Doctors of Beaton

Bha na lighichean no dotairean aig Clann Mhic Beatha no na Peutanaich nam pàirt de dh‟ òrdugh ionnsaichte Gàidhlig a thug seachad an cuid sgilean mar oighreachd tro na ginealaich Bha an roinn Ìleach ann an seirbhis Tighearnas nan Eilean anns na Meadhan Aoisean. Bha iad a‟ fantail ann am Baile an Aba, faisg air Cille Chòmain. Bha iad cleachdte ri sgrìobhadh ann an Gàidhlig Chlasaigeach agus Laideann. Bha iad a‟ cleachdadh làmh-sgrìobhainn (leabhraichean mòra ann an Laideann) a bha tighinn bho na sgoiltean mòra Eòrpach. Bha na leabhraichean a bha seo na thùs airson eòlais de rudan meidigeach de gach diofar seòrsa. Tha a‟ Chrois iongantach seo bhon 14mh linn ri fhaicinn ann an Cille Chòmain fhathast. Chaidh a cur air bhonn le Tòmas airson athar Pàdraig, an dotair. Tha an ìomhaigh ri fhaicinn còmhla, taobh-ritaobh, aig bonn na croise. Tha a‟ chrois a‟ samhlachadh dualchas Chloinn Mhic Bheatha a tha stèidhichte ann an Ìle. Ann an seirbhis nan ceann-cinnidh shiubhail iad air feadh na dùthcha; gu na h-eileanan agus mòran de thìr-mòr. Bha na Peutanaich ann am Muile agus san Eilean Sgitheanach ainmeil airson a bhith nan lighichean cuideachd. Ach b‟ ann mu Ìleach, Fearghas Mac Beatha, a bha am bann-sgrìobhte rìoghail ann an 1609; “Àrd-cheannard lighiche san àrainn naEileanan de Alba.”

The leeches or doctors of Clan MacBeth, or Beaton, were part of a learned Gaelic order that passed down their skills as inheritance. Those based in Islay were in the service of the Lord of the Isles in the middle ages. The trained physicians were schooled in Latin and Classical Gaelic. They used manuscripts (large texts in Latin) that were copied from original texts from the medical schools of mainland Europe. They called Balinaby near Kilchoman home. These manuscripts were a source of all sorts of medical knowledge. This extraordinary example of a Celtic cross seen in the photograph is from the 14th century and can be seen at Kilchoman Parish Churchyard to this day. It was commissioned by Thomas Beaton for his physician father, Patrick. They are represented by a pair of figures, side by side, on the cross. The cross affirms the link between the Beatons and their ancestral home in Islay. In the service of the Clan Chiefs they travelled throughout Scotland; to the islands and much of the mainland. The Beatons were established and well known in Mull and the Isle of Skye for their medical skills. It was about the Ìleach, Fergus Beaton, that a royal charter confirmed in 1609; 'Chief physician within the bounds of the Islands of Scotland.'

More information on visiting the area can be found here.