Cnoc Aingeil

Don C Livingston · Post by **Don C Livingston** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 3:39 am

The story of Cnoc Aingeil is very interesting Rob. I believe that this can also be related to a document that I came across some time ago, in reference to the Lowland Livingston family, "keeping the Beltane fires burning despite the local ministers." Apparently, this was a purification rite where fires were lit and people would walk between them, along with their cattle, to bring purification as well as good luck for the upcoming year. It is also said that some would jump over the smaller fires leading some to believe that this celebration could be the origin of the poem, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, etc. It would seem that this "fire burning" of the highlanders, and this continued practice of "Beltane fire" by the lowlands in their areas of power could suggest yet another circumstantial "link" between the two. Possible?

Bachuil · Post by **Bachuil** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:08 am

Don, Diverging slightly from your comment, I think it is fair to say that sources such as Lismore in Alba believe that Cnoc Aingeil (/Aingeal) was related to pagan worship. “There is in the Island near Bachuil a knoll which is known as Cnoc Aingeal. It is in reality a massive cairn. Aingeal has nothing to do with angels. It is an old Gaelic word meaning light, flame, fire, glowing fire, and appears in Scots in the word ingle. The suggestion has been made that places of this name were in some way connected with sun or fire worship. While the elevation of Cnoc Aingeal (fire knoll) makes it suitable for displaying fire over a long distance, tradition holds that it was a burial place where cremated remains were finally laid. That aingeal may have something to do with the fire of cremation is probably as good a guess as any.” Lismore in Alba p30 In fact it was very much the practice of early Christian missionaries to adopt pagan religious sites as their own. This policy of education and enlightenment avoided confrontation and was very successful. Regards, Niall

Don C Livingston · Post by **Don C Livingston** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 4:03 am

Hello Niall and thanks for your reply, Yes indeed this, "Beltane Fire," as well as the practice of which you refer are both pagan. "BEL" in the pantheon of Scottish Gods was the God of death and King of the underworld. Magic/ritual: Help contacting spirits of those who have passed over: purification of ritual site; Protection from enemies; Astral projection; Beltaine; Samhain. Of course this explains the pagan side of things...yet, as you said, early Christianity adopted some of these traditions used them to help settle the areas. Druids where originally in charge of such ritual fires. Thanks for the work you effort you guys are doing! Don

Rob Livingston2 · Post by **Rob Livingston2** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 6:24 am

Don, It is also interesting to note that "loaran" (as in the District of Lorn in Argyll, and the village of Lorn on Loch Lomond) is a Gaelic word meaning "a person excessively fond of fire"). I found another example of the the Manx word "Ainle" (fire) used as a personal name - that being "Ainle mac Cathan, lord of Uaithne-Cliath" who was put to death in 914 AD. This was the "Cathan" of "Ui Cathan" or "O'Cain", who were lords over the Craebh (the branch), the Cianachta, and the "Fir Li" (men of Lee)in Ireland. The territory of the Fir Li was adjacent to the Dal Riata and they were known to be a tribe of Picts from Scotland. Little more is known about them.