The Story of the Coffin in the Sea
Ian Stephen

Ian Stephen tells a long story from the Outer Hebrides about Ailean Donn (Dark-haired Alan) and Anna Chaimbeul. Ailean was a sea captain from the isle of Lewis. In the spring of 1788, he left Stornoway to go to Scalpay, Harris, where he was to be engaged to Anna. Unfortunately, his boat encountered a violent storm and sank off the coast of the Shiant Islands, claiming the lives of Ailean and his entire crew.

Anna, devastated by the loss, died soon after of a broken heart. Because the island of Scalpay had very little soil for burials, her father placed her in a coffin and took her by boat to a cemetery on the main island of Harris. However, during the journey, another storm struck, causing the coffin to be blown off the boat. It eventually washed ashore on the island where Ailean’s body had been found.

This tragic story inspired a well-known Gaelic lament, “Ailein Duinn,” composed by Anna. Below are the opening lines and their translation:

Gura mise tha fo éislean
Moch sa mhaduinn is mi ‘g éirigh

Ò hì shiùbhlainn leat
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì
Hì ri bhò hò rinn o ho
Ailein Duinn, ò hì shiubhlainn leat

How sorrowful I am
When I rise early in the morning

Ò hì, I would go with you
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì
Hì ri bhò hò rinn o ho
Brown-haired Alan, ò hì, I would go with you