It has the remains of a chapel, graveyard, holy well, and holy tree on it, believed to be the 8th-century hermitage of Saint Maol Rubha (d. 722), who founded the monastery of Applecross in 672. The island contains ancient stands of oak, holly and other trees not found on the other islands in the loch. The waters of the loch were thought to have curative effects; as late as the 18th century, being towed round the island behind a boat was believed to be a cure for lunacy. Two incised cross-slabs of probably 8th-century date are to be seen in the ancient graveyard. Local tradition (still observed) asserts that nothing must ever be taken from the island, be it even a pebble from the shore, lest the insanity formerly 'cured' there return to the outside world.
In the 17th century, the Presbytery of Dingwall was disturbed by reports of several rituals, evidently of pagan origin, such as the sacrificing of bulls, on an island in Loch Maree. These revolved round a debased memory of Máelruba, whose legacy had perhaps become mixed with an ancient pre-Christian cult of 'God Mourie'. The island is near the north shore of the loch, and the adjacent shore is called in GaelicCreag nan Tarbh, 'Cliff of the Bull', recalling these ancient rituals.
On the island of St Maol Rubha or St Maree, in Loch Maree, Gairloch in the Highlands is an oakwish tree made famous by a visit in 1877 by Queen Victoria and its inclusion in her published diaries. The tree, and others surrounding it, are festooned with hammered-in coins. The original tree, now much decayed, died many years ago because of copperpoisoning. It is near the healing well of St Maree, to which votive offerings were made. Records show that bulls were sacrificed openly up until the 18th century[1]
Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree.Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree.Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree.
isle, maree, scottish, gaelic, eilean, maolruibhe, island, loch, maree, scotland, distant, view, published, 1891it, remains, chapel, graveyard, holy, well, holy, tree, believed, century, hermitage, saint, maol, rubha, founded, monastery, applecross, island, co. Isle Maree Scottish Gaelic Eilean Maolruibhe is an island in Loch Maree Scotland Distant view published 1891It has the remains of a chapel graveyard holy well and holy tree on it believed to be the 8th century hermitage of Saint Maol Rubha d 722 who founded the monastery of Applecross in 672 The island contains ancient stands of oak holly and other trees not found on the other islands in the loch The waters of the loch were thought to have curative effects as late as the 18th century being towed round the island behind a boat was believed to be a cure for lunacy Two incised cross slabs of probably 8th century date are to be seen in the ancient graveyard Local tradition still observed asserts that nothing must ever be taken from the island be it even a pebble from the shore lest the insanity formerly cured there return to the outside world In the 17th century the Presbytery of Dingwall was disturbed by reports of several rituals evidently of pagan origin such as the sacrificing of bulls on an island in Loch Maree These revolved round a debased memory of Maelruba whose legacy had perhaps become mixed with an ancient pre Christian cult of God Mourie The island is near the north shore of the loch and the adjacent shore is called in Gaelic Creag nan Tarbh Cliff of the Bull recalling these ancient rituals Contents 1 Wish tree 2 See also 3 Footnotes 4 External linksWish tree editOn the island of St Maol Rubha or St Maree in Loch Maree Gairloch in the Highlands is an oak wish tree made famous by a visit in 1877 by Queen Victoria and its inclusion in her published diaries The tree and others surrounding it are festooned with hammered in coins The original tree now much decayed died many years ago because of copper poisoning It is near the healing well of St Maree to which votive offerings were made Records show that bulls were sacrificed openly up until the 18th century 1 nbsp Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree nbsp Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree nbsp Old coins placed in the Wish Tree on Isle Maree See also edit nbsp Scottish islands portalList of islands of ScotlandFootnotes edit Sharp Mick 1997 Holy Places of Celtic Britain Blandford ISBN 1 85079 315 8 P 149 Chapel amp Graveyard Isle Maree Highland Council HER Retrieved 19 October 2010 Loch Maree Islands Scottish Natural Heritage Archived from the original on 16 July 2011 Retrieved 19 October 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article The Sanctuary of Mourie Folk Lore Volume 4 December 1893 57 41 38 N 5 28 18 W 57 69389 N 5 47167 W 57 69389 5 47167 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isle Maree nbsp This Highland location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isle Maree amp oldid 1153278558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
