Born in the 17th century in Uig on the Isle of Lewis, the Seer or ‘Dark Kenneth’ as he was known by some (Gaelic: Coinneach Odhar) reportedly belonged to the MacKenzie Clan. He worked as a farm labourer at the Brahan estate, seat of the Seaforth chieftains, but both the Seer and the Seaforths would meet their intertwined fates at the hand of his ‘dark’ powers.
Legend has it that he gained clairvoyance after napping on a fairy hill and finding a small stone with a hole carved through its centre in his coat when he woke up, peering through this object bestowed the ‘second sight’ upon him but cost him his vision in that eye. While some sceptics doubt his existence it is known that there are records of a man who lived in the 16th century called ‘Coinneach Odhar’ who stood accused of witchcraft.
Many of the Brahan Seer’s prophetic visions did come true in the years following his death, while others still loom over us… Here are thirteen of his prophecies with two yet to pass.
5. World War 2, 1939 - 1945
The Seer used bridges over the River Ness to predict major historical events. He announced that when there were five bridges built over the River Ness then there would be 'worldwide chaos' and, in August of 1939, the fifth bridge was constructed and the same year Hitler invaded Poland and World War 2 commenced. Photo: via WikiCommons
6. Piper Alpha Disaster, 1988
Similarly, the Brahan Seer declared that when the ninth bridge would be constructed over the River Ness then "fire, blood and calamity" would ensue. This ninth bridge was finished in 1987 and the following year the Piper Alpha disaster took place. Photo: Submitted
7. The dawn of locomotives
Another prediction includes mentions of "great black, brideless horses" that would "belch fire and steam" across the Highlands. Two hundred years after he uttered these words the first railways were constructed across the Scottish highlands. Photo: Submitted
8. The fate of Fairburn Tower
Dark Kenneth predicted the fate of the MacKenzies' Fairburn Tower. "The day will come when the MacKenzies of Fairburn shall lose their entire possessions, and that branch of the clan shall disappear almost to a man from the face of the earth. Their Castle shall become uninhabited, desolate, and forsaken..." This has largely been realised as we see Fairburn Tower lie in a state of ruin. Photo: via WikiCommons