Air an deireadh sheachdain seo chaidh bha e na thoileachas dhomhsa cothrom a ghabhail air dà thachartas a dhùisg mòran cianalais a thaobh Eilean m’ àraich. B’ e fear dhiubh sin taisbeanadh de sheallaidhean às an Eilean Sgitheanach bho dhealbhadair ealanta. Am fear eile, òraid inntinneach aig Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis mu bheagan de dh’eachdraidh sgìre Bhatairnis, dam buineadh mo mhàthair.
Tha an taisbeanadh den obair aig an dealbhadair Iain MacNeacail a’ gabhail àite an-dràsta aig ionad Wasps ann an Inbhir Nis, far am bheil stiùidio air a bhith aige bho chionn còig bliadhna. Ged is ann an Glaschu a rugadh ’s a thogadh MacNeacail tha freumhan teaghlach athar anns an Aodann Bhàn san Eilean Sgitheanach, agus tha e ag ràdh gun tug leabhar a dh’fhoillsich athair bho chionn còrr air caogad bliadhna fon ainm “The Nicolsons of Edinbane” buaidh air a lèirsinn fhèin den Eilean. Fon tiotal “Skye”, tha an taisbeanadh seo mar chuimhneachan air athair an dealbhadair, agus mar a bhiodh dùil tha na dealbhan air fad de sheallaidhean Sgitheanach. Bheir cuairt air na dealbhan, beag is mòr, seallaidhean de mhuir is tìr, garbhlach, ròidean, bailtean croite, agus togalaichean de gach seòrsa, neach-amharc feadh an Eilein. Anns an fharsaingeachd tha na dealbhan seo dathte, beothail, agus soilleir ach tha cuideachd eisimpleirean a tha nas duirche, fo bhuaidh aimsire. Chòrd seo rium gu mòr, agus mholainn e do neach sam bith a thogras tadhal, tha e an-asgaidh agus fosgailte gu 21 den t-Samhain.
Buinidh Domhnall Iain Caimbeul dhan a’ Chnoc Bhreac ann a Bhatairnis, agus bho òige tha ùidh air a bhith aige ann an eachdraidh na sgìre sin. Bho chionn ghrunnd bhliadhnaichean chaidh Domhnall Iain a thàladh gus cuideachadh a thoirt dha Seonaidh “Mòr Ruadh” MacLeòid is esan a’ cur crìoch air pròiseact coimhearsnachd a bha a’ cruinneachadh agus a’ clàradh eachdraidh bhailtean cruite na sgìre. ’S e obair iongantach agus phrìseil a bha seo, le cunntas air teaghlaichean gach baile bho chionn còrr air ceud bliadhna, agus tha cuideachd dealbhan sgoile is eile na mheasg. Tha cuimhne mhath agam fhìn air tadhal air Seonaidh agus e a’ sealltainn deilbh dhomh a chaidh an togail aig Sgoil a’ Chnuic Bhreac nuair a bha mo mhàthair, a peathraichean, is bràthair dhi, ga frithealadh! Nuair a chaochail an Caiptean MacLeòid thàinig toradh a’ phròiseict luachmhor seo mar dhìleab air Domhnall Iain agus tha e air mòran a chur air-loidhne agus air trì leabhraichean fhoillseachadh gu ruige seo. Chaidh an treas leabhar “The Names on the Memorial”, mun fheadhainn a th’ air an ainmeachadh air a’ Chuimhneachan-Cogaidh ann am Bhatairnis, a sgrìobhadh cuide ri Roland Lopez.
Chuir an dà thachartas seo tomhas de chianalas ormsa! Agus nuair a thuirt Dòmhnall Iain nach eil ach triùir a bhuineas dha teaghlaichean nan Gillean (far an robh freumhan teaghlach mo mhàthar), a’ Chnuic Bhreac, agus Ghearraidh, air fhàgail an sin thuig mi às ùr cho prìseil ’s a tha an eachdraidh a chaidh a thrusadh ’s a ghleidheadh.
This past weekend I enjoyed two events which provided cultural and nostalgic experience.
At the Wasps Inverness Creative Academy artist John Nicholson’s latest exhibition, Skye, featured a selection of paintings of views in the island. The subject matter is a tribute to Nicholson’s father and his Skye family roots, and the artist says that this sense of heritage has influenced his work. Viewing the exhibits of various sizes and in a variety of mediums, takes one on a whistlestop journey through Skye, and I enjoyed the mix of powerful and placid views delivered in bright and stimulating colours. Well worth a visit – entry to the exhibition is free of charge until November 21.
Last Friday evening Inverness Gaelic Society’s speaker was Donald John Campbell (DJ) from Knockbreck in Skye and, as one whose maternal family roots are in that area of Skye, I found his presentation. Waternish, Memories of a Place and it’s People at the Turn of a Millennium, interesting and nostalgic.
Crofter and joiner DJ has had a lifelong interest in local history, and some years ago he assisted the late Captain John MacLeod in researching and completing a major community history project on the tenantry of the Waternish Estate.
Following John’s death, DJ inherited this valuable resource and to date he has contributed substantial online material and produced two related books, while a third volume, The Names on the Memorial, was recently published, co-written with Roland Lopez. We were emphatically reminded of the value of the project archive when DJ pointed out that there are now only three, all over 60 years of age, “natives” resident in the villages of Gillen, Knockbreck, and Geary!