The original manuscript of a Gaelic love song written during the Battle of the Somme is to be housed at a new cultural centre in North Uist.
Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist Historical Society) will receive £165,000 of Scottish Government funding to convert Carinish Old School and showcase items from its collection, many of which are currently kept in storage.
These include an original copy of the well-known Gaelic love song “An Eala Bhàn”
(The White Swan). The song was written by Dòmhnall MacDonald, known as Dòmhnall Ruadh
Chorùna , a former pupil of the school during the Battle of the Somme and performed
by local musician Julie Fowlis at a commemorative service at the Thiepval Memorial
in France to mark the centenary of the Battle in 2016.
The manuscript will be available for centre visitors to view.
Other items include historical artefacts from St Kilda, war memorabilia from local soldiers and press cuttings and posters.
Photographs from Gaelic rock band Runrig - founding members Rory and Calum Macdonald
hail from the island - will also be on show.
The centre will operate as a tourist information point and offer tours to the site of the Battle of Carinish and the ruins of Trinity Temple.
A further £200,000 will be made available to support the construction of an auditorium for Gaelic lectures and music events at Cnoc Soiller in South Uist.
Deputy First Minister and Gaelic Secretary Kate Forbes said: “Protecting and promoting the Gaelic language can attract tourists into the country, grow the economy and contribute to community wellbeing. This funding will enable people to learn about Uist’s Gaelic heritage from the Middle Ages up to modern day.
“To support the growth of the Gaelic language, we have allocated an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic in the draft dudget for next year.
“The Scottish Languages Bill will also create a system to enable all parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare services and introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.”
Musician Julie Fowlis said: “I am delighted that North Uist Historical Society has been awarded this funding support.
“The organisation and the wider community have collected and made safe hundreds, if not thousands, of precious items pertaining to cultural life in North Uist and the wider Island community.
“It is only right and proper that these artefacts are brought home to this building, which has been at the heart of the community for decades.”
She added: “It was a great honour and privilege for me to be asked to sing An Eala Bhàn by local bàrd Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna, at the 100 year memorial of the Battle of the Somme in Thiepval”
Funding boost for historical society development plans
2 January 2025
