Andrew Murray and Ormond Castle (1)
Recently I took a walk to a hill on the Black Isle. There is a flapole on the top, with the flag of Scotland on it. The place is called Ormond Hill. There was at one time a big castle on it – Ormond Castle.
In his book – Place-names of Ross and Cromarty – William (J) Watson tells us about the place. But he does not tell us what the Gaelic is for Ormond Castle. The castle is also known in English as ‘The Castle of Avoch’. It’s near a village called Avoch. Perhaps Caisteal Abhaich is the correct Gaelic for it.
In the 13th century, the castle was in the hands of a powerful family – the Morays. The most famous of them was Andrew Moray. He was known in English as Andrew de Moray. His family had a large amount of land in Moray.
In 1296, the King of England, Edward I, was preparing to invade Scotland with a large army. Edward had taken advantage of the country’s situation. She was without a king or queen. However, the people of Scotland stood against him. War was on the horizon.
Anndra Moireach agus Caisteal Abhaich (1)
O chionn ghoirid ghabh mi cuairt gu cnoc anns an Eilean Dubh. Tha brat-chrann air a’ mhullach, le bratach na h-Alba air. ʼS e an t-ainm air an àite Ormond Hill. Bha uaireigin caisteal mòr air – Ormond Castle.
Anns an leabhar aige – Place-names of Ross and Cromarty – tha Uilleam MacBhàtair ag innse dhuinn mun àite. Ach chan eil e ag innse dhuinn dè a’ Ghàidhlig a tha air Ormond Castle. Tha an caisteal air aithneachadh ann am Beurla cuideachd mar ‘The Castle of Avoch’. Tha e faisg air baile beag ris an canar Abhach. ʼS dòcha gur e Caisteal Abhaich a’ Ghàidhlig cheart air.
Anns an treas linn deug, bha an caisteal ann an làmhan teaghlach cumhachdach – na Moirich. B’ e am fear a b’ ainmeile dhiubh Anndra Moireach. Bha e aithnichte ann am Beurla mar Andrew de Moray. Bha fearann mòr aig an teaghlach aige ann am Moireibh.
Ann an dà cheud deug, naochad ʼs a sia (1296), bha Rìgh Shasainn, Eideard I, a’ dèanamh deiseil airson armailt mhòr a thoirt a-steach a dh’Alba. Bha Eideard air brath a ghabhail air suidheachadh na dùthcha. Bha i às aonais rìgh no banrigh. Ge-tà, sheas muinntir na h-Alba na aghaidh. Bha cogadh air fàire.
