Teacher: Annie Macaulay, 35 Cliff Back: 1. Dolina Smith 2 Ungeshader (Dollag a Choisich) 2. Effie Smith 2 Ungeshader (Eiric Choinnich) 3. Chirsty Macdonald 11 Geshader (Goody) d1939 diphtheria 4. Mary Smith Croistean Cottage 5. Dolina Nicolson 1 Geshader, later Crowlista 6. Peggy Smith Croistean Cottage 7. Dolina Smith Croistean Cottage 8. Mary Macleod 8 Carishader (Màdag) Middle: 9. Annie Macleod 8 Carishader 10. Ina Macdonald 6 Enaclete (Ina Puff) 11. Katie Ann Morrison 1 Ungeshader 12. Kenina Smith 2 Ungeshader (Kennag a Choisich) 13. [ » read more ]

Some photos from Mary (Smith) Macleod, Lochcroistean.

From the Lochcroistean School Log, 16 March 1892. The teacher was Maggie Black. Circular 132 Scotch Education Department Dover House, Whitehall 29th January 1892 To the Official Correspondent of the Uig, Loch Croistean Public School. Sir, Her Majesty’s Postmaster General has called the attention of this Department to the wanton injury occasioned to the telegraph lines in this district by throwing stones at the insulators of telegraph wires, and to which so much damage has recently been done that the Postmaster General is compelled to [ » read more ]

On the dancefloor by Lochcroistean with the Geshader, Ungeshader and Lochcroistean cousins, at a birthday party for one of the Smith girls (recently returned from Boston) c1935. Mother Peggy Smith Lochcroistean; Mary Smith (LC); Dolina Smith (LC); Hetty Macleod (10G); Malcolm J Smith (2U); Marion Macdonald (4G); Kenina Smith (2U); Murdanie Maciver (4G); Peter Smith (2U); Katie Mary Smith (2U); Peggy Smith (LC); Finlay Macdonald (4G); John Angus Smith (2U); Peggy Ann Macdonald (4G).  

We are modestly delighted to have made the Scotsman’s supplement today, in the shortlist for Best Museums in the Western Isles.  Marianne’s lovely cafe at Lochcroistean School is one of the Best Surprises; and Traigh Uig makes the Best Beaches list.  Though surely Traigh na Berie is the best beach in Uig and probably the western world?  (As the Guardian previously recognised.)  Feel free to argue with that.

Teacher Babag Smith Back: 1. John Macdonald Carishader 2. Donald A Macdonald Scaliscro 3. Kenny A Mackay Geshader 7 Geshader Middle: 4. Angus Macdonald Scaliscro 5. Agnes Matheson 8 Enaclete 6. Peggy Ann Matheson 8 Enaclete 7. Christina Buchanan Schoolhouse 8. Malcolm K Buchanan 3 Carishader Front: 9. Donald N Gillies 4 Enaclete 10. Donald Macdonald Scaliscro 11. Donald Matheson 8 Enaclete 12. Cathie M Matheson 8 Enaclete 13. Chrissie M Gillies 4 Enaclete 14. Kay Mackay 7 Geshader 15. Christina F Morrison 16. Patricia [ » read more ]

Travelling east down Glen Valtos from Timsgarry, just past the first quarry on the left, you can see the stones which spell out JD. Ahead on your right is the steep zig-zag path, which the Uig women descended with the creels of peat on their backs. JD was James Drummond and this marks the spot where he used to pitch his tent. James Drummond was one of the travelling people who came to Uig in the summers of the late 1930s. Each summer they arrived [ » read more ]

   Click for the list.

From Chrissie Matheson’s leaving party when she retired from Lochcroistean School in December 1972.

  How about another school photo.  Click to enlarge. Back:  Annabella Matheson (Babag) Teacher Murdo Morrison 1A Ungeshader William Faulkner Macdonald 11 Geshader Angus Morrison 1A Ungeshader Neil Macdonald 11 Geshader John Macdonald 11 Geshader Donald Finlay Macleod 8 Carishader Norman Maciver Teacher Third row:  Christine Macdonald 3 Geshader Agnes Smith Croistean Cottage Maggie Bell Macleod 1 Ungeshader Margaret Ferguson Kinloch Catherine Macritchie 4 Carishader Catherine Macdonald 11 Geshader Christine Macritchie 4 Carishader Second row:  Norma Maciver Schoolhouse Betsy Morrison 1A Ungeshader Dolly Alice Macleod [ » 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 ]

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 ]