Photograph of a lobster boat and dinghy at Scarinish pier in July 2000.
Tiree may be known as Tìr an Eòrna, the land of barley, but the abundance of shellfish on its shores must have been one of the attractions that brought the first men to the island 7,000 years ago. In the 19th century, dried ling and cod were a major export from the island.
Today the lobster and crab fishery is Tiree’s second biggest earner with an estimated annual catch worth £750,000. By comparison, in 2004 crofting was estimated to be worth £730,000 to the island with a further £680,000 coming in subsidy.
Currently five boats fish out of Tiree for velvet crabs (deiseagan) and brown crabs (crùban or partan) which sell for 50-70 pence a kilo. ‘Deiseagan’ are particularly prized in Spain where they are cut in half and the body contents picked out whole with a spoon.
Colour photograph of Scarinish harbour in July 2000.
Lobster boat and dinghy at Scarinish pier in July 2000.
Colour photograph of the `Oldies` football team in July 2000.
The `Oldies` football team who played against the women`s team on the Reef in July 2000. L-R: (back) Dr John Holliday, Baugh; Donald MacDonald, Vaul; Bernie Smith, West Hynish; Stuart Smith, Crossapol; Iain Gillies, Scarinish; Roddy MacKay, Balemartine; Hugh MacInnes, Salum; (front) Gordon Connell, Crossapol; Ronnie MacGowan, Heylipol; Gordon Scott, Cornaigmore; Alan Worsley, Crossapol.
Black and white photograph of Neil MacDonald and Katie MacCallum in 1952.
Neil MacDonald (Catherine Mary`s husband) and Katie MacCallum of Scarinish outside the Co-op garage in 1952. After the Co-op burnt down in 1948, the garage was used as the shop.
Black and white photograph of Cathie Omand with Morag and John Galt in 1952.
Cathie Omand née MacMaster with the Co-op manager’s children, John and Morag, in 1952. They stayed in `The Willows` in Scarinish which was the Co-op manager`s house at that time. Morag grew up and married Alasdair Straker of Balemartine.
Photograph of Scarinish in 1951 showing the ruins of the Co-op store.
Courtesy of Mrs Cathie Omand
This photograph taken in Scarinish in 1951 shows Neil MacDonald, Cathy MacNeill and Hugh MacKinnon with Cathy’s daughter Teena sitting in front of the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background on the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry.
The fire began in the back paraffin store and destroyed the shop. There was a concert in Crossapol that evening and people returning home stopped to help salvage a few possessions. The couple who lived above the Post Office in the east end of the building were fortunately visiting in Balephetrish and no-one was hurt.
After the fire, the business moved down to the Church Hall at the pier, and then to a garage behind the Coop itself, while the present day premises were built by John MacFarlane of Balemartine. The shop became self-service around 1972.
Black and white photograph of Neil MacDonald, Hugh MacKinnon, Cathy and Teena MacNeill in 1951.
Scarinish in 1951 with the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background at the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry. L-R: Neil MacDonald (Catherine Mary’s husband); Cathy MacNeill of Scarinish; Hugh MacKinnon, brother of Effie Middleton and Donald Hough, and married to Duncanina MacMaster; Teena MacNeill, Cathy’s daughter.
Black and white photograph of Cathy MacNeill, Hugh MacKinnon, Teena MacNeill and Cathie Omand in 1951.
Scarinish in 1951 with the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948 in the background. L-R: Cathy MacNeill of Scarinish; Hugh MacKinnon, married to Duncanina MacMaster and brother of Effie and Donald; Teena MacNeill, Cathy`s daughter; Cathie Omand nee MacMaster, Hugh`s sister-in-law.
Black and white photograph of Malcolm and Isabel Lamont`s house in Cornaigmore.
Malcolm (Calum Alasdair) and Isabel Lamont`s house in Cornaigmore. Isabel was a weaver and had her loom in the byre. They were the parents of Donald Lamont of Caoles and the grandparents of Malcolm MacLean of Salum (Calum Salum).
