Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill (2)
The year was 1603. Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill had fled from the
Mackenzies. He went into hiding on an island in Loch Lundie in
Glengarry. He was among his own people there. The island is called
Eilean Mhic Raghnaill.
The Mackenzies found out where Ailean was. They wanted to kill him. He
had ravaged their people on the Black Isle. They took a small boat – a
coit
– with them, in order to cross to the island. They carried the boat up
Glen Urquhart, and across the hills. They reached the River Moriston.
They crossed the river. They rested at a crag called ‘the crag of the
small boat’. Then they crossed the hills to Loch Lundie.
However, there was no sign of Ailean Dubh. He received a warning that
he was in danger, and he hid in the hills. Halfway between Loch Lundie
and Glenmoriston, there is a summit called
Càrn Mhic Raghnaill.
South of that there is
Meall nan Gearran
. On the east side of it, ‘Ailean Mac Raghnaill’s cave’ is still marked
on maps. That’s where Ailean hid.
He received help from a mason to build the cave with stones. Ailean
feared that the mason would not keep his mouth closed, and he killed
him. Ailean Dubh was a bad man.
The minister at Killearnan on the Black Isle took Ailean to court. He
was accused of killing many people, and destroying 27 houses, among
other things. The matter went to court in 1622. Ailean Dubh did not
appear. He was declared an outlaw.
However, he was protected by the Grant laird in Glenmoriston. It appears he
did not suffer a great penalty, and that he died [naturally] when he was an
old man. He is remembered in several place-names in that area still.
Ailean Dubh Mac Raghnaill (2)
B’ e a’ bhliadhna sia ceud deug ʼs a trì (1603). Bha Ailean Dubh Mac
Raghnaill air teicheadh bho Chloinn ʼic Coinnich. Chaidh e am falach air
eilean ann an Loch Lunndaidh ann an Gleanna Garadh. Bha e am measg a
mhuinntir fhèin an sin. ʼS e Eilean Mhic Raghnaill an t-ainm air an eilean.
Fhuair Clann ʼic Coinnich a-mach cà’ robh Ailean. Bha iad ag iarraidh a
mharbhadh. Bha e air sgrios a dhèanamh air na daoine aca anns an Eilean
Dubh. Thug iad bàta beag – coit –leotha, airson faighinn a-null don eilean.
Ghiùlain iad a’ choit suas Gleann Urchardain, agus tarsainn a’ mhonaidh.
Ràinig iad Abhainn Mhoireasdan.
Chaidh iad tarsainn na h-aibhne. Ghabh iad fois aig creag ris an canar
Creag a’ Choit. An uair sin, chaidh iad tarsainn a’ mhonaidh gu ruige Loch
Lunndaidh.
Ge-tà, cha robh sgeul air Ailean Dubh. Fhuair e rabhadh gun robh e ann an
cunnart, agus chaidh e am falach sa mhonadh. Letheach-slighe eadar Loch
Lunndaidh agus Gleann Moireasdan, tha mullach air a bheil Càrn Mhic
Raghnaill.
Deas air sin, tha Meall nan Gearran. Air an taobh an ear dheth, tha Uamh
Ailein Mhic Raghnaill fhathast clàraichte air mapaichean. Sin far an deach
Ailean am falach.
Fhuair e taic bho chlachair an uamh a thogail le clachan. Bha an t-eagal
air Ailean nach cumadh an clachair a bheul dùinte, agus mharbh e e. ʼS e
droch dhuine a bha ann an Ailean Dubh.
Thug am ministear ann an Cill Iùrnain anns an Eilean Dubh Ailean gu cùirt.
Bha e fo chasaid gun robh e air grunn dhaoine a mharbhadh agus gun robh e
air seachd taighean fichead a sgrios, am measg eile. Chaidh a’ chuis don
chùirt ann an sia ceud deug, fichead ʼs a dhà (1622). Cha do nochd Ailean
Dubh. Chaidh a ghairm na eucoireach.
Ge-tà, bha e air a dhìon le ceann-cinnidh nan Granndach ann an Gleann
Moireasdan. Tha e coltach nach do dh’fhuiling e peanas mòr, agus gun do
chaochail e nuair a bha e na bhodach. Tha e air a chuimhneachadh ann an
grunn ainmean-àite anns an sgìre sin fhathast.
