Tag Archives: cattle

2000.5.1

Audio cassette recording of Maggie Campbell talking to John George MacLean in Scarinish on 11/1/2000.

Maggie Campbell talks to John George MacLean in January 2000 about the pay and conditions of the workers building piers in Tiree, the lighter taking cargo to the steamers, the sling and crane used to lift livestock, the railway tracks down Gott Bay pier to the stores, the pier at Heanish, the coal puffers and the ‘Mary and Effie’, pier masters, and the Scarinish Hotel and shop. Tha Mairead Chaimbeul a’ bruidhinn ri Iain Dheòrsa Mac ’Ill ’Leathain a Sgairinis anns an Fhaoilteach 2000 mun phaigheadh agus shuidheachadh luchd-obrach nan cidhe Thiriodh; an geòla a giùlain luchd gu na bàtaichean-aiseig; an crann a thog beathaichean; an rathad-iarainn air a’ chidhe; cidhe Hianais; bàtaichean-guail agus am Mary and Effie, na maighstirean-cidhe; taigh-òsda Sgairinis agus Bùth Dhan.

1999.216.6

Audio cassette recording of Alasdair MacKechnie and Angus MacLean talking to Maggie Campbell in October 1999.

Alasdair MacKechnie of Mull and Angus MacLean of Scarinish talk to Maggie Campbell in October 1999 about bringing cattle from Tiree to the Ross, the links between the Ross and Hynish when Skerryvore was being built, how fishermen came from South Uist to teach the Ross people how to fish at the time of the potato blight, the exchange of peat for potatoes with Tiree people, regular peat-cutting trips to the Ross from Tiree, the ferry links that used to exists; two songs are sung: Fàgail Loch Buidhe and Mhairi Mhin Mheall-Shieileach. Tha Alasdair ’IcEachairn a Muile agus Aonghas Dhòmhnuill Eòghainn Mhòr a Sgairinis a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Dàmhair 1999 mu bhi toirt beathaichean as Tiriodh gu ’n Ros, an co-cheangal a bha eadar An Ros agus Haoidhnis nuair a bha an Sgeir Mhòr ga togail, mar a thàinig iasgairean a Uibhist a Deas a dh’ ionnsachadh iasgach do mhuinntir an Ros an àm bliadhna a chailleadh am buntàta, an t-suaip mòine ri muinntir Thiriodh airson buntàta, cuairtean riaghailteach do ’n Ros airson mòine, co-cheangal bhàtaichean a b’ àbhaist a bhi ann; tha da òran air an seinn: Fàgail Loch Buidhe agus Mhàiri Mhìn Mheall-Shuilean

2000.212.1

Bell gun with firing mallet used as a humane killer for slaughtering cattle and sheep. Originally used by Tiree butcher, Donald Archie MacLean, to slaughter cattle and sheep, this humane killer was given to the vetinary on the island, Robert Beck, in the 1960s. Made of cast iron, the maker’s name, W. W. Greener of Birmingham, is embossed around the rim of bell. Once loaded with a single bullet, the bell was positioned on the front of the animal’s head and the gun fired by hitting the trigger (the protruding knob) with the wooden mallet. Although very efficient and humane, it required two hands to operate and another person to steady the animal’s head. Not considered safe enough for use indoors, humane killers with captive bolts are now used instead.

2000.212.1

Tiree in 100 Objects – 39 – Bell Gun

The History of Tiree in 100 Objects

 

2003.161.1

Black and white photograph of an unknown man with cows from a small album from Silversands.

`Am Buachaille` (the cow-herd or shepherd) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.

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1998.103.14

Mary Jane and Mary Ann MacDonald of Balemartine

Photograph of Mary Jane and Mary Ann MacDonald of Balemartine feeding a calf.

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Courtesy of Mrs Maggie Campbell

Home on holiday from service in Pollockshields, Glasgow in July 1929, sisters Mary Jane and Mary Ann MacDonald of Balemartine are pictured in their Sunday best feeding the family’s three month old calf.

Calves were separated from their mothers immediately after birth to ensure a supply of milk for the house. When old enough, they would be tethered in the summer pasture at Hynish, three miles distant from the croft house, and fed milk from a pail supplemented with meal.

Calves were fed in this manner for up to eight months and sold three or four months later, providing the family’s main source of income.

Black and white photograph of sisters Mary Jane and Mary Ann MacDonald of Balemartine.

Sisters Mary Jane and Mary Ann MacDonald of Balemartine feeding a calf in Hynish in July 1929.

2003.146.1

Video recordings of TV programmes about crofting on Tiree, 1985-86

VHS video of recordings of two TV programmes about crofting on Tiree: (1) (Track 3) STV`s `Scotland Today – The Crofter`s Way` recorded in 1985 about crofting in Tiree and featuring Ailig MacArthur of Heylipol, crofters John and Hugh MacKinnon, thatchers Alexander MacNeil and Hector Brown, Jean MacKay of Balemartine and Janice Monaghan of Heanish, crofters Lachie MacKinnon of Parkhouse and Alastair MacInnes of Ruaig, and teacher Margaret MacKay, (2) (Track 3) Extract from Channel 4`s `Edgeland` recorded in 1986 (?) about crofting in the Highlands and Islands and featuring Tiree with Ailig MacArthur of Heylipol and Alastair MacInnes of Ruaig.