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Satellite technology for digital guide of Berneray’s heritage     29/1/13

Berneray Historical Society is to use satellite technology to create a trail linking places on the island with their traditional Gaelic heritage.

The unique project entitled Eilean Bheàrnaraigh - a' cumail ar n-Eachdraidh beò (The Isle of Berneray - keeping our history alive)has received  £8,700 lottery funding to make a digital guide of local landmarks including cottages, ruins, wells, paths, jetties, harbours, hills, and lochs.

This project will use GPS satellite-based navigation system to map and interpret the locations and their Gaelic names.

The work will be coordinated by part-time researcher Peter Kerr who will work with a group of volunteers.

Mr Kerr said: “This is a very exciting project that will use the power of modern technology to investigate, record and share this fascinating aspect of our island's history and culture."

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “Clearly the success of All Our Stories has reinforced the fact that we are indeed a nation of story tellers and that we want to explore and dig deeper into our past and discover more about what really matters to us.

“This is exactly what the grant will do for Berneray Historical Society as they embark on a real journey of discovery.”

The funding comes from the All Our Stories lottery small grant programme  launched last year in support of BBC Two’s The Great British Story.

TV presenter and historian Michael Wood, said: “We British love our history, and no wonder: few nations in the world, if any, have such riches on their doorstep, and so much of it accessible to all of us. It is really tremendous that the people of Berneray have been inspired to get involved to tell their own story and to dig deeper into their own past.