Dun Osdale Broch View all content for Dun Osdale

In 'Skye - The Island and its Legends', Otta Swire has a lengthy account of the legend which states that this Dun is the source of the famous 'Fairy Cup' of Dunvegan Castle. Condensed version - A member of the Macleod clan, out at night searching for stray cattle, sees 'the door of Dun Osdale open and the Little People come out, a long train of them, and begin to dance on the green knoll near by'. He sneezes, and is dragged into the dun (abducted if you will!), by the fairies. Inside is lit by 'that strange green light associated with fairyland'. Although offered wine which forms part of the fairy banquet, in a beautiful cup, he knows better than to drink. His mother is a witch, and he knows that to eat or drink in the Dun will mean he's in the power of the Daoine Sithe. So he does the old tipping the drink inside his coat ruse, and once the fairies lose interest in him, makes his escape from the Dun with the cup. Though chased by the fairies he makes it back home, where his mother puts a spell on him to protect him from the fairies. This spell has to be renewed every time he leaves the house. However, she forgets to put a spell on the cup. The fairies put their own spell on the cup, which makes anyone who sees it or hears of it obsessed with aquiring it, even if they have to kill the owner. When, inevitably, the young man leaves the house without renewing his mother's spell, he is murdered for the cup by a friend. On hearing of this, the chief of the Macleods orders the cup stealer hanged, and takes the cup into his possession, as the curse is now lifted. And to prove the story, the cup can still be seen at Dunvegan Castle.

Posted by Forgetful Cat 23rd June 2006ce

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