Hebridean Homecoming events held from the Butt to Barra

Hebridean Homecoming is a programme of community events engaging both local and diaspora populations of the Outer Hebrides on the themes of emigration and return.  
 
Fourteen organisations were awarded funding towards events as part of the project which was jointly funded by £25,000 from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES) and £20,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The project aims to capitalise on local heritage resources by creating a programme of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, talks and school performances that will attract visitors and local people. 
 
The themed year commenced in April this year on the anniversary of the emigrant ships the SS Marloch and the SS Metagama leaving Lochboisdale and Stornoway respectively. Within two weeks in 1923, the two ships carried approximately 600 people from the Outer Hebrides to their new home in Canada.  
 
Exhibitions include showcased artefacts from the Canadian Pacific Shipping Company such as items from the Metagama, Marloch and Canada, at Comunn Eachdaraidh Nis in north Lewis and a week-long commemorative event will be held at Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraigh is Bhatarsaidh, on the Isle of Barra.  
 
Exhibitions at museums in Stornoway and Lionacleit in summer 2024, will explore the theme of emigration, considering the stories behind it, and legacy of large-scale migrations from the islands.  

Joanna Peteranna, area manager at HIE’s Outer Hebrides area team, said:  
 
“Heritage tourism is important to the Outer Hebrides’ economy. Emigration from the Islands is an integral part of our history and heritage and has a legacy which continues to this day. Hebridean Homecoming celebrates the heritage of the islands and will also shine a spotlight on our current population challenges. As well as attracting visitors to the islands, the themed year’s programme will enhance the calendar of social events for the local community.”

Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Chair of the Hebridean Homecoming Working Group, Kenny Macleod, said:

“It has been an honour to attend many of the events taking place across the islands, including this weekend in Barra, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sailing of the SS Metagama and the SS Marloch. Our communities have taken this commemoration to their hearts, demonstrating how the theme of emigration resonates to this day. I congratulate all who have been and are to be involved as a summer of events continues in the Islands in this year of Homecoming.” 

Hebridean Homecoming is the first collaborative project of the Great Place Strategy, Dualchas airson Daoine, which puts heritage at the centre of place-based regeneration in the Outer Hebrides.  

CnES and HIE are working with Comann Dualchas Innse Gall (Outer Hebrides Heritage Forum) and other partners with the aim of generating new links between heritage, arts and tourism to support economic growth.  

The Great Place Strategy 2021-2031 proposes actions both in the short-term and over a ten-year period which can deliver change for communities across the Outer Hebrides.  
 
A recent report highlighted that tourism related to heritage in the Islands has the potential to be worth £8m and support 160 FTE jobs. 

Tachartasan Tilleadh Dachaigh Innse Gall bho Rubha Robhanais gu Barraigh

Tha Comainn Eachdraidh air feadh Innse Gall air a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh raon de thachartasan gus an 100^mh  ceann-bliadhna de dh’imeachd dà shoitheach eilthirich bho na h-eileanan, a chomharrachadh.   

Chaidh maoineachadh a bhuileachadh air ceithir buidheann deug airson tachartasan a chur an gnìomh mar phàirt den phròiseact a tha air a cho-mhaoineachadh le £25,000 bho Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES) agus £20,000 bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE).

Tha am pròiseact ag amas air calpachadh air stòras dualchais ionadail le bhith a’ cruthachadh prògram de thaisbeanaidhean a-staigh agus a-muigh, òraidean agus gnìomhaidhean sgoile a bhios tarraingeach do luchd-tadhail agus muinntir na coimhearsnachd.
 
Thòisich a’ bhliadhna chuspaireil sa Ghiblean am-bliadhna air latha ceann-bliadhna nan soithichean eilthireachd, an SS Marloch agus an SS Metagama, a bhith a’ fàgail Loch Baghasdail agus Steòrnabhagh fa leth. Taobh a-staigh dà sheachdain ann an 1923, ghiùlain an dà shoitheach sin timcheall air 600 neach bho Innse Gall gu an dachaigh ùir ann an Canada.  
 
Tha taisbeanaidhean a tha a’ gabhail a-steach innleachdan bhon Chompanaidh Luingearachd Canadian Pacific leithid nithean bhon Mhetagama, am Marloch agus Canada, air an taisbeanadh ann an Comann Eachdraidh Nis ann an ceann a tuath Leòdhais agus bidh tachartas cuimhneachaidh fad-seachdaine air a chumail ann an Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraigh is Bhatarsaigh, air eilean Bharraigh.  
 
Bidh taisbeanaidhean ann an taighean-tasgaidh Steòrnabhaigh is Lìonacleit as t-samhradh 2024, a’ rannsachadh cuspair eilthireachd, beachdachadh air na sgeulachdan air a chùlaibh, agus dìleab na h-imriche mòir-sgèile bho na h-eileanan.

Thuirt Joanna Peteranna, manaidsear sgìreil sgioba Innse Gall aig HIE:  
 
“Tha turasachd dualchais cudromach do dh’eaconamaidh Innse Gall. Tha eilthireachd bho na h-eileanan na pàirt amalaichte de ar n-eachdraidh agus ar dualchas le dìleab a tha a’ leantainn chun an latha an-diugh. Tha Tilleadh Dhachaigh Innse Gall a’ comharrachadh dualchas nan eilean agus soillsichidh e cuideachd solas air ar dùbhlain làithreach an lùib àireamh sluaigh. A thuilleadh air a bhith a’ tarraing luchd-tadhail chun nan eilean, bidh prògram cuspaireil na bliadhna ag àrdachadh a’ mhìosachain de thachartasan sòisealta don choimearsnachd ionadail.”

Thuirt Coinneach MacLeòid, Neach-gairm Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agus Cathraiche Buidheann Obrach Tilleadh Dhachaigh Innse Gall:

“Tha e air a bhith na mhòr-urram dhomh mòran de na tachartasan a tha a’ gabhail àite air feadh nan eilean a fhrithealadh, a’ gabhail a-steach an deireadh-sheachdain seo ann am Barraigh, gus an 100mh ceann-bliadhna de sheòladh an SS Metagama agus an SS Marloch a chomharrachadh. Tha na coimhearsnachdan againn air na comharraidhean seo a ghabhail gu an cridhe, a’ taisbeanadh mar a tha cuspair na h-eilthireachd ga ath-chuimhneachadh chun an latha an-diugh. Tha mi a’ cur mealadh naidheachd air gach neach a tha air a bhith agus a bhios an sàs ann mar a bhios samhradh de thachartasan a’ leantainn sna h-eileanan anns a’ bhliadhna seo de Thilleadh Dhachaigh.”

Is e Tilleadh Dhachaigh Innse Gall a’ chiad phròiseact cho-obrachail le Dualchas airson Daoine tro Ro-innleachd Great Place, a tha a’ cur dualchas aig teis-meadhan ath-bheothachaidh stèidhichte air àite ann an Innse Gall. 
Tha CnES agus HIE ag obrachadh le Comann Dualchais Innse Gall (Outer Hebrides Heritage Forum) agus com-pàirtichean eile ’s iad ag amas air ceanglaichean ùra a ghinteadh eadar dualchas, ealain is turasachd gus taic a chur ri fàs eaconamach.

Tha Ro-innleachd Great Place 2021-2031 a’ moladh ghnìomhan an dà chuid sa gheàrr-ama agus thairis air deich bliadhna, as urrainn atharrachadh a lìbhrigeadh do choimhearsnachdan air feadh Innse Gall.
 
Thog aithisg o chionn ghoirid gu bheil comas aig turasachd co-cheangailte ri dualchas anns na h-eileanan a bhith luach £8m agus a’ cur taic ri 160 obair co-ionann ri làn-ùine.