Township: Hough

Map Reference: Hough f

Name Type: house

Meaning: House or ruin of Lachlan 'Breòig', a nickname given to him because he came from Mull and pronounced the Gaelic word for shoe differently to the Tiree people. A MacLean, he was the grandfather of Alasdair MacLean, the novelist - HMcL.

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Information:The nickname of Lachlan 'Breòig' was given to him because he came from Mull and pronounced the Gaelic word for shoe (bròg) differently to the Tiree people. A MacLean, he was the grandfather of Alasdair MacLean, the novelist - HMcL.

He was a sea captain who sailed with Dòmhnall Fhearchair, Caolas. His daughter Lìosaidh Breòige lived in Kilkenneth - Neil Brownlie, 4/1998.

Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean, Niall M Brownlie, Argyll Publishing, 1995, p 108:
Moss was the birthplace of Captain Lachlan MacLean, grandfather of the famous novelist Alistair MacLean, and this story is told about him.
Of an evening as he was strolling along the deck, he overheard some sailors in the foc'sle debating where the skipper was from, for they knew by his accent that he was a Gael. Among them was Hugh MacDonald from Mannal, and the rest wanted him to ask where he was from. They even offered him a shilling - a princely sum to sailor in these days - if he would enquire. Under no circumstances would MacDonald agreee, however. But next morning, as he was sorting out ropes on the deck, who perchance came by but the skipper. He stopped and said, "Hugh, why were you afraid to ask me where I came from?" Why did you not accept the shilling on offer?" MacDonald wished that the deck would swallow him, but MacLean went on: "I, like yourself, am from Tiree. I am Lachlan MacLean from Moss."

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Languages : Gaelic

Informants: Hugh MacLean, Barrapol, 2/1997