Township: Scarinish

Map Reference: Scarinish 15

Name Type: hill

Meaning: The gully of Grey Iain; or hollow of the kilt

Other Forms: Sloc Iain Ghlais - DMcP

Glac an Fhèilidh - AK

Related Places: Cachaileith Iain Ghlais.

Information:A man in Earnal, Iain Glas, was being hunted by three "pirates" [from Colonsay - Donald Kennedy, Scarinish] led by Dùghall Dubh. They came to his house looking for him, but Iain Glas had been tipped off and disguised himself as a poor man. He told the visitors that Iain Glas was away but would be back later and offered them whisky. The party became drunk and Iain Glas attacked them. Two ran off in the direction of Beinn Ghot. Iain Glas caught them in the pass between Beinn Ghot and Dùn an t-Sithein, killed them and buried them there. The last one was killed in Croit a Bhuth - John George MacLean, Scarinish, 11/1993 and 1/1995.

There used to be warning fires on all the hills of Tiree, for example at Dùn Mòr a' Chaolais. Iain Glas was keeping watch in Sithean Beinn Ghot one night, but he was tired and fell asleep. When he awoke at dawn he saw a boat coming in to Scarinish harbour. He ran down to see what they wanted and they said they were from Jura and visiting Iona. They had become becalmed and had had to row against the tide to reach Tiree. In fact they were pirates. They asked iain Glas if they could get shelter, so he took them to his house in Earnal and plied them with drink. When they fell asleep, he took their swords and slaughtered some while they slept. The chief ran away but he became bogged down near Cacaileith Iain Ghlais and iain cut his head off - Lachie MacLean (Lachainn Sheumais), Vaul, 9/1994.


Local Form:

Languages : Gaelic

Informants: Duncan MacPhee, Scarinish, 6/1994

Informant 2: Annie Kennedy, Scarinish, 6/1994