No, we didn’t hit the wrong keys for that title, it’s Gaelic, and we’ll get to the meaning and the astonishing synchroncity related to that line.
You may recall that we wrote earlier about a synchronicity related to time travel that occurred during our visit to the Central Florida Scottish Games. We also stumbled upon another one during that visit, but decided to wait until we’d obtained accurate details.
So, thanks to the avid research of Ron McGregor, chieftain of the American Clan Gregor Society, we now have the full story, an incredible trickster synchronicity from the Scottish Highlands, dating to the early seventeenth century.
First, some brief background. In the 16th century, the MacGregors engaged in a series of conflicts with the Campbells, who had absconded with land the MacGregors claimed as their own. To say the least, there was bad blood between the two highland clans. Finally, with the encouragement of the Campbells, King James VI issued an edict banning the use of the name MacGregor, hence, abolishing the clan. In 1604, the clan chieftain was hanged in Edinburgh. The proscription on the name lasted until 1774.
So here’s the story. The main character is Callum MacGregor, grandfather of the famed Rob Roy. He lived as an outlaw–at least in the eyes of the Campbells–during the early years of the proscription. The Campbells repeatedly attempted to hunt him down, but Callum was an elusive target. In one incident, pursued by Campbells and their hounds, he managed to turn the tables. Callum hid in a cave, while an ally offered refuge for the Campbells along with an abundance of drinks. When the men were drunk and passed out, MacGregor’s kilt was draped over the sleeping men. The hounds were released, and upon smelling the kilt, visciously attacked their own masters as Callum escaped.
That was a good trick, but now comes the trickster. On another escapade, Callum was discovered hiding on an islet in Loch Katrine, and the Campbell men were camped on the woody shore, close enough for their voices to carry over the water. Callum had taken the precaution of sinking all the boats except the one he had used to reach the islet.
Knowing the islet was barren, the Campbells figured they would starve Callum into surrender. As night fell, one of the band, a soutar, or cobbler by trade, lit a fire to prepare a meal. Callum took aim at the smoke, shouted a curse: “Thugad thall a chrom thruaill sloightear!” and fired. The bullet struck the cobbler in the forehead killing him. Loosely, the Gaelic translation means: “Get lost you slimy crook.”
But, in Gaelic, the word for crook has a second meaning: cobbler. The Campbells had heard the shout, but misinterpreted the meaning when the cobbler dropped dead. They quickly agreed that Callum had second sight and might pick them off one by one. After they fled in fear, Callum rowed to shore, escaped and lived to enjoy a peaceful old age in Glengyle.
(The source of the story is Clan Gregor, by Forbes MacGregor.)
The photo shows Trish and Rob standing with Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Bt, chief of the Clan Gregor, and Lady MacGregor, with Ron McGregor, (kneeling) chieftain of the American clan.
(The Bt, after Sir Malcolm’s name stands for barronette, as he is barronette of Balquhidder and of Lanrick.)
Thanks for visiting, Dodd. Good luck with your research, and I'd be interested in anything you come across related to the MacGregors in Jamaica.
Synchronicity indeed!
I met you at the Clan booth during the Central Florida Games. And now, back home in Utah, I was doing research for my book on ancient Scottish-Pictish roots of Clan Gregor, and the first one named Gregor, and found a like to this sites. Great exchange of good MacGregor culture in this exchange.
Yours aye,
Dodd MacGregor Greer
Payson, UT
Here's a follow-up on the continuing saga of the MacGregors and the Campbells, offered by Ron McGregor.
"On Sunday evening following the close of the games, twelve of us MacGregors went out for dinner together. I asked the hotel staff for a recommended place to dine. They gave me the name and phone number of a nearby restaurant. I phoned to see if we needed a reservation to which they replied, 'Only if you have a larger party.'
I told them there would be twelve of us of which several would still be in their highland attire. I was then asked if we were part of the Campbell party of 15 which would also have folks in highland attire? They were supposed to arrive about half an hour before we would. I hastily said "No, and if there will be Campbells there they may want to put us in a separate area.
A light hearted discussion pursued about the traditional animosity between our two clans dating back hundreds of years. I laughed as I told the manager that if the Campbells saw us come in the front door, they would probably run out of the back door. I also noted that I saw a few Campbells at the hotel bar that looked as if they were settled in for the evening so the manager should not be surprised if the Campbells were a no-show for dinner.
"When we arrived, none of the Campbells had arrived so we were given the table that had been set up for 15. The hostess said that when the already late Campbells arrived they would set up a place for them. The Campbells never came nor did they phone in a cancellation. The lady manager visited our table a couple of times during the course of the dinner. The first time she asked that should the Campbells show up should she anticipate a possible confrontation? Several of our party offered humorous replies: 'No, the Campbells wouldn't start anything unless they greatly outnumbered us and slip up behind us.'
'No, because the Campbells would probably send one person in incognito to see if there were any highlanders inside from a respectable highland clan.' ['respectable clan' was quickly defined by another MacGregor as 'any clan other than Campbell'.]
"We had a wonderful time and the manager invited us to come back any time. She also noted that in the future she remember it was the Campbells that made reservations and did not show up. Sir Malcolm and Lady MacGregor seemed to have enjoyed the bantering, but due to their position in Scottish society, they respectfully did not enter the bantering."
Von, yes, for shame, I was kiltless in the photo.
Therese, thanks for your tale. Funny name for a castle, considering the meaning that 'Blarney' has taken over the years!
Also, apologies to Ron McGregor, whose formal title needs to be updated on the post. No longer deputy chieftain of the Colorado clan, he is now chieftain of the American Clan Gregor Society.
Love this story!
I am a direct descendant from Sir George Colthirst (sp?), once owner of Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland. Others in the family are keepers of the genealogy, but the story is, as George was the only male heir and was getting up in years, a wife was chosen for him to produce legitimate heirs. The wife's primary requirement was his two bastards, with a maid, needed to leave Ireland. The older son was sent to Australia and the 12-yr-old daughter was sent to America with $12 sewn into the lining of her coat. This girl was determined to prove her worth as Irish nobility (though on the wrong side of the blanket) so held her children to higher standards. 🙂
There are no bastards in the American family tree spawned from this ancestral grandmother, but there are plenty of shady stories and early births, in the branches.
I assume $12 was a fortune in the early 1800's and I've always had this fascination with, and desire to visit, Australia.
My dad's ancestors were Irish refugees, but during the potato famine. Stories passed down were vague but I think the movie, "Gangs of New York" would fit.
For years, (especially when pregnant) I had dreams of staying alive for the sake of my twin boys. This was strange since I only have daughters. But about 5-7 years ago my sis got the dates and information on my dad's family and we learned our grandfather was a twin, arrived in America at the age of two, and his mother died shortly after the boat docked.
The date of death for this mother of 2-yr-old twin boys was May 13th, one week prior to my birthday, and a date that has always been significant in my life.
As soon as I learned this information, I knew my twin son dreams were connected to the great-grandmother who barely survived the journey, and the dreams ceased.
So thanks! Your post today reminded me of all this history I own and I appreciate the reminder.
More synchronicity for you..someone mentioned to me this morning that there had been white slaves and I was just about to look into it.
Great post as always, thanks and who went kiltless?
Musing – rob tells me they're part of the same clan, just different spellings.
Poor Vanessa!
Great story. 🙂
That is such an interesting piece of history and also the Jamaican connection. Are the MacGregors and the McGregors two separate bloodlined clans?
wv: extinnes
Doesn't that sound like "extinct ones" pronounced with a Scottish burr??! Wow! Trickster around.
That was just a bit of the history of the MacGregors. During the proscription, many were forced to live as fishermen on the coast, even though they had always lived in the highlands. Those were the lucky ones.
Others were captured and sent to Jamaica as slaves or indentured servants. There are still Jamaicans bearing the name MacGregor, and the distinctive Jamaican lilt is derived from the Scots' way of speaking English.
This was so interesting. I've just found out that my family belongs to the Early (Aerlie(?)) clan. I will have to do some research now.
Thanks for sharing.
Oh my heavens. As a Campbell, I was a bit embarrassed to read this post, but now I see why my parents never told me much about the Campbell ancestors. They just said something like, "They were contentious." 🙂