717: A Doomed Romance at Gravir

When Neil MacPhail Niall Dhomhnaill ‘an ‘ic Neill, the sub-postmaster at Gravir in the early years of this century, heard that his daughter, Christy Lizzie Ciorstaidh Liosaidh was making plans to emigrate to Canada to marry John MacAskill, formerly of 17 Gravir, he decided to put a stop to it. He summoned his two sons Donald and William home to exert as much pressure as possible on Christy Lizzie to persuade her to change her mind.

Neil regarded John MacAskill Iain Peigi Seonaid as a ne’er do well, who did not measure up to the qualities he expected of a husband for his cherished, beautiful, daughter. MacAskill, a local poet of some standing in his time, had established a reputation as a hard drinking, loose living sailor on his visits home and although he jumped ship and set up home in Canada, that was not enough to convince Neil that his true nature had changed enough to warrant his daughter’s hand.

It was the arrival of a gold bracelet in place of an engagement ring that forced Neil to take stern measures to prevent Christy Lizzie’s departure. Eventually, she yielded to family pressures and broke off her relationship with MacAskill, although it was generally conceded within the family that it broke her heart. Years later, her brother William regretted his intervention in the affair and thought that his sister should have been left to follow her heart’s desire.

Some years later Ciorstaidh Liosaidh became the second wife of Donald Morrison Domhnull Moill, 44 Gravir and had two daughters from the marriage, Bellann and Chrissie. She died at her home, at Olivers Brae, Stornoway in 1943.

John MacAskill gave up his life ashore in Canada when he heard that Christina would not be joining him and returned to the Merchant Navy. He was accidentally drowned at Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, in 1931. A song he wrote in tribute to Ciorstaidh Liosaidh was popular in the community at weddings, dances and ceilidhs of the time.

CIORSTAIDH LIOSAIDH

Thoir mo shoraidh chun na paisd
Tha thall an Glaschu ri tamh
Nach di-chuimhnich mi chaoidh gu brath
Ged tha mi tamh an Canada

Bha do chairdean riut ag radh
Gun thu phosadh fear gun cheard
Oir seoldair dhireas na cruinn ard
Cha toir e stath neo dachaidh dhuit

Ged nach eil mi nam fhear ceaird
Gu’n cumainn suas te Neill MhicPhail
Dh’ obraichinn air tir ‘s air sal
Is stiuirinn bat’ bho chanabhas

Bha do chairdean riut an gruaim
Chionn gu falbhadh tu leam cuairt
Ach chan eil cumhachd san taobh tuath
A chumas bhuamsa a’ chaileag ud

Bhuaininn moine dhuit air poll
Chruachadh ‘s rudhainn i air tom
‘S bheirinn iasg thar bharr nan tonn
Nam biodh ‘n te dhonn a’ fuireach rium

Roinninn riut na fhuair mi riamh
Thaghainn thu a measg nan ciad
Us chuirinn fainne mu do mhiar
‘S ann leam bu mhiann bhi caithris leat

Bha thu uasal na do dhoigh
Bha thu modhail, stuama, stold’
Se cainnt do bheoil a rinn mo leon
Nuair bha mi og ‘s mi maille riut

Cha toir mi gaol do nighneag og
Cha sgriobh mi litir dha mo dheoin
‘ S cha bhi mi sona ri mo bheo
Bho nach do phos mi chaileag ud

– Iain Peigidh Seonaid

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