Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 2, 1894

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
2l>3
DUNAVERTY ^iTs-feA,
aiGlONS
BY -< -;••■
Part l.l
Early History
.^^^/^KjN a rocky promontory in the^ south end
tJKIj of Kintyre, with a precipitous sea-wall
>\3Si and only to be approached from the
mainland' l)y a narrow isthmus, are the few
visible remains of what was once one of the
most important fortresses in Western Scotland.
At what period of our history Dunaverty Castle
was built we have no definite information, but
it undoubtedly is of great antiquity, and comes
into notice early in the annals of Scotland.
Mention of it is made so far back as the time of
the Danish invasions on the Scottish coasts, and
there is reason to believe in its existence at an
even earlier date, for we find the name of
Dunaverty — though perhaps not the castle —
associated with the Dalriadic or Scoto-Irish
settlement on the shores of Argyle in the
beginning of the sixth century. These Scoto-
Irish appear to have been a branch of the great
Celtic family, generally supposed to have found
their way into Ireland from the western shores
of North Britain, and to have established them-
selves in that portion of the island now known
as Ulster. There they appear to have divided
themselves into two ditferent tribes or clans, the
most powerful of which got the name of Cruithne
(eaters of wheat), from the fact that they were
addicted to agricultural pursuits. The quarrels
between these rival tribes were frequent, and
about the middle of the third century rose to
such a height of violence, as to call for the
interference of Cormac, King of Ireland at that
time. Accordingly his general and cousin,
Cairbre Riada, conquered a territory in the
north-east part of Ireland which was possessed
by the Cruithne. This tract was granted to him
by the King, and denominated Dal-Riada or the
portion of Riada over which Cairbre and his
descendants ruled for many generations, under
the protection of their more powerful relations,
the Sovereigns of Ireland. The Cruithne of
Ireland and the Picts of North Britain, being of
the same lineage and language, kept up a con-
stant communication with each other, and it
would appear to be clearly established that a
colony of the Dalriads had settled at an early
period in Argyle, from which, however, they
were afterwards expelled and driven back to
Ireland, about the time of the Roman abdication
of North Britain, in H6.
The Dalriadic Settlement in Argyle.
In the year 50.3, a new colony of Dalriads or
Dalriadini, under the leadership of three brothers,
Lorn, Fergus, and Angus, the sons of Ere, the
descendants of Cairbre Riada, came over to
Argyle and settled in Kintyre. As to the
causes of this settlement, which afterwards
proved so important in the annals of Scotland,
history throws but little light and it is doubtful
whether it was obtained by force or by favour,
but, as the invaders met with feeble opposition
from the native tribes, the latter supposition is
probably the correct one. Their chiefs had each
his own territory and tribe. Lorn took posses-
sion of the district of Argyllshire, which still
retains his name ; Angus is supposed to have
acquired away over Islay, for it was enjoyed
by his son Murdoch, after his decease ; and
Fergus, who landed at Dunaverty, took possession
of Kintyre, and on his brother Lorn's death,