Greetings from Islay, Linda. There is a place on the western shore of Loch Gruinart called (@present) Leckgruinart, which is fairly close to your name of gggmother's place of birth. It is in the parish of Kilchoman. I think it is more probable than Loch Ben Uraraidh which is a very bleak place. A friend who knows the area well tells me there is only a ruined shieling (a basic shelter used when cattle were at summer grazing). Hopefully this link will help you locate Leckgruinart. Please contact me off list if you have a problem with it or if you would like a photograph. https://m.facebook.com/places/map.php?id=772998989384930&refid=17 Best wishes, Freddie Bell, Port Ellen freddie@islay.biz On 1 May 2015, at 01:30, Linda McDonald via <sct-islay@rootsweb.com> wrote: Hi, I am a newby trying to find a little more information about my McEachern ties. My G G Grandmother was Flora McEachern born 3/3/1816 at Leachdehaunairt (according to Mull geneology). This is most likely Loch Beinn Uraraidh according to my very Scottish son-in-law. The sound is right he says. She came to New Zealand with her husband Archibald MacDonald and was the first white woman to settle in a small township on the east coast of the North Island. The climate and beautiful white sandy beach was obviously an enjoyment for them all and it is said they swam daily, all year round, not getting over the novelty that the water was warm enough. The smithy was on the edge of the beach and a tidal estuary. Lovely place! Flora was well known, and there has been snippets written about her and about the area. She died 25/8/1905 in a fire caused by her smoking a pipe in her bed. A book was written about the community in the 1960 by a man who remembered "old Mrs McDonald" well. Her husband was a blacksmith on the Isle of Mull and they lived at Lochdonhead before coming to NZ. Her parents are listed as John McEachern and Catherine Black/Clark born in the 1780 and seemingly from Bowmore. I'd love to learn more and share any sparse surmising or research I have. Looking forward to being involved. Regards Linda ------------------------------- Quoting the entire text of a previous message in a reply is poor netiquette. Please don't do it. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SCT-ISLAY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message