Maritime Folklore in Western Scotland: Some mid-century collectors and their informants (1953–1970)

Maxim Fomin

Maritime Folklore in Western Scotland: Some mid-century collectors and their informants (1953–1970)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The article focuses on the oral maritime heritage of the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, discussing legends and stories collected in the mid-20th century and maintained in the School of Scottish Studies Archives at the University of Edinburgh. Items include omens warning fishermen of adverse conditions at sea, premonitions of future disasters, and lore involving seals, water horses and mermaids. The contributions of some of the School of Scottish Studies’ outstanding informants, including Kate Dix of Berneray and Nan MacKinnon of Vatersay, are featured.

Original language	English
Number of pages	17
Journal	Scottish Studies
Volume	42
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 9 Aug 2025

Funding

The research towards this article was carried out as part of the AHRC-funded Stories of the Sea: A Typological Study of Maritime Memorates in Modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Folklore Traditions project (Grant ref. no. AH/H039376/1)

Keywords

maritime folklore
Maritime cultural heritage
SCOTLAND
Scottish Gaelic folklore
Scottish Gaelic
archives
School of Scottish Studies
Coastal communities
intangible cultural heritage
folklore collection
fishing customs and traditions
fishing communities

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

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AB - The article focuses on the oral maritime heritage of the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, discussing legends and stories collected in the mid-20th century and maintained in the School of Scottish Studies Archives at the University of Edinburgh. Items include omens warning fishermen of adverse conditions at sea, premonitions of future disasters, and lore involving seals, water horses and mermaids. The contributions of some of the School of Scottish Studies’ outstanding informants, including Kate Dix of Berneray and Nan MacKinnon of Vatersay, are featured.

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KW - Maritime cultural heritage

KW - SCOTLAND

KW - Scottish Gaelic folklore

KW - Scottish Gaelic

KW - archives

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KW - Coastal communities

KW - intangible cultural heritage

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KW - fishing customs and traditions

KW - fishing communities

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ER -

Maritime Folklore in Western Scotland: Some mid-century collectors and their informants (1953–1970)

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

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Stories of the Sea: Maritime Memorates of Ireland and Scotland

Stories of the Sea: A Typological Study of Maritime Memorates in Modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Folklore Traditions

Cite this