Celtic Myth & legend

Ballantrae (Scottish Gaelic: Baile na Tràgha) is a village on the south-west coast of Scotland. It is in South Ayrshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas). Ballantrae is famous as the setting for the novel The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1889. In the distance can be seen the magnificent uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig. Formed from volcanic remains it is some ten miles from the Scottish coast and rises to a height of 1,110 feet (338m).

As Robbie walked from his home in the village he looked out across the sea towards the Ailsa Craig, but the mist had shrouded the small island. It felt strange not to see it looming in the distance so dominant is it on this part of the Scottish coastline. Robbie had finished work early today the 31st October. He had arranged to meet up with some friends in the evening to celebrate the night of Halloween. However, with time on his hands until then, he decided to use this opportunity to take some exercise and wander around the many paths that made this area such a ramblers paradise. Ballantrae is sometimes referred to as the gateway to Carrick. Carrick is a name derived from the Scottish Gaelic word Carraig meaning rock or rocky place. It is a district that was part of the old Kingdom of Galloway. This Kingdom is associated with the same Norse-Gael world of Isle of Man, Hebrides and Dublin. These old Norse colonies and the Vikings that had settled there had been subject to Gaelicisation. They had integrated into Gaelic society and adopted the language and customs of the Gaelic people who lived in these lands.

Sawney Bean was said to have been the head of a criminal, cannibalistic family in 15th century Scotland. Legend has it that he, his wife and 46 children and grandchildren killed and ate over a thousand people before they were captured and executed. Alexander  Bean was born in East Lothian (Scottish Gaelic: Lodainn an Ear) during the 1500s. After he married the couple went to live in a coastal cave in Bennane Head at the northern end of Ballantrae Bay, 11 miles (17 km) southwest of Girvan in South Ayreshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas).

They and their family lived in the deep hidden cave, the entrance of which was blocked by water during high tides, for twenty-five years. During that time they were said to have been responsible for the murder and cannibalisation of over 1,000 people. At night time the family would go out hunting for individuals of groups of people. They would ambush, rob and murder them, then bring their bodies back to the cave, where they were dismembered and eaten. The leftovers were pickled to provide food another day. Although the discarded body parts would sometimes wash up on nearby beaches and the mysterious disappearance of people was of great concern to local people, the existence of the clandestine clan remained unknown.

Isle of Man (Mannin) is located in the north Irish Sea. The Point of Ayre (Manx: Kione ny h-Ayrey) is the northernmost point of the Isle of Man and is just 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of Burrow Head in south-west Scotland. The island comprises 227 square miles (588 square kilometres) and it measures approx. 33 miles long by 13 miles wide. Sometimes described as the Celtic heart of the Irish Sea, the island is not part of the United Kingdom and has its own Government (Tynwald) and language Manx Gaelic. The cultural influences for the island originate from the indigenous Celtic peoples. The Vikings arrived in the Island around 800 AD and a fusion of cultures took place which is still evident in the archaeology, language, place-names and Parliamentary traditions of the island.

The Manx nation has a rich cultural heritage and folklore. The Celtic myths, legends, traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of the Isle of Man (Mannin) have been passed from generation to generation, much of it through oral tradition. The importance of folklore to a nation should not be underestimated. It encompasses the traditions common to that culture and shared by its people. Many entities exist in Manx mythology. Creatures that can rise from the rivers and the sea, emerge from cavernous depths and spring out of rocks. Variations of stories featuring each of these mysterious beings have been told on the Isle of Man for many centuries. Not least of which feature the Ben Varrey, the Manx name for a Mermaid and there is also a male equivalent the Dooinney Marrey.

One such tale of the Ben Varrey and her love of apples is told by Kathleen Killip (1911 - 1991). Amongst her work is ‘St Bridget’s Night: Stories from the Isle of Man.’ Here she tells the story of The Mermaid and the Apple Tree.

In the Celtic nations there are a number of mythological creatures that share the land and waters with humankind. Some are benign, others avoid their human neighbours at all costs. Probably they are the most sensible of all, because of the creatures of the world humans appear to cause the most harm and trouble. Other entities in folklore can be only be seen or heard at times of impending tragedy. There are some that will not cause you harm if you show respect and on occasion placate them. But there are those creatures which feature strongly in traditional beliefs, that are extremely frightening and whose name strikes fear into the heart of all who hear it.

Once such  entity exists around the seas of Orkney, the group of islands situated of the north coast of Scotland. Known by the name Nuckelavee, which is thought to derive from the Orcadian word  knoggelvi, meaning "Devil of the Sea". Accounts vary in regard to the appearance of the Nuckelavee, and what it might look like in the sea, its normal habitat, is not known. However, its description when on land was horrifying. A hybrid of a man and horse like creature with added horrific elements.  Given the strong Viking influence in Orkney it appears to be a fusion of the water horse or Kelpie from Celtic mythology and something from a dark Norse legend.