A’ chailleach

Bha Cailleach odhar a’ fuireach aig aon am ann an Goirtean Domhnaill, agus bha e air aithris gu robh daimh eadar i fhein ‘s na sidhichean, a bha a’ fuireach anns a’ Chnoc Ghlas, mar a chunnaic sin. Air sgath na daimh a bha eatarra, bha e ceadaichte dhi uisge a tharraing a tobar-sidhe. A reir beul-aithris, bhiodh beatha shiorraidh bhuan aig a h-uile neach a dh’oladh as.

Thug na sidhichean rabhadh don chaillich gun tachradh rud nas miosa na am bas rithe nam fagadh i am fuaran gun an ceann a chur air ais. Ach mar a dh’fhas a’ chailleach odhar na bu shine, ‘s ann bu diochuimhniche a dh’fhas i cuideachd, agus aon latha dhiochuimhnich i an ceann a chur air ais. Choisich i air ais don bhothan aice ‘s gun dad a gh’fhios aice gu robh an tobar a’ cur thairis, gus mu dheireadh gun deach e na loch – Loch a’Phuill.

As aonais cumhachdan miorbhaileach an tobair, chaidh a’ chailleach agus na sidhichean as an rathad. ‘S ann a Loch a’ Phuill a tha uisge an eilein a’ tighinn an diugh agus, leis na duilgheadasan a tha a’ tighinn na chois, nach fhaodadh gu bheil na sidhichean a’ toirt a-mach dioghaltas? Tha carn chlach ri taobh an locha agus ‘s e ‘Tobhta na Cailliche Beir’ a theirear ris. Tha e ri lorg rud beag sear air ‘Land’ Lag an t-Seagail an Goirtean Domhnaill.

There once was an old hag who lived at Barrapol and who was believed to have an understanding with the ‘Little Folk', who lived in the Gray Hillock. The understanding was that she was allowed to draw water from the magic well, a well whose water was supposed to grant immortality to all who drank it.

The ‘Little Folk’ warned the old hag that she would meet a fate worse than death should she ever leave the lid off the spring. But as the old hag grew older, she also grew forgetful, and one day she forgot to replace the lid. She walked back to her cottage unaware that the well was bubbling over, so that it finally formed Loch Phuill.

Without the magic power of the well, the old hag and the ‘Little Folk’ perished. Loch Phuill is now the main water supply, and continues to have many problems- could it be that they are getting their revenge? A mound of stones about fifty yards in front of the place known as the ‘Land’ in Barrapol is believed to be the ruin of the old hag’s cottage.

As told by Fiona MacKinnon, resident of Tiree

More information on visiting the area can be found here.