|
Right, having covered the logistics, a bit about the MacMhuirichs. From the first half of the 13th C after Muireadhach clove the skull of the rent collector at Lios an doill with an axe, they were in Cowal and at some time became bards to Clan Donald. That remained their role till JohnIV of the Isles was forfeited in 1493, at which time Angus Og, Master of the Isles, who was running an alternative Lordship, was murdered in Inverness. His bard, who was present, transferred his allegiance to the younger of Clanranald who was also there. The bards were given lands at Stilligarry in South Uist, where they ran abardic school, hence the cairn. There is a sloinneadh dating from 1800 that gives nine names but only half are known to have ben bards. They include Niall Mor, Niall Og and Donald. The man who provided the sloinneadh was still MacMhuirich in 1800 but became Currie in 1811. Most of his descendants emigrated to cape Breton. In 1725, the Captaincy of Clanranald had passed to Benbecula and there were already bards there, some of whom became MacPherson rather than Currie. |
