Lochs, Isles of Lewis, Stories
As there was no local accessible collection of oral tradition stories relating to Sgire nan Loch to support storytellers of all ages, I have been gathering some tales. I am fortunate that I can tease out extracts of local stories:…
Lochs, Isle of Lewis Dialect
Thirty years ago Gaelic speakers in each village in the Isle of Lewis had a very distinct dialect. Their ‘blas’ enabled you to pinpoint their village of birth and by their facial features could place them in a family dynasty.
Research A’ Leantainn na Mara
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…
Research Àinmean Àite Nan Loch
Tha sinn air call ar grèim air ainmean àite mu na bailtean, an taca na bha aig cìobairean ar n-òige air an teanga.
Dementia Friendly Community
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,…
Prisoners of War 51st Division St Valery
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…
Crofting Life Isle of Lewis Achmore-moorland placenames
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.
Psalms in Boats Isle of Lewis Tradfest 2017
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…
The Old New Year 12th January The Clavie and Oidhche Calainn
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…
Crofting life in Isle of Lewis Uig – The Sheep Gathering
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…
