McCrimmon's Silver Chanter

It is said that the MacCrimmons possessed a silver chanter, which was presented to them by a fairy woman.

Young Patrick one day went down to the shore at Borreraig to practice his chanter as he often did before. This day he felt sad and lonely and could not play well as his father had not allowed him to go to the castle where the Blind Piper of Kintail was playing for the Chief. As he sat there feeling sorry for himself, a young and handsome maiden suddenly appeared and sat beside him. 'You are a good piper, Patrick' she said. 'No I am not,' said the young man ' but I wish I could be.' 'Well,' she said 'I will let you choose from three gifts - the power to sail a boat so that you can sail the seven seas and become the wealthiest man in your clan; or strength to battle so that the ravens of the Dun can be satisfied with the blood of your enemies; or a gift for piping so that your music will lure the birds from the trees and give peace to wounded men and pain-worn women.' The lad thought for a while but he had little difficulty in making up his mind. 'Give me, I pray,' he said 'the gift of piping. I can ask for nothing better.' From underneath her apron the fairy lass produced a solid silver chanter and handing it to Patrick she said, 'Tell no-one how or where you got this gift. Keep it, as long as you treasure it no-one will ever be able to equal your music.' She then left him and faded from his view. Patrick went from strength to strength and soon became the most renowned piper and was given Borreraig and Galtrigil, rent free, along with £68 sterling of an annual wage.

In the year 1770, the story goes, the Chief of MacLeod decided that the value of the lands of Borreraig and Galtrigil had become so much more than it was when he granted MacCrimmon the free lease. So, he one day approached the piper and said he felt he could no longer let him have both townships rent free and if he wouldn't mind he would now let him have only Borreraig and would be farming Galtrigil himself. MacCrimmon was very displeased and at the end of term renounced the whole area and broke off his connection with the castle.

The MacCrimmons are long since gone but their history and their outstanding compositions will never be forgotten as long as the great bagpipes of Scotland are played.


MACCRIMMON'S SILVER CHANTER
It is said that the MacCrimmons possessed a silver chanter, which was presented to them by a fairy woman. Young Patrick one day went down to the shore at Borreraig to practice his chanter as he often did before. This day he felt sad and lonely and could not play well as his father had not allowed him to go to the castle where the Blind Piper of Kintail was playing for the Chief. As he sat there feeling sorry for himself, a young and handsome maiden suddenly appeared and sat beside him. 'You are a good piper, Patrick' she said. 'No I am not,' said the young man ' but I wish I could be.' 'Well,' she said 'I will let you choose from three gifts - the power to sail a boat so that you can sail the seven seas and become the wealthiest man in your clan; or strength to battle so that the ravens of the Dun can be satisfied with the blood of your enemies; or a gift for piping so that your music will lure the birds from the trees and give peace to wounded men and pain-worn women.' The lad thought for a while but he had little difficulty in making up his mind. 'Give me, I pray,' he said 'the gift of piping. I can ask for nothing better.' From underneath her apron the fairy lass produced a solid silver chanter and handing it to Patrick she said, 'Tell no-one how or where you got this gift. Keep it, as long as you treasure it no-one will ever be able to equal your music.' She then left him and faded from his view. Patrick went from strength to strength and soon became the most renowned piper and was given Borreraig and Galtrigil, rent free, along with £68 sterling of an annual wage. In the year 1770, the story goes, the Chief of MacLeod decided that the value of the lands of Borreraig and Galtrigil had become so much more than it was when he granted MacCrimmon the free lease. So, he one day approached the piper and said he felt he could no longer let him have both townships rent free and if he wouldn't mind he would now let him have only Borreraig and would be farming Galtrigil himself. MacCrimmon was very displeased and at the end of term renounced the whole area and broke off his connection with the castle. The MacCrimmons are long since gone but their history and their outstanding compositions will never be forgotten as long as the great bagpipes of Scotland are played.