The dark-haired lad of Locha Druing
There is a loch in Wester Ross called Loch an Draing on the map. It’s near Loch Ewe. The meaning of the name, Loch an Draing isn’t clear. And local people don’t say “Loch an Draing”. They say “Locha Druing” no “Locha Dring”.
There is an old story from the area about a fairy. He was living in the wood beside the loch. His name was the Gille Dubh.
The Gille Dubh didn’t have proper clothing. He was putting tree leaves and moss on him[self] as clothing. He appeared several times in the latter half of the eighteenth century. I don’t know where he came from.
He didn’t speak a word to anybody, except Jessie MacRae, a girl who lived near the loch. One summer’s evening, Jessie was lost in the wood. The Gille Dubh came. He helped her. Next morning, he took her home. She was safe and sound.
The Gille Dubh wasn’t dangerous. He didn’t damage anybody. But some people were scared of him.
Jessie reached maturity. She married a man called John MacKenzie who was a farmer near Locha Druing. She wasn’t bothered by the Gille Dubh. But some of the gentry were wanting to kill him. Five of them came together for that.
They went to John MacKenzie the farmer’s house for the night. John gave them food. It’s not said if Jessie was there. The gentry passed the night in John’s barn. But when they rose to go through the wood, there was no sign of the Gille Dubh.
Do you reckon that Jessie gave him a warning that bad people were coming after him? According to oral tradition, he agreed to leave for Assynt for a while. It was said that his father was from Assynt. He didn’t return until the landlord at Locha Druing died. And what happened to him then, I don’t know.
Gille Dubh Locha Druing
Tha loch ann an Ros an Iar air a bheil Loch an Draing air a’ mhapa. Tha e faisg air Loch Iùbh. Chan eil ciall an ainm, Loch an Draing, soilleir. Agus cha chan muinntir an àite “Loch an Draing”. Canaidh iad “Locha Druing” no “Locha Dring”.
Tha seann stòiridh às an sgìre mu shìthiche. Bha e a’ fuireach anns a’ choille ri taobh an locha. B’ e ainm “An Gille Dubh”.
Cha robh aodach ceart aig a’ Ghille Dhubh. Bha e a’ cur duilleagan chraobhan agus còinneach air mar aodach. Nochd e grunn tursan anns an leth mu dheireadh dhen ochdamh linn deug. Chan eil fhios agam cò às a thàinig e.
Cha tuirt e càil ri duine, ach a-mhàin ri Seònaid NicRath, caileag a bha a’ fuireach faisg air an loch. Feasgar samhraidh a bha seo, bha Seònaid air chall anns a’ choille. Thàinig an Gille Dubh. Rinn e cobhair oirre. An ath mhadainn, thug e dhachaigh i. Bha i slàn sàbhailte.
Cha robh an Gille Dubh cunnartach. Cha do rinn e cron air duine. Ach bha an t-eagal air feadhainn roimhe.
Ràinig Seònaid ìre. Phòs i fear Iain MacCoinnich a bha na thuathanach faisg air Locha Druing. Cha do ghabh ise dragh mun Ghille Dhubh. Ach bha cuid de na h-uaislean ag iarraidh a mharbhadh. Thàinig còignear dhiubh còmhla airson sin.
Chaidh iad gu taigh Iain MhicCoinnich, an tuathanach, airson na h-oidhche. Thug Iain biadh dhaibh. Chan eilear ag innse co-dhiù an robh Seònaid ann. Chuir na h-uaislean seachad an oidhche ann an sabhal Iain. Ach nuair a dh’èirich iad airson a dhol tron choille, cha robh sgeul air a’ Ghille Dhubh.
Saoil an tug Seònaid rabhadh dha gun robh droch dhaoine a’ tighinn às a dhèidh? A rèir beul-aithris, dh’aontaich e falbh a dh’Asainte airson greis. Bhathar ag ràdh gun robh athair à Asainte. Cha do thill e gus an do chaochail an t-uachdaran aig Locha Druing. Agus dè thachair dha an uair sin, chan eil fhios a’m.
