How we arrived at our name
A lot of people ask us where the band name ‘Corryvreckan’ came from. The answer is that the band all love Celtic music and were looking for a name that reflected a Celtic feel. After a lot of failed suggestions Dave suggested ‘Corryvreckan’ which is the name of a rather unique piece of water between the islands of Jura and Scarba in Scotland. ‘Corryvreckan’ is the name given to the world’s third largest natural whirlpool – a treacherous area of water in a beautiful location. The actual name is made up of two words – ‘Corry’ which means whirlpool and ‘Vreckan’ the name of a Viking adventurer who drowned there (which may be true or may be mythical, no-one is really sure). The legend of Corryvreckan though remains strong in this wonderful part of Argyll in Scotland and it is therefore reproduced here…
The Legend of Corryvreckan
A Scandinavian Viking Prince, Vreckan, fell in love with a Princess of the Island of Jura and wished to marry her. Her father consented to the marriage, on condition that Vreckan should show his skill and courage by anchoring his boat for three days and three nights in the treacherous Corry whirlpool.
Vreckan accepted the challenge but first returned to Norway, where he had three cables made, one of hemp, one of wool and one from maidens’ hair. The women of Norway willingly cut off their hair and plaited the rope. It was believed that the purity and innocence of the maidens would give the rope enough strength to stand the strain.
Vreckan returned to Jura and anchored his boat containing just him and his dog in the Corry whirlpool. On the first night the hemp rope parted, but he survived the night. On the second night, the woollen rope also parted in the strong currents, but he survived the night again as the rope of hair held fast.
On the last night all went well until a mighty gale broke the rope. The boat was sucked under by the currents and Vreckan was drowned. His dog dragged his body ashore where he was found and buried in the ‘King’s Cave’ which is still there today.
When Vreckan’s crew finally made it home again and told of his fate, one of the young Norwegian ladies was consumed with guilt, as she was not as pure as she had made out . It had been her hair which weakened the rope and led to his death.
His Princess died of a broken heart while gazing out over what is now known as the Corryvreckan whirlpool.
Corryvreckan poem found in book of Scottish Legends
The emerald hills of Jura
Watch o’er the foaming tide
Swirling and eddying ever
Around the ships that ride
Towards the fatal vortex,
Vigilant for its prey;
Little they heed the sea-god’s boast
‘Ye shall not pass this way.
”Ye’ll have to steer by Scarba
If ye want East or West,
Or through the Sound of Islay;
But hearken our behest:
Ye’re not to see a sail-way
By Corryvreckan’s Flow;
And if your craft deride us
We’ll draw them down below.’
‘Hark to the voices crying
To warn ye of your fate;
The sea-birds round ye flying
Scream ‘Turn, ere ’tis too late’:
Hark to the sound that surges
In ominous refrain,
The litanies and dirges
From souls beneath the main
”There is death and woe
In this blood-stained Flow:
Let every stranger
Beware the danger
That lurks in the tide
And on either side.
”For your lives’ sake flee
This jeopardy:
By Christ his rood
And your souls’ good
Return ye hame
The way ye came.’
The shores of Corryvreckan
Are guarded sure and fast
By sentinels invisible
So long as time shall last.
They hold the fearful sea-pass
With lightning at command,
They speed death-dealing thunderbolts
On all who dare the land.
And, when the day has darkened
Into the sable night,
They flame a watch-fire signal
From either beacon height;
Bold sailors steer between them
All heedless of their doom,
And sink into the cauldron
Of Corryvreckan’s tomb.
‘Thus perish all invaders
From Erin or from Fyne;
Nor mariners nor traders
Have passed our mystic line
Since ancient law and custom
gave us that ocean mile
To watch and ward forever
The door to Mid-Argyll.’
Anon.
