Dates: 1930s

1998.286.2

Audio cassette recording of David MacClounnan of Balephuil talking to John Donald MacLean in February 1998.

David MacClounnan (Dàibhidh na Croige) of Balephuil talks to John Donald MacLean (Teòn Dòmhnall a’ Mhuilinn) about fishing for cod and herring, drying fish, the fishing smacks of West Hynish, the construction of the thatched house in Bail’ Ur and their owners, old stories about fairies, the Old New Year, gathering seafood, the piper who went into the cave at Kennavara, a water diviner, place-names in East and West Hynish, the Norsemen, World War I and Skerryvore. Tha Dàibhidh na Croige a Baile Phuill a’ bruidhinn ri Teòn Dòmhnall a’ Mhuilinn mu iasgach truisg agus sgadan, tiormachadh èisg, bàtaichean èisg nan Cuiltean, na taighean-tugha a chaidh a thogail anns a’ Bhail’ Ùr agus na daoine a bu leis iad, seann naidheachdan mu shìthichean, an t-seann Bliadhna Ùr, a’ cruinneachadh biadh-cladaich, am pìobair a chaidh a steach don uaimh aig Ceann a’ Bhara, fàistinneach-uisge, ainmeannan-aite ann am Ear ’s ann Iar Haoidhnis, na Lochlannaich, a’ Cheud Chogadh agus an Sgeir Mhòr.

2001.111.1

Audio cassette recording of Hugh MacLeod, Cornaigbeg, talking to Maggie Campbell on 19/6/2001.

Hugh MacLeod of Cornaigbeg talks to Maggie Campbell in June 2001 about Charles and Archie (Èairdsidh Tuairnear) MacLean of Cornaigmore, where Archie lived, his work as a wood turner, the equipment he used and the furniture, spinning wheels and coffins he made; Hugh also talks about Garaphail, Lag na Gruachan, Druimbuidhe and Whitehouse farms.

2001.94.1

Audio cassette recording of John Fletcher of Balemartine talking to Maggie Campbell in January 2001.

John Fletcher of Balemartine talks to Maggie Campbell in January 2001 about growing up in Balemartine, the people of Balemartine, Mannal and Hynish, the teachers at Balemartine School, the weather over the years, fishing when he was a boy, how fish was dried and the work involved in milking cows; John also tells a few stories about people he knew as a boy and one story about a dog fish remedy.

1998.307.1

Audio cassette recording of Neil MacLeod of Kilmoluaig talking to Maggie Campbell in November 1998.

Neil MacLeod of Kilmoluaig talks to Maggie Campbell in November 1998 about his schooldays, his work with the Post Office delivering mail in Cornaig at first by bike and then by pony, the general running of the Post Office, the difficulties during blackout in World War II, posting boxes of eggs and potatoes from Tiree, the introduction of the red mail vans in 1956, other postmen, the different ferries and the change in the pace of life.

1999.151.3

Audio cassette recording of Hector Campbell of Garaphail interviewed by Margaret Bennett of the School of Scottish Studies.

Hector Campbell of Garaphail and Comrie talks to Margaret Bennett of the School of Scottish Studies about Gaelic songs and poetry, the music sailors from Ireland and the islands made at sea, the connections between Tiree and Skye, his boyhood, New Year, Halloween and May Day, superstitions, the weather, herbal remedies, fishing, seaweed as food, the changes in crofting practice, what happened when someone died, dances, washing days and health.

2004.7.1

Minidisk recording of Alasdair Sinclair and Duncan Grant talking to Dr John Holliday in An Iodhlann on 21/1/2004.

Alasdair Sinclair of Brock and Duncan Grant of Ruaig talk to Dr John Holliday in January 2004 about their Tiree connections and early memories of Ruaig, Brock and Soa, about Hugh Lamont (Eòghann Iain) from Ruaig, the postal service, Brock ceilidh house, thatched houses, quarrying stones at Brock and the tools used, handmade lintels, and collecting seaweed and birds’ eggs from Soa.

2004.7.2

Dan MacLeod’s practical joke

Sound clip in English of Duncan Grant of Ruaig talking about a practical joke involving a lobster.

Courtesy of Mr Duncan Grant

In a conversation with Alasdair Sinclair of Brock recorded in January 2004, Duncan Grant of Ruaig tells a humorous story about his relative, Dan MacLeod, who played a practical joke on Alasdair’s great-uncles, William, Donald and Neil MacKinnon.

In the days before television, neighbours would regularly visit each other ‘air chèilidh’- for the ‘crack’. Alasdair’s Uncle William was a great story-teller and would entertain the township children with ghost stories.

Duncan’s mother, Mary Flora MacLeod, remembered a particularly scary story about ‘cròg mòr fada liath, liath le aois’ (a long grey claw-like hand, grey with age). She and her sister would be so scared of leaving in the dark they would race the twenty yards home.

2001.20.1

Audio cassette recording of Archie MacKinnon of Cornaigmore talking to Maggie Campbell in January 2001.

Archie MacKinnon of Cornaigmore talks to Maggie Campbell in January 2001 about his working life, his 40 years as janitor at Cornaigmore School, the opening of the new school in 1936, the building of the Police Station in 1937, dancing competitions at the Tiree Association Sports, the windmill at Loch Bhasapol which powered the water supply to the school, the school furnace, the changes and new buildings at the school between 1972 and 2001; Archie also tells two amusing stories. Èairdsidh Ghilleasbuig Eachainn a Chòrnaig Mhòr a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Fhaoilteach 2001 mu obair, an da fhichead bliadhna a bha e na dhorsair ann an Sgoil Chòrnaig Mhòr, fosgladh an sgoil ùr ann an 1936, togail oifis a’ phoileas ann an 1937, co-fharpais dannsa aig Spòrs an Chomunn Thirisdich, am muileann-gaoithe aig Loch Bhasapol a bha tarraing uisge gun sgoil, àmhainn na sgoile, na atharrachaidhean agus na togalaichean ùra aig an sgoil eadar 1972 agus 2001; tha e cuideachd ag ìnnseadh da naidheachd èibhinn.

2004.6.1

Photograph of George Paterson and his family in the stackyard of his farm at 6 Crossapol in 1937. L-R: (back) Sarah MacPhee née Paterson (George’s sister); George Paterson; his wife Margaret (Meta) with baby Angus; (front) Hamish MacPhee, Sarah’s son; George and Meta’s children, Iain and Mairi.

z9.jpgCourtesy of Mrs Mairi Campbell

George’s father, Donald Paterson of Balinoe, emmigrated to Pategonia in the 1880s. Patagonia, in the south of Argentina and Chile, was cleared of its indigenous people in the 1880s to make way for large sheep farms. Many men from the Hebrides went out to share in the bonanza.

In 1885 Donald wrote to his brother asking him to send out his birth certificate and baptismal record so he could take possession of twelve square miles of land. He found the native Indians very kind and friendly and recommended shepherding in Patagonia where the pay was good.

Donald married in Patagonia and had a family. He brought his two sons George and John home to Tiree. George was seven years old at the time and could speak Gaelic and Spanish but not a word of English.

2004.6.2

The Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937

Photograph of the Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937.

z10.jpg

Courtesy of Mrs Mairi Campbell

The Paterson family are pictured in 1937 sitting on a rick-lifter outside their steadings at Crossapol. The cart was used to move stùcanan (small stacks of corn) from the fields to an iodhlann, the stackyard behind the house, where about six to eight of them were carefully built into a mulan (corn stack).

Initially the cut corn was bound into sguaban (sheaves), eight to ten of which were lined up into an adag. Once the seed had hardened, after about ten days if the weather was good, the adagan would be put into a stùc which can stand up to the winds that are common at that time of year.

Stùcanan could be left out if the weather deteriorated. If there was a dry spell, however, the adagan could be taken straight to the stackyard, as every time the corn was handled some grain was lost.

Black and white photograph of the Paterson family of Crossapol in 1937.

The steadings at 6 Crossapol in 1937. The cart was used to move ricks from the fields to the stackyard. L-R: Sarah MacPhee née Paterson (George’s sister); George Paterson with his son Angus; Betty MacLean née MacPhee, Sarah’s daughter (at back); George and Meta’s children, Mairi and Iain; Hamish MacPhee, Sarah’s son.