OK Thanks for waiting. I've just been down to
Portree Pier and started a discussion with local fishermen about as long as this one as to the origins of the word Minch.
Most of these guys were native gaelic speakers and we are all convinced that it is not a gaelic word.
As someone said earlier, many of the place names around these parts and on the north west mainland coast are of Norse origin and it is suspected that it's a Norse word. Mingulay, as with all island ending in the ay sound is almost certainly a norse word.
Interesting to hear that the song was actually written by Hugh Roberton. I've heard a gaelic version sung many years ago by a Barra man.He used the same tune but with a much faster beat.
Could it be that Hugh did a "Marjory Kennedy Frazer" and took up an old traditional song and "anglisized" it.