Seonaidh (anglicised Shony or Shoney) was according to Martin Martin, the name of a water spirit in Lewis.

Dwelly defines seonadh (without the "i", a related form in Scottish Gaelic) as "1. augury, sorcery. 2. Druidism" and quotes Martin further.

Martin says that the inhabitants of Lewis used to propitiate Seonaidh by a cup of ale in the following manner. They came to the church of St. Mulway (Mael rubha),^[1] each man carrying his own provisions. Every family gave a pock (bag) of malt, and the whole was brewed into ale. One of their number was chosen to wade into the sea up to his waist, carrying in his hand the cup full of ale. When he reached a proper depth, he stood and cried aloud:

"Seonaidh, I give thee this cup of ale, hoping that thou wilt be so good as to send us plenty of seaware for enriching our ground during the coming year."

He then threw the ale into the sea. This ceremony was performed in the night-time. On his coming to land, they all repaired to church, where there was a candle burning on the altar. There they stood still for a time, when, on a signal given, the candle was put out, and straight-away, they adjourned to the fields where the night was spent mirthfully over the ale. Next morning, they returned to their respective homes, in the belief that they had insured a plentiful crop for the next season.

It seems likely that Seonaidh was originally some kind of god, whose worship had been lightly christianised by the addition of various church features. However, it is also possible that "Seonaidh", which is the Scottish Gaelic form of the English Johnny, may also be a reference to one of the Saints John, and some kind of invocation to him.

References[link]

• This article incorporates text from "Dwelly's [Scottish] Gaelic Dictionary" (1911). seonadh

See also[link]

• Hebridean Myths and Legends