ST COLUMBA

Columcille - The Luing connection.

 It was in a battle on Luing that the would-be murderer of St Columba is said to have met his well  deserved end. It was known it seems, that this wicked man, one Lamh Deas - had sworn to kill St Columba. Knowing that he would have the chance on a particular day to carry out his threat, a monk, Findlugan by name, quietly  abstracted and put on St Columba's mantle, that he might die in his stead. The ruse was so far successful that Lamh Deas attacked Findlugan with his spear but the mantle became as a coat of mail, turning back the thrusting blade, and Findlugan was unhurt. One year later to the day, St Columba told his monks that the man Lamh Deas "Who so far as he was able, killed Findlugan in my place, is himselfe being killed at this very hour". And so it was, he being the only man harmed in  a fight between two warring factions on Luing.

 Taken from, "The Inner Hebrides and their Legends".

by Otto F. Swire.

LUING AND THE GUINEAMAN

In  January 1805 a ship of the Guineaman type dropped anchor on the east shore of Luing, and was reported to be in a sickly state. Much to the dismay and or  disappointment of the locals no contact was made with the shore or any authority, until it was observed that several bodies were landed, and buried on the beach. This caused some excitement and also alarm and perhaps fearing some deadly disease immediate measures were taken to prevent  communication with the ship. Meanwhile authorities in Inverary were debating what action to take, but before anything could be done the Guineaman sailed to Ireland. Who were the deceased, could they have been members of the crew.?

 Were Guineamen, (African slaves) the cargo. Unfortunately it is unlikely to have been slaves, as slaves were generally thrown overboard.

So when strolling on Luing be aware of where you tread. 

 

ALEX CAMPBELL

Alex Campbell, better known by his patronimic Alisdair MacIain bhain [son of fair John], Whose grave is situated at the north - west wall of the old churchyard has several slabs carved by himselfe some years before his death in 1829.One large stone is on the outside of the boundry wall, with a small slab above it which reads:-

Take notice if any person take authority to meddle with this stone again see what judgement come upon King Jehoiakim that burnt the roll & Judgement on children by crying bald head for fear that god execute the judgement written   Psa cxl.

LUNGA GHOST

On the Island of Lunga in the Sound of Luing, there lived and died an old married couple; the husband died leaving his wife alone. She knew that she must now summon help, and in the time honoured way she placed a lighted candle in the window of the house as was the customary means of asking for assistance, and waited till help arrived from Luing. While she was waiting she prepared her husband’s body for the funeral, dressing him in his best Sunday clothes.

Outside in the sound the wind was increasing in ferocity. The light had been seen by the people of Luing but no one could make the crossing in those conditions. However as soon as the weather abated they would set off as she knew they would. The stormy season was proving to be a long one, the hours turned to days and the days to weeks. The chailleach * was long in despair and was pining for her husband, who was still in his chair dressed in his finest. After some weeks the weather became settled enough for the rescue process to be put into action. On arriving on Lunga the rescuers found the old woman hanging from a rope and dead. She was unable to cope with life without her husband, and had given up hope of being rescued.

Having committed suicide she could not rest in peace alongside her husband in consecrated ground as was the law, and was buried on the wee island Eilean a’ Bheallaich. She is not yet content with her lot, and still haunts the house and island of Lunga. The contents of the house are never found in the same order that they have been left in, and of Eilean a’ Bheallaich, difficult to land on, but they say there is no problem getting off, With a little help from the ghost of the Bheallaich.



*’Chailleach’, an older or married woman.

HEADS AND TALES

Robert Grant factor to Lord Neil Campbell of Ardmaddie lived at Oban Seil; he was sent to Islay to collect rents on behalf of his master, and on his way was captured by a band of piratical MacLeans and taken to Duart Castle on the island of Mull, where he was held prisoner. There was no love lost between Lord Neil and the MacLeans, so as a go between, a mutual friend by the name of MacDougal of Dunollie, was asked to intercede with Maclean for the release of his factor. When MacDougal duly went to Duart he was given every hospitality as would any visitor and before the business was mentioned he was given refreshments. Afterwards MacDougal spoke of his errand and as a personal favour asked for the release of Grant. To this the fierce chieftain replied, “you may take his body, which is in the courtyard, but I will keep his head”. MacDougal beat a hasty retreat with the body, no doubt glad to get away with his own safety. The headless body was taken back to Kilbrandon, Seil and buried there..

COLL AND COLIN MACDOUGAL

Coll and Colin MacDougal, sons of Patrick MacDougal who built Ardlarach farmhouse in 1787 and owned large tracts of land on Luing , served as lieutenants with the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders and took part in the Campaign of Coruna. Coll took ill while advancing into Spain and was sent to Portugal to recuperate, so that he did not return home with his regiment. Those officers and men of the 91st who were left behind were formed into a company and placed with other regiments, and in what was known as the 1st Battalion of Detachments, a company of 100 men; they served in Campaign of Talavera in 1809. Shortly before the battle began, Captain Mhor (the big Captain) met Coll and made arrangements to meet after the battle, but alas! Coll was killed on the 27th of July while engaged with his battalion on an attack against a hill forming a key position. It turned into a most fierce fight; out of a total of 93, the company had 10 killed, 31 wounded and 20 taken prisoner or missing, a total of 61 of all ranks.

It is said that on the evening of the 27th, his mother sitting in her room at Ardlarach (Luing) heard a door open and close. After her maids investigation showed that no-one had entered the room, the mother exclaimed “I’m sorely afraid, Margaret, that something has happened to Coll, Coll is no longer alive”.

It is said that Ardlarach is still haunted by Mrs MacDougal.

THE BIG CAPTAIN

An Caiptein Mhor”, The Big Captain of Luing,

Captain Duncan MacDougal, of the 61st (Gloucester) Regiment of Foot, was one of Luing’s fighting men, with a list of battle honours that any professional soldier would be proud of. As a boy he joined the 2nd Breadalbane Fencibles, formed in 1793. He volunteered for service in Ireland with the third Battalion, who were already garrisoned there, with the object of bringing together a discontented country, it was said with “tact and kindly firmness” so as to gain respect of their Irish kinsman. In 1798 the Battalion was reduced and each man received a medal from the Earl of Breadalbane, for their gallant conduct in having volunteered for services to Ireland and repelling the French forces which had invaded the Kingdom in 1798. Breadalbane gave to each of the Netherlorn men who returned, a means of livelihood in the form of a croft, house, or employment as stewards, managers, etc.

Captain MacDougal received a commission as ensign in the Cheshire Fencibles in 1798, in 1801 he was made ensign to the 32nd (Cornwall) regiment, and to the 61st in 1803.

In 1809 he was in Portugal with the first battalion, and fought at Talavera, Busaco, Fuentos de ‘Onor; he was present at the siege of Ciudad Rodrrigo, the battle of Salamanca, Neville, Nive, Orthez, and numerous other sieges and conflicts. In 1803 he was made lieutenant, and captain in 1811. He left the army shortly after peace, and returned to his native parish, where he rented a farm, and died in 1845.