Folklore & legend

Egan Son of Egan and the Seal on Connsmun

Connsmun rock, west of Uist (identity uncertain)

Undated oral tale

When he came back, the seal was gone. Some time afterwards he was driven by a storm to land in a district he did not know and made his way to a house, where he was hospitably entertained. His host studied him closely and when the meal was over asked his name. He gave it, and his host said, 'Egan, son of Egan, though I have given you meat, and cheese, and eggs, upon your two hands be it, you put the withe through my fist.'

The story is a selkie tale about the cost of killing seals, and fits the island seal hunts that Martin describes in North Uist. Connsmun is not found on modern maps under that name, so the position is only roughly west of Uist.

This site is private property or has no public access. Coordinates shown are rounded and no directions are offered.
Evidence
Long-standing local tradition
Access
No public access
Location
57.600, -7.600 (Parish-level only, treat as an area)

Sources: John Gregorson Campbell, Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (1900), Project Gutenberg [public-domain]

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