Fishing Boats in Uig

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

[singlepic=637,,386] Many thanks to Donald J Macleod of Enaclete and Bridge of Don for his research into the fishing boats of Uig. He adds that these boats used lines and not trawls to catch white fish. It was the end of March and beginning of April that was known as the ...

Another find at Kneep

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

[singlepic=1074,429] From Dave Roberts, first published in Uig News. Thanks to Andrew McVean for the photo of Carol Knott excavating at Kneep Headland. In the middle of January fragments of human bones began to appear in large numbers on the surface of the sand at Kneep headland. The location was very close ...

Dòmhnall Cam and the Blind Woman

Monday, February 8th, 2010

We do fairly harp on the heroic stories of Dòmhnall Càm, the local chieftain, warrior and cattle-plunderer, particularly ruthless in wars against the Morrisons of Ness, but there are some deeply unpleasant traditions about him too. The following is from Capt FWL Thomas's Traditions of the Macaulays (1880). Donald Cam and ...

Hogmanay in the Capital, 1943

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Stornoway Gazette, 21 Jan 1944 The pressmen get their snaps - Lewisfolk provide a little colour American press photographers visited the vicinity of St Pauls on Hogmanay to pick up a few colourful pictures of New Year celebrations in London. A group of Lewisfolk gave them their best 'shots' of the evening when ...

An Iolaire Survivor

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

[singlepic=969,382] Translated from an interview with An Geal, John Maclennan, born 1896 at 15 Kneep and married at 4 Aird, Uig. The Admiralty ship the Iolaire taking servicemen home to Lewis grounded on the Beasts of Holm outside Stornoway, on the 1st of January 1919. Almost two hundred men perished. Translated ...

Dòmhnall Donn and Hannah

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

[singlepic=937,424] Dòmhnall Donn (Donald Maciver, b 1862) and his wife Hannah Maclean (b 1874) in Kneep.  Dòmhnall was a noted bard and on his deathbed passed his gift to his great-niece Peigi Eiric Maciver (now Smith).

Photos from Kneep

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Thanks to Chrissie for this lovely collection of photos of the Macdonalds at 8 Kneep and their neighbours. [gallery=37] They may be easier to view on the Gallery page.

A Haystack in Kneep

Friday, June 12th, 2009

[singlepic=664,390] Peigi Eiric Smith, Chirsty Ann Macarthur, Mary and Sandy Smith, in Kneep.

Banais Una

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

[audio:banais una RB finlay.mp3] 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 ...

The Megantic Outlaw: the Show, in Uig 14 July

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

O an strì ann an tìr a phailteis, O am fallas, o am fuachd, Cha robh cùisean mar bha dùil seo idir Le olc is aingidheachd is cruas. -- Tìr a Phailteis, Calum Martin The Megantic Outlaw, Donald Morrison, is a folk hero in Quebec and Uig alike and his story is well-known on both ...

The Girls at Gearraidh Thodail

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

[singlepic=634,432] Left, Mairead Macdonald (8 Kneep) and right, her sister Chirsty Ann (Ciorstaidh Anna a'Phurpois) at the shieling at Gearraidh Thodail.  The shieling is at NB095290, between Suainebhal and Direadh Beinn, and the Comann Eachdraidh visited it last summer - see pictures. Chirsty Ann was born in 1912 and so this was ...

Valtos School 1966-67

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

[singlepic=633,357] Photo taken by Aneas Maclean, nephew of Mrs Jessie Macdonald 24 Valtos, while on student placement.  We'll expect the gaps to be filled in promptly: if not, I'll be waylaying the others. Teachers: Mrs Alexina Macleod, Shawbost Mr Donald John Macleod (Inky), Carloway Front Row: 1. Calum Macdonald (Titch) 22 Valtos 2. Donella Matheson ...

Peggy Maclennan and Kenneth Matheson

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

[singlepic=594,500] Peggy Maclennan was born in 1888 to 24 Valtos; she married Donald Maclennan, 15 Kneep, in 1920 in Glasgow (parents of Kenny, Joan, Christina, Donald F and John, who died in infancy).  Her cousin Kenneth Matheson belonged to 6 Aird.

Schools in Uig before the Education Act

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

From Sanais, 1988, with some additions. The first school in the Western Isles was founded shortly after 1610, when the Seaforth Mackenzies gained possession of the island, and in 1680, a report by 'Indweller' says that the Seaforth school had done much good, not only for Lewis but also for the ...

A Treat for a Cold Friday: Uig, 1964-65

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Many thanks once again to Robin Forrest for providing these wonderful, and previously unknown to us, pictures of Uig in 1964-65, taken by his father Sam Forrest on Land Court business.  Some things have changed... some have not! [gallery=24]