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

Maxim Fomin

doi:10.2218/aw921z15

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

Maxim Fomin

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

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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
Pages (from-to)	134-150
Number of pages	17
Journal	Scottish Studies
Volume	42
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2218/aw921z15
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 20 Mar 2026

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)

UN SDGs

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

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water

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

Access to Document

10.2218/aw921z15Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

FOMIN Maritime FolkloreAuthor Accepted Manuscript, 375 KB

Cite this

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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{\textquoteright} outstanding informants, including Kate Dix of Berneray and Nan MacKinnon of Vatersay, are featured.",

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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.

KW - maritime folklore

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KW - SCOTLAND

KW - Scottish Gaelic folklore

KW - Scottish Gaelic

KW - archives

KW - School of Scottish Studies

KW - Coastal communities

KW - intangible cultural heritage

KW - folklore collection

KW - fishing customs and traditions

KW - fishing communities

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JO - Scottish Studies

JF - Scottish Studies

IS - 2

ER -

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

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

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