Township: Crossapol

Map Reference: Crossapol 3

Name Type:

Meaning: See Cnoc an Dealgain in Longships on the Sand.

Other Forms: Knockdelkin - Synod of Argyll (see below)

Cnoc a t-Seilgein - ONB p93, "Hill of the little chase."

Cnoc nan Deilgean - The Knoll of Thorns - Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean, Townships and Echoes by Niall M Brownlie, Argyll Publishing, 1995, p32.

Related Places: Cnoc an Dealgain - Iain MacKinnon, Hillcrest, 4/2018 and Iain Brown, Crossapol, 4/2018
alias Cnoc nan Seilgeanan

Information:'Because the yle of Tirie is but short eight myles of legnth, and that as good and plaine and dry as can be desyred, and whereas there is now two kirks theire served by one minister at ilk severall end of the paraoch, wherethrow the people gets preaching but once in the fourteen dayes, Therefore it is thought expedient that there be onely one kirk in the ysle, and this kirk be builded at Knockdelkin, being the centre of the ysle, that so the people may have weekly preacheing.' - Synod of Argyll, Minutes 1639-51, p57.

The Tiree Asssociation sports were held at Cnoc nan Deiligeanan. Bean MhicGuaire had a stall with juice and biscuits. The sports always ended with a tug of war between the islanders and visitors. The sports included a horse race across the Reef from Drochaid na Fhaodhalach. It was always won by Donald Munn from Lag nan Cruachan. Iain Chaluim MacKinnon, Kilmoluaig, 6/2000.

It was at Cnoc nan Deilgean that the Tiree Association used to hold their annual sports, and a story is told of two men from Balephuil who met in the wrestling finals. The stalwarts were Donald MacLean and Colin MacDonald. MacLean was a big, powerful man while MacDonald was small and stocky. Eventually, however, MacDonald got the better of his opponent.
After his victory, a friend of MacLean's remarked to him that he never thought he would live to see the day when his friend would be bested by a man as small as Colin, to which the worthy Colin replied, "It is only something I have done often - laying MacLean flat out on his back on the Balephuil machair!" - Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean, Townships and Echoes by Niall M Brownlie, Argyll Publishing, 1995, p34.

There was a cattle market here twice in the old days with Speedy Brothers as auctioneers - Sandy MacKinnon, Kilkenneth, 2/1994.

The cattle sale was at Eòghann Fhortaidh's. Speedy Brothers from Fort William were the organisers and MacCallum was the auctioneer. Corsons came at the same time to Crossapol Farm - Hector J Campbell, Cornaigbeg, 12/1996.

He dug up a skeleton with its feet crossed in a circle of stones when building the ROC shelter. He gave it to Dr Bonner and it was sent away - JGMcL.

There are fairies in this hillock - Archie Kennedy, Crossapol, 1/1995.

Local Form:

Languages : Gaelic

Informants: John George MacLean, Scarinish, 1/1994

Informant 2: Mairi Campbell, Corrairigh, Cornaigbeg, 1/1994

Informant 3: OS