tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post9018869378598613927..comments2024-01-29T00:20:13.608-08:00Comments on Holes in My Soles: My Christmas Present : A Special Place- Cille Choirill.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-82591188011888426852016-10-16T20:49:47.072-07:002016-10-16T20:49:47.072-07:00Great Battle. Always like this article cause i'...Great Battle. Always like this article cause i'm a big fan of history and adventure. Hope someday i could travel there to enjoy every great thing about it.<br />https://goo.gl/z2NG8RAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11714458401524323028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-6263429328173132432015-07-07T21:51:49.320-07:002015-07-07T21:51:49.320-07:00Thanks, Peter.
We didn't get to Glen Roy: wan...Thanks, Peter. <br />We didn't get to Glen Roy: wanted to but were running out of time. <br />I have to check but my great grandfather came from there and my great grandmother from Laggan. Sailed to New Zealand 1877.<br />Thanks for adding to the history here. Fascinating.<br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-16689459197661864512015-07-04T10:33:15.126-07:002015-07-04T10:33:15.126-07:00Jim,
One of the previous comments mentions the nu...Jim,<br /><br />One of the previous comments mentions the number of Campbell graves. These are not the Campbell's of Argyll and are indeed relations of the MacDonald's of Cranachan in Glen Roy. The last remaining Gaelic speakers in Glen Roy are the Campbell's having resided there from the time of Queen Margaret.<br /><br />Glen Roy is over the hill from the Church but the following link shows the route the Glen Roy inhabitants took to get too church on a Sunday -<br /><br /> http://www.heritagepaths.co.uk/pathdetails.php?path=6<br /><br />If you look at the corresponding six inch to one mile map you will see three groupings of memorial Cairns. At one of these cairns is a clach-neart - a stone of strength or lifting stone. There are also two lifting stones in Glen Roy itself. The culture surrounding their lifting has been subject to romantic Anglicisation and are known incorrectly as "manhood stones". If your ancestor wielded a sword in 1746, when younger to prove his readiness to train in weaponry (between 10 and 14 years of age), he would have been required to lift a heavy stone to the extent of putting the wind underneath it. Popular stone lifting culture says that the lift had to be made into the lap and on doing so he was allowed to put a feather in his cap etc etc....romantic but untrue. <br /><br />I enjoyed your story very much.Peter Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-69899441308062897022015-03-26T16:35:07.976-07:002015-03-26T16:35:07.976-07:00My wife and I happened upon Cille Choirill during ...My wife and I happened upon Cille Choirill during a visit to Lochaber in 2012. My great-great-grandfather, Andrew Allan, was an overseer at nearby "Inverlair" from 1846 until he and the remainder of his family immigrated to Australia in 1860. Inverlair also has it's own historical connections.<br /><br />We parked our car by the cairns near the highway and walked up to the little church, took our time looking at tombstones and taking in the glorious view.<br /><br />Thank you for you intriguing history lesson.<br />Geoffrey Allannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-30994875328491083122014-10-09T02:51:33.992-07:002014-10-09T02:51:33.992-07:00I visited Cille Choirille last month as my ancesto...I visited Cille Choirille last month as my ancestors were married in the church and lived just across the river at Achnacochine until they were evicted as part of he clearances. The ruins of their croft are still there.Ron Leggehttp://leggingit.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-37128807657854113682014-05-27T07:50:05.720-07:002014-05-27T07:50:05.720-07:00Did you visit mid May Helen? I will be visiting ag...Did you visit mid May Helen? I will be visiting again in a couple of weeks, I know Cille choirill intimately being originally from Brae Lochaber and being co author of the Cille Choiril booklet bought by Jim over 3 years ago. Did you go back with your brother Jim?Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-50298049435388469972014-04-21T19:00:19.968-07:002014-04-21T19:00:19.968-07:00I will be visiting Cille Choirille in mid-May, and...I will be visiting Cille Choirille in mid-May, and will pray for you and all your family there.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020049865636809179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-20311755530485040132013-03-28T17:54:56.463-07:002013-03-28T17:54:56.463-07:00Thanks for that background history Big Baldy. We d...Thanks for that background history Big Baldy. We did wonder about the many Campbell names in the graveyard. <br />There's a strong feeling of eternal peace there these days. The old scars are in the past.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-31147378865354732212013-03-28T05:15:59.477-07:002013-03-28T05:15:59.477-07:00my people returned with the dead chief to Keppoch ...my people returned with the dead chief to Keppoch after the battle of Glenorchy 1497 when the MACDONALDS recovered cattle REIVED<br />by the Maclarens then joined by their allies the Stewarts of Appin and the Fletchers. We stayed 200 years or so at a time when tanisty ruled. We had to move after the battle of Inverlochy as<br />Argyll thought it inappropriate for us to be in Montrose`s ranks. At Culloden we were not detailed a fratricide posting facing the 42<br />nd. Perhaps the reason for the Macdonalds not being on the right of the line. For the next 200 years we landed in Glenstrathfarrar. I hope this explains why there are nearly as many Campbells buried at Cille Choirill as Macdonalds. Dr. John MacInnes calls us the "Swordsmen of Keppoch" and yes we are 42nd cousins of both the Macintosh`s and the MacdonellsBig Baldynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-85163996268516028142013-01-21T18:01:47.344-08:002013-01-21T18:01:47.344-08:00I am reading your blog about your visit to Cille C...I am reading your blog about your visit to Cille Choirill several years after you posted it, but am very interested in the history and how it relates to your own family. My family came from farther into Inverness-shire but I have a connection to this area and hope to visit it soon. As for your concern about the transition from present to past to present in your account, all Scots carry all of their 'story" as if it is still present - perhaps it is our Celtic imaginations that are so sensitive to the past, or perhaps the terrible destruction of our way of life has left an indelible imprint upon our psyches. Thank you for psoting this.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020049865636809179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-20033221855018177922011-01-03T05:37:46.692-08:002011-01-03T05:37:46.692-08:00It's amazing how we can feel an innate connect...It's amazing how we can feel an innate connection to the land of our ancestors. Beautiful post Jim!Amyhttp://atrampabroad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-14044283930392080482010-12-29T16:42:36.866-08:002010-12-29T16:42:36.866-08:00Thanks for dropping by Matt. Glad you liked. BTW y...Thanks for dropping by Matt. Glad you liked. BTW you got me started with all this travel blogging business, and I'm glad you did that! Thanks.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-34058008096587915732010-12-29T14:55:47.094-08:002010-12-29T14:55:47.094-08:00Amazing story Jim!Amazing story Jim!Nomadic Matthttp://www.nomadicmatt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-12112947382329310322010-12-29T01:10:38.373-08:002010-12-29T01:10:38.373-08:00You and I Jeremy tell such great stories :-)You and I Jeremy tell such great stories :-)Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-46895069222108608292010-12-29T00:51:28.957-08:002010-12-29T00:51:28.957-08:00Wow, what a legend in your family! Good thing he ...Wow, what a legend in your family! Good thing he decided to spawn before that battle - not a fun way to go!Jeremy Bhttp://www.examiner.com/budget-travel-in-sacramento/jeremy-branhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-35843211689485465142010-12-28T02:21:28.269-08:002010-12-28T02:21:28.269-08:00@ Andrea, genealogy is easy these days with online...@ Andrea, genealogy is easy these days with online sites full of info that can be swapped by others searching related family trees.<br />Ours was done by a relative 15 years ago prior to that and all by hand, snail mail and heritage visits.<br />So he traced our line back as far as the period written about. Beyond the Jacobite rising of 1745, it is difficult for many Scots descendants to trace back because no one could read or write so the local churches were where all written records of births deaths and marriages were kep as the clergy were the only ones could read and write.<br />But subsequent to Culloden, the churches were targeted by the Redcoats and trashed or destroyed as the clan culture was deliberately to be crushed .Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-22949277967234737252010-12-28T02:05:19.480-08:002010-12-28T02:05:19.480-08:00Wow thanks Dawn, I accept those comment humbly. I ...Wow thanks Dawn, I accept those comment humbly. I was hoping the interweaving of time was not too confusing for readers, and if I had written twice the length of story perhaps the transitions would have been smoother. But for you to say that, bears my thoughts out that the reader can immerse and feel the intent if they allow their imagination to take them there... and back.<br />And a longer story would not have been as focussed....<br />You have a rich area of culture with a scots-Irish mix there. In many ways they share in the history period written about.Around 130 Irish fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden. Interestingly enough, well sadly even, they when captured were treated much as prisoners of war, whereas the Scots were treated as rebels and the wounded were killed, and captives shot or transported, many to North American colonies.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-11055434426479330762010-12-28T00:32:09.350-08:002010-12-28T00:32:09.350-08:00I think perhaps the highest compliment any writer ...I think perhaps the highest compliment any writer can hear is that their work evokes chills in the reader. I can sincerely relate that this article accomplished that for me...chills danced over my skin repeatedly as I read your words. Tears tightened my throat and stung my eyes more than once, and I smile to note that we have common ancestry. I am from Knoxville, East Tennessee in the U.S., and this area is heavily populated by Scotch-Irish descendants. I envy you your travels and hope one day in the near future to visit the Old Country to connect in a similar manner. Your words and thoughts are richly textured, and I am enjoying reading your work.<br /><br />~ DawnHealing Morninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03236609802381940498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-83035026111555645952010-12-28T00:03:51.477-08:002010-12-28T00:03:51.477-08:00How wonderful that you know your heritage and can ...How wonderful that you know your heritage and can trace it back. I've tried genealogy but didn't get much further than great-grandparents. This is a beautiful story.Andreahttp://inspiringtravellers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-87125501028191686292010-12-27T22:04:34.493-08:002010-12-27T22:04:34.493-08:00Gorgeous pics, great history!Gorgeous pics, great history!Pamelahttp://pamanner.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-13300035762541538972010-12-27T16:05:49.508-08:002010-12-27T16:05:49.508-08:00Don't leave it too long Cathy, it will be enjo...Don't leave it too long Cathy, it will be enjoyed that much longer.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-72306650573185332622010-12-27T15:05:18.914-08:002010-12-27T15:05:18.914-08:00Wonderful post about your pilgrimage to this speci...Wonderful post about your pilgrimage to this special place. I've always had an interest in and respect for my ancestors -- would love take a journey like yours in Ireland and Sweden. Your photos and words tell your story so beautifully.Cathy Sweeneyhttp://www.travelingwithsweeney.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-85416260337752901352010-12-27T11:42:14.074-08:002010-12-27T11:42:14.074-08:00Robin, you should ' Never Forget' the Grah...Robin, you should ' Never Forget' the Graham Clan features strongly in Scottish History. One of the battle sites we visited was The Battle of Killiekrankie where Scots lead by a Graham , Earl of Montrose I think, defeated the Redcoats. A very nice valley with walking trails.<br />@ Alejandro- so true...one of the reasons I write our wee travel stories is to leave behind our experiences for our descendants to read. My parents and their parents stories have died with them apart from a few letters. This generation with our modern technology will leave behind theirs in a way no other generation has been able to do.<br /> Great eh?Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-74636431704037597862010-12-27T07:17:24.496-08:002010-12-27T07:17:24.496-08:00You certainly do justice to your feelings for the ...You certainly do justice to your feelings for the place here! A devoted and inspiring post. The Graham#s too are descended from a Scots clan, or at least we like to think we are...Robinhttp://alotofwind.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-3633289059332980442010-12-27T02:25:38.498-08:002010-12-27T02:25:38.498-08:00A great story one that brings to mind...It's n...A great story one that brings to mind...It's not what we get out of life but what memories are left for our future, our children and our children's, children. <br /><br />Great read CheersFernandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00122247480671605522noreply@blogger.com