The belief in fairies was once common throughout Scotland. It is now much less prevalent these days. However in the Highlands and Islands, and Luing is no is no exception to where such beliefs linger longer than they do in the Lowlands. Beliefs still linger among the old people, and is privately entertained here and there even among younger people; and some who hold the belief declare that they themselves have seen fairies.
A man living at Ard Luing called Calum Nigh- inn Eòghain. Was said to have been endowed with special powers. These included having the second sight, and in talking with anyone, he would tell of some of the things that were going to happen. It was said that he possessed the power of healing too, and that he could dispel disease or illness from man or beast. His story on how he got this power was that he was stolen by the fairies when he was an infant. He was four years in the fairy knoll; Fidilean-finndinn, the old fairy grandfather of Clan Cròig was left with his mother, but she realised that this was the very stripling she had, and with the help of Griosal Mhòir she used Fidilean as a bargaining counter and he was driven off to the mound from which he came. That's how she got her own Calum. It was the fairies who gave him that magical power.
There are a number of locations on Luing that can be related to the folklore of the Island. Cnoc Sithean or the fairy knoll.
Lochan Illiter,the fiddlers loch, the fiddle was the preferred instrument of The Little people.
The Cobblers of Lorne, (a rocky landmark on Luing) a remnant of ancient folklore. Cobbling was the profession of Little people who would make shoes for Elves, but always one shoe and never a pair.
The name leprechaun is synonymous with Little people and may have derived from the Irish leath bhrogan (shoemaker).
A man living at Ard Luing called Calum Nigh- inn Eòghain. Was said to have been endowed with special powers. These included having the second sight, and in talking with anyone, he would tell of some of the things that were going to happen. It was said that he possessed the power of healing too, and that he could dispel disease or illness from man or beast. His story on how he got this power was that he was stolen by the fairies when he was an infant. He was four years in the fairy knoll; Fidilean-finndinn, the old fairy grandfather of Clan Cròig was left with his mother, but she realised that this was the very stripling she had, and with the help of Griosal Mhòir she used Fidilean as a bargaining counter and he was driven off to the mound from which he came. That's how she got her own Calum. It was the fairies who gave him that magical power.
Cnoc Sithean, Isle of Luing.
woe betide the traveller that passes without leaving a gift for the fairies, usually a thread from from their apparel or a hair from their head.
There are a number of locations on Luing that can be related to the folklore of the Island. Cnoc Sithean or the fairy knoll.
Lochan Illiter,the fiddlers loch, the fiddle was the preferred instrument of The Little people.
The Cobblers of Lorne, (a rocky landmark on Luing) a remnant of ancient folklore. Cobbling was the profession of Little people who would make shoes for Elves, but always one shoe and never a pair.
The name leprechaun is synonymous with Little people and may have derived from the Irish leath bhrogan (shoemaker).
