The Stone Circle at Lochbuie
The monuments comprise a stone circle and two other standing stones, all of prehistoric date and visible as a series of upstanding stones. The stone circle and one of the standing stones were first scheduled in 1964, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this. The stone circle is situated on level pasture at the head of Loch Buie at approximately 10m OD. The two other standing stones lie some 40m SW of and 115m WSW of the stone circle respectively, but within the same present parcel of land. The stone circle originally consisted of nine stones. One of these is now missing and its position has been marked in recent times by a small boulder. The circle measures approximately 12.3m in diameter and is composed for the most part of granite slabs, which have been positioned with their flatter faces set towards the inside of the circle. The tallest stone stands about 2m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base. An outlying standing stone, situated 4.6m SE of the circle, comprises a pointed granite block standing 0.85m high and measuring c.0.6m by 0.3m at its base. The single standing stone situated about 40m SW of the stone circle stands about 3m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base, tapering to a fairly narrow top. The standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle comprises a comparatively flat-sided monolith, aligned NE and SW. This stands about 2.15m high, although the top has been broken off in antiquity, and measures c.0.75m by 0.7m at its base. Stone settings of this type are characteristic of the Neolithic period and normally date to the third millennium BC. Three separate areas are proposed for scheduling, as marked in red on the accompanying map. These include the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. The three areas are as follows:
1. The largest area is sub-circular in shape, centred on the stone circle and the outlying standing stone closest to the stone circle, and has maximum dimensions of 38m NW-SE by 33m transversely. Its NW limit is defined by, but excludes, the field boundary.
2. The second area is centred on the standing stone situated about 40 SW of the stone circle and is circular in shape, measuring 10m in diameter.
3. The third area is centred on the standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle and comprises a truncated circle, with a maximum diameter of 10m. It is defined to the NW by the field boundary, which is itself excluded from the scheduling.
PROJECTS
TAKING BACK LOCHBUIE
The first record we have of a Clan MacPhaidein began with Chief Mungo MacPhaidein 1098AD-1177AD and his son-n-law, Somerled, 1st Lord of the Isles 1158AD–1164AD who had married his daughter Raghnailt, fought against the Danes until the Battle of Renfrew and Chief MacPhaidein went to Broughshane, Ireland and returned with 500 of his kin to fight under Somerled. Somerled was killed and MacPhaidein, a very senior Argyll Chieftain, gathered his army, over 1000 MacPhaidein men and returned to Renfrew to retrieve the body of Somerled and bring him back to Argyll. MacPhaidein returned to Mull with his body and buried him at Iona. Somerled's eldest Son was Dugald and he founded the MacDougall clan who were high chiefs of Argyll. The second son was Ranald who founded the MacDonald clan.
Mungo and Somerled is listed of Dalriadic noble Irish blood in "The origins of the Irish nation" and lists the McFadden genealogy as a second son of O'Brien King of Munster however, in Irish Pedigrees: or the Orgin and Stem of the Irish Nation 1892 5th Edition, Volume 1, MacFirbis's Genealogies list Diarmaid Mactoirrdelbaig Ó Brian 1060-1118, King of Munster's children as: a) CONCHOBAR (-1142). King of Munster. b) TORDELBACH (-1167). King of Munster. c) TADHG (-1167). King of Thomond 1122. so if Mungo and Someled did descend from Irish Noble Blood, then it had to be through one of their maternal lines. Prior to 1164AD the 4 Castles on Mull were built by the MacPhaidein. Duart Castle protected the South East and was the main Castle of MacPhaidein where the Chief resided. Moy was a watchtower protecting the South East of the Island at Lochbuie. Dun Ara Castle protecting the North and Aros Castle protecting the Center of Mull.
After Somerled's death in 1164AD, nominal Norwegian authority was established, but practical control of the realm was divided between Somerled's sons and the heirs of Somerled's brother-in-law, the Crovan Dynasty. His son Dugald received the former territory of the Cenél Loairn, now known as Lorn, of which Mull formed part. After a few decades, they acknowledged the English kings as their overlords, so Dugald's heirs (the MacDougalls) complained to Haakon, the Norwegian king, and in 1237 were rewarded by the kingship being split; rule of the Hebrides was transferred to the MacDougall line, and they were made the "kings of the Hebrides". They established a foothold on Mull in MacPhaidein lands and even though the MacPhaidein were kin, they were not reccognized, and the MacDougall's saked Aros Castle making it their own.
At the beginning of the 14th century as Chief Malcolm MacPhaiden, father of Chief Alexander MacPhaidein, is recorded in Kintyre in 1304 defending the MacPhaidens right to Mull. The Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton was signed on 1 May 1328 which recognized the independence of Scotland and Robert de Bruys as King. A violent dispute arose over the Scottish kingship between King John Balliol and Robert de Bruys. Somerled's descendants had formed into three families: the MacDougalls, the MacDonalds, and the MacRorys. In 1354, though in exile and without control of his ancestral lands, John, the MacDougall heir, quit-claimed any rights he had over Mull to the Lord of the Isles, John MacDonald. Throughout this time, the descendants of the Cenél Loairn retained their identity; as the MacLeans John MacLean the son of Gillean-na-Taughe's, had two sons, Eachann Reaganach (Hector the Stern) and Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan the Wily).
Hector, the eldest son, married Margaret, eldest daughter of MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, via a Papal Dispensation dated 14 April 1356. Lachlan married Mary, a younger sister of Margaret, in May of 1367 and received MacPhaideins "Duart" Castle as the dowry. This now became the stronghold of the MacLeans control of Mull when authority was restored by James IV thus the great lands of the Clan MacPhaidein of Mull had been reduced from 338 SQMI or 216,320 Acres to the lands at Lochbuie 34,375 SQMI or 22,000 Acres. By proxy, Hector and Lachlan were granted independent charters to lands on the Isle of Mull by John MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles - Hector at Lochbuie and Lachlan at Duart. The two dominant branches of the family were formed. Hector constantly feuded with his brother Lachlan and only during an attack would they join forces. Therefore, Hector changed the spelling to MacLaine and became the Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie and Lachlan the Clan MacLean of Duart. As we know the victor always writes the history.
MacLaine legend states: When Hector MacLaine went to claim the lands given to him by the MacDonalds c1370 he found it occupied by the MacPhaidein. Hector climbed to the top of the Castle and shot an arrow through a bone that the MacPhaidein Chief was eating. Not being foolish, the MacPhaidein Chief removed himself from the scene. Whether MacLaine was aiming for the bone, and hit, or at MacPhaidein, and missed, is a matter of speculation (and perspective). MacPhaidein Legend states: When Hector MacLaine came to claim the lands given to him by the MacDonalds c1367, he knew the lands were already under the possession of the MacPhaidein's. So, he devised a scheme to take over the lands from within. He convinced Chief Alexander MacPhaidein they would share the land and for mutual protection from various raiders and neighboring tribes, he would restore the MacPhaidein fortalice watchtower at the head of Lochbuie that had fallen into disarray. Chief MacPhaidein granted Hector permission and after Moy Castle was completed, Hector used the Castle to wage war on the MacPhaidein! However, the MacPhaidein fought so fiercely defending their land that Hector had to call a truce to confer. A feast in honor of the MacPhaidein Chief was prepared by the MacLaine at the base of Moy Castle.
Hector climbed to the top of the Castle and shot an arrow through a bone that the MacPhaidein Chief was eating piercing his neck, killing him and ending the war. This was the end of the once great Clan MacPhaidein as most clansmen moved on or were absorbed (Sept) into the Clan MacLaine. Which or if either account is truth is unknown to time, however we know history is always recorded by the victor therefore recorded in the records of Clain Maclaine. The only MacPhaidein's who remained were the Pethein as they were the clerics and missionaries of the Clan MacPhaidein 570AD-c1370AD. James Pethein 1298AD-1377AD converted Hector MacLaine to Christianity shortly before his death, therefore Hector made the Pethein the clerics of Clan MacLaine serving the MacLaine c1370AD to 1600AD at the death of Sir James Pethein, the last Reverend of Lochbuie who faithfully preached the Culdee doctrine until the last message was preached at Lochbuie Sunday October 8, 1600 the day he died. No further record of the Clan MacPhaidein exists, to our knowlege.
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