Two tales from when Alexander MacRae and then his widow had Ardroil Farm (see also our new list of Uig farms and their owners and rental). English follows. Bha bean Alasdair na Riobhach ‘na boireannach diadhaibha bha cumail smachd theann air na searbhantan. Glè thric, anns a’ mhadainn an dèidh na leabhraichean bhiodh cùirt ann nam biodh amharus aice gu robh cuideigin air lochd a dheanamh. ‘Nuair a bha iad an Capadail, bha gille air an tac a bha dona gu droch cainnt, agus a feasgar [ » read more ]

From the People’s Journal, 27 September 1958. It’s a while now since Dr Donald Macdonald [Dolly Doctor] of Gisla in Lewis practised at his profession. But the jovial, big-hearted doctor is still a cure and a tonic for many folk not only in his native island, but in many other circles. Take the old folk in Stornoway. He has taken them under his wing, brightens up their eventide with his cracks and joviality, and they, in turn, just dote on him. The doctor has such [ » read more ]

This is the final section of an interesting and detailed piece on the Pygmies Isle (first mentioned by Dean Monro in 1549 as having been inhabited by “little people”) near the Butt of Lewis , published by WC Mackenzie in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland, 13 March 1905 (vol XXXIX, p257).  It’s of no particular relevance to Uig but see what you make of it, in spite of its rather dated tone (and for Lapp, read today Sami – the Sea Sami [ » read more ]

Just now I am up in a cold land And a message has arrived for us to go to sea, That the ships are now assembled and when night comes We have to move off with them. -Murdanie Macritchie This song was written by Petty Officer Murdanie Macritchie, Brenish, whilst serving during the Second War on HMS Cape Palliser escorting merchant ships on a Russian convoy, PQ-15, from Iceland to Murmansk.  PQ-15 (not PQ-16, as previously thought) sailed from Iceland on 26 April 1942, reaching Kola Inlet [ » read more ]

Maggie Smith and John Murdo Macdonald have recently produced a DVD of songs of Uig, an excellent record for which the Comann Eachdraidh is grateful.  The DVD can be purchased for £10 plus postage from Maggie on 01851 860204. Traditional singers Pèigi Oighrig Smith of Kneep and Agnes Fraser originally from Reef, sing songs from the rich Uig tradition, on the new Clann Nighean Uig DVD.  Eighty two year old Pèigi Oighrig Smith, sings both her own songs and some written by her grand uncle [ » read more ]

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Verses written by Norman “Conter” Macleod, am Bard Bochd and for many years headmaster at Lochcroistean, on the occasion of the marriage of Agnes Smith, Lochcroistean, to Kenny Maclennan, 15 Kneep.  It was sung at the wedding by Kenny Dan Smith, 2 Ungeshader; and the reading here is by Finlay Maciver Carishader (click the arrow). O, nach sinne fhuair an t-urram Bhon a’ chruinneig uasal bhòidheach, Thog ar cridhe le a cuireadh Bhith ‘na cuideachd aig a pòsadh. [ » read more ]

Ciorstaidh Mhòr, Christina Matheson, was born in 1861 in Enaclete, a daughter of William Ruadh and a sister of William Dearg.  Her father came with his family to Geshader in the late 19th century and built this house at 2 Geshader, on the hillside overlooking the loch on the right as you drive into the village – though there was no road then, of course.  Ciorstaidh, a notably tall woman, married Calum Macleod of 8 Geshader in 1883, remained at No 2, and raised four [ » read more ]

The BBC Alba series A Reir na h-Aimsir, which looks at how weather affects us, was this week in Lewis, looking at how traditional blackhouse architecture has been adapted for a new house in Brenish, amongst other things.  There’s a trio of well-known Uig bodachs on local weather lore at about the 22-minute mark. To view only until 7 April from this link, or to download (both options for UK viewers only.)  In Gaelic with subtitles. Edit:  no longer available from the link but here’s [ » read more ]

Sgeulachdan goirid air a’ chuspair ‘Cianalas’. Duaisean air leth airson fileantaich & luchd-ionnsachaidh: Bun-Sgoil: 1. £40 : 2. £20 : 3. £15 (suas gu 200 facal) Àrd-Sgoil: 1. £60 : 2. £40 : 3. £20 (suas gu 500 facal) Inbhich: 1. £150 : 2. £100 : 3. £ 50 (suas gu 2000 facal) Cuiribh na sgeulachdan a-staigh ro 14 Màrt 2009 gu MacCuish, Balard, Solas, Uibhist a Tuath, HS6 5BX (email). Tha a’ cho-fharpais seo air a cur air bhonn le Taigh Sgìre Sholais a’ [ » read more ]

A Mhealisbhal bhòidhich ‘s do mhullach air chòmhdach Le uisge agus ceò agus frasan de d’fhuachd Bho làithean m’ òige bha mise ort eòlach ‘S tu ag èirigh cho còmhnard os cionn a’ Chuan Siar. Cha robh maidne a dh’eirinn nach fhaicin do shlèibhtean Do ghillean ‘s am beulan’s iad daonnan bho ghruaim, ‘S e sealladh tha gleusta gad amharc ‘s a’ Chèitean ‘S a’grian, an àm èirigh ri lasadh do ghruaidh. Air feasgar an t-sàmhraidh ‘s a’ghrian ort a soillseadh ‘S a’chur dathan tha [ » read more ]

Pròiseact nan Ealan and Murray International Language Centre, both in Stornoway, have collaborated on the production of a new Gaelic Karaoke DVD, to be launched this Friday (23 January) at Celtic Connections in Glasgow.  There are nine songs in the collection, including Eilean an Fhraoich, Hè mo Leannan and our own Fear a’Bhàta, with the sing-along words appearing on screen against a backdrop of Hebridean views, and a booklet with the songs in two languages. The songs are performed by Michelle Morrison (of Teine) and [ » read more ]

Donald Òg was the younger of two sons called Donald, born to Dugald Macaulay, tacksman of Brenish, in the late 17th century; he was the great-grandson of Domhnall Càm. Rev William Matheson’s columns on the Macaulays, published in the Gazette in the 1950s, include several stories about Donald Òg drawn from the Morrison manuscripts.  He writes: According to Morrison, Donald Òg Macaulay of “Brenish fought on the King’s side at Culloden”.  The historical basis of this statement is probably that in the Independent Company raised [ » read more ]

MG Alba, which in partnership with the BBC runs BBC Alba, the new Gaelic digital TV service, is also running a Gaelic short film competition, FilmG.  This is an entry with Uig connections, Am/Àite, written by Eric Macdonald, directed by Alasdair Macleod and featuring a few faces you might know. You can see other films and vote for your favourites at the FilmG website. Update, 9 Feb: Am/Àite won Best Screenplay for Eric Macdonald, and one of the best new voices for Maggie Smith!

A song by Peigi Eiric Smith, Kneep, which was performed at our Good Night Out in Uig last Friday. O tha mi dol dhachaidh gu Eilean mo ghràidh A dh’ionnsaidh a’ bhaile ‘s an robh mi nam’ phàisd’ a dh’fhaicinn gach machair gach loch agus tràigh ‘S mi’n duigh iomadh mile bho dhuthaich mo ghràidh. ‘S mi’n duigh ann an Glaschù am aile nan smùid Far’eil iomadh cuir-seachad ‘is fasannan ùr Ach lùiginn dhol dhachaidh ged b’e beagan ùin’ Do’n àit’ tha dhomh tlachdmhòr measg [ » read more ]

Seo mar a dh’innis Cairistiona Dhòmhnallach, 25 Crabhlastadh mar a bhiodh i a dol chun an iasgaich na h-oige. See the English translation here. Nuair a bhiodh sinn a dol a dh’fhalbh chun a Sgadain airson a’ chiad uair dh’fheumadh sinn an toiseach Màighstear a lorg. ‘S e clann-nighean eile a bhiodh a dèanamh sin dhuinn. Bha sinne deònach falbh nan gabhadh e sinn ach dh’fheumadh sinn innseadh nach robh sinn a muigh a riamh. Nan gabhadh e sinn a1 falbh le ainm an fhir [ » read more ]