Tom Eódhnain, Insh, Kingussie & Insh

Grid reference

NH 835 053 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

283500 805300

Latitude

57.124021790119365

Longitude

-3.9245031934423387

County

Inverness-shire

Nearby places

St Adomnán's Church, Insh (0 miles)

Insh, former parish, Kingussie & Insh (0 miles)

St Drostan's Chapel (dubious), Alvie (0.92 miles)

St Eata's Chapel, Alvie (2.49 miles)

St Eata's Well, Alvie (2.7 miles)

Object Classification

Relief

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

This is the name of the hill on which St Adomnán's church (Cill Eódhnain) is built. For a tradition concerning the bell of this kirk see Anderson, Scotland in Early Christian Times (1881, 195): Bell at Insh, illustrated. A tradition that it was once removed, but would never be silenced, and cried ‘Tom Eunan, Tom Eunan’ till it made its way back to the hill of that name on which the church of Insh stands’. A more developed version of this tradition, with various extra details, was recorded in 1962, and the recording is available on the website Tobar an Dualchais: An old lady in Kingussie told Capt. Macpherson about the old Celtic priest's handbell that is kept chained to a windowsill in Insh Church. If anybody rings it, one of their family will die an unpleasant death within a year. Water in which it is dipped is said to be a cure for illness after childbirth. Capt. Macpherson speculates that this refers to puerperal fever. It has to be removed without authority to effect a cure, but then flies back home again. The old lady's grandmother heard it flying back the last time it was stolen. It was taken down to Perth, and came back up Strathspey shouting for its own home hill, Tom Eànain. (Capt. Macpherson mentions that the hill is frequented by corbies [crows].) She heard a crack, and it is now chipped. None of the village people will lift it for fear of ringing it [Track ID - 12042]

Relationships with other parishes

Within Insh, former parish, Kingussie & Insh (formerly)

Within Kingussie & Insh, modern parish