Fàilte! (Welcome!)

Fàilte! (Welcome!)
This blog is the result of my ongoing research into the people, places and events that have shaped the Western Isles of Scotland and, in particular, the 'Siamese-twins' of Harris and Lewis.
My interest stems from the fact that my Grandfather was a Stornowegian and, until about four years ago, that was the sum total of my knowledge, both of him and of the land of his birth.
I cannot guarantee the accuracy of everything that I have written (not least because parts are, perhaps, pioneering) but I have done my best to check for any errors.
My family mainly lived along the shore of the Sound of Harris, from An-t-Ob and Srannda to Roghadal, but one family 'moved' to Direcleit in the Baighs...

©Copyright 2011 Peter Kerr All rights reserved

Thursday 2 September 2010

Dr Donald Munro Morrison d.1889

In his 'Carmina Gadelica', Alexander Carmichael writes regarding the origin of three particular poems:

Dr Morrison heard them from an old man known as 'Coinneach Saor' - Kenneth the Carpenter - and his wife, at Obbe, Harris.
These aged people were habitually practising quaint religious ceremonies and singing curious religious poems to peculiar music, evidently ancient.
In childhood Dr Morrison lived much with this couple, and in manhood recorded much of their old lore and music.
These however he noted in characters and notations of his own invention which he did not live to render intelligible to others. This is extremely regrettable, as Dr Morrison's wonderfully wide, accurate, and scientific attainments, deep knowledge of Gaelic, of music, and of acoustics, were only surpassed by his native modesty of mind and tender benevolence of heart. He was a distinguished medallist in several subjects at the University of Edinburgh...  Dr Morrison was descended from the famous hereditary brehons of the Isles.

I am hoping to learn more about Dr Morrison and of the couple who he spent time with on Harris but, alas, have not been able to identify any of them in the censuses or elsewhere.
If anyone has any information regarding the Dr, or his hosts, please do contact me - the phrase 'and in manhood recorded much of their lore and music' suggests a rich seam worthy of exploration!

Update: "Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, Son of Iain Gobha, Harris died in No 22 Ward R. Infirmary Edinburgh on Monday the 2d Dec 1889"

http://www.carmichaelwatson.lib.ed.ac.uk/cwatson/en/fulltexttranscription/3528/0/6/6/pers_cw_id:p4221/Dr.%20Donald%20Munro%20Morrison/ALL

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