Rinn Aonghas nan Corc an cladh ann an Àrasaig gus nach laigh...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1954.43.1
Original Tape ID
Summary
Aonghas nan Corc created the cemetery in Arisaig so that his dead son wouldn't have to perform the graveyard watch.
Aonghas nan Corc created the cemetery in Arisaig. One of his sons died and was to be buried. A widow's son in Back of Keppoch died at the same time. This was in the days of the graveyard watch. To avoid the graveyard watch the old men of Back of Keppoch buried the widow's son overnight. When Aonghas nan Corc heard this he said he would make sure the boy was on the graveyard watch for a long time. They buried Aonghas nan Corc's son the following day in the church vault at Cille Mhoire. He didn't allow anyone else to be buried in the graveyard behind Keppoch House. The boy is still performing the graveyard watch there.
The interviewer says he heard mention of fights breaking out when two funeral parties arrived together over who could get in first and avoid the graveyard watch.
Item Notes
The 'faire-chlaidh' or graveyard watch was a belief that the last person buried in a cemetery had to guard it until the next one arrived.
Item Subject/Person
Aonghas nan Corc
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - Arisaig and Moidart
Village/Place - Arisaig
Item Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - Arisaig and Moidart
Village/Place - Arisaig
Language
Gaelic
Genre
Collection
Transcription
William MacDonald (WM): An cladh a th' againn ann an Àrasaig ann an seo, 's e Aonghas nan Corc a rinn an toiseachd e. Chaochail mac air... mac air agus bha iad a' dol ga thiodhlacadh. 'S chaochail mac banntraich ann an Cùl na Ceapaich aig a' cheart àm agus bha i a' dol ga thiodhlacadh. 'S bha iad uabhasach an uair ud leis rud ris an abair iad an fhaire-chlaidh. Tha fhios a'd dè tha sin? Agus co-dhiù, airson 's nach biodh an fhaire-chlaidh air mac na banntraich, dh'fhalbh bodaich Chùl na Ceapaich leis a' ghille air fheadh na h-oidhche agus ghabh iad suas Bràigh Chùl na Ceapaich - tha rathad ann gus an latha an-diugh, ceum rathaid ann - 's ghabh iad sìos a' choille bheag, agus 's ann air cùl taigh na Ceapaich a bha an cladh an uair sin.
Thiodhlaic iad an gille air fheadh na h-oidhche anns a' chladh agus dh'fhalbh iad dhachaigh, agus an làrna-mhàireach, dar a dh'èirich Aonghas nan Corc, chaidh innse dha gun deachaidh mac na banntraich a thiodhlacadh a-raoir, agus nach biodh an fhaire-chlaidh air idir.
"Ah uill," arsa Aonghas nan Corc, "bheir mise air," ars ise [sic], "gum bi an fhaire-chlaidh treis air," thuirt e. "Cuiridh mise... tiodhlacaidh mise mo mhac fhèin anns a' chrùisle bheag aig an eaglais sin shuas."
'S dh'fhalbh iad le mac Aonghais nan Corc làrna-mhàireach agus thiodhlaic iad anns a' chrùisle san eaglais e aig Cille Mhoire, agus cha do leig e leotha duine tuillidh a thiodhlacadh anns a' chladh a bha cùl taigh na Ceapaich, agus tha an fhaire-chlaidh air a' ghille òg a bha sin, tha an fhaire-chlaidh air gus an latha an-diugh.
CM: Dìreach. 'S mar a chuala mi iad ag iomradh gum biodh sabaidean uairean aig cladh nuair a bhiodh dà thiodhlacadh a' tighinn car aig an aon àm, gu 'm faigheadh iad... Dh'fheuchadh iad cò gheibheadh a-staigh an toiseach, dhan a' chladh. Bha a leithid de rud ann, air eagal gum biodh an fhaire-chlaidh air.
WM: Bha. Ò bha.
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good