Colour photograph of An Iodhlann committee members (L-R) Alasdair Sinclair, Brock (1923-2009), and Duncan Grant, Ruaig (born 1933), in An Iodhlann around 2006. Alasdair was one of the founding members of An Iodhlann, contributing a wealth of historical knowledge and material. Duncan is also on An Iodhlann’s committee and is the resident genealogist. The photograph was given to Duncan by a grateful visitor, Lynette MacLean-Crown, from New Zealand who was researching her family’s Tiree roots around 2010. A note from her is written on the back of the original print.
Research paper ‘Difference in death? A lost Neolithic inhumation cemetery with Britain’s earliest case of rickets at Balevullin, western Scotland’, by I Armit, F Shapland, J Montgomery & J Beaumont, published in the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 2015.
Printed memoir of a childhood spent on Tiree during WWII by Barry Kerr, 2015. Barry’s father, George (Jock) Kerr, was posted on the island as an RAF Signals and Telegraph Officer. Barry recalls the ‘black house’ he lived in at Balephetrish, the coal puffers, Cornaig school and prisoners of war.
Five copies of ‘West Highland Notes and Queries’ by the Society of West Highland and Island Historical Research: May 1973 – inhabitants of Coll; May 1977 – Donald MacLeod of Talisker’s links with Coll; January 2014 – Ua Neill pedigrees, 1467 MacEwens, first MacLeans, Breacachadh; October 2014 – article about Coll MacColl; August 2015 – the setting of rents on Tiree 1662-1716.
One of the ceramic red poppies from the display of 888,246 from the Tower of London in 2014 commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war. Each represented one British or colonial life lost. Bought and donated by Greta Travers who was posted to Tiree as a WAAF in 1945, during the second world war. The poppy was placed in the ground in front of the RAF Halifax memorial at Tiree’s airport for a while during 2015. See also 2017.12.2
Article in Fiddler magazine, 2010, about fiddler Calum MacKinnon, Seattle, whose Gaelic parents were from Tiree. Calum taught fiddle at Fèis Thiriodh 1998, and played at A’ Bhuain – Tiree Homecoming 2016.
Softback book ‘Eilean Uaine Thiriodh / The Green Isle of Tiree’ by Margaret Bennett and Eric Rose, 2014. Signed “Presented to An Iodhalnn by Ethel MacCallum, May 2015”, it is a biography of Ethel MacCallum who, in 1942, was evacuated from an orphanage in Glasgow to the Island of Tiree. She became fluent in Gaelic and, with her natural gift for music and song, was encouraged to write her own compositions. The book includes some of her original work on a CD.
Typical crofter’s work clothing displayed during the Agriculture exhibition in 2012: blue denim dungarees, blue denim jacket, checked cotton shirt, green/grey cloth cap, green rain hat, red neck scarf, black belt, sturdy walking boots.
Card funeral sheet celebrating the life of Neil Brownlie, Barrapol (1925-2015), with a colour photograph of Neil and his dog on the front, and lyrics for two hymns inside (Morning has Broken; The Lord’s My Shepherd). The service was held at Falkirk Crematorium in January 2015. Neil wrote many stories, songs and articles about Gaelic culture and history.
