Caisteal Maol

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Caisteal Maol ruin
Caisteal Maol ruin

Caisteal Maol is a ruined castle located near the harbour of the village of Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is also known as Castle Moil, Castle Moal, Castle Moil, Dun Akyn[1], Dun Haakon and Castle Dunakin[2].

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[edit] History

The castle, an ancient seat of the Mackinnon clan, was a fortress commanding the narrow sound between Skye and the mainland, through which all ships had to pass or else attempt the stormy passage of the Minch. The present building dates back to the 15th century, but is traditionally reputed to be of much earlier origin.

According to that tradition, Alpín mac Echdach's great-grandson Findanus, the 4th MacKinnon chief, brought Dunakin into the clan around the year 900 by marrying a Norse princess nicknamed 'Saucy Mary'. Findanus and his bride ran a heavy chain across the sound and levied a toll on all shipping vessels. The Princess lies buried on Beinn na Cailleach on Skye, her face reputedly turned towards Norway.

Whatever the veracity of the castle's traditional history, there is good reason for supposing the existence of a connection of some kind with Norway. King Haakon IV is thought to have assembled his fleet of longships there before the Battle of Largs in 1263 (hence the name Kyleakin - Haakon's kyle). Haakon's defeat there effectively ended Norse domination of the islands.[3] Mediaeval and early modern documents also refer to the castle itself as Dunakin (Dun-Haakon), which is again strongly suggestive of a Norse connection.

The castle is nearly completely ruined. In 1949 and 1989 parts of the ruins broke away in storms. The remaining ruins have been secured to prevent further deterioration [4]. No excavation of the ruins has been carried out, or is planned.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Castle Moil, Kyleakin - Western Isles - UK Attraction
  2. ^ CLAN MACKINNON by John D. Keyser
  3. ^ Kyleakin history
  4. ^ Caisteal Maol

[edit] Sources

Miket and Roberts, The Mediaeval Castles of Skye and Lochalsh (2nd edition, Birlinn Ltd, 2007)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 57°16′19″N, 5°43′15″W

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