DASG Blog

Far-ainmeam Bhailtean Ionadail (Pàirt 7) – Apainn, Latharna, Cnapadal, Creiginis agus Loch Obha

We will have a look at nicknames (or bad nicknames) about local areas and towns in Appin, Lorne, Knapdale, Craignish and Loch Awe.

Appin
This country was run by the Stewarts of Appin, therefore, this area is remembered by the saying “Apainn nan Stiùbhartach” ["Appin of the Stewarts"] agus “Apainn Mhic Iain Stiùbhairt” ["Appin of the son(s) of the Stewarts"] to this day. In addition the Appinites are referred to as the "cearcan-tomain Apainn" ["the partridges of Appin"]. In Appin itself you will hear the nickname "Clòbhair Ach nan Darach" ["The Clover of Achnadarroch"] close to Duror. The people of the Island of Lismore are called the "Òisgean" ["Sheep aged five to twelve months"]. There is a story involved with this nickname. Accoriding to folklore, the people of the island had to pay their rent in Oban and so they would travel to the town. They weren't used to having "door-mats" at the house in Lismore, therefore, when they saw them they didn't believe they should put their foot on them. This door-mat was so clean, new and gorgeous that they couldn't put their feet covered in mud on it. They started to run and jump over them and the rest soon followed in the same way, similarly to sheep. The others who saw this called them the "òthaisgan"! Apparently it is many a time that a Lismore-person has heard bleating from others of the town because of this story!

Benderloch
They are called the "eireagan dàithte" ["the burnt pullet-hens."]

Lorne
The Lornites are called "Losgainn" ["frogs"]. In Muckairn though, in addition to the name "Mucarnaich", they only received the nickname "Geàrra-ghobaich Mhuc-Càrna" ["The sharp-witted of Muckairn!"] This is exemplified in the saying in Fieldwork that discusses this nickname: "Geàrra-bhodaich gun mhodh, coillearan Mhuc-Càrna" ["The unmannerly, sharp-witted of Muckairn, the foresters of Muckairn."]

The people of Kilmore, Kilbride and Kerrara are called the "eireagan" ["pullets"].

For the people of Luing, they are called the "Luinnich", and for them and the people of Kilbrandon and Kilchattan they are called the "piocaich" ["two to three year old coal-fish, or saithes"].

Knapdale
For the people of Knapdale, they are called the "Crodh Maol Chnapadal" ["the polled cattle of Knapdale"]. The author, Donald Fraser, in the article "Far-ainmean Dùthchail na Gàidhealtachd," in the book XLIX of the "Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness", was curious whether people say this to the "polled-cattle of Knapdale" to the people of the area because it was the region of Clan MacMillan ["Clann Mhic Ille Mhaoil"], before they were dispersed throughout the country.

You will hear this saying about the region: "Cnapadal a' bhuntàta mhòir far am biodh iad a' strìochdadh nan each òga" ["Knapdale of the great potato where people would be yield the young horses"]. There is a good opinion that the Kintyre-folk are the horses, so it is that the "cows" are making the "horses" succumb to them each chance they can get!

Regardless of their effect of making the "horses" yield to them, the folklore about the Knapdalians cannot be helped, unfortunatley; here is a piece of marriage advice that can be found about the region's people:

“Mura faigh mi bean nam dhùthaich gheibh mi brùid an Cnapadal,” ["If you find not a wife in my region you will find a brute in Knapdale."]

Here is a rhyme discussing the nicknames of towns in the areas around Knapdale:

"Fithich dhubha Chreiginis
Coilich Chille Mhàrtainn
Liath-chearcan Taobh Loch Obha
'S Coin-odhar an Atha."
["Black crows of Craignish
Cockerels of Kilmartin
The grey-hens of Loch Awe side
And the dun-coloured dogs of Ford."]

The folk of Ardrishag are called the "Rubhaich" ["Headlanders"] and for the people of Loch Fine they are called the "òigich" ["stallions"]. This is shown in the little rhyme here:

they are called "the "òthaisgean" ["Sheep aged five to twelve months"] as well. This is shown in the rhyme here:
“Uaislean a' Bhaile Uachdraich, Tuathanaich a' Bhaile Mheadhonaich is Òigich Loch Fìn.”
["The noble of Uppertown (Inveraray), The farmers of the Middle town (Minaird) and the sheep of five to twelve months of Loch Fine."]

Loch Awe
Returning northwards to Loch Awe the people of North Loch Awe are called the "Mucan-Biorach" ["Bottle-nosed dolphins"], especially the fishermen on the loch fishing for herring.

Here is what we have of nicknames (good or bad) about the people of the various areas of Argyll. Do you recognise any of them? Do you have another name for some of them? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!