Dualchas na Mara / Heritage of the Sea 2020
The Dualchas na Mara | Heritage of the Sea project was created as part of Coasts and Waters 2020. The project received funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Museums Galleries Scotland.
Aim of the project
The aim of the project was to promote awareness around the heritage, culture and history of the coasts and waters especially the stories surrounding the subject in Gaelic.
A project officer was employed and before the national lockdown, she was able to deliver 7 workshops to 4 schools with 279 pupils.
The project had to move to creating digital content when the lockdown came on the 23rd March 2020.
Clann nighean an sgadain | Herring Girls
The Herring Girls’ looks at the work the herring girls had to do as well as what the herring industry did for the islands. Resources on this subject can be found on YouTube, two videos, one Gaelic (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) and one English on the life of a Herring girl.
A Herring Girls Education Pack (5.9MB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) for schools is also available to download.
Ciste Clann Nighean an Sgadain | The Herring Girl Chest
We also have a loan box called the Chest of the Herring Girl full of all the things they would need on the travels to gut fish in other ports. For more information email museum@cne-siar.gov.uk
A’ stiùireadh leis na rionnagan | Navigating with the stars
The ‘Guided by the Stars’ pack looks at the local fishing boat, the Muirneag, the last sail powered fishing boat to operate from the islands and the objects within the museum collections that are related to navigation for boats. The video Muirneag - A Stornoway Fishing Boat (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) is available on YouTube.
A Guided by the Stars Education Pack (2.0MB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) for schools is available to download.
Spuinneadairean| Pirates
Within the history and especially within the Gaelic culture of the islands, there are many stories about pirates. One story from Barra about Roderick the Turbulent MacNeil (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) can be found on YouTube.
An Robair | The Robber
Written and produced by David Walker, this is an old story about robbers in Lochboisdale, South Uist. You can see his retelling of the story on YouTube An Robair (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) (gaelic only).
A pirate ship colouring page (2.3MB) is available to download.
Lochlannaich | Vikings
We held two online talks as part of the project that were about the impact of the Vikings in the islands. Dr Andrew Jennings from the University of the Highlands and Islands gave his talk on "Vikings in the Hebridean Sagas" (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) in English.
Professor Donna Heddle gave her talk on "The Vikings as navigators: here sails the sea-brave" (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) in English.
A Viking colouring page (25.5kB) is available to download.
Taighean-solais | Lighthouses
Video on the history of some of the lighthouses in the Western Isles (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) is available on YouTube.
A craft video on how to make a lighthouse at home (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) is available on YouTube.
A Lighthouse colouring page (222.8kB) is available to download.
Òraidean air loidhne | Online talks
We had a series of online talks related to maritime heritage subjects. Two of these were in Gaelic and two were in English.
Dr. Andrew Jennings, UHI on "Hebrideans in the Viking Sagas" (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
Roddy MacLean on "Recognising and using seaweed" (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) – Gaelic only.
Dr. Donald William Stewart on “What supernatural stories can tell us about the lives of mariners” (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) – Gaelic only.
Prof. Donna Heddle, UHI on “Vikings as Navigators: Here sails the sea-brave” (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
Ealain | Arts and Crafts
As well as the craft videos available below, we also had an art competition and the winning entries are shown.
Art Competition Winners - Theme - 'Aig an tràigh’
5-7yrs category
Emma Macleod, 5
8-10 years category
Bethany Williamson, 9
Art and Craft Videos
How to make a Lighthouse (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
How to make a Paperboat (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
How to make a Paper Star (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
How to make a boat from an iris leaf (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).
Ceilidh air loidhne | Online ceilidh
Online Ceilidh Musicians
To celebrate the end of the project with music and song, we had a wee online ceilidh (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) with very talented musicians including UHI Music students, Chloe Steele and Seonaidh MacIntyre.
Sgeulachdan Eile | Other stories
The Mermaid Story (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) is available on YouTube.
