Important Events in Hebridean History
Defending Dùn Èisdean
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Last time I was here my father carried me across on his back, picking his way across the slippery boulders and up the rock on the other side. At the top he gave the word and we passed through a narrow gap into the fortress. I was scared but my father said not to be so because I would be a man soon and must be brave.
Ten years later I am here again to defend my family, in the memory of my brother who was killed by a shot that terrifying day. Differences between neighbours and families have been put aside, and we are united here in the face of our enemies. They who would take ownership of our land and think they have a right to tell us what we may and may not do.
The huts and the wall have been mended, the stores have been brought up and the water in the lochan is sweet. I do not know when the attack will come. The first night I could hardly sleep, crammed in against the turf wall with my musket by my side as the older men snored. But I am stronger now.
The central hearth in the gathering house was blazing tonight, the craic was good, and the sound of the smiths at their mending rang out across the gloom. The peat smoke filled our lungs, and the barley bannock filled our bellies. We have barely touched the pots of butter and milk in the store. We are safe here and secure. Our tower rises up above the cliffs and shows them that we are a force to be reckoned with. From there a man can watch the ocean in all directions and no ship can pass within 40 miles without us knowing about it. We know this coast like the back of our hands. All we must do is wait.
Musket ready and a spare gun flint in my breeks, I'm ready to make a stand for my clan.
An turas bho dheireadh a bha mi an seo thog m' athair tarsainn mi air a dhruim, a' dèanamh a shlighe air na h-ulbhagan sleamhainn agus suas na creige chun an taobh eile. Aig a' mhullach thuirt e am facal-faire agus chaidh sinn tro bheàrn cumhang a-steach dhan dùn. Bha mi leis an eagal ach thuirt m' athair rium gun a bhith mar sin oir cha b' fhada gus am bithinn nam dhuine mòr agus dh'fheumainn a bhith gaisgeil.
Deich bliadhna air adhart tha mi an seo a-rithist a' dìon mo theaghlaich, mar chuimhneachan air mo bhràthair a chaidh a mharbhadh le urchair air an latha uabhasach ud. Tha còmhstri eadar nàbaidhean agus teaghlaichean air a chur a thaobh, agus tha sinn aonaichte an seo an aghaidh ar nàimhdean. Daoine a ghabhadh sealbh air ar fearann agus a tha a' smaoineachadh gu bheil còir aca innse dhuinn dè a dh'fhaodas agus dè nach fhaod sinn a dhèanamh.
Tha na bothain agus am balla air an càradh, tha am biadh air a thoirt suas agus tha an t-uisge sna lochan milis. Chan eil fhios cuin a thig an t-ionnsaigh. A' chiad oidhche cha d' fhuair mi mòran cadail, air mo bhruthadh ris a' bhalla fòid lem ghunna rim thaobh agus na bodaich nan srann chadal. Ach tha mi nas làidire a-nis. A-nochd bha teine mòr am meadhan an làir anns an taigh-chèilidh, agus chluinnear fuaim na fealla-dhà againn agus ùird nan goibhnean anns an dorchadas a-muigh. Bha ar sgamhanan làn de cheò na mònach, agus ar broinn làn aran eòrna. 'S e glè bheag a thug sinn às na poitean ime agus bainne anns an stòr. Tha sin sàbhailte agus tèarainte an seo. Tha an tùr againn ag èirigh suas os cionn nan creag agus a' sealltainn dhaibh cho cumhachdach 's a tha sinn. Às an seo faodaidh duine faire a chumail air a' chuan chun a h-uile taobh agus chan fhaigh soitheach faisg 40 mìle den seo gun fhios dhuinn. Chan eil òirleach den chosta seo nach aithnich sinn. Chan eil air a-nis ach feitheamh. An gunna deiseil agus spor eile nam bhriogais, tha mi deiseil airson mo chinneadh a dhìon.
Associated Locations
This event is associated with some locations in the Hebrides. For more details on these, see the list below, or go to the Interactive Explorer.
