Currently I am interviewing fishermen in the Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris and Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides. The book Rotal-a Ships Wake is a series of insightful conversations in Gaidhlig and English, about fishing in the past, the present day and the future. Continue reading “Research A’ Leantainn na Mara”
Tha sinn air call ar grèim air ainmean àite mu na bailtean, an taca na bha aig cìobairean ar n-òige air an teanga. Continue reading “Research Àinmean Àite Nan Loch”
Dementia Friendly Community in the Hebrides. Toil Inntinn The Will of the Mind is a 2018 bi-lingual publication by Magaidh Smith. Working as Gaelic and Culture Activities co-ordinator on the Arora project, An Lanntair. Part one is a selection of my blogs, describing group activities and incredible conversations. Part two is research, an array of culturally relevant conversations about… memory. Continue reading “Dementia Friendly Community”
St Valery Memories 2018 is 44 page publication with research on Prisoners of War captured in the 51 St Division, at St Valery-en-Caux on 12th June 1940. It includes accounts given by the Prisoners of War from the Isle of Lewis, during their 4 years in captivity. Continue reading “Prisoners of War 51st Division St Valery”
If you were brought up on a croft, in the Hebrides in the 1960s and 70s, the moorland was very much part of your extended landscape. Continue reading “Crofting Life Isle of Lewis Achmore-moorland placenames”
The Psalmboat project is a multi-arts volunteer community project centred on Loch Erisort, Lochs, Isle of Lewis. The Psalmboat community is sharing stories of travel by sea to church services in the past, and in the present we are singing psalms in boats and on land. Continue reading “Psalms in Boats Isle of Lewis Tradfest 2017”
Blowing on the Embers
The Oidhche Challain custom of circling, in a sunwise direction, the fire in each home on the evening prior to 12th of January, the Old New Year’s Day, no longer happens regularly in the Isle of Lewis. Continue reading “The Old New Year 12th January The Clavie and Oidhche Calainn”
Crofting Life and gathering sheep in Uig, Isle of Lewis
Preparation for a Lewis Fank Day, now means ensuring that quads and mobile phones are ‘topped’ up. In most areas, gone are the long days of trekking the moor on foot. Continue reading “Crofting life in Isle of Lewis Uig – The Sheep Gathering”
Crofting life in Uig Isle of Lewis involved looking after cattle and towing a bull to an offshore island once a year.
Every crofting family living in the Outer Hebrides, were dependent on their own cow to provide milk, butter and crowdie to supplement the family food supply. Continue reading “Crofting Life in Isle of Lewis Uig -The Bulls”
Pipe Major Peter Roderick Macleod, Aird Uig / Behind the Conundrum
At each piping recital, accordion or melodeon evening on the island of Lewis. At least a couple of the following tunes are played and recognised as being from the Lewis piping tradition. Continue reading “Pipe Major Peter Macleod Tunes”