Coinneach Odhar, widely known as the Brahan Seer (and sometimes Kenneth Mackenzie or Kenneth Ore), is a legendary Scottish figure reputed to have possessed the gift of second sight. According to tradition, he lived in the 17th century and originated from Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. He is said to have foretold major historical events by looking through a unique white stone, making him a central figure in Highland oral tradition.\n\nThe historical reality of Coinneach Odhar is highly contested among modern scholars and folklorists. Some researchers suggest he may be an entirely fictional creation of later writers, notably the folklorist Alexander MacKenzie (1838–1898), whose highly popular published accounts of the Seer's prophecies appeared long after the events they supposedly foretold.\n\nHowever, earlier written accounts of the legend do exist. The writer Hugh Miller featured 'Kenneth Ore' in his 1835 work, Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland, recording several predictions that would later reappear in MacKenzie's compilations. Despite the lack of contemporary 17th-century evidence to verify his life, the Brahan Seer remains one of the most prominent and enduring figures in Scottish folklore, representing the rich tradition of Gaelic prophetic legend.