Further to Tiompan’s fieldnotes, Canmore gives the following regarding the origin of the name of this cairn – which, translated, means ‘Cairn of Kenneth’, or ‘Kenneth’s Cairn’.....
‘A very large barrow called Carn Chainichin, The Cairn of Kenneth. Chalmers (1887) links this tradition with ‘Kenneth IV, King of Scotland’ who was slain in battle in 1003 AD at Moigh-a-bhaird, now corrupted into Monivaird. Anderson gives the text of various Chronicles. It is clear that Chalmers statement is incorrect. No Kenneth IV is listed as King of Scotland and in fact Kenneth III reigned from AD 997-1005. There are inconsistencies in the accounts but Chalmers “Kenneth IV” is apparently Giric (called erroneously Grim) son of Kenneth III who was killed in Monzievaird between 997 and 1005. Anderson suggests that he ruled over some district under his father Kenneth. He was buried in Iona.
Statistical Account (OSA) 1793; A O Anderson 1922‘