The public image of St Kilda has been romanticised by the outside world a conference has heard.
The four-
It was organised by the Islands Book Trust whose chairman John Randall told the audience that the public perception of St Kilda came from about 700 books and articles written by outside visitors.
He suggested St Kilda was not unique and other Scottish islands suffered similar economic and social pressures.
“There is little doubt the outside view of some writers that life on St Kilda was idyllic and romantic is wrong. Evidence from the St Kildans shows life was very difficult. They were cut off from other parts of Scotland for many months of the year and the climate was wet.
St Kildans’ were concerned about the harsh practicalities of real life he said.
Mr Randal explained: “Birds were not the source of inspiration or to see the wonderful wildlife. Their main concern was which bird was best to eat.”
The autobiography of native St Kildan Calum Macdonald which offers a rare and valuable insight to the islanders’ own views was launched at the event.
The late Calum Macdonald was born on St Kilda in 1908 and left, aged 16 years, prior to the evacuation.
He wrote that he was fortunate to spend his childhood in a “small community of Christian belief” characterised by spirituality, kindness, neighbourly sharing emphasised by the isolation from the outside world.
His son John Macdonald travelled from Ireland to launch his father’s book at the conference.
John Macdonald said: “Life really was so hard. It surprised me how religious people on the island were.
He said the St Kildans could have carried on inhabiting the remote archipelago if
they only had back-
Mr Macdonald said: “My father always said there was. It would have been a tough life but if they had arranged more transport to the island and more encouragement to the people.
“My father certainly would have stayed. He always regretted leaving.”
Meanwhile Sgoil Lionacleit museum is running an exhibition on St Kilda this month.
St Kilda remembered 15/8/10
St Kildan descendant John Macdonald looks at various versions of the St Kilda mailboat at Sgoil Lionacleit museum