Tha baile Eòropaidh air fìor cheann iar-thuath Eilean Leòdhais. Is e am baile as fhaide gu tuath ann an Innse Gall.

Tha an teampall ath-leasaichte seo air a coisrigeadh do Mholuag no Moluaidh. Tha dà sheapal bheag air gach taobh den togalach air an taobh tuath agus air an taobh deas, agus mar sin tha cumadh T air an eaglais.

Chan eil càil a dh’fhios cuin a chaidh an teampall a thogail. Tha am plana a tha oirre coltach ris a’ phlana a tha air tobhta na h-eaglaise ann an Gardar sa Ghrionlainn a chaidh a togail san 12mh linn agus a leudachadh san 13mh linn. Tha grunnan eaglaisean ann an Èirinn a chaidh an coisrigeadh do Mholuag agus feadhainn eile air taobh siar na h-Alba a bhuineas don àm seo cuideachd. Tha sgeulachdan bho bheul-aithris ag ràdh gun do thadhail Moluag air an làrach seo san t-6mh linn ach chan eil fianais sam bith clàraichte mun sin. Tha sgeula eile ag ràdh gun deach a’ chiad theampall a thogail ann an seo le mac rìgh à Lochlann.

Chleachd taistealaich a bhith a’ tadhal air an teampall gus leigheas fhaighinn do dhaoine a bha air a dhol às an ciall agus airson lotan. Bhithte a’ toirt uisge bho thobair a bha faisg air làimh agus a bha air a coisrigeadh do Rònan, do dhaoine a bha air a dhol às an ciall agus bhithte an uair sin gan ceangal ris an altair airson oidhche an dòchas gum biodh iad air an leigheas ron mhadainn. Ann an 1630 tha e air a chlàradh gum faodadh daoine a bha a’ sireadh leigheas airson lotan agus nach b’ urrainn tadhal air an teampall iad fhèin mac-samhail fiodha dem ball-cuirp a chuir chun teampall gus a bhith air a shìneadh air an altair.

Sgrìobh Màrtainn Màrtainn san leabhar aige ‘Description of the Western Isles’ aig deireadh an 17mh linn mu chleachdadh ionadail eile a bh’ aca:-

They were in greater veneration in those days than now: it was the constant practice of the natives to kneel at first sight of the Church, though at a great distance from them, and then they said their Paternoster. John Morison of Bragir told me that when he was a boy, and going to the Church of St. Malvay, he observed the natives to kneel and repeat the Paternoster at four miles distance from the church.

The inhabitants of this island had an ancient custom to sacrifice to a sea-god called Shony, at Hallow-tide, in the manner following: The inhabitants round the island came to the Church of St. Malvay, having each man his provision along with him; every family furnished a peck of malt, and this was brewed into ale; one of their number was picked out to wade into the sea up to the middle, and carrying a cup of ale in his hand, standing still in that posture, cried out with a loud voice saying, “Shony, I give you this cup of ale, hoping that you’ll be so kind as to send us plenty of sea-ware for enriching our ground for the ensuing year”; and so threw the cup of ale into the sea. This was performed in the night time. At his return to land they all went to church, where there was a candle burning upon the altar; and then standing silent for a little time, one of them gave a signal, at which the candle was put out, and immediately all of them went to the fields, where they fell a-drinking their ale, and spent the remainder of the night in dancing and singing, &c.

The next morning they all returned home, being well satisfied that they had punctually observed this solemn anniversary, which they believed to be a powerful means to procure a plentiful crop. Mr. Daniel and Mr. Kenneth Morison, ministers in Lewis, told me they spent several years before they could persuade the vulgar natives to abandon this ridiculous piece of superstition; which is quite abolished for these 32 years past.

Tha crois chloiche le ceangal ris an Naomh Rònan ann an taigh-tasgaidh Chomunn Eachdraidh Nis agus tha clach eile ann a thathar ag ràdh a thàinig à Eilean Ì.

Dè eile?

Faigh a-mach tuilleadh mu eachdraidh Nis air làrach-lìn Chomunn Eachdraidh Nis.