Crom Dubh

‘’’Crum-dubh’’’ is apparently for Crom-dubh meaning “black and crooked” in Scottish Gaelic. He was a Celtic god, for which see ‘’Voyage of Bran’’, book ii, p49 where the ‘’dinnseanchas’’ of Mag Slecht is quoted as mentioning the ‘’Crom croich’’, or king idol of Ireland. This ‘’crom croich’’ is, on pp213, 214, identified with Crum Dubh.

‘’Di-domhnaich crum-dubh’’ – Crum-dubh Sunday – is known in Ireland as the first Sunday in August, but in Lochaber is applied to Easter. It appears in the saying:

‘’Di-domhnaich crum-dubh, plaoisgidh mi an t-ubh’’

”Crooked black Sunday, I’ll shell the egg”.

The exact origin of this saying is unknown.

There may be an etymological connection with cromlech, a term of Breton origin.

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