Ö÷²¥´óÐã

Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mun chuairt-shruth ainmeil, Coire Bhreacain. Seo mar a fhuair e ainm. Bha prionnsa Lochlannach ann. ʼS e Breacan an t-ainm a bha air. Ghabh Breacan gaol air nighean aig Tighearna nan Eilean. Ach cha robh a h-athair toilichte. Thuirt e gu feumadh am prionnsa a dhearbhadh gun robh e na sheòladair math.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Dè dh’fheumas mi a dhèanamh?’ dh’fhaighnich am prionnsa.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Uill,’ fhreagair Tighearna nan Eilean, ‘feumaidh tu do bhirlinn a chumail air acair anns a’ chuairt-shruth airson trì latha is trì oidhcheannan. Dh’aontaich Breacan ris an deuchainn. Chaidh e dhachaigh a Lochlann airson a bhirlinn a chur air dòigh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dh’iarr e comhairle bho sheann chomhairlich aig athair. Thug iad comhairle dha mar a leanas. Dh’fheumadh e trì ròpan a thoirt leis. Bhiodh a’ chiad ròp air a dhèanamh de chlòimh à caoraich. Bhiodh an dàrna ròp de chainb a bha a’ fàs ann an cladh. Bhiodh an treas ròp de dh’fhalt à cinn òighean. Dh’fheumadh an òigheachd a bhith gun cheist no teagamh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sheòl Breacan chun a’ chuairt-shruth. Chuir e a bhirlinn air acair ann, ceangailte ris na trì ròpan. An dèidh latha is oidhche, bhris a’ chiad ròp – am fear a chaidh a dhèanamh de chlòimh chaorach. Air an dàrna latha, bhris an dàrna ròp – am fear a bha air a dhèanamh de chainb. Bha Breacan an dòchas gun seasadh an treas ròp ris an t-sruth. Ach, air an treas latha, bhris e. Bha sin a chionn ʼs gun robh tè de na ‘h-òighean’ breugach mu a h-òigheachd.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Chaidh an soitheach a shlugadh leis a’ chuairt-shruth. Cha tàinig beò às ach an cù aig Breacan – an cù glas. Shnàmh esan timcheall gus an do lorg e corp a mhaighstir. Shlaod e a chorp gu tìr.

I was telling you about the famous whirlpool, Corryvreckan. Hereʼs how it got its name. There was a Scandinavian prince. He was called Breckan. Breckan fell in love with a daughter of the Lord of the Isles. But her father was not pleased. He said that the prince would have to prove that he was a good sailor.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘What do I need to do?’ asked the prince.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Well,’ replied the Lord of the Isles, ‘you must keep your birlinn at anchor in the whirlpool for three days and nights. Breckan agreed to the test. He went home to Scandinavia to get his birlinn organised.

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý He asked old advisers of his fatherʼs for advice. They gave him advice as follows. He would have to take three ropes with him. The first rope would be made of wool from sheep. The second rope would be made of hemp that was growing in a cemetery. The third rope would be of hair from the heads of virgins. Their virginity would have to be beyond doubt.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Breckan sailed to the whirlpool. He anchored his birlinn in it, tied to the three ropes. After a day and night, the first rope broke – the one that was made of sheep wool. On the second day, the second rope broke – the one that was made of hemp. Breckan was hoping the third rope would withstand the current. But, on the third day, it broke. That was because one of the ‘virgins’ was untruthful about her virginity.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The vessel was swallowed by the whirlpool. None came out of it alive except Breckanʼs dog – the grey dog. He swam around until he found his masterʼs body. He pulled his body to land.