Dunragit

Situated 10 miles west of Stranraer, Dunragit is a pretty insignificant village. Except, of course, if you study the origin of the name. Merin Rheged refers to The Solway Firth.

Dunragit

The story is in the name, Dunragit,
Dun Rheged, Fort of Rheged, home
of King Urien, Shepherd of the Solway,
scourge of Bernicia, who was laid low
at Lindisfarne, victim of treachery.

Now, who cares where the fort was?
Or fears the kiss of Merin Rheged,
with it’s threat of Northumbrian sails,
bringing Angles and fire.

We have buried King Urien
in the earth of our dark age.
Rheged has passed into myth,
leaving only the name, and the ghosts
of heroes, who whisper of times
when death was a way of life,
and Dunragit,
was a place to be reckoned with!