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Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu chreutairean macmeanmnach na mara – an Cìrean Cròin agus an Cionaran-crò. Tha iad – no bha iad –uabhasach mòr. Bha iad ag ithe mhucan-mara. Thug mi an rann seo dhuibh|:

Seachd sgadain sàth bradain,

Seachd bradain sàth ròin,

Seachd ròin sàth muc-mhara bheag,

Seachd mucan-mara beaga, sàth muc-mhara mhòr,

Seachd mucan-mara mòra, sàth Cionarain-crò,

Seachd Cionarain-crò, sàth Mial Mhòr a’ Chuain.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dh’inns fear à Nis ann an Leòdhas, Aonghas Gunnach, stòiridh mun Chionaran-chrò. Bha Aonghas ochdad ʼs a ceithir bliadhna a dh’aois. Fad ùine mhòr, bha e a’ fuireach ann an Rònaigh, eilean beag anns a’ chuan, tuath air Leòdhas. Seo an stòiridh aige.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý O chionn fhada, thàinig Naomh Rònan a Leòdhas. Bha e airson na daoine a thoirt gu Crìosd. Thog e cealla bheag dha fhèin ann an Eòropaidh. Ach cha robh ùidh aig na daoine anns an teachdaireachd aige.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bha Rònan a’ fàs sgìth dhen t-suidheachadh. Rinn e ùrnaigh a bhith air a thoirt air falbh bho Eòropaidh. Thàinig aingeal Dhè. Dh’iarr e air Rònan a dhol don laimrig. Bha an Cionaran-crò a’ feitheamh ris. Rinn Rònan air an laimrig. Bha an Cionaran-crò ann. Bha a dhà shùil a’ deàrrsadh mar rionnagan anns an iarmailt.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Chaidh Rònan air muin a’ Chionarain-chrò. Dh’fhalbh iad ag astar thar na mara. Ann am priobadh na sùla ràinig iad Rònaigh. Bha an t-eilean làn nathraichean, ghrìbheanan agus leomhann.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Cha do mhair na beathaichean annasach ann fada. Theich iad ron fhear naomh. Chaidh iad thar nan creagan chun na mara. ʼS e sin a dh’fhàg sgrìoban air na creagan ann an Rònaigh. Dh’fhàg na creutairean na sgrìoban len ìnean, agus iad a’ teicheadh. Bha an t-eilean a-nise sìtheil. Thog Rònan cealla ann dha fhèin.

I was telling you about imaginary marine creatures – the Cìrean Cròin and the Cionaran-crò. They are – or were – extremely large. I gave you this verse:

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Seven herrings will fill a salmon,

ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýSeven salmon will fill a seal,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Seven seals will fill a small whale,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Seven small whales will fill a

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý large whale,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Seven large whales will fill a

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý cionaran-crò,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Seven cionaran-crò will fill a

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý great sea leviathan.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý A man from Ness in Lewis, Angus Gunn, related a story about the Cionaran-crò. Angus was 84 years old. For a long time, he was living in Rona, a small island in the ocean, north of Lewis. Here is his story.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý A long time ago, St Ronan came to Lewis. He wanted to bring the people to Christ. He built a small cell for himself in Eoropie. But the people were not interested in his message.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ronan was getting fed up of the situation. He made a prayer to be taken away from Eoropie. An angel of God came. He asked Ronan to the boat landing place. The Cionaran-crò was waiting for him. Ronan went to the landing place. The Cionaran-crò was there. His two eyes were shining like stars in the heavens.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ronan got on the back of the Cionaran-crò. They left at speed across the sea. In the twinkling of an eye, they reached Rona. The island was full of snakes, griuffons and lions.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Those unusual animals did not last there long. They fled before the holy man. They went over the rocks to the sea. That’s what left the scratches on the rocks on Rona. The creatures left the scratches with their claws when they were fleeing. The island was now peaceful. Ronan built a cell there for himself.