Township: Am Bail Ur,Balephuil

Map Reference: Am Bail Ur w

Name Type: house

Meaning: The house of Alasdair the son of Big Iain; or the house of the shoemaker (MacArthur); or the house of MacKay

Other Forms: Taigh a’ Ghreusaiche - the shoemaker's house - DMcC and EK

Taigh Alasdair Iain Mhòir - the house of Alasdair, son of Big John ( Alasdair MacArthur - the shoemaker) - DMcC, EK

Related Places:

Information:The shoemaker, Alasdair MacArthur, had a workshop built behind the house in 1919 by Duncan MacDonald, Donnchadh Bàn. The house and workshop were later bought by David McClounnan and the house was then sold to MacKay - Nan McClounnan, Balephuil, 9/2011.

MacKay had a donkey because it was “a hard worker”. He had been wounded in the hip in World War One and had a limp as a result. The donkey would pull the cart over to Sloc a’ Chait and Am Fang Dubh on Kenavara. His wife would gather tangles and he would haul them up the cliffs. Nan McClounnan, Balephuil, 5/2006.

Fragment of a song composed by Cailean Fhearchair, from the Bail Ùr. Mabel Kennedy, Sandaig:

Oran na h-Ass

An Naidheachd seo agamsa, thuigeadh tu fhein e
Siud agaibh tuilleadh de dh’ obair a’ Khaiser
An naidheachd aseo agamsa, thuigeadh tu fhein e
Ni i feum aig ‘Scoit Grace’ aig Righ Deorsa.

Buair a chunnaic a’ tighinn i biorach gach suic dhith
Coltas a chaothaich an aghaidh na bruide
Bucail a’ srianach mu feusag geal sguirte
‘Ga srac air na Cuilten bho Bealltainn

Buadh ‘s piseach a bhith leantainn na Brunaich
Chuir ann am rathad a leithid de chumhnadh
‘S Tric a their Lachiann rium “Laighidh a suil oirr’
Gun gin anns a duthaich de seorsa.”

Oran na h-Ass was written by Alasdair Neill Oig. Eilidh Kennedy, Balevullin, 3/1996.


Local Form:

Languages : Gaelic

Informants: Duncan MacKinnon, Am Bail' Ur, 12/1995

Informant 2: David McClounnan, Balephuil, 6/1998

Informant 3: Eilidh (bheag) Kennedy, Balevullin, 3/1996