Dates: 2000s

2000.189.1

Audio cassette recording of John MacKinnon of Kilmoluaig talking to Maggie Campbell in 2000.

John MacKinnon (Iain Aonghais) of Kilmoluaig talks to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about his father Johnnie and his smiddy in Kilmoluaig, his uncle learning the trade in Cornaigbeg, Mull and Glasgow, himself working the bellows, the work of the blacksmith shoeing horses, the people of the area and their horses, the versatility of blacksmiths, the changes in the methods of crofting and the machinery used.

2000.198.1

Audio cassette recording of Donald Kennedy, Balevullin talking to Maggie Campebll in 2000.

Donald Kennedy (Dòmhnall Eachainn) of Balevullin talks to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about the people who used to live in Balevullin, the mill and sawmill, shipwrecks, carrageen, the shops, the roads in the area, where they went and who lived there, sea captains, his own time at sea and the changes he’s seen.

2000.199.1

Audio cassette recording of Hugh MacKinnon, Baugh and Angus MacLean, Scarinish talking to Maggie Campbell in 2000.

Hugh MacKinnon of Baugh and Angus MacLean (Aonghas Dhòmhnuill Eòghainn Mhòr) of Scarinish talk to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about the people who used to live in Baugh, the ceilidhs they had at Christmas and New Year, the decline in population, emigration to Canada, the poorhouse, Drs Hunter and Buchanan, farms, horses, other livestock and crops, furniture and house cleaning, the quarry in Baugh, the airport and World War II, the Taeping, sea captains and the changes they’ve seen. Tha Eòghann ’Ic Fhiongain as a’ Bhàgh agus Aonghas Dhòmhnuill Eòghainn Mhòr a Sgairinis a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul ann an 2000 mu na daoine a b’ àbhaist a bhi a’ fuireach anns a’ Bàgh, na ceilidhean a bha aca aig àm na Nollaige ’s a’ Bhliadhna Ùr, an dol sìos air àireamh nan daoine, daoine fàgail an dùthaich a’ dhol do Canada, taigh nam bochd, dotairean ’Ic an t-Sealgair agus Bochanan, bailtean-fearainn, eich, beathaichean eile agus bàrr, àirneis agus glanadh taighe, an gairbheal anns a’ Bhàgh, am port-adhair agus an darna cogadh, an Taeping, sgiobairean agus an t-atharrachadh a tha iad air fhaicinn.

2000.200.1

Audio cassette recording of Donald Iain Kennedy, Balephuil talking to Maggie Campbell in 2000.

Donald Iain Kennedy of Balephuil talks to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about the people he remembers in Balephuil, the shop, fishing and the skill of the local people, the places he would fish from, the weather, second sight, healing powers, the ministers in Balephuil, a fatal accident, the local poets and the songs they wrote, shebeens, teachers and school, and tells stories about the old people. Tha Dòmhnall Iain ’Ic Ualraig a Baile Phuill a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul ann an 2000 mu na daoine aig am bheil cuimhne aige a bha ann am Baile Phuill, am bùth, iasgach agus sgil nan daoine-ionadail, na carraigean far am biodh e ag iasgach, an tide, an dà shealladh, comas leighis, ministearan Bhaile Phuill, tubaist-bhàs mhòr, na bàird ionadail agus na h-òrain a sgrìobh iad, ‘shebeens’, tidsearan agus sgoil; tha e ag innse naidheachdan mu na seann daoine.

2000.205.1

Audio cassette recording of Ethel MacCallum of Tiree and Inverary talking to Maggie Campbell in 2000.

Ethel MacCallum of Tiree and Inverary talks to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about arriving in Tiree in 1943 aged six, the Post Office where she stayed, her schooling, working on the croft and in the Post Office and later at Inverary Castle, finding her brother and meeting her husband; Ethel sings a psalm and three Gaelic songs – Catriona Og, Tir a’ mhurainn, Tilleadh an t-eilean as boidhche fon ghrein – giving details of who wrote them and why.

2000.51.1

Audio cassette recording of Dr John MacInnes talking to Maggie Campbell in March 2000.

Dr John MacInnes talks to Maggie Campbell in March 2000 about recording oral histories on Tiree with the School of Scottish Studies, the kindness of Tiree people, meeting Eachann and Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin and the many stories he heard about Fingal, Oscar and Diarmid and other heroes, the origins of these stories, the Balephuil clearances, the skill of Tiree men at sailing and the importance of giving young people the confidence to speak in Gaelic. Tha Dotair Iain Mac Aonghais a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul ann Am Mart 2000 mu eachdraidh beul-aithrise Thiriodh air a chuir air clàr le Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba, càirdeas muinntir Thiriodh, a’ coinnicheadh ri Eachann agus Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin agus gur iomadh sgeul a’ chuala e mu Fhionn, Oscar agus Diarmaid agus gaisgich eile, tùs na sgeulan sin, fuadach Bhaile Phuill, sgil fir Thiriodh aig fairge agus cho feumail ’s a bha e misneachd a’ thoirt do dhaoine òige Gàidhlig a’ bhruidhinn.

2000.65.1

Audio cassette recording of Jessie MacKinnon of Mannal talking to Maggie Campbell in March 2000.

Jessie MacKinnon (Jessie Lachainn) of Mannal talks to Maggie Campbell in March 2000 about the people who used live in Mannal; the teachers at Balemartine School; milking and shepherds; her 40 years of service with a doctor’s family in Glasgow; the changes in the way people dress now; the fishing from Mannal and Balemartine; the Cattle Show, regattas and sports in the summer; her holidays; the shop in Mannal; making butter, cheese and scones; ministers. Tha Seasaidh Lachainn Phàdraig a Manal a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul ann Am Mart 2000 mu na daoine a b’ àbhaist a bhi fuireach ann am Manal, tidsearan ann an sgoil Bhaile Mhàrtainn, bleoghainn agus cìobairean; an da fhichead bliadhna a bha i na shearbhanta aig teaghlach dotair ann an Glaschu, an t-atharrachadh ann an dòigh sgeadaich aig daoine an-nis; an t-iasgach a mach a Manal agus Baile Mhàrtainn; Fèis Cruidh, rèis bhàtaichean agus spòrs anns an t-samhradh; na soar-làithean aice; am bùth ann am Manal; deànamh ìm, càise agus bonnaich; ministeirean.

2000.120.1

Audio cassette recording of Hector MacKinnon, Kilkenneth talking to Maggie Campbell in May 2000.

Hector MacKinnon of Kilkenneth talks to Maggie Campbell in May 2000 about the people who used to live in Kilkenneth, their relations and employment, how the roads used to be and the large numbers of horses, the self-sufficiency of people in his young days, Land Leagues, wells, leaving Kilkenneth aged 18, the emigration to Canada after the Glassary closed, the fall in the population of Moss, the Tiree bards and the size of families.Tha Eachann Mhic Fhiongain a Cille Choinneach a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns a’ Mhàigh 2000 mu na daoine a b’ àbhaist a bhi fuireach ann an Cille Choinneach, an càirdean agus an dreuchd aca, staid na rathaidean o chionn fhada agus an àireamh mhòr eich a bh’ ann, cho fèin-bhith ’s bha daoine ann an làithean òige, ‘Land Leagues’, tobraichean, a’ fàgail Cille Choinneach mar a bha e ochd bliadhna deug a dh’ aois, daoine fàgail an dùthaich a’ dol gu Canada an dèidh do ’n Glasairidh dùnadh, cho beag de dhaoine a th’ anns a’ Mhòinteach, na bàird Thirisdich agus meud na teaghlaichean.

2001.182.1

Audio cassette recording of Mabel MacArthur of Sandaig talking to Maggie Campbell in October 2001.

Mabel MacArthur of Sandaig talks to Maggie Campbell in October 2001 about her trip to America where she witnessed the terrorist incident at the New York World Trade Centre on September 11th from 15-20 blocks away, the terrible smell and smoke the next day and how relieved she was to leave. Tha Mabel Nic Artair a’ bruidhinn re Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Dàmhair 2001 mun cuairt a ghabh i gu Ameireaga far an d’ fhianais i tubaist oillteachas ann an New York Trade Centre air a cheud latha deug de ’n t-Sultain, am fàileadh uamhasach agus an toit an ath latha, agus cho taingeil ’s bha i bhi ga fhàgail.

2001.68.11

Photograph of Dùn nan Nighean at Balephuil in 2000

Dùn nan Nighean at Balephuil

The remains of twenty-five fortresses from the Iron Age (600 BC – 400 AD) survive on Tiree. It is likely that these were unsettled times caused by a worsening of the climate, a growing population, thinning of the first farmed soils and the use of new iron weapons.

These fortresses, all now called ‘dùn’ in modern Gaelic, are either forts large enough to hold a community of 30 to 40 people, small duns made to shelter one family or brochs with double-skinned walls containing a staircase and guard cell, probably standing around 8 metres tall.

The forts and duns had simple defences and usually stood on inaccessible crags away from their accompanying farms. Tradition has it that a group of nuns was cornered at Dùn nan Nighean and slaughtered by the Vikings. There is also said to have been an escape tunnel out of the dun.