 years after it was new-built? - ed.] In front of it is a platform of causeway bordered with large stones. One of these, an erratic boulder of red granite, was built into the north-east corner. It was pointed out to me as the missing stone. I carefully examined it, but could discover no trace of any footprint upon the exposed surface. Mr. Brown, junior, then got a lever and we turned the stone over, when we found the under surface rather dirty, but no footprint was visible.
I now sent for the neighbour who said that he knew where the stone was. When he came he declared that the stone we had turned over was the right one. This was rather puzzling, so I had a bucket of water brought and we washed the stone. We then discovered the mark of the footprint, which is very slightly impressed upon the stone and is evidently a natural mark. How it was made is a mystery, but its appearance gives one the impression that the stone must have been in a plastic state at the time. It appears to me to be uncertain whether the marking should be considered as that of a right or left foot.
The tradition regarding it, as told me by old Angus MacMillan, is interesting. He said that Loosescroobitan stepped from the top of Carn Mór, which is about 438 feet above sea level, and one foot landed upon the stone, leaving the footprint. Angus seemed afraid to mention the name of Loosescroobitan from superstitious feeling….. When I put it directly to him whether Loosescroobitan was not the Evil One [was S.G. superstitiously afraid of naming Satan? - ed.], he hesitated, and after a moment's silence he said he might be."
The writer was inclined to stress the image of power: "From what Angus MacMillan told me, he evidently understood that Loosescroobitan was a big and very bad man, and dangerous to have anything to do with." Despite this he continues: "The footprint impressed upon the stone at the crofter house at Upper Kilchattan, Colonsay, is about the dimensions of an ordinary-sized man, and Angus MacMillan was under the belief that it was the footprint of Loosescroobitan."
Symington Grieve's own conclusion was that "the footprint appears to be an unusual natural mark upon the granite boulder". No photograph is available, but if the boulder can be identified one would be delighted to publish a picture in a future edition. The description is very detailed, so perhaps it can be located?
And what can we conclude about "Loosescroobitan"? The "crub" part seems to indicate a sense of "squatting" or perhaps something gnarled or twisted, but "Loose" is almost certainly "Lus" meaning "flower". Curiously enough, "Lus-a-chrubain" (which sounds pretty close) is the Gaelic for gentian, but the gentian in question seems to have been what we now call Centaury (allegedly discovered by a centaur). The thread becomes more interesting when we read in Geoffrey Grigson that Centaury was "a blessed herb in the Isle of Man, the Manx name being "Keym Chreest", "Steps of Christ", since it grew where Christ trod on the road to Calvary".
Colonsay has a long association with Man, not least by being in the same diocese and having received its parochial incumbents thence. The present writer suggests that "Steps of Christ" is the intended name of these two "footprints", on Carn Mór and on the boulder, perhaps coined to replace some heathen appellation. Translated from Manx to Gaelic, the obvious equivalent was "lus-a-chrubain" and in this context the name came to have a superstitious significance for the inhabitants of catholic Colonsay. In the century or so following 1647 there was little in the way of formal religion in the island, and a confusion of half-remembered beliefs took hold. Over time, the name of the footsteps themselves became confused with the name of a mythical individual, who had to have been a giant because he was so powerful and had such a big stride, despite the confusing fact that his foot was of normal size.
The "Old Laird" will have been happy enough to get rid of a superstitious relic when the new road was made, probably about 1830; and eventually the tradition lingered on only in the vaguest recollection of one of the oldest inhabitants. He knew that there was a powerful tradition, something awesome in the story, but the details were unclear; at last, when Symington Grieve suggested Loosecroobitan could have been the devil, old Angus "hesitated, and after a moment's silence he said he might be."
Incidentally, Angus MacFadyen may be well-placed to know more about this story - it seems that Angus MacMillan was his great-great-grandfather, and Jasper Brown was his great grandfather; possibly "Mr. Brown, junior" is a reference to his grandfather? Then again, perhaps May MacKinnon can tell us more … watch this space.
Note: Murdoch McNeill was unable to determine a specific Colonsay name for Centaury. In fact he only had one name for the entire Gentian family and he applied it to "G. campestris, L. - Field Gentian. Lus-a-Chrúbain. Frequent in moist pastures. - Ann., August. This plant acts as an excellent tonic. It is believed to be a good remedy for the disease called "crùban" in cattle." Since this was the only member of the family with a specific use or property it will of course have been the one most often referred to by its Gaelic name, and McNeill may well have been further influenced by Dwelly, whose new and up-to-date illustrated dictionary was to hand.
WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY
Film including Oronsay, Donald William Stewart presenting it, Thursday 16th on BBC2
Saturday 18th: computer tuition at the school - see details at shop
Monday 3 February: Community Council meeting
Badminton, Thursdays 18.00hrs.
Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.
Take-Away Meals available Monday to Saturday from the hotel.
The Pantry - Winter hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 2pm
Saturdays 10am to 3pm
Takeaway meals Friday 5pm to 6pm
Evening meals provided but must be booked in advance Tel 01951 200235
Church Service
Please note that services in both the Baptist Church and the Church of Scotland are at the new time of 11.30hrs. Services are held regularly - see notices in the shop and hotel for details.
Advance notice:
The 14th International Gathering of Clan Macfie is to be held May 14-18, 2003 in Gatlinburg, TN, hosted by the Macfie Clan Society of America. For more information see http://www.macfiesocietyofamerica.com or contact:
Jim McAfee, Macfie Clan Society of America
420 Ash Dr.; Baxter, TN 38544 USA
jgmcafee@tnaccess.com
SNIPPETS
It's official - Georgina Hobhouse has been appointed to the Cal-Mac User's Committee, which is part of the Strategic Rail Authority's Scottish Rail Passengers Committee, and deserves our congratulations and best wishes in yet another challenging role; Jenni MacFadyen has started a computer course, and it is believed that the official tuition arrangements are to be finalised on January 30th; otters have been very evident lately and the one in the harbour has been particularly playful; lapwing and snipe have also been very noticeable; rumour has it that there has been strong interest in the sites on offer at Glassard, and that a closing date is imminent; Mike and Liz McNicholl's roof trusses are in place; volunteer Lucy Johnstone has completed her fire-brigade induction course; youngsters at Ardskenish must have had a very large carry-out...
TOPICAL LETTERS
For convenience of readers, letters now appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and letters to do with the Magazine section or historical research etc. will appear at the end of the Magazine section.
Hi Kevin
Good New Year to you and all the folks on Colonsay.
Although nothing to do with Colonsay as such, I thought that you might be interested in an article I have had published in this months (January) Scots Magazine about the sinking of the troopship "The Otranto" off the coast of Islay during the first world war. The capatin and some of his crew are buried in a cemetery at Kilchoman overlooking Machir Bay and the serenity of the area drew me to researching the story with the help of the Islay Folk Museum at Port Charlotte. As I say it, has nothing to do with Colonsay as such but you might find it interesting being a neighbouring Island.
I hope to send you some more photos of Colonsay some of these days for you to use in The Corncrake as and when you wish.
We are looking forward to returning this year and it can't come soon enough
Take care, Ken Drysdale
From: "Howard Woods"
Subject: HMS Sultan
Dear Ed
Thank you for The CornCrake. I know nothing of HMS Sultan personally - but
came across an interesting reference - http://www.fepow-community.org
uk/monthly_Revue/html/cambridgeshires.htm
Keep up the good work - hope to get to Colonsay soon. Meanwhile having great
difficulty with the "test" - what is a present indicative?
Yours Howard Woods
[Many thanks - please note that the easiest way to access that site is via Google search on HMS Sultan, then select "cached version". From various letters it emerges that H.M.S. Sultan was a shore-based facility commissioned in 1940 and destroyed in 1942 during the surrender to the Japanese; it was re-established after the war and is currently located in England. It seems to have been a clearing-house for unattached personnel - Editor]
The Magazine Section
