Loch Morar is the deepest freshwater loch in Scotland, with points reaching 310m(1017 feet). Today, those dark depths are also said to house a cousin to the more well-known lake monster; Nessie(from Loch Ness).
This monster is named Mòrag, but her history is a little less clear than it may seem.
When most people are asked to picture Nessie, they think of something much like a plesiosaur, which is which is a creature that lived during the early jurassic period.
Plesiosaur on land. One of Heinrich Harder’s murals for the Berlin Aquarium. Credit Link: Here
Mòrag now often is described in a similar way, but it was not always how she was described.
Mòrag, a supernatural creature in Loch Morar similar to a mermaid, was an omen of death if seen by someone at sea.
Description of Track Id: 1139, Date: 1953, Source: Tobar An Dualchais/Kist o Riches
Much different from the plesiosaur, this version of Mòrag has the lower body of a grilse(salmon), and the upper body of a beautiful human woman with golden hair.
“Almost mechanically he began to tell me a story of Loch Morar, and its deep, deep waters, and how a man had been drowned there, pulled down by the long arms of the water plants, and hidden in the great leaves — held as in the dreadful embrace of a mythical sea-monster.
” People said he had gone to look for the mermaid , ” he said . ” A slim woman with the tail of a fish , and wonderful red – gold hair . She had eyes that were like stars , and drew the man on and on , till he forgot the deep , deep waters , and the slimy arms of the lilies ; forgot all but her eyes . ”
Art by Edmund Frederick (1910)
Rather than dangerous, she is mentioned as timid, and rarely seen. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as she is often said to be an omen of death. During these times, she will rush about the lake wailing loudly about the loss.
There is some confusion on who she cries for. Many people claim she only cries for one group or one family, and yet more than one group and family make that claim. For example, she is said to cry for the:
Morar family
death of a hereditary chief
Macdonalds
Hereditary locals
Some stories specify she could be seen by anyone expecting a death soon, even if it was their own.
Morag is always seen before a death and before a drowning especially before the death of the proprietor.
When Iain Ruadh was drowned she was seen by Coll MacColl a native of Tiree. She was seen about six years ago before a man was drowned.Alexander Carmichael | The Carmichael Watson Project
At some point, the lore of Mòrag sharply transformed from a beautiful mermaid to a fearsome sea creature.
‘Through my binoculars,’ says Gillies, ‘it appeared about 20 feet long and had prominent humps. Neither head nor tail was visible.’
CITATIONS
Like the other water deities she is half human half fish. The lower portions of her body is in the form of a grilse and the upper in the form of a small woman of highly developed breasts with long flowing yellow hair falling down her snow white back and breast.
[CW493 fos.36–7] Alexander Carmichael | The Carmichael Watson Project
“Mòrag – little Sarah, though why I do not know – seldom shows herself, and, so far as I have ever heard, has always been satisfied with frightening the intruder out of her realms. The best authenticated tale that has come to my knowledge was given me by a man who had made Mòrag’s acquaintance. He was rowing across the loch, in going from Meoble to Tarbet on Loch Nevis. Glancing over his shoulder to see if he was nearing the shore, he saw between him and the landing-place the apparition. But, evidently believing that Mòrag was as shy of the company of human beings as they were of hers, he held on his course and landed without skaith.”
The Cairngorm Club Journal: Vol 5 by the Cairngorm Club (1908)
Tha creatair ann an Loch Morar agus is e a Mhorag / Morag a theirear rithe – There is a creature in Lochmorar and she is called Morag. She is never seen save when one of the daoine duchasach – of the hereditary people of the place dies.
Alexander Carmichael | The Carmichael Watson Project
The Morag dwells in Loch Morar. She gives her name to the lake and still appears when any of the old Macdonalds of Morar die.
[CW493 fos.36–7] Alexander Carmichael | The Carmichael Watson Project
She is not seen when one of the common people dies but is always seen when one of the duchasaich – heredients – dies – One of the native chiefs or relatives of one of the native chiefs. The last time Morag was seen was immediately before the death of Aongas na Traigh – Aonas of Traigh – in 1898.
Alexander Carmichael | The Carmichael Watson Project
AUDIO RECORDINGS:
(link) Track ID: 1969 Language: Gaelic.
A sea-monster seen in Loch Morar was thought to be an omen of death.(link) Language: Gaelic.
The Beast of Loch Morar and a little about the stories old people used to tell. The contributor’s mother knew a woman who claimed to have seen the Beast of Loch Morar. A book by James MacDonald has an account of a boat that was attacked by the monster. The people of the area called the beast Mòrag.(link) Language: Gaelic.
Mòrag is a creature similar to the one in Loch Ness. Three women once saw it at the same time.(link) Track ID: 1139 Language: Gaelic.
Mòrag, a supernatural creature in Loch Morar similar to a mermaid, was an omen of death if seen by someone at sea. Whoever saw her would lose a member of family soon after. A boat nearly collided with her once. The contributor can remember an old woman who was said to have seen Mòrag.(link) Track ID: 40568. Language: Gaelic.
The contributor’s mother knew a woman who claimed to have seen the Beast of Loch Morar. A book by James MacDonald has an account of a boat that was attacked by the monster. The people of the area called the beast Mòrag.