Colour photograph of brown trout from Loch Bhasapol in 2004.
Brown trout from Loch Bhasapol photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.84.2
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Dates: 2000s
2005.84.3
Colour photograph of two mackerel in 2004.
Mackerel photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.84.4
Colour photograph of two saithe (coalfish) in 2004.
Two saithe (coalfish) photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.84.5
Colour photograph of two lythe (pollack) in 2004.
Two lythe (pollack) photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.84.6
The shed at Balemartine with the roof made from an old boat, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
The unpredictability of the sea quite naturally bred a strong sense of the magical and superstitious amongst Tiree’s fishermen. Everything had to be done sun- or clock-wise. Boats were always pushed into the sea stern first and then turned ‘deiseal’, clock-wise.
Women were thought to be unlucky in or near a boat. It was widely thought that it brought misfortune to have a minister on a boat. Even meeting a minister on the way to fishing was a bad sign. If anyone called after a fisherman going to sea it was unlucky and they turned back.
It was bad luck to burn a boat and the old fishermen would pull boats that were no longer seaworthy up on the shore and leave them to rot. Sometimes old boats were made into roofs for outhouses as in this photograph taken in Balemartine.
2005.84.7
‘Na Teantaichean’ at Clachan
Photograph of the remains of ‘Na Teantaichean’ at Clachan, Cornaig in 2004.
Tiree was an attractive summer base for fishermen from the north-east coast of Scotland during the19th century. They favoured the Green, Cornaig and Salum which were close to the rich fishing banks north of the island.
In those days, it was common for fishermen to have shelters down by the shore where they lived and stored their fishing tackle. Two ruins called ‘Na Teantaichean’ on the shore at Clachan in Cornaig can still be seen. The name suggests they were roofed with canvas.
The fishermen who used the site moored their boats at nearby Port nam Bàtachan. One of the crew would remain ashore to cook and dig for bait while the others were out fishing. After a day at sea they would sometimes meet up at the inn at Croish in Kilmoluaig.
Colour photograph of `Na Tentaichean` at the Green in 20040
The remains of `Na Tentaichean` at the Green where east coast fishermen stayed in the 19th century, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.83.2
Colour photograph of Scarinish harbour in 2004.
The railway at Scarinish harbour used to beach the `Spindrift` in a cradle, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2004.
2005.80.1
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 347, 9/7/2005.
Local news and events including the completion of the Crossapol Environmental Improvement Scheme, letter from the Councillor Ian Gillies, Tiree Heritage Society`s Pilgrimage Walk, the Feis, and news from the RSPB and the school.
2005.77.2
Newspaper obituary for Alasdair Kennedy (1929-2004).
Obituary for Alasdair Kennedy (1929-2004) who wrote the Glasgow Letter for the Oban Times
2005.76.1
Audio cassette recording of BBC Radio Scotland`s `Take the Floor` recorded in An Talla on 15/6/2005.
BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor with Robbie Shepherd recorded at An Talla on 15th June 2005 with music by local band Skipinnish and special guests singer Wilma Kennedy accompanied by her sister Mary Ann on clarsach, and Gaelic singer Bernard Smith.