Iain Garbh MacIlleChaluim of Raasay was drowned in the Minch on Good Friday in the year 1671. It appears that he had been in Lewis attending the baptism of a child with the Earl of Seaforth.
Many people maintained that witchcraft was responsible for the loss of the birlinn. In Ortha nan Gàidheal (Carmina Gadelica), Book 5, Alasdair MacIlleMhìcheil states:
“It is said that he was drowned through the machinations of his own stepmother, who employed several famous witches to raise the tempest in which he was drowned. These were Spòg Bhuidhe of Màiligir in Skye; Gormshùil from Cràcaig in Skye; and Doideag Dhubh from Duart in Mull.”
However, it is more likely that the truth of the matter lies in the account given by the Reverend James Fraser, who wrote of the disaster in 1671:
“This April the Earl of Seaforth duelling in the Lewes, a dreadful accident happened. His lady being brought to bed there, the Earle sent for John Garve M’Kleud, Laird of Rarzay, to witness the christening; and, after the treat and solemnity of the feast, Rarsay takes leave to goe home, and, after a rant of drinking uppon the shoare, went aboord off his birling and sailed away with a strong north gale off wind; and whither by giveing too much saile and no ballast, or the unskillfulness off the seamen, or that they could not mannage the strong Dut(ch) canvas saile, the boat whelmed, and all the men dround in view of the cost.
The laird and 16 of his kinsmen, the prime perished; non of them ever found; a grewhound or two cast ashoare dead; and pieces of the birling. One Alexander Mackleod in Lewes the night before had voice warning him thrice not to goe at (all) with Rarsey for all would drown in there return; yet he went with him, being infatuat, and drowned (with) the rest. This account I had from Alexander his brother the summer after. Drunkenness did the (mischeife).”
Pàdraig Mòr MacCrùimein composed the piping lament known as Cumha Iain Ghairbh for him, and according to oral tradition one of his sisters keened for him every Friday for a year afterwards.
Here are two other laments for Iain Garbh.
Sèist/Chorus
Hi-il ò ho bha hò hi-il ò ho bha ò,
Hi-il ò ho bha ò hi-il ò ro o-bha èile.
Cha tog mi fonn aotrom,
O Dhihaoine mo dhunaidh
On a chailleadh am bàta,
Air na bhàthadh an curaidh.
‘S i do ghual’ a bha làidir,
Ged a shàraich am muir thu.
Rìgh, cha b’fheàrr do shliochd Adhaimh
Chuireadh làmh anns a’ churaidh.
Nochd gur h-ìosal’ do chluasag
Fo lic fhuaraidh na tuinne
‘S ann an clachan gun tràghadh
Tha mo ghràdh-sa na uirigh.
‘S ioma ban-tighearna bhrèid-ghil
Bhios gu deurach gad chumha
Agus stiomach òg uasal
Nach bu dual bhi fo mhulad.
Tha do chlaidheamh na dhùnadh,
Fo dhrùchdadh nan uinneag.
Do chuid chon air an iallaibh,
‘S cha triall iad don mhonadh
Do fhrìth nam beann àrda,
No gu àrd-bheinn a’ Chuilthinn.
Sèist/Chorus
O ì òro hò i
‘S gur tu thighinn fallain.
Seall a-mach an e an là e
‘S mi feitheamh na fàire.
‘S e an sgeula nach binn leam
Chaidh innseadh roimh Chaisg dhomh.
T-fhaighinn bàit’ air a’ charra
Ma’ ri Calum do bhràthair.
Fear mòr a shìol Torcaill
‘S e do chorp a bha làidir.
‘S gur maith thigeadh dhut breacan
Air a lasadh le càrnaid.
‘S cha bu mhiosa dhuit triubhais
A’ dol a shiubhal nan sràidean.
‘S a’ dol a chaitheamh a’ chuspair
Cha b’ ann à uchdach a’ ghàrlaoich.
Nochd is mòr tha dhe t’iargain
Air Iarla Chinn t-Sàile.