The Battle of Carinis

During the legendary War of the One-Eyed Woman, the feud between the MacLeods and MacDonalds wasn’t contained to the Isle of Skye. The dispute spilled over to the surrounding islands with every raid or ambush by one clan requiring a suitable response from the other. After the MacDonalds had succeeded in devastating the Isle of Harris, it was time for the MacLeods to take revenge on North Uist.

The locals knew they were a target and tried to hide any valuable possessions and stores of food they had in Trinity Church. If they thought a sacred place meant a safe haven, then they were sorely mistaken. Domhnall Glas MacLeod and his 40 men soon discovered there was a hoard already gathered together and just waiting for them to collect.

What Domhnall didn’t realise was that his men weren’t the only warriors on North Uist. Word had been sent to one of the most daring warriors in the Western Isles – Donald MacIain ‘ic Sheumais. Without time to wait for a larger force, MacIain set off to the rescue from his home on Eriskay with only 15 men at his side.

By the time they arrived at Trinity Church, the much larger MacLeod force had been celebrating their good fortune by feasting and drinking more than their fill. Taken completely by surprise, they didn’t stand a chance against MacIain’s seasoned and sober clansmen. The victory was so complete that 38 out of 40 of the raiders perished, including Domhnall Glas MacLeod himself and the area is still known as Feith na Fala – The Ditch of Blood.