Photograph of sunbeams streaming below clouds over Tiree.
In the Statistical Account of 1845, Rev Neil MacLean observed that the weather on Tiree ‘is frequently so variable as to be almost proverbial, and baffle the most sagacious prognosis.’ Before reliable forecasting, the livelihoods and lives of many crofters and fishermen were dependant on their knowledge of weather lore.
Traditional knowledge about the weather is a mixture of superstition and acute observations of the sky and the natural world. People on Tiree used to judge the weather by the movement of birds, changes on the lochs and in the colours in the sky, and by looking at other islands.
One of the signs of windy weather to come is the appearance of sunbeams streaming beneath the clouds known locally as ‘casan fon grèin’, literally ‘legs under the sun’.
Colour photograph of `casan fon grein`.
‘Casan fon grèin’, sunbeams streaming below the clouds which, according to local weather lore, is a sign of windy weather to come.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil tells an anecdote about the supernatural, the deathbed comments of his uncle, a dream by Dòmhnall an Oir, the story of a corpse who spoke in the coffin, the use of urine and seeds against spells and fairies, stories about the fairy mound An Cnoc Glas, where his great-grandmother used milk cows, the evil eye, a story about blood on a floor that couldn’t be cleaned, a song written by the Balemartine bard about a reputed witch, the fatigue after supernatural cures, the work and equipment for horses, sports before church, a vision seen by an old man and the meaning of some Gaelic words.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings four Gaelic songs two of them love songs, tells two Fenian tales, three stories about ghosts, two about second sight, stories about his uncle Niall Òg, talks about Island House and Baca na Croicheadh, tells a story about a fairy cow and a cattle thief from Islay, sings a milking song, talks about good and bad luck, the superstitions of fishermen, how to heal the evil eye, weather forecasting and gives the names of the inside of a small boat.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings four Gaelic songs two of them love songs, tells two Fenian tales, three stories about ghosts, two about second sight, stories about his uncle Niall Òg, talks about Island House and Baca na Croicheadh, tells a story about a fairy cow and a cattle thief from Islay, sings a milking song, talks about good and bad luck, the superstitions of fishermen, how to heal the evil eye, weather forecasting and gives the names of the inside of a small boat.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a Gaelic love song, recites a fragment of ‘Ruaig ’s an Caolas’, gives popular sayings used on Tiree, sings ‘Air Lorg an Fheidh’, ‘Oran an t-Saighdeir’, ‘Mo Bhreacan’, ‘O ho ro ’ille dhuinn’, ‘Duthaich Mhic Leoid’ and another love song, gives the meanings of words used on Tiree, sings a sea-faring song, talks about harvest customs, sings a song about a Mull man looking for a wife, talks about different birds, sings ‘Oran na Tì’ and a cradle song, talks about wind direction when going to sea, a belief that there’s gold buried in Dùn Shiadair, sings a humorous song about a man needing help with spring work, tells a story about a horse in a bard’s house, talks about thatched houses, sings a song for a teacher, talks about tuberculosis, sings a sailor’s song and talks about fishermen’s landmarks.
Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings a Gaelic love song, recites a fragment of ‘Ruaig ’s an Caolas’, gives popular sayings used on Tiree, sings ‘Air Lorg an Fheidh’, ‘Oran an t-Saighdeir’, ‘Mo Bhreacan’, ‘O ho ro ’ille dhuinn’, ‘Duthaich Mhic Leoid’ and another love song, gives the meanings of words used on Tiree, sings a sea-faring song, talks about harvest customs, sings a song about a Mull man looking for a wife, talks about different birds, sings ‘Oran na Tì’ and a cradle song, talks about wind direction when going to sea, a belief that there’s gold buried in Dùn Shiadair, sings a humorous song about a man needing help with spring work, tells a story about a horse in a bard’s house, talks about thatched houses, sings a song for a teacher, talks about tuberculosis, sings a sailor’s song and talks about fishermen’s landmarks.
Folk literature of the Highlands, including chapters on Douglas Graham, Folk Words and sayings, (Gaelic and Scots) charms, omens, witches and warlocks, magic, shape shifting, the Brotherhood of the Horseman`s word, water kelpies and religion.
