[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 [...]
Read more →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 [...]
Read more →[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 taken about 1930. [...]
Read more →[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 [...]
Read more →[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.
Read more →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 adjacent isles. Other schools followed.
Read more →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!
Read more →[singlepic=270,328] Abridged from Dolly Doctor’s Tales and Traditions of the Lews (Acair): The Buannaichean or Buannas of the Lord of the Isles were a set of picked warriors who were supposed to keep close to him and protect him from danger, especially when he left his own district. They were outstanding in strength and stature, [...]
Read more →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. [...]
Read more →[singlepic=297,342] Teacher Mary Ann Maciver 11 Kneep, later married Norman Macdonald Reef (Gruaigen) Back: 1. James Macrae Miavaig (Seumas na Cost) 2. Angus Smith 20 Valtos (Prof) 3. Malcolm Mackay 13 Kneep (Kiman) 4. Angus Macdonald 16 Uigen (Gurason) 5. Alasdair Macleod 39 Cliff (Sandy Post) 6. Angus John Macdonald 8 Kneep (Max) Middle: 7. [...]
Read more →[singlepic=298,354] Back: 1. 2. Malcolm Maclean 26 Valtos (Calum Beag Garbh) 3. Louis Macdonald 11 Reef (Louis na Scallag) 4. Donald Matheson 39 Cliff (Domhnall a Bheiceir) 5. Murdo Macleod 2 Reef (Murchadh Dodge) 6. Donald Macleod 2 Reef (Buganach) 7. Duncan Macdonald 22 Valtos (Donnchadh Silver) Middle: 8. Donald Macdonald 16 Uigen 9. William [...]
Read more →The Napier Commission came to Miavaig on 4 June 1883, led by Lord Napier, and took evidence from Murdo Maclean, fishcurer in Valtos, Donald Matheson Kneep and Norman Morrison Brenish, and from the Chamberlain, William Mackay. Among the grievances enumerated by the crofters were issues to do with the keeper and shooting tenants in the [...]
Read more →[singlepic=165,550,245] There were 104 pupils at Valtos School in 1904. This key may help with the identification. 1 Mr Cameron 2 Flora Maciver Kneep (Floraidh nighean Mairead Alasdair) 3 Christina Mackay 21 Valtos (Cairstiona Rothaich) 4 Mary Matheson Kneep (Mairi Smiodaidh) 5 Betty Buchanan (Beit Dhomhnaill an t-Saighdear) 6 Barbara Maciver 25 Valtos (Bab Tharmoid [...]
Read more →This week the Comann Eachdraidh was pleased to welcome Mr and Mrs Jack Duncan from Michigan, USA, on their first visit to Uig. Jack is the great grandson of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie, a well-known character in his day and one of the leaders of the Reef Raiders in 1913. Jack’s grandparents were Tarmod an Irish and [...]
Read more →Mac an Irish, a dance and pipe tune (click for more; music courtesy of Sven Axelsson) was evidently written about a son of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie (b1845) of Carnish, Aird, Kneep and Reef, and the eldest of the Reef Raiders. He wasn’t Irish of course, but so called as he was always a rebel. We don’t know which son is the Mac [...]
Read more →From Donald Macdonald’s Tales and Traditions of the Lews: One of the best warriors of the parish of Uig was the Gobha Bàn, the fair smith, who lived at Kneep while Donald Càm was settled at Valtos. The Gobha Bàn was stronger than Donald Càm but was not as clever with the sword. The smith [...]
Read more →From the Scottish Highlander, 25 Sept 1885: The Uig Deforcers Refusing to Appear Before Sheriff Black.– Ten fishermen from Valtos, Uig, and Lewis were cited to appear on Tuesday before Sheriff-Substitute Black on the charges of assault and breach of the public peace, by attacking and assaulting John Fraser, sheriff-officer, Stornoway, and his concurrents, on [...]
Read more →Sandy Smith 9 Kneep and Iain Mackenzie (mac Anna Dhòmhnaill ‘ain Shaighdear) 6 Kneep and USA, c1933.
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