Township: greenhill

2000.61.23

CD Pròiseact Thiriodh CD-SA1968-38.

Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings ‘Bràigh Rùsgaich’, talks about the tacksman of Grianal Niall Dubh, sings ‘Lachlann ’ic Nèill ’ic Lachlainn’ and ‘Solbhag Bheag’, talks about Coinneach Odhar, recites part of a song about the ‘Black School’, the supernatural powers of Iain Dubh MacLeod and a boy who could perform magic, sings ‘Gillean Ghleann Dail’ and ‘MacGriogair o Ruadh Shruth’, talks about technical terms used on boats, sings a sailing song, talks about molluscs and their uses, sings a fragment of another song and talks some more about the Grianal tacksman.

2000.61.48

Mini-disk SA1968/38.

Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bhàin) of Balephuil sings ‘Bràigh Rùsgaich’, talks about the tacksman of Grianal Niall Dubh, sings ‘Lachlann ’ic Nèill ’ic Lachlainn’ and ‘Solbhag Bheag’, talks about Coinneach Odhar, recites part of a song about the ‘Black School’, the supernatural powers of Iain Dubh MacLeod and a boy who could perform magic, sings ‘Gillean Ghleann Dail’ and ‘MacGriogair o Ruadh Shruth’, talks about technical terms used on boats, sings a sailing song, talks about molluscs and their uses, sings a fragment of another song and talks some more about the Grianal tacksman.

2004.153.1

Audio cassette recording of a talk `The Archaeology of Tiree` by Professor Steven Mithen in An Talla, Crossapol on 26/8/2004.

Talk ‘The Archaeology of Tiree’ given by Professor Steven Mithen of Reading University in An Talla in August 2004 and introduced by Dr John Holliday. Prof. Mithen talks about the earliest settlers in the Southern Hebrides around 6000BC, their probable lifestyle and tools, the traces they’ve left such as flints, bone tools, middens and charcoal deposits, the survey work the Reading team have been conducting on Tiree including ground penetrating radar and peat cores and the work they hope to do on Tiree in the future.

2004.84.2

Margaret Padbury with her grandfather’s travelling desk

Photograph of Margaret Padbury of Kojonup, Western Australia with her grand-father’s travelling desk.

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Courtesy of Mrs Margaret Padbury

Donald MacKinnon, a miller in Balevullin, was one of twelve men arrested in 1886 after a period of land agitation on the island. Four of the ringleaders, including Donald and the Land League Chairman, were released without charge.

However, Donald’s prospects on the island were blighted and he decided to emigrate. He was presented with a travelling desk with an inscription which read: ‘Presented to Donald MacKinnon Balevullin by friends of Tiree on his leaving for New Zealand in recognition of his services in advocating their rights to the people and as a token of their respect and regards 16th March 1888.’

Donald eventually settled in Western Australia where he worked on the railway and raised a family. His grand-daughter, Margaret Padbury of Kojonup, described him as ‘a man of the highest principles, who lived by the word of God and brought up his family the same way.’

Colour photograph of Margaret Padbury in Western Australia in March 2004.

Margaret Padbury of Kojonup, Western Australia with the desk presented to her grandfather Donald MacKinnon of Balevullin who was involved in the Greenhill ‘riot’ of 1886. The inscription reads: Presented to Donald MacKinnon Balevullin by friends of Tiree on his leaving for New Zealand in recognition of his services in advocating their rights to the people and as a token of their respect and regards 16th March 1888.

2004.84.3

Colour photograph of the travelling desk presented to Donald MacKinnon of Balevullin by the people of Tiree in 1888.

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Donald MacKinnon, a miller in Balevullin, was one of twelve men arrested in 1886 after a period of land agitation on the island. He was released and decided to emigrate to New Zealand in 1888. Before leaving he was presented with a travelling desk with an inscription which read: ‘Presented to Donald MacKinnon Balevullin by friends of Tiree on his leaving for New Zealand in recognition of his services in advocating their rights to the people and as a token of their respect and regards 16th March 1888.’ Donald eventually settled in Western Australia where he worked on the railway and raised a family.

2004.72.8

Photocopy of the High Court in Edinburgh Minute Book for 18-21 October 1886.

High Court in Edinburgh Minute Book 18-21 October 1886 detailing the trial of eight Tiree men indicted for `Mobbing and Rioting and the Deforcement of an Officer of the Law in the Execurion of his Duty`. (From the papers of the late Sandy MacKinnon, Crossapol.)