Donald Maciver was born in Crowlista in 1857, son of John Maciver, the Gaelic schoolmaster and missionary, and they lived in Ness and then South Lochs.  Donald also became a teacher, at Lemreway (see the school log), Breasclete and latterly Bayble. The family had come from Carnish, just across the sands, which had been cleared in the early 1850s.  Donald would spend a lot of time in Crowlista with his maiden aunts, Mary, Ann and Effie, who were very enterprising.  Effie used to take a [ » read more ]

By Peggy Eiric Maciver, Kneep; an elegy for Iain Morrison, son of Angus Morrison of 13 Reef who was a policeman in London. Iain emigrated to Canada and was killed in a mining accident in 1970. Marbhrann air Iain Moireasdan, Uig agus Lunnainn, a chaochail an Canada. Iain ‘s mòr an àmhghair rinn do bhàs a chur mu’n cuairt ‘Nuair thig guth a’ bhàis chan ‘eil càil a bheir air buaidh Dha do bhràthair ‘s do phàrantan bha am buille cràiteach cruaidh ‘Na d’òige leis [ » read more ]

We have audio!  Dan Finlayson, Ardroil, in conversation with Dolligan’s uncle (?) relating a story about an old cure (in Gaelic).  Click the arrow to play. [audio:project1 sealskin.mp3] Peter (Padruig Mor, 7 Aird, born 1803) had terrible rheumatism, but the fishermen had culled a lot of large seals, so Peter was rolled in a sealskin smeared with Archangel Tar and thrown in the straw in the barn.  He was fed with oatmeal gruel and a little butter.  After a week in the sealskin Peter was crying [ » read more ]

A ceilidh house entertainment in circulation in Uig in years long past retells an ancient Fenian story, recorded by both Dolly Doctor and Rev Col AJ Mackenzie.  One day Fionn and fourteen of the Feinne sat down to feast with a neighbouring chief, Dubhan, and fourteen of his men. A quarrel arose that could only be settled by blood, but the two parties were well matched and it was clear that a battle would only result in the destruction of both sides, and an unsatisfactory [ » read more ]

Donald Matheson, an Saighdear Chaluim Bhain, was a son of Malcolm Matheson (Calum Bàn) of Valtos and Crowlista.  (Calum Bàn has some interesting ancestors who can be found by following the lines back via Hebridean Connections.)  Donald was born in the 1740s and joined the army, serving at the siege of Louisbourg in 1758, and later with the 78th Seaforth Highlanders in India and Ireland. He returned to Uig where he married Chirsty Macdonald and had a large family. One of their children, also Donald, [ » read more ]

Verses about the boys from the Bays, by Donald Macleod (Dòmhnall Eachainn) of 10 Geshader, who was born in 1874 and spent his working life in Glasgow.  This hasn’t seen the light of day for some time; thanks to the family for providing it. Bho Ghiosladh gu Gràsabhaig ‘S h-uile h-ait ‘s na cuiltean sin ‘S na seòldairean a’dol gu sàl An uair theid each don cùlaisdean. An teid thu leum do Bhearnaraidh Gheibh sinn bùntata ‘s crùbag ann An teid thu leum do Bhearnaraidh ‘S mo lamh [ » read more ]

Màiri, born 1841, was a daughter of Murdo Maciver and Mary nee Morrison, of Pabbay, 11 Kneep and later 25 Valtos.  She emigrated to the United States and while there suffered greatly with homesickness and composed the song Och nan och, tha mi fo mhulad.  According to tradition she lost her sight with the associated weeping but it is more likely that her blindness was caused by some substance used in her daily work in a laundry.   Màiri did eventually return home to Uig.  Her [ » read more ]

This well-known song was written by Jane Finlayson (1775-1840) of Tong about her suitor, fisherman Donald Macrae of Uig. She laments Donald’s continuing absence and wonders, in the face of her friends’ advice to give up on him, whether he will ever return. In fact he did return to marry her and some of their descendents still live in Uig. Fhir a’ bhàta na hò ro èille, Fhir a’ bhàta na hò ro èille, Fhir a’ bhàta na hò ro èille, Gu ma slàn dhut [ » read more ]

A song about her native village, by Peggy Eric Maciver, 7 Kneep Tha Cnip os cionn mo dhachaidh tha mu choinneamh Cnoc nan Còrr Is an tom air cùl an tighe ris an canar Cnoc an Oir An Fhaoilinn ‘S rubha Iolmoir air am b’ eòlach mi bho m’ òig Is Sgealasbhalis Liongal cumail fasgadh ris an lòn. Gun dìrinn bruthach cus nuair a bhithinn a falbh a lorg nam bò Gun gamhainn seo Druim Raonabrie mu chùl a’ Bhaca Mhòir Gun dìrinn suas Druim [ » read more ]

  As told by Rev Donald Macaulay.  English text follows the Gaelic.  Photo of Brenish by Chris Murray.   Bha an cogadh a dol bliadhnaichean agus am màrbhadh eadar Clann ‘ic Leòid, Clann Choinnich agus na Moireasdanaich agus an deidh dha Clann Choinnich an t-eilean fhaiginn mu dheireadh dhaibh b’fhèin agus thàinig siothladh de shìth anns an eilean an uairsin.  Ach cha tugadh fìr Ùig gèill do chlann Choinnich idir gu h-àraidh am fear a bh’air an ceann – Dòmhnall Cam.  Cha b’e Sìthphort a bh’ann [ » read more ]

The spirit of one of the murdered men from Mealista came to the bedside of his sweetheart and he sang to her the verses of this song – trying to explain to her what a cruel fate had overtaken them. ‘Se nighean mo ghaoil An nighean donn òg, Nam bithinn ri taobh Cha bhithinn fo leòn. Tha m’ chuideachd am bliadhna ‘G a m’ shireadh ‘s ‘gam iarraidh, ‘Sa tha mis’ am Bàgh Ciarach Aig iochdar an loin. Tha fearaibh na Pàirce Air tomhadh na lamh-thuagh, [ » read more ]

  Norman Macleod, Am Bàrd Bochd, taught at Lochcroistean school from 1936 to 1943, and was a noted bard who composed the following about Lochcroistean and some of the people he knew there.  The last four verses constitute his song about the people of Geshader.  Lochcroistean School was in use until the new Uig school opened at Timsgarry in 1972.  The building housed the Comann Eachdraidh museum for many years and is now a cafe and visitors’ centre. Air sgiathan m’ inntinn siùbhlaibh mi Do [ » read more ]

The place name Àite nan Ordaighean in Valtos Glen is still known today and a rough cairn is all that remains in this place of worship. Foot paths descending down the steep sides of the Glen to reach the place of worship are still visible. Those paths indicate the various directions from which many worshippers approached. People walked for miles to hear the gospel being preached in this sheltered spot.  There are few written records about the open air services in Glen Valtos but it [ » read more ]

A song of the people of Geshader, by Norman Macleod, Am Bàrd Bochd, who was headmaster at Lochcroistean from 1936 to 1943. Gur tric mi an diugh a’ cuimhneachadh Air suinn bha leam ann uair, An duinealas ‘s an aoighealachd, An abhachas gun fhuath; An t-Ileach seòlta àmhailteach ‘S Macneill na bheachd cur ruaig Air a Lion shìos an Gràsabhaig ‘S air Pàdraig a’ Ghlinne Ruaidh. Gur tric mi leis a’ Choisich Chon nan creagan bheirinn sgrìob Cho sèimh na chainnt ‘s na dhòighean rium [ » read more ]