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 Cathie Omand in Kenovay in 1950.
Cathie Omand nee MacMaster at the back of Donald the butcher`s house at Kenovay in 1950. Note the wooden crates to the right. All the Co-op produce such as jam and lemonade came in heavy crates such as these which had to be carried by hand into the shop.
Black and white photograph of Kate MacCallum, Rob MacMaster, John and Cathie Omand in 1950.
Outside the Co-op garage in 1950. L-R: Kate MacCallum of Scarinish; Robert MacMaster (Rob Mor) of Kenovay; John Omand, Murray Omand`s father; Cathie Omand nee MacMaster, John`s daughter-in-law. Rob Mor and John both drove the Co-op van.
Black and white photograph of Mary and Norman Omand with a friend in the 1950s.
Outside `Ormer` in Kirkapol in the 1950s with the Co-op van in the background. L-R: a friend of the Omands; Norman Omand, Murray`s brother; Mary Omand, Norman and Murray`s mother.
Audio cassette recording of Alasdair MacArthur, Balemartine recorded by himself.
Alasdair MacArthur (Alasdair Sheumais Alasdair) talks about the island of Tiree starting with the beauty of Happy Valley then going through the townships naming shops, hills, churches, harbours, shebeens, lochs and schools and describing the different views; Alasdair also recites two poems composed by himself, one called A’ fàgail Thiriodh and the other in memory of the people named on the War Memorial in Scarinish. Tha Alasdair Sheumais Alasdair a’ bruidhinn mu Eilean Thiriodh tòiseachadh le maise a’ Chlèit an sin a’ dol troimhe na bailtean ag ainmeachadh bùthan, beanntan, eaglaisean, puirt, ‘shebeens’, lochan agus sgoiltean agus toirt cunntas air na diofar sheallaidhean; tha Alasdair a’ gabhail dà rann a’ sgrìobh e fhèin, aon dhiubh A’ fàgail Thiriodh agus am fear eile mar chuimhneachan air na daoine a tha ainmichte air fas-charn a’ chogadh ann an Sgairinis.
