Academic paper ‘Beyond the Parish Church: a study of chapels in the parishes of Kirkapol on Tiree and Snizort on Skye’ by Sarah Thomas, 2015. Identification of different chapel types and the implications for understanding medieval religious devotions, demonstrating the breadth and diversity of religious practice in the late medieval Hebrides.
The curragh ‘Brendan’ at Gott Bay pier in 1976
Photograph of the curragh ‘Brendan’ at Gott Bay pier in 1976.
Courtesy of Mr Simon Latham
In 1976 Tim Severin and four companions set sail in a wood and leather curragh from the west coast of Ireland in a re-creation of the 6th century voyage of St Brendan the Navigator across the Atlantic via the Hebrides, Faroes and Iceland.
St Brendan is credited as the builder of a church and village ‘in the region of Heth’. ‘Heth regio’ and ‘terra Ethica’ are Latin translations of the Old Irish ‘tir Iath’ from which the modern name of Tiree is most probably derived.
In ‘Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae’ it is recorded that ‘in the sixth century St Breandan [sic] built a church at Kirkapol…’ The saint may have preached from a rock at Vaul named ‘Creag O Briundainn’, which overlooks a small natural amphitheatre called ‘Glac nan Salm’ (Hollow of the Psalms).
Colour photograph of the currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier in 1976.
The currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier photographed by Simon Latham in 1976. (For more information see `The Brendan Voyage`, 2000.185.3)
Colour photograph of the currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier in 1976.
The currach `Brendan` at Tiree pier in 1976.
MD recording of a talk by Ian Fisher in An Talla on 29/3/2006.
Talk titled ‘Tiree in its Columban context’ by Ian Fisher in An Talla on 29/3/2006 during the Tiree Conference of the Society for Northern Studies.
Mini-disk recording of a talk Rev. Bob Higham held in the Rural Centre on 31/3/2005.
Talk by the Rev. Robert Higham held in the Rural Centre on 30th March 2005 about Tiree’s Christian heritage from St. Columba to the present day.
Hardback book `The Argyll Book` edited by Donald Omand.
Twnety-one chapters about Argyll by recognised experts in the fields of archaeology, prehistory, early Christianity, the Viking period, the Lordship of the Isles, the Clan Campbell, industry, architecture, agriculture, oral traditions and traditions, Gaelic language and literature.
Paperback book `Saints of Scotland` by Edwin Sprott Towill.
The saints whose names are commemorated in Scottish churches, towns, villages, farms, hills, well and rivers.
Paperback book `Sea-Road of the Saints` by John Marsden.
Account of the holy men of the Hebrides and the Celtic Christianity of early Scotland.
Paperback book `The Stones of Iona` by John MacKenzie Semple.
The history of the carved stones of Iona giving their background particularly the Benedictine period and late.
Hardback book `Scottish Islands` by Ian Grimble.
Illustrated history of the western and northern isles of Scotland by historian Ian Grimble.
