The hamlet of Amulree (and Strathbraan), 900 feet above sea level, has access to Loch Tay to north west, Aberfeldy to north, Dunkeld to the east, Crief through the Sma' Glen to the south. The Celtic place name was Ath Maol Ruibhe meaning Maol Rubha's ford, across the river Braan (meaning roaring stream, one of the 6 main tributaries of the river Tay). The charming and distinctive Church was built between 1743 and 1752 and is therefore over 250 years old with a bell that is even older. Amulree is very close to the geographical centre of Scotland and as one of the oldest cattle trysts in the country was no stranger to the mournful lowing of thousands of black Highland cattle, the barking of dogs and the Gaelic curses of drovers as they marshalled their huge herds ready for the sales. When the Crieff Tryst replaced that at Amulree the cattle would be driven down through the Sma' Glen and at times up to 30,000 beasts were grazed in the fields around Crieff. Herds were brought in from as far afield as the Western Isles, travelling about 12 miles a day. With the advent of hard-surfaced roads periodic shedding of the cattle was necessary to prevent their hooves being worn down.
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| The origin of the Isle Maree cult can definitely be dated to the stone circle, in ca. 100 BC. The cultus was important far beyond the Wester Ross Gairloch region, the foreigners were reported as participants in the ‘old rites.' laodh Maree, which was the Scottish parallel of Iceland’s Helgafell, whose benevolent power was active wherever it could be seen. After the coming of the Norsemen, Cille Chrlosd or Carlos was rebuilt for its greater security a few miles up into Strath Swordale, called cro an t-Sratha or "the cowfold of Strath," where it was popularly dubbed Cill a Chro: the bell was brought there on its branch, but it never rang again and the old tree at Ashig promptly withered away. There are many old Oaks and Holly trees whereas the other islands are almost entirely Scots Pine. There is evidence that Cill a Chro was initially a Druidic centre. |  |
In the Black Book of Clanranald, says that from Ferquhard was descended Gillapatrick the Red, son of Roderick or Ruaidri, and known traditionally as the Red Priest. This was Fearchar Mac in tSagairt , the son of the 'Sagart' or priest who was the lay possessor of the extensive possessions of the old monastery founded by Saint Maelrubba at Applecross in the seventh century. Its possessions lay between the district of Ross and the Western Sea and extended from Lochcarron to Loch Ewe and Loch Maree, and Ferquhard was thus in reality a powerful Highland chief commanding the population of an extensive western region.
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A church commemorating Maolrubha stood at Kilmoray Loch Eynort, and one commemorating St. Congan was sited in Glendale. At Kilmuir at the head of Loch Dunvegan there is a ruined church dedicated to Maolrubha, apparently ancient, though to what age it belongs is uncertain as parts of the original features and fabric have been altered and rebuilt. Irish place names are less common, many of the island's more prominent landmarks having already been named by early French and English explorers. Nevertheless, Newfoundland's Ballyhack, Cappahayden, Kilbride, St. Bride's, Port Kirwan, Duntara and Skibbereen all point to Irish antecedents. Newfoundland is the only place outside Europe with its own distinctive name in the Irish language, Talamh an Éisc (Land of Fish).