John MacNeill of Greenhill with his champion Clydesdale mare
Photograph of John MacNeill of Greenhill with his champion Clydesdale mare in 1927.
Courtesy of Mr Ronnie MacLean
John MacNeill of Greenhill was photographed at the Agricultural Show at Scarinish in 1927 with his champion Clydesdale mare. Until the 1950s, crofting depended on draught horses for ploughing and transporting crops.
Clydesdales were introduced to Tiree around the 1870s by Tom Barr, the tenant of Balephetrish farm, and crossed with the local ponies. The resulting animals were comparatively light and fast and were occasionally ridden or driven in gigs.
Continued use of Clydesdale stallions resulted in Tiree becoming famous in the early 20th century for the production of this breed, with the sale of colts and fillies becoming one of the most important sources of income for the island.
Black and white photograph of a champion Clydesdale mare at the 1927 agricultural show.
Champion Clydesdale mare belonging to John MacNeill of Greenhill at the agricultural show of 1927, from a small photograph album from Silversands in Vaul titled 1927.
Black and white photograph of a champion Clydesdale mare at the 1927 agricultural show.
Champion Clydesdale mare belonging to John MacNeill of Greenhill at the agricultural show of 1927, from a small photograph album from Silversands in Vaul titled 1927.
Black and white photograph of the MacDonald family in Middleton in the 1920s.
Middleton in the 1920s. L-R: Mary MacDonald, sister of Alasdair MacDonald; unknown; May MacDonald, mother of Alasdair MacDonald; Alasdair MacDonald, father of Lachie MacDonald, Middleton.
Photograph of John MacIntyre and his son Colin at the opened souterrain in Kilkenneth in 1918.
Courtesy of Mr Colin MacKinnon
John MacIntyre (Iain Chailein Mhurchaidh) and his son, Colin, are pictured here at the souterrain in Kilkenneth opened by chance when ploughing in 1918. It was later covered over.
Less than a mile away, a Y-shaped passage was exposed in the 1890s in the sand dunes at Tràigh Ghrianail. Measuring 9.2 metres long, 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres high, it was known locally as An Taigh Falaichte (the hidden house) and used for shelter by those working on the shore. It has since disappeared.
Similar underground structures were built on the mainland around 200 AD. They may have been used as byres or stores, or as places to hide from raiders.
Black and white photograph of John MacIntyre at the souterrain in Kilkenneth around 1920.
John MacIntyre at the rear of the horse and his son Colin at the opened souterrain in Kilkenneth around 1920.
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.
