St Finians Isle - Roman Catholic burial ground on Loch Shiel

[MonicaL]

I wonder whether someone local or who has done this, could answer my question. Is it possible to go on to the Isle in Loch Shiel. I know it is not accessible by the bigger boats but by smaller craft. Are you able to do this or is it 'out of bounds'?

Monica 

[Br1gau]

Hi,

If you leave a message for Jean Cameron on the Lochaber & North Argyll Family History Group message board, she will help with this one.  Jean has done a lot of research on the St Finian's Isle burial ground.

Regards,
brigau

[MonicaL]

Thanks Brigau 

I've exchanged emails with Jean some years ago (at Moidart.Org). I'll try doing what you suggest.

Monica

[Br1gau]

Hi Monica,

Just as an after thought--- you're not looking for the Guisechan or Glenborrodale Camerons by any chance?

Regards,
brigau

[MonicaL]

Always MacDonalds with me Br1gau  I know they're in there somewhere. I understand a few years ago there was talk of MIs being put together into some form of document by local historians but no idea what came of that.

I'm up there next week with the children introducing them to their MacDonald heritage! So, if you hear of some mad woman, husband and children getting into trouble on Loch Shiel...that will be my crew 

Monica

[Br1gau]

Hi Monica,

Ha! Well it's the McLachlans and the Ardgour Boyds for me.  Both the Camerons and Macdonalds are peripheral to our family -- but also interesting.

It was indeed our very own Jean who was working on the St. Finians Isle project, but I believe it's on hold while she sorts out 19thC Ft William High Street.  We've had some good exchanges and she's helped me loads. 

Two of our Boyds married into the Camerons mentioned above and both of those families had burials on St Finians.

brigau

[MonicaL]

Hugely knowledgeable lady 

Monica

[MonicaL]

Well, I made it on to St Finnans Isle and what a special place it is, in the middle of Loch Shiel with breathtaking scenery and weather being very kind (more than the midges were which descended early evening...ouch!)

I have attached some photos here. Only a few, don't want to bore with my holiday piccies  but if anyone wants to see more, just pm me.

Brigau, I can now see what the issues are with doing MIs for the burial ground. There are so so few legible stones left. Indeed, given the thousands of burials that have taken place there over the centuries, there is very little in terms of graves stones or marker stones. I was really chuffed though to find the stone for my 3xg aunt Sarah MacDonald and her husband John from Langall (Jean Cameron had mentioned it was there to me years ago). As much as the volunteers try to keep up with nature, it is very much in areas gone back to nature.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Old ruins of what is thought to be the church, with altar.