Map Reference: Balemartine t and u
Name Type: house
Meaning: The soldier's house; or MacQuarry's shop; or the shop of Red Neil
Other Forms: Taigh a' Bhodaich (MacQuarry) - David McClounnan
Related Places:
Information:Bùth MhicGuaire - MacQuarry's shop. MacQuarry came from Hong Kong or Singapore and could not speak Gaelic. It was said that he kept a monkey in the house - NMcD.
Eventually MacQuarry could not make a living from the shop and went to live in Kenovay with his wife's brother (at Taigh Nanag) - Katie Ann MacDougall, Crossapol, 2/1995.
Na Baird Thirisdeach, ed Rev Hector Cameron, An ComunnThirisdeach, 1932, p359 "An Teid thu leam a Mhaggie Chaluim?:
Chi thu...Gille Ruadh an t-Sleibhe" [Niall Ruadh, neil MacArthur, from the Sliabh, Balephuil].
Saighdear Bhaile Mhàrtainn was a John MacDonald and a piper in the 72nd Highlanders. He was the uncle of Lachainn Beag Lachainn Chaluim, the shoemaker and taught him to play the pipes. He was related to MacDonalds in Brock, Iain Noan and Fidhlear Shanndaig - WMcL.
The original name was Taigh an t-Saighdeir. The house was then occupied by Dr Colin MacDonald, a relation of hers, who went to Bunessan from Tiree. She remembers being treated by him when she was in school around 1912. Then it became a shop when MacQuarry came from Mull, marrying a Balemartine woman (Oighreag Bheag). Eilidh worked there when she left school in 1916. Then the shop was taken over by Niall Ruadh (Gille Ruadh an t-Slèibh) - EK.
Niall Ruadh was a MacArthur, the son of Floraidh Dhòmhnaill an t-slèibh, from Balephuil. His wife was a teacher at Balemartine school - Katie Ann MacDougall, Crossapol, 2/1995.
Local Form:
Languages : GaelicInformants: Alan MacFadyen, Balemartine, 1/1995
Informant 2: Eilidh Kennedy (Eilidh bheag), Balemartine, 1/1995
Informant 3: Neil MacDonald, Balevullin, 1/1995
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