Tag Archives: water supply and hygiene

2000.120.1

Audio cassette recording of Hector MacKinnon, Kilkenneth talking to Maggie Campbell in May 2000.

Hector MacKinnon of Kilkenneth talks to Maggie Campbell in May 2000 about the people who used to live in Kilkenneth, their relations and employment, how the roads used to be and the large numbers of horses, the self-sufficiency of people in his young days, Land Leagues, wells, leaving Kilkenneth aged 18, the emigration to Canada after the Glassary closed, the fall in the population of Moss, the Tiree bards and the size of families.Tha Eachann Mhic Fhiongain a Cille Choinneach a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns a’ Mhàigh 2000 mu na daoine a b’ àbhaist a bhi fuireach ann an Cille Choinneach, an càirdean agus an dreuchd aca, staid na rathaidean o chionn fhada agus an àireamh mhòr eich a bh’ ann, cho fèin-bhith ’s bha daoine ann an làithean òige, ‘Land Leagues’, tobraichean, a’ fàgail Cille Choinneach mar a bha e ochd bliadhna deug a dh’ aois, daoine fàgail an dùthaich a’ dol gu Canada an dèidh do ’n Glasairidh dùnadh, cho beag de dhaoine a th’ anns a’ Mhòinteach, na bàird Thirisdich agus meud na teaghlaichean.

1999.224.1

Audio cassette recording of Neil MacArthur of Moss talking to Maggie Campbell in October 1999.

Neil MacArthur (Niall Sheumais Alasdair) of Moss talks to Maggie Campbell in October 1999 about his schooling at Heylipol and Cornaig, working on the croft with his uncle, the people who used to live in Moss and the ruins that are left, the many cartwrights who used work on the island, the shops, illicit whiskey stills, the wells in Moss, cutting turf to burn instead of peat, singers and songs, people from Mull, the roads, the new church at Heylipol built in 1903-4 and a bad storm in the 1930s on the night of a wedding.

1999.252.1

Audio cassette recording of Janet Brown of Balephuil talking to Maggie Campbell in November 1999.

Janet Brown of Balephuil talks to Maggie Campbell in November 1999 about making butter and cheese, how there was always plenty of food even if the ferry couldn’t make Tiree, different kinds of scones, how all the work had to be finished by Saturday night in order to observe the Sabbath, washing using galvanised baths and Sunlight soap, washing blankets in the burn, harvesting, how herring were plentiful, how everyone helped preparing for a wedding, ceilidhs and dancing and different kinds of stockings.

2001.49.11

Photocopied newspaper article about Tiree.

Local news about the good weather and the progress of the crops, the visit by the pension officer, steam drifters on their way to the Barra fishing, the erection of the windmill at Island House to pump water and the deaths of Donald MacLean, manager of the Agricultural Co-op and of Donald MacFadyen of Balemartine who died aged 29.

1998.282.1

Audio cassette recording of a ceilidh with Maggie Campbell, Neil MacLeod and Murdoch MacDonald in 1998.

Maggie Campbell and Neil MacLeod of Kilmoluaig sing several songs composed by Tiree bards and a love song; Murdoch MacDonald of Kilmoluaig talks about shepherding, harvesting, the spring work on a croft, bulk buying of groceries, sharing barrels of herrings, travelling people, first-footing, home-coming events during the Glasgow fair, barn weddings and blanket washing days.Tha Magaidh Chaimbeul agus Niall MhicLeòid a Cill Moluag a’ seinn iomadach òran air an cur ri chèile aig bàird Thirisdeach agus òran gaoil; Murchadh MhicDhòmhnaill a Cill Moluaig a’ bruidhinn mun obair cìobair, obair foghair, obair an Earraich air a’ chroit, ceannach biadh ann am meudachd, a’ roinn barraille sgadain, na ceàrdan, a’ dol a mach air oidhche na Callaine, cùisean aig àm tighinn dhachaigh re Faidhir Glaschu, bainnsean sàbhail agus làithean nigheadh na plaideachan.

1998.286.1

Audio cassette recording of David MacClounnan of Balephuil talking to John Donald MacLean in June 1998.

David MacClounnan (Dàibhidh na Croige) of Balephuil talks to John Donald MacLean (Teòn Dòmhnall a’ Mhuilinn) of Crossapol about himself and Flòraidh Bhàird going home by bicycle, fishing, the caves around ‘cowrie shell beach’, the hanging island, a mermaid found at Diobadal in Hynish, Hynish pier and Skerryvore lighthouse, a well in Balephuil, beach-combing, forts, second sight, the first tractor in Tiree, a fairy woman, old funerals and funeral costs.

1999.151.3

Audio cassette recording of Hector Campbell of Garaphail interviewed by Margaret Bennett of the School of Scottish Studies.

Hector Campbell of Garaphail and Comrie talks to Margaret Bennett of the School of Scottish Studies about Gaelic songs and poetry, the music sailors from Ireland and the islands made at sea, the connections between Tiree and Skye, his boyhood, New Year, Halloween and May Day, superstitions, the weather, herbal remedies, fishing, seaweed as food, the changes in crofting practice, what happened when someone died, dances, washing days and health.

2004.7.2

Dan MacLeod’s practical joke

Sound clip in English of Duncan Grant of Ruaig talking about a practical joke involving a lobster.

Courtesy of Mr Duncan Grant

In a conversation with Alasdair Sinclair of Brock recorded in January 2004, Duncan Grant of Ruaig tells a humorous story about his relative, Dan MacLeod, who played a practical joke on Alasdair’s great-uncles, William, Donald and Neil MacKinnon.

In the days before television, neighbours would regularly visit each other ‘air chèilidh’- for the ‘crack’. Alasdair’s Uncle William was a great story-teller and would entertain the township children with ghost stories.

Duncan’s mother, Mary Flora MacLeod, remembered a particularly scary story about ‘cròg mòr fada liath, liath le aois’ (a long grey claw-like hand, grey with age). She and her sister would be so scared of leaving in the dark they would race the twenty yards home.

2001.20.1

Audio cassette recording of Archie MacKinnon of Cornaigmore talking to Maggie Campbell in January 2001.

Archie MacKinnon of Cornaigmore talks to Maggie Campbell in January 2001 about his working life, his 40 years as janitor at Cornaigmore School, the opening of the new school in 1936, the building of the Police Station in 1937, dancing competitions at the Tiree Association Sports, the windmill at Loch Bhasapol which powered the water supply to the school, the school furnace, the changes and new buildings at the school between 1972 and 2001; Archie also tells two amusing stories. Èairdsidh Ghilleasbuig Eachainn a Chòrnaig Mhòr a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Fhaoilteach 2001 mu obair, an da fhichead bliadhna a bha e na dhorsair ann an Sgoil Chòrnaig Mhòr, fosgladh an sgoil ùr ann an 1936, togail oifis a’ phoileas ann an 1937, co-fharpais dannsa aig Spòrs an Chomunn Thirisdich, am muileann-gaoithe aig Loch Bhasapol a bha tarraing uisge gun sgoil, àmhainn na sgoile, na atharrachaidhean agus na togalaichean ùra aig an sgoil eadar 1972 agus 2001; tha e cuideachd ag ìnnseadh da naidheachd èibhinn.