Abhainn Dearg, the new whisky from Uig, will not be whisky until 2011 but thanks to the intrepid Leodhaisiach Mike Donald and his colleagues, a small cask of the new spirit is lying cosseted in a cellar in Glasgow. MacSorley’s Music Bar on Jamaica Street will be the venue for a tasting of the Peacemaker batch on Tuesday 16 March, from 7.30. From the invitations: On February 21st 2010 at the Abhainn Dearg Distillery in Carnish on the far west coast of the Isle of [ » read more ]

These studio portraits are all from the early years of the 20th century – except the first, which is a tintype (I think) and seems to be earlier. They are unidentified, but came from the collection of Joan Maciver, Cliff. If you know who they might be, please comment.

An account of the life of Murdo Macdonald, Crola, held by Bernera Historical Society (author unknown). Although Murdo Macdonald was an Uigeach, born and bred, and of Uig parents, he was well known in Scarp and North Harris where many of his relations lived. His paternal grandmother was one of a well-known family of Macleans from Scarp while four of his father’s family (three sisters and a brother) married Scarpaich. These family connections caused him and his family to have constant intercourse between the two [ » read more ]

Stornoway Gazette: Distinction for Lewis Nurse. At a recent reception held in Eastern District Hospital, Glasgow, at which Alexander MacGregor, Medical Officer of Health, and Lady MacGregor presided, mention was made of the success of a Lewis nurse. Miss KA Morrison, Ungeshader, who was awarded the Gold Medal, the Special Tutor’s Prize and 3rd Year Surgical Prize. Prior to these awards, Nurse Morrison had obtained distinction in Anatomy, Physiology and Senior Practical Nursing Part II. The good wishes of friends follow her in her chosen [ » read more ]

Mairead Maclennan was born to 36 Cliff (at Craigard, on the hill opposite where the houses are now) in 1883.  She went to work in Paisley as a seamstress for J&P Coats, the manufacturers of sewing cotton, at Ferguslie Park.  She was the only one in the house with a German sewing machine and when it broke down during the Great War, the serviceman refused to repair it because of its provenance until Mr Coats intervened and informed the man that no one in the [ » read more ]