Ciorstaidh Mhòr

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Ciorstaidh Mhòr, Christina Matheson, was born in 1861 in Enaclete, a daughter of William Ruadh and a sister of William Dearg.  Her father came with his family to Geshader in the late 19th century and built this house at 2 Geshader, on the hillside overlooking the loch on the right as you drive into the village – though there was no road then, of course.  Ciorstaidh, a notably tall woman, married Calum Macleod of 8 Geshader in 1883, remained at No 2, and raised four children:  George who became a sheepfarmer in Australia, Annie who married Mr Gunn in Thurso, Willie who was a bachelor in Geshader and latterly at Reef, and Christina who married Angus Mackay and settled in Reef.  Ciorstaidh was widow in Geshader for many years, and the house was occupied by Willie until about 1960.  It’s now in ruins:

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The fank just behind it (nearly out of sight) was originally the bothy built for William Sr’s sister Anna, and was known as Bothag Anna Ruadh.  I don’t know whether it was on this croft that William famously stared down the temperamental bull.