Mac an t-Srònaich (1)
Did you ever hear about the evil man – Mac an t-Srònaich? If you’re
from Lewis, you will know the man’s bad reputation. Parents would be
saying to their children, ‘If you are bad-mannered, Mac an t-Srònaich
will come for you.’ He was a murderer, according to oral tradition.
Here’s what is said about him.
Mac an t-Srònaich’s father was an innkeeper in Garve in Ross-shire
early in the 19th century. In English his name was Stronach. That
surname is common enough in the Eastern Highlands and in Aberdeenshire.
Mac an t-Srònaich went to Lewis to avoid justice because he murdered
his sister. Here’s how it happened. His sister had a female friend. She
was living in the house with them. As was common in those days, the
lasses would sleep together in the same bed.
Now, this girl had a gold necklace. Mac an t-Srònaich was wanting it.
It must have been valuable. However, on the night of the theft, the
girls were involved in silliness and merriment. The lad’s sister put
the necklace around her own neck. That’s how the girls were when Mac an
t-Srònaich went into the bedroom at night. He was aiming to steal the
necklace.
When Mac an t-Srònaich pulled on the necklace, the lass awoke and
called out. Mac an t-Srònaich killed her to keep her quiet. He was
thinking it was his sister’s friend. But he realised he had killed his
own sister. He fled and went to the Isle of Lewis where relations of
his were living.
He went into hiding. He was living in remote places. Then he started,
according to tradition, a life of crime in Lewis. And the stories and
anecdotes about him started. We’ll look at Mac an t-Srònaich again next
week.
Mac an t-Srònaich (1)
An cuala sibh riamh mun fhear olc – Mac an t-Srònaich? Mas ann à Leòdhas a
tha sibh, bidh sibh eòlach air droch chliù an duine. Bhiodh pàrantan ag
ràdh ris a’ chloinn aca, ‘Ma bhios sibh mì-mhodhail, thig Mac an t-Srònaich
air ur son.’ Bha e na mhurtair, a rèir beul-aithris. Seo na thathar ag ràdh
mu dheidhinn.
Bha athair Mhic an t-Srònaich na òstair ann an Gairbh ann an Siorrachd Rois
tràth anns an naoidheamh linn deug. Ann am Beurla, ’s e Stronach an t-ainm
a bha air. Tha an cinneadh sin cumanta gu leòr air taobh an ear na
Gàidhealtachd agus ann an Siorrachd Obar Dheathain.
Chaidh Mac an t-Srònaich a Leòdhas airson ceartas a sheachnadh, oir mhuirt
e a phiuthar. Seo mar a thachair e. Bha bana-charaid aig a phiuthar. Bha i
a’ fuireach anns an taigh còmhla riutha. Mar a bha cumanta aig an àm sin,
bhiodh na caileagan a’ cadail còmhla anns an aon leabaidh.
Nise, bha seud-muineil òir aig an nighinn a bha seo. Bha Mac an t-Srònaich
ga iarraidh. Feumaidh gun robh e luachmhor. Ge-tà, air oidhche na mèirle,
bha a’ chlann-nighean ri gòraiche is dibhearsain. Chuir piuthar a’ ghille
an seud-muineil timcheall a muineil fhèin. ’S ann mar sin a bha na
caileagan nuair a chaidh Mac an t-Srònaich a-steach don t-seòmar-chadail
air an oidhche. Bha e ag amas air an seud-muineil a ghoid.
Nuair a tharraing Mac an t-Srònaich air an t-seud, dhùisg a’ chaileag agus
dh’èigh i a-mach. Mharbh Mac an t-Srònaich i airson a cumail sàmhach. Bha e
a’ smaoineachadh gur e caraid a pheathar a bha innte. Ach mhothaich gun
robh e air a phiuthar fhèin a mharbhadh. Theich e, agus dh’fhalbh e a
dh’Eilean Leòdhais far an robh càirdean aige a’ fuireach.
Chaidh e am falach. Bha e a’ fuireach ann an àiteachan uaigneach. Thòisich
e an uair sin, a rèir beul-aithris, air gnothaichean eucoireach ann an
Leòdhas. Agus thòisich na sgeulachdan is naidheachdan mu dheidhinn. Bheir
sinn sùil air Mac an t-Srònaich a-rithist an-ath-sheachdain.
