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Archiver > GEN-TRIVIA-SCOTLAND > 1999-08 > 0933799029


From: Peggy Oberbeck <>
Subject: Re: Interested in Islay history
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 15:37:09 -0500


Hi Sharee,
I just returned from a 4 day visit to Islay. My McTaggart and McNicol
ancestors were from Islay. It is a very unique place with a wonderful
history. I purchased a book about the history of Islay you may find
interesting. It is called Islay, Biography of an Island by Margaret
Storrie. The ISBN number is 0-907651-03-8. It costs 18.00 pounds.

I did find the following paragraph.
The lords were the chief patrons of a renaissance of Gaelic culture and
art, preserving traditional links with Ireland, yet developing a
distinct identity. Among the learned orders, poets held pride of place
as the intellectual leaders of medieval Gaelic society. The MacMhuirich
family were the heredity seanachies(genealogists), poets, and bards to
the lords of the Isles. Most of the early poetry was conventional praise
poetry, which sung the virtues of chiefs and warriors. Poetry was
recited to a harp or clarsach accompainiment and harpists were sometimes
poets and singers in their own right.

There are probably many books about the lords of the isle. Maybe others
on the list have other suggestions. I would also be interested in
additional history lessons. The McTaggart name also appears to have
origins in the isles.
Peg

Sharee Hughes wrote:
>
> Hi. I'm new to this list, just getting into some Scottish history
> research in conjunction with my genealogy. In researching one of my
> family lines, the Clan Currie, I discovered some interesting things
> about the founding of the clan on Islay by Muirdach O'Daley, an Irish
> poet. I understand that Muirdach and his descendents for 19
> generatiouns were the chief bards to the Lords of the Isles. Since I am
> a modern day "bard" (currently president of the Utah Storytelling
> Guild), I long for more information about this "gene" that has come down
> to me from so long ago. I have found a few references to Muirdach and
> some of his better known bard descendents, but want to know more. Does
> anyone know anything about the history of Islay in the 13th-14th
> centuries or where I could find some detailed information about that era
> of Scottish history. Supposedly Muirdach was a warrior bard who rode to
> battle at the side of the Lord of the Isles. Some of what I have read
> may be just folklore, but I'm sure much of it is also historical. Can
> anyone help?
> Thanks,
> Sharee Hughes
>
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