The Fishermen of Kintra

There were three fishermen in the little village over there they call Kentra, there was the father and two sons. They went out fishing over to the Sound of Iona there.

This day they went out and the old man said to the sons, what is that big black hump out there? Oh, they said, that is a rock. Oh no, said the old man, that’s not a rock...that’s a big whale for us to take back...We’d never manage that...I’m not so sure, said the old man. And he made right for it and it swallowed them, them and the boat...and they were in the dark...But the old man knew where he had a knife, that he used to clean the fish and he cut a round hole in this side of the whale and a round hole in the other side...and he put out the oars and they rowed into Kentra, and that’s where they got out...!

(Told by Donald MacFarlane, Deargphort and recorded in 1963)

The Ross of Mull is an extraordinary microcosm of all that draws visitors to the Hebridean Islands. The scenery, as you travel along the single-track road from the ferry at Craignure is breath-taking. You experience in the many walks in the area a true sense of wilderness; the secret bays with their beaches of silvery sand, the abundance of wildlife and the innumerable marks on the landscape of the lives of past generations and communities long gone. The Ross of Mull is a compelling place for anyone fascinated by history and the ancient way of life of the Gaelic people.

Contact Us

Ross of Mull Historical Centre
Millbrae Cottage
Bunessan
Isle of Mull
Argyll PA67 6DG

By Phone: 01681 700659
By Email: enquiries@romhc.org.uk

Opening Times

Our museum is now closed for the winter.
Reopening Spring 2025.

 

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